Lodgepole
Lodgepole Campground is a creekside destination with incredible Colorado mountain views. The campground is located 3 miles south of Jefferson Lake, one of the highest elevation lakes around, capping 10,685 feet elevation and bordered by steep 12,000 foot peaks. Fishing in both the creek and lake offer promising catches of trout. Another noteworthy aspect of the campground is its access to the Colorado Trail.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 25 |
| Tent-only | 8 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
33 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 006 | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 008 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 011 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 012 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | 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 | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 001, 003, 004, 005 and 14 more are listed accessible |
Lodgepole offers more than 30 reservable campsites. Parking aprons are gravel and dirt and the max RV length 30 feet. Amenities include picnic tables, vault toilets, drinking water and grills.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Mid May (depending on conditions) to Mid October |
| Forest | Pike-San Isabel National Forests |
| Booking | Reservations are recommended during the busy summer months and can be made up to 6 months in advance and a minimum of 4 days in advance at 1-877-444-6777 or recreation.gov. |
| Fees | $24.00 fee per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one 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-service fee tube is available. |
| Rules | Campfires are restricted to fire rings only. Be sure campfire is completely extinguished before leaving. Maximum of eight people per site. Facility roads are not paved. No more than a 14-night consecutive stay. Dogs must be always be leashed. No discharge of firearms or fireworks. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From US Highway 285 at Jefferson, take County Road 35 north to County Road 37 and turn right. Pay the user fee at Jefferson Lake Recreation Area entrance station and continue on the road to the campground.
| Nearest town | Lake George, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.4167° N, 105.8497° 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
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
20 mi from the campground · 390 acres
- WildfireWillow
34 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedO'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx
39 mi from the campground · 267 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Lessons & Rental Shop ↗ | 15.6 mi |
| Dump station | Dump Station ↗ | 38.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 41.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park / Upper Lodgepole Site #132 Campground Review
Worth a stop
Visitors enjoy Fairplay, Colorado, a ghost town that was once a frontier boom town. The South Park City Museum contains 34 authentic buildings with 60,000 artifacts.
- 5.4 miGibson Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.2 mi
- 13.2 miLong Gulch Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miWest Jefferson ↗5.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miMichigan Cr Snowmobile ↗7.2 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 2.2 miMichigan Creek2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miJefferson Lake Loop2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.2 miFrench Pass3.4 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
Mount Evans Wilderness begins about 10.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.5 miMount Evans Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 73,416 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
Lodgepole sits in a valley along Jefferson Creek facing Jefferson Hill at the high elevation of 9,900 feet. The single-loop campground is surrounded by groves of aspen and mixed conifer trees. Jefferson Lake, spanning about 182 acres, has deep, cold waters and freezes over in winter.
Recreation
The best hiking, biking and horseback riding experience is on the epic Colorado Trail, a 471-mile trail that extends from Denver to Durango. Also accessible from the campground is the West Jefferson Loop Trail, a foot path that extends for 11 miles and reaches the Continental Divide. Rainbow, brown, mackinaw and brook trout can be found swimming in the creek. For those who prefer fishing by boat, Jefferson Lake has a boat ramp. It is a no-wake lake.
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 Lodgepole?
Sites at Lodgepole are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations are recommended during the busy summer months and can be made up to 6 months in advance and a minimum of 4 days in advance at 1-877-444-6777 or recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Lodgepole?
$24.00 fee per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $11.00 for a third vehicle.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Lodgepole?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Lodgepole?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Lodgepole open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Mid May (depending on conditions) to Mid October.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Lodgepole have?
34 sites, including 25 standard sites without power and 8 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Lodgepole?
The longest site here provides 35 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 Lodgepole?
Yes, pets are allowed at Lodgepole. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Lodgepole?
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. Campfires are restricted to fire rings only.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Lodgepole?
Sites 001, 003, 004, and 005 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 18 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
What is there to do at Lodgepole?
The best hiking, biking and horseback riding experience is on the epic Colorado Trail, a 471-mile trail that extends from Denver to Durango. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Lodgepole?
Lake George, Colorado. Visitors enjoy Fairplay, Colorado, a ghost town that was once a frontier boom town.
Source: Getting there