Pine River
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
Amenities & rules
Campsites accommodate only tents or small RVs. All 6 campsites have views up the Pine River Valley. Private land adjoins the campground, with no public access to the river until three miles up the trail. There is no potable water. Although horses are not allowed in the primitive campground, the Pine River Trailhead has a parking area with a horse corral for overnight horse camping, as well as hitching posts and a turn-around parking area for trailers.
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 | $20 |
| 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 | 37.4469° N, 107.5059° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireGold Mountain
43 mi from the campground · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Ski Barn ↗ | 23.6 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 54 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 5.7 miOld Timers Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 5.7 miOld Timers Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 11.7 miFirst Fork Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 13.6 miSheep Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miPine River ↗23.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.8 miDark Canyon2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.8 miRunlett Park3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.1 miBeri ATV3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.4 miBeri View0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.6 miBear Creek Loop4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miPine River Trailhead ↗San Juan National Forest
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 Weminuche Wilderness, which overlaps San Juan National Forest.
- inWeminuche Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 497,111 acres
- inSan Juan National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,094,539 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
Guidebooks for Colorado
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Pine River?
No. Pine River 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 Pine River?
$20
Source: Forest Service
Is Pine River open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to September.
Source: Forest Service status
What if Pine River is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Vallecito Campground (3.1 mi), Middle Mountain (3.1 mi, first-come), and Pine Point (3.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby