This USFS campground was one of our favorites during our Colorado journey. Its remote location off the 160, down a dirt road and situated along the reservoir surrounded by mountains and beautiful rock outcroppings was spectacular. There are cascade falls, one being natural which is a short but steep hike from the campground loop, and the second a man-made cascade of water leaving the reservoir, can be heard throughout camp. Trees spot the campground, including aspens and pines, more heavily in some places than others. We arrived and hated our site that lacked lake views, so we opted to
take a first come, first serve available site that had spectacular views. The campsite host was unavailable when we were making the switch, so we went ahead and relocated taking our reservation tag with us. The camphost came by later and was quite snarky and rude about our switch, and forced us to pay for the new site even though we had a reservation fully paid. We have done this before at other USFS campgrounds without a hitch, and we can't help but wonder if this was actually protocol or not. But, we felt it was worth the views. Sites are simple here, level, and offer tent pads, picnic tables and fire rings. Pit toilets are available, but we found only two water spigots in the camp. Come prepared with tanks filled. Additionally, there is no dump, so plan ahead how you will dispose of gray and blank tank waste. A beautiful, easy hiking trail leads around the entire lake. Just a few miles long, it will take you across bridges and streams and offer stunning views of the lake, cirques and mountain peaks. It is quiet here and fishing and kayaking are popular activities. Wildlife is prevalent with many deer sightings, chipmunks, and birds. Pull off sites are the worst here, in particular site 16 and 21. The one downside to this campground is the amount of flies. Bring fly strip along to make your stay more comfortable. Reservations are recommended. Firewood is avaliable from the host, but it is quite expensive.
Best Sites: 1-14, 18, 20, 28, 30-44
Poor Sites: 16, 21
Hookups: None
Potable Water: Yes, but not for tank fill
Dump Within Facility: No
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