Horse Thief
The Horse Thief Campground, located at Trappers Lake in the White River National Forest, offers a natural setting for stock users adjacent to the Flat Tops Wilderness. The campsites are set aside for stock users only, with corrals, long spurs for large trailers, and an RV Dump just up the road. The Flat Tops Wilderness area provides miles of riding within this historic wilderness area. Trappers Lake is in the wilderness, so motorized, mechanized, and any kind of wheeled cart is prohibited; this goes for bikes and game carts on the trails as well.
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
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Site mix
| Equestrian | 7 |
Site guide
7 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 2 | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 3 | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 4 | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 5 | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 6 | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
| 7 | Back-in | 55 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 55 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Horse Thief Campground (Elevation 9,700ft) has 7 single first-come first-serve sites with corrals. There are long spurs to accommodate large trailers (max length 60ft). The campground is equipped with picnic tables, fire grates, vault toilets, trash disposal, bear boxes, and potable water. Limited shade is available so shade shelters are recommended. An RV dump station within the TL Campground complex. Electrical hook-ups are not available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Meeker, take Colorado Highway 13 east for 1 mile, then turn right on Rio Blanco County Road 8 and follow this for 39 miles to Trappers Lake Road #205. Turn south on Trappers Lake Road #205, and continue for 10 miles turn right at the bridge near Trappers Lake Lodge. Horse Thief Campground is approximately 1 mile further on the right.
| Area | Recreation.gov lists no exact point for this campground. The recreation area is at 39.36° N, 107.23° W. Call the office before you drive. |
Fire nearby
- WildfireWillow
43 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Explore
Natural features
The Horse Thief Campground at Trappers Lake is located adjacent to the Flat Tops Wilderness, offering a natural environment with many pothole lakes, surrounding glacier carved mountains, and access to trails and wilderness areas. Wildlife frequent the area and moose, elk, deer, marmots, pine marten, and an abundance of birds may be seen.
Recreation
Trappers Lake is known as the Cradle of Wilderness. At approximately 302 surface acres, the lake contains a strain of native cutthroat trout and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife operates a spawn collection station at the Cabin Creek inlet during May and June. Trappers Lake lies completely within the Flat Tops Wilderness; motorized boats and wheeled carts for boat transport are prohibited.
Nearby
Fishing Access: Trappers Lake, Little Trappers Lake, Wall Lake, Fraser Creek, Lake of the Woods Trail Access: Little Trappers Trail #1814, Carhart Trail #1815, Trappers Lake Trail #1816, Wall Lake Trail #1818, Island Lakes Trail #1842, Chinese Wall Trail #1803, Deer Lake Trail #2021, South Derby Trail #1857, Himes Peak Trail #1877
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 Horse Thief?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Horse Thief have?
7 sites, including 7 equestrian sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Horse Thief?
The longest site here provides 55 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Horse Thief?
An RV dump station within the TL Campground complex.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Horse Thief?
Yes, pets are allowed at Horse Thief. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Horse Thief?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Horse Thief?
Trappers Lake is known as the Cradle of Wilderness. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation