Horseshoe Campground
Horseshoe Campground sits along its namesake creek near a grassy meadow among aspen, Engelmann spruce and Bristlecone pines in the San Isabel National Forest. Trees provide good privacy between campsites, which are located at the base of Sheep Mountain.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 12 |
| Tent-only | 6 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
18 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 005 | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 008 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 009 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 011 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | – / No | 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 |
| Accessibility | Sites 002, 003, 004, 014 and 1 more are listed accessible |
The campground fits RVs up to 25 feet in length. Picnic tables, vault toilets, drinking water and campfire rings are provided.
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 during the busy summer months and can be made up to 180 days in advance maximum/4 days in advance minimum at 1-877-444-6777 or 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 your campfire is completely extinguished before leaving. Maximum of eight people per site Facility roads are not paved. No more than a 14 consecutive night stay in campground. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Fairplay travel south on US-285 for about one mile. Turn right onto County Road 18. Continue for approximately 6 miles to the campground on the left.
| Nearest town | Lake George, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.2017° N, 106.0861° 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
- WildfireWillow
19 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
39 mi from the campground · 390 acres
- PrescribedO'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx
40 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 | Trailhead ↗ | 24.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 26.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Holiday RV ↗ | 47.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
The nearest town is Fairplay, Colorado, a historic gold mining settlement of the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. The town has an open air museum that sets that helps recreate the life and times of the 19th century gold rush era. The nearby County Route 18 marks the Horseshoe/Fourmile Historic Auto Tour.
- 13.3 miCrystal Lake Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 14.4 miMountain View Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miLimber Grove1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miAlmgren1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.4 miSheep Mtn ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.6 miSheep Mnt Interconnect1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.6 miLouie'S Loop1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.8 miOre Wagon2.3 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.
Public land it sits in
Buffalo Peaks Wilderness begins about 7.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 7.7 miBuffalo Peaks Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 41,281 acres
- 14.6 miWhite River National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,482,711 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
Hikers looking for the thrill of "fourteeners," the term for mountain peaks above 14,000 feet, will find Horseshoe Campground to be an ideal location to camp. The primitive campground is located near Mount Sherman, Lincoln, Bross and Democrat - all impressive peaks for avid hikers. At elevation 10,600 feet, it's not hard to find fantastic mountain views.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy the Limber Grove Trail, a 3-mile mountainside path that winds through 1,000-year-old limber pine with gigantic twisted trunks. Fishing or wading in Horseshoe Creek are also popular pastimes.
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 Horseshoe Campground?
Sites at Horseshoe Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations are recommended during the busy summer months and can be made up to 180 days in advance maximum/4 days in advance minimum at 1-877-444-6777 or recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Campground have?
19 sites, including 12 standard sites without power and 6 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Horseshoe 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 Horseshoe Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Horseshoe Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Horseshoe 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
Are there accessible sites at Horseshoe Campground?
Sites 002, 003, 004, and 014 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 5 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Horseshoe Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Horseshoe Campground?
Visitors enjoy the Limber Grove Trail, a 3-mile mountainside path that winds through 1,000-year-old limber pine with gigantic twisted trunks. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation