Thirty Mile
Thirty Mile Campground is nestled on the banks of the Rio Grande River, just a short mile from the Rio Grande Reservoir. The location is perfect for anyone who loves to spend time fishing, canoeing and swimming. In addition, there are two trailheads and regular interpretive programs located at the campground. Across from the Thirty Mile is the Weminuche Wilderness, the largest wilderness area in Colorado. It's a famously rugged region with three mountain peaks reaching over 14,000 feet.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Colorado · reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 35 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 90 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
35 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 002 | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | 50 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 004 | Pull-through | 86 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 005 | Pull-through | 60 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 006 | Back-in | 34 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 007 | Pull-through | 90 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 009 | Pull-through | 60 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes |
| 010 | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | 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 | 90 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Season Dates/ Site Type/ Nightly/Daily Rates Friday before Memorial Day - Labor Day Weekend / Single Site / $29.00 weekends and holidays $31.00 Double Site / $58.00 weekends and holidays $62.00 |
No electric site hookups are available. Firewood is sold onsite. There is ample parking for day visitors but stock unloading and horse trailers are not permitted. Sites are designed for both tent and trailer camping. Drinking water is available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Memorial Day Weekend to The second Monday of September |
| Forest | Rio Grande National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations can be made for Memorial through Labor Day weekend and up to 6 months in advance, but they must be made four days prior to your arrival date. 29 sites can be reserved. |
| Fees | Single site - $29 - $33/night. Double site - $58 - $62/night. Day use - $12/day (picnicking). Shoulder season - $10/night (Sometime after Labor Day weekend) Fee envelopes and a collection box are located near the entrance. |
| Rules | On Rio Grande Reservoir and Road Canyon Reservoirs, boats are allowed; no wakes, trolling motors OK. Primitive boat ramp |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Alamosa, go west on US 160 to South Fork. Turn northwest on State Highway 149 through Creede. Continue on Highway 149 to mile marker 41, turn west (gravel road) on Rio Grande Reservoir Road and continue for 12 miles to Thirty Mile Campground.
| Nearest town | Creede, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37.7233° N, 107.2575° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireGold Mountain
32 mi from the campground · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedHigh Mesa Piles Rx
38 mi from the campground · 324 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 21.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ouray Mountain Sports ↗ | 30.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 38.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Thirty Mile Campground: The UPDATED Tour! (2024 Edition)
Worth a stop
- 0.1 miThirty Mile Trailhead #814 ↗Trailhead
- 5.1 miRoad Canyon Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
- 5.3 miUte Creek Trailhead #819 ↗Trailhead
- 8.2 mi
- 13.3 miLove Lake Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 14.5 miTeal Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miWeminuche ↗5.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miGrizzly Creek ↗9.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.2 mi30 Mile Horse Trail0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miFern Creek ↗13.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3.8 miNorth Fork4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 3.8 miSnowslide ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.1 miThirty Mile Trailhead #814 ↗Rio Grande 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 Weminuche Wilderness, which overlaps San Juan National Forest.
- inWeminuche Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 497,111 acres
- inSan Juan National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,094,539 acres
- 4.2 miRio Grande National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,937,280 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
The campground is located in a meadow among mature spruce and aspen trees, just between the Rio Grande River and Squaw Creek. All sites are nicely shaded and some overlook the creek. The Rio Grande National Forest spans 1.86 million acres in south-central Colorado. The Continental Divide runs for 236 miles along most of the forest's western border, presenting a myriad of ecosystems from alpine desert to dense wilderness.
Recreation
Anglers and hikers are common campers at Thirty Mile, and the San Juan Mountains provide great fun for backpackers and horse packers. Two trailheads, Squaw Creek and Weminuche Pass, lead eager hikers into the Weminuche Wilderness and link up to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.
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 Thirty Mile?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Thirty Mile?
Season Dates/ Site Type/ Nightly/Daily Rates Friday before Memorial Day - Labor Day Weekend / Single Site / $29.00 weekends and holidays $31.00 Double Site / $58.00 weekends and holidays $62.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Thirty Mile?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Thirty Mile open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Memorial Day Weekend to The second Monday of September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Thirty Mile have?
35 sites, including 35 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Thirty Mile?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Can I have a campfire at Thirty Mile?
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. On Rio Grande Reservoir and Road Canyon Reservoirs, boats are allowed; no wakes, trolling motors OK.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Thirty Mile?
Anglers and hikers are common campers at Thirty Mile, and the San Juan Mountains provide great fun for backpackers and horse packers. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Thirty Mile?
Creede, Colorado.
Source: Getting there
What if Thirty Mile is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are River Hill (1.5 mi), Road Canyon Campground (4.2 mi, first-come), and Bristol Head Campground (9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby