Dry Lake Campground
Dry Lake Trailhead is located off County Road 60 (Buffalo Pass Road) and is near the Dry Lake Campground. This trailhead provides access to both non-motorized and motorized trails. Access for dirt bikes and other recreational vehicles on Buffalo Pass Road. This is a very high-use year-round trailhead and a gateway to exploring the aspens, sub-alpine firs, and wildflowers of the mountains of the Park Range. A vault toilet is provided at the Trailhead. Dry Lake Trailhead is managed by the Hahn’s Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District in Steamboat Springs.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Colorado · reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 22 |
Site guide
22 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pull-through | 90 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Good |
| 2 | Pull-through | 70 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Good |
| 3 | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Good | |
| 4 | Pull-through | 154 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Good |
| 5 | Pull-through | 169 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Good |
| 6 | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Good |
| 7 | Back-in | 58 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Good |
| 8 | Back-in | 71 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Good |
| 9 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 10 / 2 | Yes | Good | |
| 10 | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Good |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 92 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
There are 22 campsites, 2 of which are double sites and 8 may be reserved two weeks in advance. Plus, 5 sites are first-come, first-served. Each site is spacious and equipped with a campfire ring, picnic table, bear box.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Directions from Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Travel 4 miles north of Steamboat Springs on Routt County Road #36 (Strawberry Park Rd), then 3.6 miles east on Routt County Road #38 (Buffalo Pass Rd). The campground is located to the north of the road.
| Coordinates | 40.5359° N, 106.7822° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 17.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Dry Lake Campground + Upper & Lower Fish Creek Falls
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miSpring Creek1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.4 miBear Creek ↗9.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.7 miFish Creek Barrier Fr ↗0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.8 miFish Creek ↗7.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 3.9 miHot Springs Trail2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.7 miCreekside1.2 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
Mount Zirkel Wilderness begins about 7.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 7.7 miMount Zirkel Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 160,309 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
- Christian Science Society BuildingBuilding · Steamboat Springs · 4.3 mi
- Crawford HouseBuilding · Steamboat Springs · 4.3 mi
- Steamboat ApartmentsBuilding · Steamboat Springs · 4.3 mi
Natural features
At an elevation of 8,277 feet, Dry lake lies in the Rocky Mountains in the heart of the Routt National Forest. The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland encompass nearly three million acres from central and northeastern Wyoming to north-central Colorado. Black bear, bobcat, coyote, elk, mule deer and moose are just some of the many animals that inhabit these rich and diverse lands.
Recreation
Dry Lake campground provides a great gateway for hiking and biking.
Nearby
There are many attractions with Steamboat Springs only a short drive away. Many more outdoor opportunities exist in the surrounding national forests and grasslands, including hiking, biking, camping, horseback and off-road vehicle riding, fishing, hunting, sightseeing and winter sports.
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 Dry Lake Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Dry Lake Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Dry Lake Campground have?
22 sites, including 22 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Dry Lake Campground?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Dry Lake Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Dry Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Dry Lake Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What if Dry Lake Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Summit Lake Campground (5.2 mi, first-come), Granite Campground (5.5 mi, first-come), and Hidden Lakes Campground (9.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby