Echo Lake
Echo Lake Campground is located on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in central Colorado near its namesake lake at the base of Mount Blue Sky along Hwy 103. Visitors enjoy hiking, fishing and taking scenic drives along Mount Evans Road.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 12 |
| Tent-only | 4 |
| RV, no hookups | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 55 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
17 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Tent only | Gravel | 8 / 1 | ||
| 002 | Tent only | Gravel | 8 / 1 | ||
| 003 | Tent only | Gravel | 8 / 1 | ||
| 004 | Tent only | Gravel | 8 / 1 | ||
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 011 | Standard | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 55 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
The campground offers 11 sites more suited to RV camping and seven sites designated for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Also, there are vault toilets, hand pumps with potable water and trash service.
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. |
| Forest | Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG |
| Booking | Make reservations at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. |
| Rules | A single site may hold up to eight people. Tents must fit on the pads provided. RVs, trailers or other vehicles must fit on the parking spur. Driving or parking off road is not permitted. The parking length ranges from 20 to 55 feet. Dogs must be on leash. |
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG recreation page ↗
Weather by month
Getting there
Take I-70 westbound, Idaho Springs exit #240 - Hwy 103. Go south 14 miles to the intersection of Hwy 103 and Hwy 5 (Mt Evans Road). Turn right on Hwy 5 then turn left to enter the campground.
| Nearest town | Morrison, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.6563° N, 105.5956° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
11 mi from the campground · 390 acres
- PrescribedO'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx
48 mi from the campground · 267 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Clear Creek Outdoors ↗ | 7.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump Station ↗ | 17 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 22 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Echo Lake Campground Tour | Camping at the Base of Mt. Blue Sky (10,700 ft!)
Worth a stop
Nearby Idaho Springs, a former mining town, makes for a nice outing. History buffs will appreciate the Argo Gold Mine and Mill Museum. The City and County of Denver Mountain Park, Echo Lake and Echo Lake Lodge are located adjacent to the campground.
- under 0.1 miEcho Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 0.9 miLower Goliath Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 1 mi
- 5.8 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miCaptain Mountain ↗8.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miResthouse Meadows ↗5.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.9 miM. Walter Pesman1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miBristlecone Loop0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miAlpine Garden Loop0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miChicago Lakes4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- under 0.1 miEcho Lake Trailhead ↗Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
- 0.1 miCaptain Mountain Trailhead ↗Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
- 0.9 miLower Goliath Trailhead ↗Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
- 1.7 miUpper Goliath Trailhead ↗Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
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 Mount Evans Wilderness.
- inMount Evans Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 73,416 acres
- 11.6 miJames Peak Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 17,109 acres
- 14.8 miVasquez Peak Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 13,000 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Echo Lake sits in a spruce forest near the shores of Echo Lake. The campground's 10,600' elevation creates cool to chilly nights, even in summer, and its location on a mountain pass makes for windy conditions year-round. The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland on the foothills and slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The forests and grassland cover 1.5 million acres and extend north to the Wyoming border, south to Mount Evans and west across the Continental Divide. The area encompasses mountains, lakes and five scenic byways, designated by Congress for their scenery, wildlife or history, including the highest road in North America. Mount Evans Road, also known as Colorado Highway 5, allows visitors to drive from 10,500' to 14,130' above sea level in just 14 miles.
Recreation
Activities in the area include hiking in the Mount Evans Wilderness, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing. Several trails leave directly from the campground.
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 Echo Lake?
Sites at Echo Lake are reservable on Recreation.gov. Make reservations at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Echo Lake?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Echo Lake open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Echo Lake have?
18 sites, including 12 standard sites without power, 4 tent-only sites, and 1 RV site without hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Echo Lake?
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 pets allowed at Echo Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Echo Lake. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Echo Lake?
Activities in the area include hiking in the Mount Evans Wilderness, fishing, scenic driving and wildlife viewing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Echo Lake?
Morrison, Colorado. Nearby Idaho Springs, a former mining town, makes for a nice outing.
Source: Getting there
What if Echo Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are West Chicago Creek (3.6 mi), Clear Lake Campground (6 mi, first-come), and Guanella Pass (7.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby