Graham Creek Campground
Graham Creek Campground is situated above Vallecito Lake, in the scenic San Juan National Forest of southwestern Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its beautiful scenery and wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing and hiking.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 24 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
24 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 38 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 002 | Back-in | 38 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 003 | Back-in | 38 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 004 | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 005 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 006 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 007 | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 008 | Pull-through | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 009 | Back-in | 38 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 010 | Pull-through | 60 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
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 | 60 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers single-family campsites, a few of which have lake views. Sites are each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. The south side of the campground is adjacent to private property.
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. |
| Season | May to September |
| Forest | San Juan National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations can be made online www.recreation.gov or calling 1-877-444-6777. |
| Fees | $27 |
| Rules | Quiet time is typically between 10pm - 6am. Please be a good neighbor and limit use of generators to no more than one hour at a time. Dogs must be leashed or otherwise physically restrained. Do not leave pets unattended. Check-out time: 12:00 pm; Check-in time: 2:00 pm - if the site is empty, campers may come in anytime. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Bayfield, travel 14 miles north on County Road 501. Turn right on County Road 501A at the fire station; travel over the dam and continue just over 3 miles to the campground.
| Coordinates | 37.3903° N, 107.5400° 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
- WildfireGold Mountain
46 mi from the campground · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Ski Barn ↗ | 20.2 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 57 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Graham Creek Campground - Vallecito Reservoir
Worth a stop
- 1.5 miOld Timers Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 1.5 miOld Timers Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 12 miFirst Fork Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.7 miSheep Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miNorth Canyon1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.6 miEast Creek ↗10.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miEndlich Mesa ↗20.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miFreeman Park0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.8 miLake Eileen2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 4.2 miArbogas0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
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 San Juan National Forest.
- inSan Juan National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,094,539 acres
- 4 miWeminuche Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 497,111 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
- Animas City SchoolBuilding · Durango · 14.9 mi
Natural features
Vallecito Lake, Spanish for "little valley," sits at an elevation of 7,900 feet. Scattered ponderosa pine trees tower over the open campground, offering limited shade. Hillside sites are about 100 yards from the high-water line and offer nice lake views. A thick understory provides privacy between sites. Thickets of willow separate the camping area from the lakeshore. Several short trails lead to the lake from the campground. High peaks of the San Juans are visible to the northwest of the campground.
Recreation
Vallecito Lake is a very popular fishing destination, where anglers cast for German brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike. The lake offers great boating, water skiing and canoeing opportunities. Boat rentals and fishing licenses are available at various locations around the lake. A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are found in the area. The North Canyon Trail begins across the road from the campground and leads through ponderosa pine and aspen forests on its way through the canyon. A shorter trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake. East Creek Trail begins a quarter-mile up Forest Road 852, just northeast of the campground. The trail provides access to a lightly used, scenic drainage where fly-fisherman cast for brook trout. Both trails are popular with horseback riders, however, horses are not allowed in the campground.
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Graham Creek Campground?
Sites at Graham Creek Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made online www.recreation.gov or calling 1-877-444-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Graham Creek Campground?
$27
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Graham Creek Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Graham Creek Campground?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Graham Creek Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to September.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Graham Creek Campground have?
24 sites, including 24 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Graham Creek Campground?
The longest site here provides 60 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 Graham Creek Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Graham Creek Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Graham Creek Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Quiet time is typically between 10pm - 6am.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Graham Creek Campground?
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 Graham Creek Campground?
Vallecito Lake is a very popular fishing destination, where anglers cast for German brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Graham Creek Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are North Canyon Campground (0.3 mi), Pine Point (0.7 mi), and Middle Mountain (1.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby