U.S. Forest Service · Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG · Colorado, CO

Hahns Peak Lake Campground

Hahns Peak Lake Campground lies on the shore of a small, scenic lake 30 miles north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Families and outdoor enthusiasts love the abundant hiking, hunting, off highway vehicles, mountain biking and fishing opportunities. With an elevation of 8,500 feet, the campground offers spectacular views of the forested lakeshore, picturesque mountain lake, and iconic views of Hahns Peak, the eastern most point of the Elkhead Mountains. Hahns Peak Lake Campground consists of 23 single unit campsites and 3 double sites for larger groups.

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 ↗
Hahns Peak Lake Campground nd Day Use Area view from drive inHahns Peak Lake CampgroundHahns Peak Lake CampgroundHahns Peak Lake Campground
Photos courtesy of FS, October 2020, FS, June 2020, FS, June 2018 · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups26
Host/management12
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

26 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopEntryFits, ftSurfaceWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
002LakePull-through30Gravel10 / 1
003LakePull-through30Gravel10 / 1
004LakePull-through30Gravel10 / 1
005LakeBack-in35Gravel10 / 1
006LakePull-through25Gravel10 / 1
007LakePull-through60Gravel16 / 2
008LakeBack-in25Gravel10 / 1
009LakeBack-in25Gravel10 / 1
010LakePull-through30GravelNo / –10 / 2YesStandard
011LakePull-through30GravelNo / –10 / 2YesStandard

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

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length99 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Hahns Peak Lake Campground consists of 23 single unit campsites and three double sites for the larger groups. The facility is small but campsites are spacious and private.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMid June to Mid October
ForestMedicine Bow-Routt NFs and Thunder Basin NG
BookingTo Make Reservations go to www.recreation.gov, or call 877-444-6777 20 sites are reservable, and 5 sites are first come first served.
Fees$26 per site. Must have exact change if paying cash, or pay by check unless previously reserved on recreation.gov (no credit cards accepted at the campground)

Medicine Bow-Routt NFs and Thunder Basin NG recreation page ↗

Getting there

From Steamboat Springs, Colorado, take U.S. Highway 40 west for 1.2 miles and turn north onto County Road 129. Proceed for 28 miles, then take Forest Road 486 west for 2 miles to the campground.

Nearest townColorado, Colorado
Coordinates40.8394° N, 106.9897° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗2.3 mi
Outdoor gearKoyoty Sports & Trophy Room Artistry ↗43.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Hahns Peak Lake Campground, CO

Worth a stop

Visitors might also enjoy stopping by Steamboat Lake State Park, only a short drive away, or going into the town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. 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.

  • 0.2 mi
    Hahns Pk Lake Trail
    1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.9 mi
    Prospector ↗
    9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 2.6 mi
    Nipple Peak ↗
    10.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 2.7 mi
    Hahns Peak
    1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 3.1 mi
    Independence Creek
    3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 4.4 mi
    Burton Creek
    2.9 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

Mount Zirkel Wilderness begins about 6.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is situated in a spruce, pine and fir forest along the shore of the 160-acre Hahns Peak Lake in the Routt National Forest of north central Colorado. Lupine and other colorful wildflowers appear throughout the campground in warmer months. 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

The lake provides trout fishing on or off shore, as well as boating for non-motorized or electric motor boats only. Hiking, mountain biking and off-road vehicles can be enjoyed on most of the areas trails, including a popular biking loop on the Prospector Trail. The West Side Lake Trail winds for nearly a mile along the lake shore.

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 Hahns Peak Lake Campground?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Hahns Peak Lake Campground?

$26 per site. Must have exact change if paying cash, or pay by check unless previously reserved on recreation.gov (no credit cards accepted at the campground)

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Hahns Peak Lake Campground?

Check-in 01:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Hahns Peak Lake Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Mid June to Mid October.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Hahns Peak Lake Campground have?

38 sites, including 26 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Hahns Peak 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 Hahns Peak Lake Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Hahns Peak Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Hahns Peak Lake Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Hahns Peak Lake 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 Hahns Peak Lake Campground?

The lake provides trout fishing on or off shore, as well as boating for non-motorized or electric motor boats only. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Hahns Peak Lake Campground?

Colorado, Colorado. Visitors might also enjoy stopping by Steamboat Lake State Park, only a short drive away, or going into the town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Source: Getting there

What if Hahns Peak Lake Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Hinman Campground (10.2 mi, partly first-come), Seedhouse Campground (12.3 mi, partly first-come), and Seedhouse Group Site (14.1 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby