Spillway Campground
Spillway Campground is perched along the South Platte River near the base of the dam of Eleven Mile Reservoir. Adventurists and families alike will find things to do here. Birding is excellent, as is hiking. Rock climbers enjoy the solid rocky cliffs of the canyon and fly fishermen find abundant catches in the river.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · dark sky in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 13 |
| Standard, no hookups | 9 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
22 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Tent only | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 003 | Tent only | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 004 | Tent only | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 005 | Tent only | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 006 | Tent only | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 010 | Standard | 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 | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Dark sky | 9.8 miles from Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
Spillway Campground offers about 23 reservable campsites. Parking aprons are gravel and can fit a maximum trailer length of 25 feet. Amenities include vault toilets, picnic tables, hand pump for drinking water, and campfire rings.
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 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. |
| 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 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 Lake George, Colorado, turn off of Highway 24 onto County Road 96. Follow the road for about one mile turn right to the Eleven Mile Canyon entrance. Spillway Campground is the last campground which is about 9 miles up Eleven Mile Canyon near the dam.
| Nearest town | Lake George, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 38.9067° N, 105.4678° 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
7 mi from the campground · 267 acres
- PrescribedRainbow Gulch Rx
26 mi from the campground · 912 acres
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
43 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 station | Dump station ↗ | 2.7 mi |
| Outdoor gear | South Platte Fly Shop ↗ | 23.3 mi |
| RV sales & service | RVs of America Off-Road ↗ | 40.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Spillway Campground - Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, AZ
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.
- 3.6 mi
- 3.9 miEleven Mile Picnic Area ↗Day use
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- South Platte River BridgeStructure · Lake George · 7.9 mi
- Florissant SchoolBuilding · Florissant · 9.7 mi
- Hornbek HouseBuilding · Florissant · 10 mi
Natural features
The campground, at altitude 8,500 feet, is located at the edge of Eleven Mile Canyon, furthest from the canyon entrance. Some campsites are shaded by scattered spruce and ponderosa pine. Spillway is the closest campground to the Eleven Mile Reservoir, which spans 3,405 surface acres and 5 miles in length. Eleven Mile Canyon was cut by the South Platte River and is bordered by polished gray granite cliffs.
Recreation
Hike the Overlook Trail for breathtaking views of Eleven Mile Canyon and Reservoir. Occasionally, Golden Eagles can be viewed nesting in the nearby granite cliffs and crags. Springtime brings higher chances of spotting Bald Eagles. Visitors enjoy fishing by shore or canoe. Rainbow and brown trout, kokanee salmon and pike are among the species anglers are likely to find.
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 Spillway Campground?
Sites at Spillway Campground 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 Spillway Campground?
$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 Spillway Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Spillway 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 Spillway Campground 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 Spillway Campground have?
23 sites, including 13 tent-only sites and 9 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Spillway Campground?
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 Spillway Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Spillway Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Spillway Campground?
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 Spillway Campground good for stargazing?
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park, is 9.8 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.
Source: DarkSky International
What is there to do at Spillway Campground?
Hike the Overlook Trail for breathtaking views of Eleven Mile Canyon and Reservoir. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Spillway Campground?
Lake George, Colorado. Visitors enjoy the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world.
Source: Getting there