U.S. Forest Service · Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands · Lake George, CO

Springer Gulch

Springer Gulch Campground is located in the Eleven Mile Canyon, a short walk from the South Platte River, offering sweeping mountain views at an altitude of 8,300 feet. Fly fishermen will find an abundance of trout and visitors enjoy exploring area trails.

More like this: reservable in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · dark sky in Colorado

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Springer Gulch CampgroundSpringer Gulch CampgroundSpringer Gulch Campground Site #2 - shared parking padSpringer Gulch Campground Site #11
Photos courtesy of Kim Petrarca · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups10
Tent-only4
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

14 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntrySurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
001StandardBack-inGravelNo / –8 / 2Yes
002StandardBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
003StandardBack-inGravelNo / –8 / 2Yes
004StandardBack-inGravelPartial8 / 2
006StandardBack-inGravelNo / –8 / 2
007Tent onlyBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
008Tent onlyGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
009Tent onlyGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
010StandardBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
011StandardBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes

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

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length28 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Dark sky7.6 miles from Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park

Springer Gulch Campground offers about 14 reservable campsites. Parking aprons are dirt and fit trailers up to 25 feet in length. Campground amenities include picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and a hand pump for drinking water.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonMid May (depending on conditions) to Mid October
ForestPike-San Isabel National Forests
BookingReservations are recommended in the busy summer months and can be made 180 days in advance maximum, 4 days in advance minimum, by calling 1-877-444-6777 or by visiting recreation.gov.
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.
RulesCampfires 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 must always be leashed. No discharge of firearms or fireworks. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.

Pike-San Isabel National Forests recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Springer Gulch10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.30 inches of precipitation, 6.0 inches of snowFebruary: 0.27 inches of precipitation, 5.9 inches of snowMarch: 0.57 inches of precipitation, 9.9 inches of snowApril: 0.92 inches of precipitation, 9.1 inches of snowMay: 1.41 inches of precipitation, 2.4 inches of snowJune: 1.20 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJuly: 2.17 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 2.16 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.09 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowOctober: 0.57 inches of precipitation, 4.1 inches of snowNovember: 0.36 inches of precipitation, 5.3 inches of snowDecember: 0.27 inches of precipitation, 6.8 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 16.1°F averageFebruary: 19.2°F averageMarch: 28.9°F averageApril: 36.7°F averageMay: 46.3°F averageJune: 56.4°F averageJuly: 61.8°F averageAugust: 59.9°F averageSeptember: 52.8°F averageOctober: 41.6°F averageNovember: 29.7°F averageDecember: 17.8°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Lake George 8 SW, 3 miles from the campground at 8,550 feet, station USC00054742 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 11 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 50 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Lake George, turn south off Highway 24 onto County Road 96. Follow County Road 96 turn right to the Eleven Mile Canyon entrance. Springer Gulch Campground is on the right about 6 miles from the entrance.

Nearest townLake George, Colorado
Coordinates38.9274° N, 105.4249° 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

  • Prescribed
    O'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx

    4 mi from the campground · 267 acres

  • Prescribed
    Rainbow Gulch Rx

    24 mi from the campground · 912 acres

  • Prescribed
    Harris Park Broadcast Rx

    41 mi from the campground · 390 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗4.2 mi
Outdoor gearSouth Platte Fly Shop ↗20.7 mi
RV sales & serviceRVs of America Off-Road ↗37.9 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Springer Gulch Campground Tour - Eleven Mile Canyon

Worth a stop

Visitors enjoy the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossils of insects and plants reveal the story of a very different, prehistoric Colorado.

  • 3.2 mi
    Blue Moutain
    1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.5 mi
    Hardrock
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.2 mi
    Elevenmile Fishing Access
    0.2 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.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Ponderosa, aspen and fir trees are scattered throughout the campground and become more dense at sites that are further up the gulch. Eleven Mile Canyon was cut by the South Platte River and is bordered by polished gray granite cliffs. The Eleven Mile Reservoir is a short senic drive away. Visitors are likely to see wildlife like elk, mule deer, foxes, and the occasional mountain lions and bears. At dusk, bats may be spotted as well.

Recreation

Hikers can access the nearby Overlook Trail and take in breathtaking views of Eleven Mile Canyon and Eleven Mile Reservoir. On this hike, lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of golden eagles nesting in the nearby granite cliffs and crags. Trail access is from Spillway Campground.

Guidebooks for Colorado

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Springer Gulch?

Sites at Springer Gulch are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations are recommended in the busy summer months and can be made 180 days in advance maximum, 4 days in advance minimum, by calling 1-877-444-6777 or by visiting recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Springer Gulch?

$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 Springer Gulch?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Springer Gulch?

Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.

Source: Charges and cancellations

Is Springer Gulch 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 Springer Gulch have?

15 sites, including 10 standard sites without power and 4 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Springer Gulch?

The longest site here provides 28 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 Springer Gulch?

Yes, pets are allowed at Springer Gulch. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Springer Gulch?

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

Is Springer Gulch good for stargazing?

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park, is 7.6 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.

Source: DarkSky International

Is there cell service at Springer Gulch?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Springer Gulch?

Hikers can access the nearby Overlook Trail and take in breathtaking views of Eleven Mile Canyon and Eleven Mile Reservoir. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation