U.S. Forest Service · Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands · Bailey, CO

Buffalo Campground

Buffalo Campground is one of two facilities within the Buffalo Creek Recreation Area, about an hour's drive southwest of Denver, Colorado. Visitors enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, mountain biking and trout fishing.

Open nowReservable · Recreation.gov37 sites40 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
BUFFALO CAMPGROUNDBUFFALO CAMPGROUNDBUFFALO CAMPGROUNDBUFFALO CAMPGROUND
Photos via Recreation.gov
3fires
active
Harris Park Broadcast Rx (prescribed burn) · 15 mi away · 390 acres
2 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site mix

Standard, no hookups35
Tent-only2
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

37 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePeople / vehiclesFiresRating
001StandardBack-in30Gravel8 / 2Yes
003StandardBack-in30Gravel8 / 2
004StandardBack-in30Gravel8 / 2
005StandardBack-in30Gravel8 / 2
006StandardBack-in15Gravel8 / 2
007StandardBack-in32Gravel8 / 2
008StandardBack-in18Gravel8 / 2
009StandardBack-in32Gravel8 / 2
010StandardBack-in32Gravel8 / 2
011StandardBack-in30Gravel8 / 2

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 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length40 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground offers single-family sites, some of which are designated for tent camping only. Each site is equipped with accessible picnic tables and campfire rings with grills. Vault toilets are provided. No hookups are available.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonEarly May to Late September
ForestPike-San Isabel National Forests
BookingPhone 877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance. Friday and Saturday night minimum required stay on weekends. 3 nights minimum on holiday weekends.
Fees$28.00 fee per site for overnight camping. Two (2) vehicles or one (1) RV per site is included in the camping fee. $11.00 for a third vehicle. $11.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. Self-servicing fee tube is available.
RulesMaximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle. Dogs must be leashed at all times. No discharge of firearms or fireworks. Only licensed vehicles can operate inside campground. Bears frequent the area and a bear closure order is in place. All bear attractants, both food and non-food items which can attract bears, should be kept in a bear resistant manner.

Pike-San Isabel National Forests recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Buffalo Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.51 inches of precipitation, 7.0 inches of snowFebruary: 0.55 inches of precipitation, 7.4 inches of snowMarch: 1.21 inches of precipitation, 11.2 inches of snowApril: 1.52 inches of precipitation, 10.3 inches of snowMay: 1.78 inches of precipitation, 1.9 inches of snowJune: 1.68 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 2.60 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 2.56 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.24 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowOctober: 1.00 inches of precipitation, 5.7 inches of snowNovember: 0.61 inches of precipitation, 7.0 inches of snowDecember: 0.52 inches of precipitation, 8.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 29.2°F averageFebruary: 30.9°F averageMarch: 37.6°F averageApril: 43.4°F averageMay: 52.7°F averageJune: 63.0°F averageJuly: 68.4°F averageAugust: 66.3°F averageSeptember: 59.3°F averageOctober: 48.0°F averageNovember: 37.9°F averageDecember: 29.6°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Cheesman, 9 miles from the campground at 6,880 feet, station USC00051528 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 16 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 59 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Denver, travel southwest on Highway 285. Turn south on Jefferson County Road 126 and travel 15 miles. Turn right on Forest Road 550 and drive 5 miles to the campground.

Nearest townBailey, Colorado
Coordinates39.3416° N, 105.3296° W · Directions ↗

Charges and cancellations

Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Harris Park Broadcast Rx

    15 mi from the campground · 390 acres

  • Prescribed
    O'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx

    25 mi from the campground · 267 acres

  • Prescribed
    Rainbow Gulch Rx

    31 mi from the campground · 912 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗19.7 mi
Outdoor gearREI ↗23.1 mi
RV sales & serviceBerkenkotter Motors ↗25.1 mi

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

Explore

Video

Buffalo Campground & Dispersed Camping - Buffalo Creek Recreation Area

Worth a stop

The drive along County Road 126 southwest from Pine Junction affords magnificent views of the valleys below. Pikes Peak, at 14,110 feet, can be seen in the distance and other prominent rock formations present themselves throughout the scenic drive.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.3 mi
    Buffalo TH - Ct Connector
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Mouache
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.8 mi
    Green Mountain
    4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Tramway
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.2 mi
    Gashouse Gulch ↗
    5.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.6 mi
    Baldy
    4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

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 →

This campground sits inside Lost Creek Wilderness.

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 near Buffalo Creek at an elevation of 7,400 feet in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Summer temperatures are mild and range from 75-80 degrees during the day to 55-65 degrees at night.

Recreation

The Buffalo Creek Recreation Area is home to a 40-mile trail system most popular with mountain bikers, but hikers and horseback riders enjoy the area as well. Several trailheads are within walking distance of the campground. The Lost Creek Wilderness Area can be accessed via the Colorado Trail, which stretches nearly 500 miles from Denver to Durango. Buffalo Creek is a popular fishing stream for brook trout.

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 Buffalo Campground?

Sites at Buffalo Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Phone 877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Buffalo Campground?

$28.00 fee per site for overnight camping. Two (2) vehicles or one (1) RV per site is included in the camping fee. $11.00 for a third vehicle.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Buffalo Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Buffalo Campground?

Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.

Source: Charges and cancellations

Is Buffalo Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Early May to Late September.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Buffalo Campground have?

37 sites, including 35 standard sites without power and 2 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Buffalo Campground?

The longest site here provides 40 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 Buffalo Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Buffalo Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Buffalo Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Maximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle.

Source: Fire nearby

What is there to do at Buffalo Campground?

The Buffalo Creek Recreation Area is home to a 40-mile trail system most popular with mountain bikers, but hikers and horseback riders enjoy the area as well. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Buffalo Campground?

Bailey, Colorado. The drive along County Road 126 southwest from Pine Junction affords magnificent views of the valleys below.

Source: Getting there

What if Buffalo Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Meadows Group Campground (1 mi), Green Mountain Campground (1.7 mi, first-come), and Kelsey Campground (3.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby