Established Camping
Father Dyer
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
<strong>Update</strong>: Water will not be available at this campground in 2024. Please bring enough water for your needs, including water to fully extinguish your campfire. Check back here to see if there are any changes. Also, the RV Dump Stations at White Star CG and Printer Boy CG will remain closed this season. The RV Dump station at Turquoise Lake is closed until June 10th, 2024.
<strong>Update</strong>: Water will not be available at this campground in 2024. Please bring enough water for your needs, including water to fully extinguish your campfire. Check back here to see if there are any changes. Also, the RV Dump Stations at White Star CG and Printer Boy CG will remain closed this season. The RV Dump station at Turquoise Lake is closed until June 10th, 2024.
About
National Forest
PSICC
Overview
Father Dyer Campground is situated on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in the shade of a lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forest. The family-friendly campground is a popular summer destination for boating, hiking and fishing. The campground is named after Father John Lewis Dyer, one of the first Methodist ministers to tour Colorado's high country mining camps. For 20 years, beginning in 1862, he travelled the circuit encompassing Alma, Fairplay and Leadville, regularly skiing over the 13,186-foot Mosquito Pass on long, wooden skis.
Recreation
The 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail is a gentle loop trail through the forest and down to the shoreline of Turquoise Lake. This trail connects to the 6.4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail that parallels the shoreline from Sugar Loaf Dam to May Queen Campground. Trail guides are available at the trailhead located about a mile south, at the entrance to Molly Brown Campground. On the lake, boating, sailing, canoeing and fishing are favorite activities. Anglers fish for stocked cutthroat, rainbow, brown and lake trout. Matchless Boat Ramp is located about two miles south of the campground.
Facilities
The campground offers single-family sites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and trash collection are provided. Firewood is available for purchase from the Host. Parking spurs are gravel or dirt.
Natural Features
Campsites are nestled in the forest near the scenic lakeshore. The Mount Massive Wilderness Area, a 30,540 acre stretch of primitive land encompassing Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet, is nearby. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.
Nearby Attractions
Venture to Independence Pass for a scenic drive with breathtaking views of the Rockies and surrounding alpine tundra habitat. At 12,095 feet, it is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the country and marks where the Top of the Rockies National Scenic and Historic Byway crosses the Continental Divide.
Charges & Cancellations
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.__ A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.____ Refunds Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.__ In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
Fee Info
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TAvailable
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Pull-Through Sites
Good on East Side of lake but can be windy during Spring
This campground is on the East side of Turquoise lake and the sites are within a 2 min walk to the lake. There is a beach down by the lake for relaxing and hanging out.
The sites are good sized and the trees help make the sites feel more private. They are pristine and the bathrooms are super clean.
Campground includes picnic tables, fire rings, pedestal grills, potable water, and vault toilets. Firewood is available at the host site.
$24.00 fee per site for overnight camping. Maximum 8 people per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle. There are first come first serve sites as well as reservation sites.
- (10) View All
Beautiful Campsite
We went up last weekend to FD near Leadville. It was gorgeous. We stayed at sites 21/22; we booked both, as they were side by side. Turquoise Lake is a super quick walk down. It was very quiet, even at capacity. The moon shines extra bright. We did hit a storm, but were expecting to since were at 9k+.
If you stay at father Dyer (or the other sites near there) your car tag gets you in to the lady of the lake day use area! We didn’t realize that and paid for the day, but the host quickly returned the money and let us know!
Make sure to remember that the campground is a one way road. :) we made that mistake once and never again.
Not a bad site
Tent camping spots didn’t really have a flat spot to put the tent (atleast the one I was in). Had to put my tent in a slope. But restrooms and camping sites were clean.
Location
Father Dyer is located in Colorado
Directions
From Leadville, Colorado, drive west on County Road 4 about 3 miles, turn right on County Road 9C and follow to Father Dyer Campground on the left.
Address
LEADVILLE RANGER DISTRICT
810 FRONT STREET
Leadville, CO 80461
Coordinates
39.2735611 N
106.3486861 W