Heaton Bay
Heaton Bay Campground is situated at an elevation of 9,000 feet and centrally located for recreation and relaxation in the White River National Forest. There is little or no shade in the campground due to pine beetle infestation and the removal of hazard trees, but the sites offer open views to Dillon Reservoir and several mountain ranges.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: electric hookups in Colorado · first-come in Colorado · reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · dark sky in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 52 |
| Tent-only | 18 |
| RV with electric | 14 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 112 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
84 sites in 6 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Power | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 48 | Paved | No | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 002 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 43 | Paved | No | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 003 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 78 | Paved | No | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 004 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 58 | Paved | No | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 005 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 43 | Paved | No | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 006 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 33 | Paved | No | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 007 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 49 | Paved | No | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 008 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 33 | Paved | No | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 009 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 58 | Paved | No | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 010 | LOPB | Standard | 46 | Paved | No | 10 / 1 | 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 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Dark sky | 2.1 miles from Frisco, Colorado, a certified International Dark Sky Community |
| Accessibility | Site 010 is listed accessible |
Heaton Bay Campground has 87 sites, able to accommodate tents, trailers and RVs. Walk-in only tent sites available of a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water. Electrical hook-ups are available for a fee at several of the sites. Firewood is for sale from hosts at the campground. Boat ramp access is available in the marinas located in the nearby towns of Frisco and Dillon.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | White River National Forest |
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-70, take Frisco exit to 203. Turn left onto the Dillon Dam Road. Travel northeast for 1 mile. The campground will be on the right hand side of the road.
| Nearest town | Silverthorne, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.6050° N, 106.0778° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireWillow
32 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
32 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 | Fly Fishing ↗ | 1.7 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 47.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Heaton Bay Campground - Dillon Reservoir Colorado
Worth a stop
Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain ski resorts are all located within 10 miles from Dillon Reservoir. These resorts stay open year round.
- 6.3 mi
- 11.4 miLoveland Pass Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 13.1 miWilliams Fork Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miOld Dillon Reservoir1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miTeller0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miSluice Box0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miBohdi0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miOsprey Nest Overlook0.06 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
- 0.4 miGilberson Bay Spur0.07 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, e-bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.2 miOld Dillon Reservoir TH #87 ↗White River National Forest
- 1.4 miMesa Cortina TH #32/South Willow Falls ↗White River National Forest
- 2 miBuffalo Cabin/Buffalo Mountain TH #31 ↗White River National Forest
- 2.1 miDickey Day Use Area ↗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
Eagles Nest Wilderness begins about 4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 4 miEagles Nest Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 135,104 acres
- 4.7 miPtarmigan Peak Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 12,615 acres
- 8.4 miWhite River National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,482,711 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
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting 8 wilderness areas, 4 defined seasons, and 10 peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout. Alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. These species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live.
Recreation
Dillon Reservoir is 3,233 acres with 26.8 miles of shoreline, offering an ideal spot for fishing, boating, and sailing. The reservoir supports a healthy population of rainbow and brown trout, in addition to a few cutthroat finding their way into the lake from feeder streams. Opportunities for hiking and biking in this area include more than 7 paved miles of the 50-mile Summit County trail system. The Old Dillon Reservoir Trail is a favorite. This short, easy trail has spectacular views of the Tenmile Range and the Continental Divide. For those wanting a bit more solitude, hiking in the Ptarmigan Wilderness area is a wonderful escape from the crowds.
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 Heaton Bay?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Heaton Bay?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Heaton Bay have?
87 sites, including 52 standard sites without power, 18 tent-only sites, and 14 RV sites with electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Heaton Bay?
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 Heaton Bay have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Heaton Bay?
Yes, pets are allowed at Heaton Bay. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Heaton Bay?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Heaton Bay?
Site 010 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 Heaton Bay good for stargazing?
Frisco, Colorado, a certified International Dark Sky Community, is 2.1 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.
Source: DarkSky International
Is there cell service at Heaton Bay?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, 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 Heaton Bay?
Dillon Reservoir is 3,233 acres with 26.8 miles of shoreline, offering an ideal spot for fishing, boating, and sailing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Heaton Bay?
Silverthorne, Colorado. Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain ski resorts are all located within 10 miles from Dillon Reservoir.
Source: Getting there