Silver Bar Campground
Silver Bar Campground is located approximately five miles southwest of Aspen, Colorado, on the banks of Maroon Creek. The campground is adjacent to the Maroon Bells Welcome Station. This small, primitive, campground features four tent-only, walk-in sites with centralized vault toilets only a few yards away from each campsite. A single accessible campsite is located near the toilets and water source. The campground sits at an elevation of 8,460 feet, allowing guests to experience warm summer days and cool evenings with probable afternoon thunderstorms. Properly licensed anglers may fish in Maroon Creek, which runs along the eastern edge of the campground.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · tent only in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 4 |
Site guide
4 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | |
| 002 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | |
| 003 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | |
| 004 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | 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 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 25 ft |
| Equipment | Tents |
| Accessibility | Site 004 is listed accessible |
Silver Bar Campground has four walk-in, tent-only sites. Sites are equipped with picnic tables, vault toilets, food storage lockers (bear boxes) and campfire rings. Drinking water and electrical hook-ups are not available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | White River National Forest |
| Rules | 5 day stay limit. There is an 8 person, two car limit per campsite. Pets must be on a leash at all times while visiting campgrounds AND within designated Wilderness. The leash should not exceed 6 feet in length. Camping is permitted in developed campgrounds and/or designated campsites only. |
Weather by month
Getting there
Located approximately 5 miles southwest of Aspen, Colorado, on Maroon Creek Road. From Highway 82, take the Maroon Creek Road exit at the roundabout on the west edge of town. Follow Maroon Creek Road to the Welcome Station. Silver Bar Campground is on the left.
| Nearest town | Carbondale, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.1458° N, 106.8917° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireWillow
25 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.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Ute Mountaineer ↗ | 4.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 38.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 1.1 miLower Maroon Creek3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.6 miMaroon Creek3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.4 miSugarbowl1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 miConundrum Creek ↗10.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 2.8 miEast Maroon ↗8.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.5 miGovernment ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.6 miEast Maroon Trailhead #1983 ↗White River National Forest
- 1.7 miWest Maroon #1970 ↗White River National Forest
- 2.6 miGovernment TH #1980 ↗White River National Forest
- 2.7 miConundrum Creek TH #1981 ↗White River National Forest
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 Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, which overlaps White River National Forest.
- inMaroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 181,973 acres
- inWhite River National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,482,711 acres
- 8.1 miHunter-Fryingpan Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 82,496 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
On the National Register nearby
- Samuel I. Hallett HouseBuilding · Aspen · 4.4 mi
- Holden Mining and Smelting Co.Historic district · Aspen · 4.4 mi
- Maroon Creek BridgeStructure · Aspen · 4.6 mi
Natural features
The Maroon Bells Scenic Area is surrounded by the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. This wilderness is one of the five original Colorado wilderness areas designated by the 1964 Wilderness Act. Its scenic value exudes from its aspen groves, meadows of wildflowers, and dark forests of spruce and fir that rise up from the valleys to alpine landscapes. Here, bighorn sheep, pika, and ptarmigan find habitat above timberline. Towering over glacial valleys at over 14,000 feet in elevation, the Maroon Bells are the most recognizable peaks in the Elk Mountains. The Maroon Bells are unique in the Rockies in that they are made up of metamorphic sedimentary mudstone that gives the peaks their maroon color and unstable nature for climbing.
Recreation
For hikers and backpackers, the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area epitomizes the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Starting from the Deadly Bells Trailhead at Maroon Lake, the West Maroon Trail gains elevation through aspen groves and evergreens, traverses boulder fields, crosses streams, and leads hikers through high-elevation (10,000+ feet) mountain passes. Climbing through alpine terrain, backpackers will find high mountain lakes and a smattering of wildflowers in mid-summer. Check specific regulations for camping in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area. For day hikers and horseback riders, nearby Maroon Creek Trail offers a less crowded alternative to viewing the Maroon Bells, Pyramid Peak and the entire Maroon valley. The gentle, flat terrain offers scenic stops that are great for picnicking.
Nearby
The nearby mountain resort town of Aspen is a popular destination for visitors to the area. From downhill skiing and world-class fly fishing, to dining and resorts, there is a multitude of outdoor and indoor opportunities in this mountain town.
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 Silver Bar Campground?
Sites at Silver Bar Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Silver Bar Campground?
Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Silver Bar Campground have?
4 sites, including 4 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Silver Bar Campground?
The longest site here provides 25 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 accessible sites at Silver Bar Campground?
Site 004 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
What is there to do at Silver Bar Campground?
For hikers and backpackers, the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area epitomizes the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Silver Bar Campground?
Carbondale, Colorado. The nearby mountain resort town of Aspen is a popular destination for visitors to the area.
Source: Getting there
What if Silver Bar Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Silver Bell Campground (0.3 mi), Silver Queen Campground (1 mi), and Maroon Bells Amphitheatre (4.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby