Chris Park
Chris Park is located near Haviland Lake in southwestern Colorado, 18 miles north of Durango. Visitors enjoy the area for its hiking, canoeing and fishing opportunities.
More like this: electric hookups in Colorado · reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · group sites in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 2 |
| group shelter electric | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
3 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group | Pull-through | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No | 75 / 15 | Yes | |
| 2 | Group | Pull-through | 40 | Gravel | Full | No | 75 / 15 | Yes | |
| 3 | Group Shelter Electric | Pull-through | 40 | Paved | Full | 15 amp | 150 / 43 | Yes | 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 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Site 3 is listed accessible |
The campground offers three group sites. Sites 1 and 2 can accommodate up to 75 people each. Site 3 can accommodate up to 150 people, and includes a picnic shelter with electricity and grills. A volleyball court is located near this site as well. Picnic tables and campfire rings provided, as are vault toilets and drinking water.
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. |
| Season | Late May to September |
| Forest | San Juan National Forest |
| Booking | Advanced reservations are required. |
| Fees | $125/night - $250/night |
| Rules | Quiet time is typically between 10pm - 6am. Please be a good neighbor and limit use of generators to no more than one hour at a time. Dogs must be leashed or otherwise physically retrained. Do not leave pets unattended. Check-out time: 12:00 pm; Check-in time: 2:00 pm - if the site is empty, campers may come in anytime. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Durango, travel north on Highway 550 for about 18 miles to the campground. Turn at Haviland Lake sign, continue for a half-mile, then turn right at the intersection.
| Nearest town | Durango, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37.5164° N, 107.8000° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Group Sites Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use 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. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.
Fire nearby
- WildfireGold Mountain
38 mi from the campground · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Ski Barn ↗ | 17 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 39.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Chris Park Group Campground San Juan National Forest, CO
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miMiners Trace1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miChris Park0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miWaterdog Trot0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miLupine Trace0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miCowboy Cuttoff0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miLech0.5 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
This campground sits inside San Juan National Forest.
- inSan Juan National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,094,539 acres
- 5.2 miHermosa Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 37,344 acres
- 12.1 miWeminuche Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 497,111 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
The campground is situated in a mostly flat, open area, shaded by scattered ponderosa pine trees. Haviland Lake is a short drive from the site.
Recreation
Several trailheads are in the vicinity, including Forebay, Goulding, Elbert Creek and Purgatory Flats. The historic Rico-to-Rockwood Wagon Road passes through Chris Park. Built in the late 1800s, the road was used for six years until the railway opened.
Nearby
Beautiful Haviland Lake is less than two miles from the campground. The 80-acre, no-wake lake offers boating, canoeing and fishing. Accessible fishing docks are located on the lakeshore.
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 Chris Park?
Sites at Chris Park are reservable on Recreation.gov. Advanced reservations are required. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Chris Park?
$125/night - $250/night
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Chris Park?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Chris Park?
Group Sites Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Chris Park open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Late May to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Chris Park have?
3 sites, including 2 group sites and 1 group shelter electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Chris Park?
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
Does Chris Park have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Chris Park?
Yes, pets are allowed at Chris Park. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Chris Park?
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. Quiet time is typically between 10pm - 6am.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Chris Park?
Site 3 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Chris Park?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map