Big Cimarron
Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.
More like this: first-come in Colorado
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May 23 to Oct. 1 (weather dependent) |
| Forest | Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Fore |
| Booking | No Reservations. |
| Fees | $14 per night per camping unit; $6 per day for day use/picnic if in a campsite; $10 per firewood bundle. |
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Fore recreation page ↗
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 38.2592° N, 107.5455° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedHigh Mesa Piles Rx
3 mi from the campground · 324 acres
- WildfireGold Mountain
16 mi from the campground · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedTransfer Rd Rx
37 mi from the campground · 139 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 15.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ouray Mountain Sports ↗ | 17.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
No site-by-site records, no amenities, no fee schedule, no directions or photos in the Recreation.gov record. What is here comes from the agency's own listing. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the record fills in.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miOwl Creek Pass Sno ↗18.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 0.1 miFish Creek Resevoir2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.2 miTadpole1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.6 miBeaver Lake0.5 mi trail · hiking
- 1.2 miHampton Lake0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.4 miClear Lake0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.
- inGrand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,153,199 acres
- 4.3 miUncompahgre Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 102,209 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Rimrock SchoolBuilding · Sapinero · 9.6 mi
- Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Box Outfit Car No. 04414Structure · Cimarron · 12.7 mi
- Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad Stock Car No. 5620Structure · Cimarron · 12.7 mi
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Big Cimarron?
No. Big Cimarron is first-come, first-served. No Reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Big Cimarron?
$14 per night per camping unit; $6 per day for day use/picnic if in a campsite; $10 per firewood bundle.
Source: Forest Service
Is Big Cimarron open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May 23 to Oct. 1 (weather dependent).
Source: Forest Service status
What if Big Cimarron is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Beaver Lake (0.6 mi, first-come), Silver Jack Campground (1.7 mi), and Alpine Ranger Station (9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby