Vallecito Campground
Vallecito Campground is a very popular site and one of the largest within the San Juan National Forest. It sits on Vallecito Creek, adjacent to the Weminuche Wilderness. Visitors enjoy the area for its trail and fishing opportunities, which are part of a very scenic, natural setting.
More like this: electric hookups in Colorado · reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 66 |
| Standard with electric | 13 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
79 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | LOOP B | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Partial | No | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |
| 002 | LOOP B | Standard | Pull-through | 50 | Partial | No | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |
| 003 | LOOP B | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |
| 004 | LOOP B | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No | – / No | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 005 | LOOP B | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Partial | No | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |
| 006 | LOOP B | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Partial | No | – / No | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 007 | LOOP B | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Partial | No | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |
| 008 | LOOP B | Standard | Back-in | 32 | Partial | No | – / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred | |
| 009 | LOOP B | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Partial | No | – / No | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
| 010 | LOOP B | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Partial | No | – / No | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Prime |
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 | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 50 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground offers 80 single-family sites, a few of which have electric hookups. Sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Day-use picnic sites are located along the creek at the campground entrance and are available for a fee.
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 October (limited services Sept-Oct, weather dependent)) |
| Forest | San Juan National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations can be made online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. |
| Fees | Standard: $27 Premium: $34 Electric Hookup: $39 |
| 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 the western side of the reservoir, on County Road 501, pass through the community of Vallecito. Turn north on County Road 500 and drive about 3 miles to the campground.
| Coordinates | 37.4775° N, 107.5467° 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
40 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 ↗ | 22.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 30 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 55.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Vallecito Campground, Colorado - 4k Campsite videos (including Accessibility)
Worth a stop
Vallecito Lake is located four miles from the campground and offers boating, water skiing, fishing and hiking opportunities, as well as beautiful scenery.
- 7 miOld Timers Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 7 miOld Timers Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 14.8 miFirst Fork Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miVallecito ↗19.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.2 miVallecito Vis0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.3 miVallecito Horse Route 10.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.7 miBeri View0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.9 miVallecito Horse Route 2under 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.9 miBear Creek Loop4 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
- 0.2 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Vallecito, which is Spanish for "little valley," sits at an elevation of 8,000 feet, high in the beautiful San Juan Mountains. A forest of ponderosa pine, aspen and gambel oak trees covers the campground. Most sites are large and fairly level.
Recreation
Vallecito Creek offers fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout. Anglers must use artificial flies and lures due to the creek's location within the wilderness area. The Vallecito Creek Trail begins at the campground entrance. This popular trail is open to hiking and horseback riding only and is a main access point to the Weminuche Wilderness. Parking is available at the trailhead. Hitching racks and a horse staging area with a loading ramp for livestock is on-site, but no overnight horse camping is allowed.
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 Vallecito Campground?
Sites at Vallecito 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 Vallecito Campground?
Standard: $27 Premium: $34 Electric Hookup: $39
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Vallecito Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Vallecito 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 Vallecito Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season May to October (limited services Sept-Oct, weather dependent)).
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Vallecito Campground have?
79 sites, including 66 standard sites without power and 13 standard sites with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Vallecito Campground?
The longest site here provides 50 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
Does Vallecito Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Vallecito Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Vallecito Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Vallecito 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 Vallecito 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 Vallecito Campground?
Vallecito Creek offers fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation