Baby Doe
Baby Doe Campground is situated on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in the shade of a lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forest. This family-friendly campground is a popular summer destination for boating, hiking and fishing. The campground was named for Elizabeth McCourt, whose nickname was Baby Doe. She made a name for herself in the Colorado mining community in the 19th century when she took on the rugged work of a miner.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 48 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
48 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | |
| 003 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | |
| 004 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | |
| 005 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | |
| 006 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | |
| 007 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 009 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 010 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 011 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 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 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | Extra Vehicle Fee $10.00 |
| Accessibility | Sites 007, 008, 009, 010 and 3 more are listed accessible |
The campground offers single-family sites, some of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and trash collection are provided. Firewood is available for purchase from the Host. Parking spurs are gravel or dirt.
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 | Pike-San Isabel National Forests |
| Booking | All sites are by reservation only. Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance. Friday and Saturday night minimum required stay on weekends. |
| Fees | $29 nightly fee per site ($33 for sites 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14), which includes two vehicles. A third vehicle is an additional $11per night. RVs and ATV/boat trailers count as one vehicle. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. Self-servicing fee tube is available. |
| Rules | Maximum of eight people per site. Maximum three tents per site or one RV and two tents. Dogs, including service dogs, must be leashed at all times. No discharge of firearms or fireworks. Only licensed vehicles can operate inside campground. Camping is not allowed behind a locked gate. Remember to check fishing regulations before fishing at any body of water. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Leadville, Colorado, drive west on County Road 4 about 3.5 miles, turn right on County Road 9C and follow signs to Baby Doe Campground.
| Nearest town | Leadville, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.2697° N, 106.3506° 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
- WildfireWillow
5 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
49 mi from the campground · 390 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Vail Sports ↗ | 23.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 29 mi |
| RV sales & service | Holiday RV ↗ | 54.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Baby Doe Campground Tour & Review | Turquoise Lake, Colorado
Worth a stop
Venture to Independence Pass for a scenic drive with breathtaking views of the Rockies and surrounding alpine tundra habitat. At 12,095 feet, it is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the country and marks where the Top of the Rockies National Scenic and Historic Byway crosses the Continental Divide.
- 5.4 miCrystal Lake Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 5.9 miWurts Ditch Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 6.2 miWillow Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8.6 miEmerald Lake Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 12.1 miMount Elbert Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 12.4 miSunnyside Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miRift Connector0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miRift1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miLateral0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miRift Cg Connector0.06 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miKettle0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miTerminal0.2 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
White River National Forest begins about 0.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.1 miWhite River National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,482,711 acres
- 4.5 miMount Massive Wilderness ↗Wilderness · FS/FWS · 29,027 acres
- 6.9 miHoly Cross Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 122,453 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
Campsites are perched along the scenic lakeshore. The Mount Massive Wilderness Area, a 30,540 acre stretch of primitive land boasting Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet, is nearby. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.
Recreation
The 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail meanders along the shoreline is a gentle loop trail through the forest and down to the shoreline of Turquoise Lake. This trail connects to the 6.4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail that parallels the shoreline from Sugar Loaf Dam to May Queen Campground. Trail guides are available at the trailhead located about a mile south, at the entrance to Molly Brown Campground. On the lake, boating, sailing, canoeing and fishing are favorite activities. Anglers fish for stocked cutthroat, rainbow, brown and lake trout. A boat ramp is located about a mile south of the campground.
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 Baby Doe?
Sites at Baby Doe are reservable on Recreation.gov. All sites are by reservation only. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Baby Doe?
Extra Vehicle Fee $10.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Baby Doe?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Baby Doe?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Baby Doe open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Baby Doe have?
51 sites, including 48 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Baby Doe?
The longest site here provides 45 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 Baby Doe?
Yes, pets are allowed at Baby Doe. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Baby Doe?
Sites 007, 008, 009, and 010 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 7 sites in all. 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 Baby Doe?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Baby Doe?
The 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail meanders along the shoreline is a gentle loop trail through the forest and down to the shoreline of Turquoise Lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Baby Doe?
Leadville, Colorado. Venture to Independence Pass for a scenic drive with breathtaking views of the Rockies and surrounding alpine tundra habitat.
Source: Getting there