Aspen
Aspen Campground is an excellent place for campers looking to relax, hike, fish and enjoy the sounds of nature. The campground sits near Jefferson Creek, a few miles downriver of Jefferson Lake. The lake is 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
| Tent-only | 6 |
| Standard, no hookups | 5 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
11 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 002 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 003 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 007 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 010 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 011 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | 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 | 30 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Amenities include picnic tables, vault toilets, drinking water from a hand pump and a campfire ring. Parking aprons are gravel and can fit up to two vehicles. It is difficult to access Jefferson Lake Recreation Area during the winter months. The roads to this site are not maintained for snow throughout the winter.
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 for this site can be made by visiting Recreation.gov or calling 1-877-444-6777. Reservations must be made 4 days ahead of arrival and can be made up to 6 months in advance. |
| 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, including service dogs, must always be leashed. No discharge of firearms or fireworks. Quiet hours from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Fairplay, take Highway 285 north to Jefferson, then turn left on County road 35. Travel approximately 2 miles and turn right on County Road 37. Travel approximately 2.5 miles to the Aspen Campground.
| Nearest town | Lake George, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.4253° N, 105.8408° 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
35 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 ↗ | 15.1 mi |
| Dump station | Dump Station ↗ | 37.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 40.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Aspen Glade Campground - Our 250th Colorado Campground Tour - Rio Grande National Forest
Worth a stop
Visit historic 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.
- 4.7 miGibson Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.3 mi
- 13 miLong Gulch Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miWest Jefferson ↗5.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miMichigan Cr Snowmobile ↗7.2 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 2.5 miMichigan Creek2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miJefferson Lake Loop2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.7 miFrench Pass3.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.5 miRed Cone Trail ↗5.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 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
Mount Evans Wilderness begins about 9.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 9.7 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
Aspen Campground, at 9,900 elevation, sits in a valley along Jefferson Creek at the base of Jefferson Hill. The single-loop campground is shaded by groves of aspen and mature spruce. Jefferson Lake, spanning about 182 acres, has deep, cold waters and freezes over in winter.
Recreation
The campground offers nearby access to two trails. Hiking, biking and horseback riding are excellent on the epic Colorado Trail, a 471-mile trail that stretches across Colorado from Denver to Durango. Also nearby is the West Jefferson Loop Trail, a foot path that goes up to the Continental Divide and loop for 11 miles. Rainbow, brown, mackinaw and brook trout can be found swimming in the creek and lake. No-wake boating is allowed in the lake and a boat ramp is easily accessible.
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 Aspen?
Sites at Aspen are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations for this site can be made by visiting 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 Aspen?
$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 Aspen?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Aspen?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Aspen 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 Aspen have?
12 sites, including 6 tent-only sites and 5 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Aspen?
The longest site here provides 30 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 Aspen?
Yes, pets are allowed at Aspen. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Aspen?
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
What is there to do at Aspen?
The campground offers nearby access to two trails. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Aspen?
Lake George, Colorado. Visit historic Fairplay, Colorado, a ghost town that was once a frontier boom town.
Source: Getting there
What if Aspen is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Lodgepole (0.8 mi), Jefferson Creek (1.3 mi), and Michigan Creek (2.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby