Happy Meadows
Happy Meadows Campground is situated along the South Platte River near the Eleven Mile Reservoir and Eleven Mile Canyon. Excellent fishing, tubing, and hiking await visitors. Eleven Mile Canyon is rich in natural resources and historic significance. Originally called Granite Canyon, the towering gray walls rise 500 feet above the river.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 7 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
7 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | Gravel | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 002 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 005 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 006 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 12 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 007 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | Gravel | Riverfront | 12 / 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 | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Sites 001, 002, 003, 005 and 4 more are listed accessible |
Happy Meadows offers seven reservable RV campsites. Each site has a picnic table and a camp fire ring. Drinking water from a water pump and a vault toilet is available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Denver and Colorado Springs, take I-25 to Highwy 24 west toward Woodland Park. At Lake George on US-24, turn north on County Road 77, also known as the Tarryall road. Travel about a mile and turn east on County Road 112. Continue on County Road 112 turning right at dead end. The campground will be on the right after about a mile.
| Nearest town | Lake George, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.0377° N, 105.6074° 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
- PrescribedO'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx
12 mi from the campground · 267 acres
- PrescribedRainbow Gulch Rx
33 mi from the campground · 912 acres
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
34 mi from the campground · 390 acres
- WildfireWillow
47 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
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 9.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | South Platte Fly Shop ↗ | 30.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Holiday RV ↗ | 44.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The town of Lake George is just 3 miles away, offering a general store, fish tackle and bait shop, and cabin rentals.
- 12.8 mi
- 12.9 miEleven Mile Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 4.2 miPuma Point0.7 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
Lost Creek Wilderness begins about 11.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.9 miLost Creek Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 114,864 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
- Buckley RanchHistoric district · Hartsel · 6.8 mi
- Tarryall SchoolBuilding · Tarryall · 9.2 mi
- South Platte River BridgeStructure · Lake George · 13.6 mi
Natural features
Campsites are a short walk to the lovely South Platte, a major tributary of the Platte River that runs through Colorado and Nebraska. As part of Pike Forest, Happy Meadows enjoys abundant and varied wildlife, seven peaks above 14,000 feet, called fourteeners, and miles of great trails.
Recreation
World-class trout fishing is a major attraction on the South Platte. Visitors can also venture to Florissant Fossil Beds to view fossils and petrified redwoods. Eleven Mile Canyon and the Tarryall Valley offer scenic drives with impressive views.
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 Happy Meadows?
Sites at Happy Meadows are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Happy Meadows?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Happy Meadows?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Happy Meadows have?
8 sites, including 7 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Happy Meadows?
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
Are pets allowed at Happy Meadows?
Yes, pets are allowed at Happy Meadows. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Happy Meadows?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 4 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Happy Meadows?
Sites 001, 002, 003, and 005 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 8 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 Happy Meadows?
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 Happy Meadows?
World-class trout fishing is a major attraction on the South Platte. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Happy Meadows?
Lake George, Colorado. The town of Lake George is just 3 miles away, offering a general store, fish tackle and bait shop, and cabin rentals.
Source: Getting there
What if Happy Meadows is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Pulver Mountain Group Site (7.3 mi), Round Mountain (9.5 mi), and Spruce Grove Campground (10.4 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby