North Canyon Campground
North Canyon Campground is situated next to Vallecito Reservoir in 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 | 21 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
21 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 002 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 003 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 004 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 005 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 006 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 007 | Back-in | 21 | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 008 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 009 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 010 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 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 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers single-family sites, many of which have lake views. Sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
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 at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 |
| Fees | $24 |
| 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, Colo. at the Vallecito Lake sign on U.S. Highway 160 (County Road 501), go north about 13 miles to Vallecito. Turn right on County Road 501A at the fire station and travel 4 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | San Juan Nf, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37.3939° N, 107.5389° 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 ↗ | 20.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 27.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 56.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
North Rim Campground Review | Grand Canyon National Park| Exploring the Campground and Ame
Worth a stop
- 1.7 miOld Timers Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 1.7 miOld Timers Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 12 miFirst Fork Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.8 miSheep Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miNorth Canyon1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.4 miEast Creek ↗10.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.4 miEndlich Mesa ↗20.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miFreeman Park0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.5 miLake Eileen2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 4.1 miDark Canyon2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 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
- 3.8 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
Natural features
Vallecito, which is Spanish for "little valley," sits at an elevation of 7,900 feet. Scattered ponderosa pines tower over the open campground, offering limited shade. A thick understory provides privacy between sites, many of which have partial lake views. Thickets of willow separate the camping area from the lakeshore. High peaks of the San Juans are visible to the northwest of the campground.
Recreation
Vallecito Reservoir is a very popular fishing lake, with anglers casting 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. A short side trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake. East Creek Trail begins a quarter-mile northeast of the campground, on Forest Road 852. It 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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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at North Canyon Campground?
Sites at North Canyon Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made online at www.recreation.gov or by 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 North Canyon Campground?
$24
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at North Canyon Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at North Canyon 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 North Canyon 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 North Canyon Campground have?
21 sites, including 21 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at North Canyon Campground?
The longest site here provides 45 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 North Canyon Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at North Canyon Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at North Canyon 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 North Canyon 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 North Canyon Campground?
Vallecito Reservoir is a very popular fishing lake, with anglers casting 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 is the nearest town to North Canyon Campground?
San Juan Nf, Colorado.
Source: Getting there