Camping near Creede, Colorado

Camp thirty minutes north of South Fork on the Silver Thread Byway in the interesting town of Creede, Colorado. It was one of the true Wild West towns in its heyday, surrounded by cool campgrounds in the San Juan Mountains.

There are mining relics visible in the hillsides above town, and you can camp near some of them. You’ll reach Creede in about 4.5 hours from Denver heading first toward the San Luis Valley, then northwest at South Fork onboard the Silver Thread Scenic Byway. This route continues north from Creede to Lake City and ends at Blue Mesa Reservoirs near Gunnison. It’s a wonderful trip filled with camping along the whole route.

Outdoor recreation seems limitless in the Rio Grande National Forest surrounding Creede. There are plenty of campgrounds and free, dispersed camping in the forest roads away from Creede.

List of campgrounds by Creede, CO, in order of proximity:

Camping near Creede

With little more than 300 full-time residents, its small size is only part of Creede’s charm. It’s a popular spot in the summer for travelers, at least those who dare to venture this far. It has a lot of shops, restaurants, and campgrounds to accommodate. The Mountain Views RV Park is spacious and only a couple miles from downtown Creede. You can also disperse camp pretty darn close to town too.

Mountain Views RV Park

This spacious RV park is loaded with amenities, and perhaps best of all, it’s located just two miles from Creede, but still has the wilderness feel. Campers can fish next to the camp or use the area as a launching pad for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Rafting the nearby river is exciting as well.

• Closest town: Creede (2mi)
• Specs: 97 RV sites, water, restroom, open May to October; reservable
• Amenities: 30/50 amp, full hookups, wifi, showers, laundry, lodge, fish cleaning station, paddle boat, gift shop
• Address: 539 Airport Road, Creede, CO 81130 (Map)

Marshall Park Campground

Paved access roads and a few paved pull-through campsites make this an easy campground for RVs. The campground is visible from Colorado Highway 149, so traffic noise is audible from the camp. Trailers up to 40 feet can access the campsites. An open area with few trees leaves little afternoon shade, and late-summer temperatures can get quite hot.

• Closest town: Creede (6mi)
• Specs: 16 campsites, no water, vault toilet, Memorial Day to Labor Day; reservable
• Amenities: 7 paved pull-through sites
• Address: Middle Creek Road, Creede, CO 81130 (Map)

FREE – Bachelor Historic Loop Dispersed Camping

The Bachelor Historic Loop is a must-do self-guided auto tour in the former mining mountains above town. The drive up the initial old mule road from town is awesome. Along the drive, which you can begin in either direction, has pre-existing campsites that receive use. Don’t camp too close to the ruins and don’t take anything that’s not yours. There is some dispersed camping on the hills if you reverse the loop, pretty close to town.

• Closest town: Creede (6+mi)
• Address: Bachelor Road, Creede, CO
• Directions: Take Bachelor Road northwest out of downtown Creede. You’ll first come to an interpretive sign that you should read for information. The whole loop is only 17 miles. Enjoy the journey!

Palisade Campground

This year-round facility has a little bit of everything to offer. Fishing and non-motorized boating on the nearby Rio Grande River, hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and scenic photography are all popular here. The campground is open year-round, but heavy snowfall can limit access during the winter months.

• Closest town: Creede (12mi)
• Specs: 12 campsites, water, vault toilet, open year-round; first-come, first-serve
• Amenities: Some sites can accommodate RVs up to 36 ft
• Address: Colorado Highway 149, South Fork, CO 81235 (Map)

Hansons Mill Dispersed Camping

At two miles in the sky, this is one of the highest-elevation camping areas in Colorado. Anglers can work the water of East Bellows Creek, hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders can enjoy many trails in the area, and off-road vehicle enthusiasts can find ample opportunity to kick up a little dust. Remember, pack it in, pack it out. The best part of this area is that it is free camping.

• Closest town: Creede (16mi)
• Specs: Dispersed camping with no established sites, vault toilet, no water, open June to September; first-come, first-serve
• Address: Pooltable Road, Creede, CO 81130 (Map)

Ivy Creek Campground

This small campground is open all year but is sometimes inaccessible due to heavy snowfall. A creek flows through the middle of this picturesque but rarely-used campground. It has trails for hikers, mountain biking, and trout in the streams nearby that can entice anglers. The road into the campground is narrow, rough, and not suited for large trailers, low clearance vehicles, or large RVs.

• Closest town: Creede (16mi)
• Specs: 4 campsites, no water, vault toilet, open year-round; first-come, first-serve
• Address: Creede, CO 81130 (Map)

Bristol Head Campground

An open grassy meadow on a bench above South Clear Creek beckons campers to this site. Wildflowers grow abundantly in the early summer on the meadow between aspen groves and towering spruce trees. Anglers can try their luck at trout fishing in the nearby stream. Moose are common in the area for wildlife viewers. Hiking, photography, and autumn hunting are popular in the area.

• Closest town: Creede (22mi)
• Specs: 15 campsites, water, vault toilet, open Memorial Day to Labor Day; first-come, first-serve
• Amenities: 11 pull-through sites
• Address: Forest Road 510.1A, Creede, CO 81130 (Map)

Silver Thread Campground

A waterfall within a couple of hundred feet of the camping area highlights this campground. Anglers can try their luck with brook trout at Brown Lakes and South Clear Creek. Aspen and spruce trees provide good shade on warm summer days. Hikers, scenic photographers, and hunters during the autumn season all enjoy this campground.

• Closest town: Creede (23mi)
• Specs: 11 sites, water, vault toilet, open year-round, may be inaccessible due to snowfall; first-come, first-serve
• Amenities: Double campsites, RV lengths to 40 ft
• Address: Colorado Highway 149, Creede, CO 81130 (Map)

North Clear Creek Campground

A quiet campground, highly regarded for its solitude. You may be interrupted by moose, or mule deer wandering through the camp. Anglers will enjoy the outstanding fishing at North Clear Creek that meanders near the campground. Hiking, scenic photography, and late summer hunting are all popular activities.

• Closest town: Creede (24mi)
• Specs: 21 sites, water, vault toilet, open year-round, open Memorial Day to Labor Day; first-come, first-serve
• Address: Forest Road 510, Creede, CO 81130 (Map)

Camping near Rio Grande Reservoir

The headwaters of the Rio Grande River begin just before the Rio Grande Reservoir on the Continental Divide. The big, long reservoir is noted for its excellent trout fishing, as well as boating, from May 16 through October. Hiking is excellent, with quick access to nature trails into the Weminuche Wilderness from the campgrounds below.

If you have a high-clearance, 4×4 you can venture over Stony Pass further west from the reservoir. 2WD is suitable to reach the reservoir and the campgrounds on the way in Forest Road 520, but is snow blow and inaccessible during the winter.

Road Canyon Campground

Fishing on Road Canyon Reservoir State Wildlife Area is a main attraction at this small campground. Located in an open meadow with no trees, the campground is open to bright sunlight and the occasional summer storm that blows through. Hunting, hiking, fishing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and boating with trolling motors, or non-motorized watercraft are all popular activities.

• Closest town: Creede (26mi)
• Specs: 6 campsites, no water, vault toilet, open year-round, may be inaccessible due to snow; first-come, first-serve
• Amenities: Free, boat launch
• Address: Creede, CO 81130 (Map)

River Hill Campground

This campground is a little slice of heaven for anglers. Access to trout fishing on the Rio Grande River, Squaw Creek, Weminuche Creek and the Rio Grande Reservoir is available within two miles of camp. Hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are also popular activities in this area. Kayakers enjoy the Rio Grande reservoir and everyone appreciates the location on a mountain meadow, surrounded by forested hills.

• Closest town: Creede (29mi)
• Specs: 20 Single sites, water, vault toilet, open Memorial Day to Labor Day; reservable
• Amenities: Interpretive center, summer programs
• Address: County Road 41, Creede, CO 81130 (Map)

Thirty Mile Campground

An all-purpose campground for hikers, anglers, horseback riders, and mountain bike riders awaits your arrival. The campground is set in a mountain meadow with aspen trees and mature spruce. Stream fishing, canoeing, and kayaking in the Rio Grande Reservoir are also popular activities.

• Closest town: Creede (31mi)
• Specs: 35 campsites, water, restroom, open year-round, may close due to snow conditions; reservable and first-come, first-serve sites
• Amenities: Campfire programs, nature hikes
• Address: County Road 18C, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 (Map)

Lost Trail Campground

This is an isolated campground, but there are many attractions for the intrepid camper. Multiple trails beckon hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. Streams and the Rio Grande Reservoir provide an opportunity to catch trout for the determined angler. The water did not test as potable so bring your own drinking water.

• Closest town: Creede (37mi)
• Specs: 7 Single sites, no water, vault toilet, open year-round, may close due to snow; first-come, first-serve
• Amenities: Picnic tables, fire ring; no water
• Address: County Road 18, Creede, CO 81130 (Map)

Consider Lake City or South Fork

After you’ve stayed a night or two in Creede, maybe it’s time to head north on the CO-149 to Lake City. The only other town along the Silver Thread Byway happens to be another cool place to be. Rent an ATV while in town and explore the hills. From RV parks directly in town to dispersed camping in the mountains above town, you’ll find enough camping around Lake City to find that perfect option for you.

In the western San Luis Valley sits South Fork, a gateway to several of Colorado’s amazing attractions. It’s only 4 hours from Denver, so it shaves a little time off of Creede or Lake City, and allows you to set up the camp and get to sleep a little faster. It’s handy for a night. To the west is Wolf Creek Pass, to the north is the Silver Thready Byway and to the east is the San Luis Valley. Consider camping near South Fork  and see where you end up next.

Those are some of the top places to camp in and around curious Creede, Colorado! Have a great time exploring the sights, from the Rio Grande Reservoir to the numerous mining tours. Please practice leave no trace.