Shepherds Rim Campground
Surrounded by mountains and nestled near the wilderness, the Shepherds Rim Campground at Trappers Lake has 15 scenic campsites. Located at 9,720 feet in elevation, visitors can locate this campground on the right side of the road as you travel south from the Trappers Lake Outlet area.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 14 |
| Tent-only | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
15 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Pull-through | 34 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
| 003 | Standard | Pull-through | 54 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
| 005 | Standard | Pull-through | 26 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
| 006 | Standard | Pull-through | 32 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
| 008 | Standard | Back-in | 34 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
| 010 | Standard | Pull-through | 32 | Gravel | Partial | 10 / 1 | Yes | Basic |
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 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 54 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
Shepherds Rim Campground has 16 sites suitable for tents, trailers and RVs. The sites are equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings. Guests also have access to vault toilets and drinking water, but electrical hook-ups are not available. There is an RV dump station within the Trappers Lake complex.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | White River National Forest |
| Rules | See: Flat Tops Wilderness Regulations and Campground Regulations Trappers Lake lies completely within the Flat Tops Wilderness; motorized boats and wheeled carts for boat transport are prohibited |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Meeker, take Colorado Highway 13 east for 1 mile, then turn right on Rio Blanco County Road 8 and follow this for 39 miles to Trappers Lake Road #205. Turn south on Trappers Lake Road #205, and continue for 10 miles just past the Outlet Trailhead. The Shepherds Rim Campground is on the right.
| Nearest town | Meeker, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.9947° N, 107.2428° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 28.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Gearhead Outfitters ↗ | 31 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Shepherds Rim Campground - Trappers Lake Colorado
Worth a stop
Fishing Access: Trappers Lake, Little Trappers Lake, Wall Lake, Fraser Creek, Lake of the Woods Trail Access: Little Trappers Trail #1814, Carhart Trail #1815, Trappers Lake Trail #1816, Wall Lake Trail #1818, Island Lakes Trail #1842, Chinese Wall Trail #1803, Deer Lake Trail #2021, South Derby Trail #1857, Himes Peak Trail #1877
- 0.3 mi
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miDuck Lake2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miHimes Peak4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.3 miWall Lake ↗7.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.3 miScotts Lake0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.3 miScotts Bay Overlook0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 0.4 miArthur H. Carhart ↗5.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- under 0.1 miHimes Peak #1877 ↗White River National Forest
- 0.3 miWall Lake #1818 ↗White River National Forest
- 1.5 miSkinny Fish #1813 ↗White River National Forest
- 1.7 miLake Of The Woods #2263 ↗White River National Forest
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 Flat Tops Wilderness.
- inFlat Tops Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 230,829 acres
- 0.1 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
On the National Register nearby
- Pyramid Guard StationHistoric district · Yampa · 11 mi
Natural features
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting eight wilderness areas, four defined seasons, and 10 peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout. Alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. These species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live. Shepherds Rim Campground at Trappers Lake is located adjacent to the Flat Tops Wilderness, offering a natural environment with many pothole lakes, surrounding glacier carved mountains, and access to trails and wilderness areas. Wildlife frequent the area and moose, elk, deer, marmots, pine marten, and an abundance of birds may be seen.
Recreation
Trappers Lake is known as the Cradle of Wilderness. At approximately 302 surface acres, the lake contains a strain of native cutthroat trout and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife operates a spawn collection station at the Cabin Creek inlet during May and June. Trappers Lake lies completely within the Flat Tops Wilderness; motorized boats and wheeled carts for boat transport are prohibited.
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 Shepherds Rim Campground?
Sites at Shepherds Rim Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Shepherds Rim Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Shepherds Rim Campground have?
16 sites, including 14 standard sites without power and 1 tent-only site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Shepherds Rim Campground?
The longest site here provides 54 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 there showers or a dump station at Shepherds Rim Campground?
There is an RV dump station within the Trappers Lake complex.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Shepherds Rim Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Shepherds Rim Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Shepherds Rim Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. See: Flat Tops Wilderness Regulations and Campground Regulations Trappers Lake lies completely within the Flat Tops Wilderness; motorized boats and wheeled carts for boat transport are prohibited
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Shepherds Rim Campground?
Trappers Lake is known as the Cradle of Wilderness. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Shepherds Rim Campground?
Meeker, Colorado. Fishing Access: Trappers Lake, Little Trappers Lake, Wall Lake, Fraser Creek, Lake of the Woods Trail Access: Little Trappers Trail #1814, Carhart Trail #1815, Trappers Lake Trail #1816, Wall Lake Trail #1818, Island Lakes Trail #1842, Chinese Wall Trail #1803, Deer Lake Trail #202
Source: Getting there
What if Shepherds Rim Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Trappers Lake / Trapline Campground (0.2 mi, first-come), Trappers Lake / Cutthroat Campground (0.2 mi, first-come), and Trappers Lake / Bucks Campground (0.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby