Lower Piedra
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 · dark sky in Colorado
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 15 |
| Host/management | 4 |
Site guide
15 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop |
|---|---|
| 02 | A |
| 03 | A |
| 04 | A |
| 05 | A |
| 06 | A |
| 10 | A |
| 07 | B |
| 08 | B |
| 09 | B |
| 11 | C |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site.
Amenities & rules
| Dark sky | 4.4 miles from Chimney Rock National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
The Lower Piedra Campground is just north of U.S. Highway 160 on the west side of the Piedra River, about 18 miles east of Bayfield and 25 miles west of Pagosa Springs. It is about a half mile up Forest Rd. 621 on the west side of the river (not to be confused with the First Fork Road [Forest Rd. 622] on the east side of the river). The campground offers 14 large, level sites with plenty of shade. Fishing opportunities are available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | May to September |
| Forest | San Juan National Forest |
| Fees | $27 |
| Rules | Quiet time is typically between 10pm - 6am. Please be a good neighbor and limit use of generators to no more than one hour at a time. Dogs must be leashed or otherwise physically restrained. Do not leave pets unattended. Check-out time: 12:00 pm; Check-in time: 2:00 pm - if the site is empty, campers may come in anytime. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 37.2429° N, 107.3430° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 14.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ski Barn ↗ | 29.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 52.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Lower Piedra Campground, CO from Kyle H.
Worth a stop
- 4.2 miSheep Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 5.1 mi
- 7.9 miFirst Fork Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miMonument Park Winter ↗30.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1.8 miFirst Notch 12.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.9 miMule Mtn. Spur 11.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.1 miMule Mtn. Spur 21.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.1 miMule Mountain ↗8.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 2.4 miFirst Notch 23.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
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 San Juan National Forest.
- inSan Juan National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,094,539 acres
- 9.5 miWeminuche Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 497,111 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
On the National Register nearby
- Animas City SchoolBuilding · Durango · 10.9 mi
- Labo Del Rio BridgeStructure · Arboles · 12 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 Lower Piedra?
No. Lower Piedra is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Lower Piedra?
$27
Source: Forest Service
Is Lower Piedra open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Lower Piedra have?
19 sites, including 15 standard sites without power.
Source: Forest Service
Is Lower Piedra good for stargazing?
Chimney Rock National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park, is 4.4 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.
Source: DarkSky International
What if Lower Piedra is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Ute Campground (4.3 mi, partly first-come), Graham Creek Campground (14.9 mi), and North Canyon Campground (15 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby