Deerlodge Park Campground
Deerlodge Park Campground is located 51 miles (85 km) east of the Canyon Visitor Center and 80 miles (129 km) from the Quarry Visitor Center. The campground sits on the Yampa River by the boat ramp at the head of Yampa Canyon. Deerlodge Park Campground is open year-round, but winter access can be very difficult due to snow. When the Yampa River exceeds an 18,000 cfs flow rate, the campground will flood. This is typically during the late spring runoff. Before you camp at Deerlodge Park, check the USGS current Yampa River flow rates and the NOAA Yampa river predicted flow rates The campground has seven shady walk-in sites suitable for tents. The sites have tables and fire pits.
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 · pets allowed in Colorado · dark sky in Colorado
Site mix
| Walk-in | 7 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
7 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 25 / 4 | Yes |
| 2 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 25 / 4 | Yes |
| 3 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 25 / 4 | Yes |
| 4 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 25 / 2 | Yes |
| 5 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 25 / 2 | Yes |
| 6 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 25 / 2 | Yes |
| 7 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | Riverfront | 25 / 4 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | All campsites at Deerlodge Park Campground are first-come, first-served. You will pay upon arrival using Scan & Pay through the Recreation.gov mobile app ( download the app before your visit), or by cash, check or credit card using the self-pay envelope on-site. |
| Dark sky | Inside Dinosaur National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
Deerlodge Campground has seven shady walk-in sites suitable for tents. The campground has vault toilets and drinking water spigots available seasonally, but no showers. All campsites have picnic tables and campfire rings.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
To reach Deerlodge Park Campground, drive west from Craig, Colorado 59 miles (95 km) or east of Dinosaur, Colorado 51 miles (95 km) on Highway 40. At the Dinosaur National Monument sign turn north on to Deerlodge Road (or labeled Dinosaur Park Service Rd on some maps) and drive 17 miles.
| Nearest town | Jensen, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 40.4464° N, 108.5126° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
This is a Scan & Pay campground. There are no refunds, changes, cancellations, or other fee changes allowed with Scan and Pay payments. San & Pay is similar to putting payment into a fee tube at the campground that cannot be retrieved.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 28.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cliff Lake Campground Overview - Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
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On the National Register nearby
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Natural features
Deerlodge Park campground is in a large flat open area underneath large cottonwood trees along the Yampa River
Recreation
- Dinosaur National Monument covers over 210,000 acres (84984 ha).
- Visitor Centers. The monument features two visitor centers - one in Colorado and one in Utah.
- Quarry Exhibit Hall. You can see over 1,500 dinosaur fossils still in the rock inside the Quarry Exhibit Hall (Jensen, Utah).
- History & Culture. Numerous cultural sites reveal stories of the people who lived here before and include Fremont petroglyphs, homestead cabins and former ranches. Hiking trails allow in-depth exploration.
- Hiking. There are miles of trails for hiking and cross-country travel.
- River Rafting & Boating. Whitewater rafting, both commercial and private, is popular on the Green and Yampa Rivers. The Yampa River multi-day rafting trips begin at Deerlodge Park. The Yampa rushes downstream 44-miles (71 km) to join the Green River at Echo Park. Boaters continue downstream on the Green River to the take-out at the Split Mountain boat ramp. The Yampa is the largest free-flowing tr
- Scenic Drives. Several roads provide access to key destinations and scenic sites. Scenic drives allow the windshield visitor to see spectacular geology.
Guidebooks for Dinosaur National Monument and Colorado
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Guide to the Green and Yampa Rivers in Dinosaur National MonumentDuwain Whitis and Barbara Vinson, 2013Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Deerlodge Park Campground?
No. Deerlodge Park Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
How much does it cost to camp at Deerlodge Park Campground?
All campsites at Deerlodge Park Campground are first-come, first-served. You will pay upon arrival using Scan & Pay through the Recreation.gov mobile app ( download the app before your visit), or by cash, check or credit card using the self-pay envelope on-site.
What time is check-in at Deerlodge Park Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
How many sites does Deerlodge Park Campground have?
8 sites, including 7 walk-in sites.
Are there showers or a dump station at Deerlodge Park Campground?
The campground has vault toilets and drinking water spigots available seasonally, but no showers.
Are pets allowed at Deerlodge Park Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Deerlodge Park Campground. Leash rules apply.
Can I have a campfire at Deerlodge Park Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Is Deerlodge Park Campground good for stargazing?
Yes. Deerlodge Park Campground sits inside Dinosaur National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
Is there cell service at Deerlodge Park Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Deerlodge Park Campground?
Dinosaur National Monument covers over 210,000 acres (84984 ha). The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Deerlodge Park Campground?
Jensen, Colorado.
Source: Getting there
What if Deerlodge Park Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Echo Park Campground (25.6 mi, partly first-come), Gates Of Lodore Campground (27.6 mi), and Big Pine I River Camp (34.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby