Mill Creek Campground
Mill Creek Campground is located 14 miles southwest of Lake City, Colorado at 9,500 feet above sea level. The campground is surrounded by the Redcloud Peak and Handies Peak Wilderness Study Areas with world class hiking opportunities just a short drive away, including trails to three 14,000-foot peaks. From the campground, licensed OHV's and high clearance 4-wheel-drive vehicles can access the legendary Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway; a rugged 65 mile road system that connects the towns of Lake City, Silverton, and Ouray through the spectacular mountain scenery of the San Juan Mountains. The campground is accessible June through September.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 31 |
Site guide
31 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 52 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 2 | A | 27 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 3 | A | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 4 | A | 36 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 5 | A | 38 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 6 | A | Back-in | 23 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 7 | A | 31 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 8 | A | 41 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 9 | A | 39 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 10 | A | 45 | 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 02:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 50 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | At Mill Creek Campground thirteen sites are RESERVABLE up to 180-days in advance during peak season, Memorial Day through September 30th. The remaining nine sites are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED with camp fee paid on site with Recreation.gov app (preferred), cash or check. Sites cost $20 per night. |
Mill Creek Campground has 22 campsites suitable for tent camping and medium sized RV's. Each campsite is limited to eight people and two vehicles. Each campsite features a metal fire ring with a cooking grate, a picnic table, and a bear-proof food storage box. Mill Creek Campground has vault restrooms, hand pumps for potable water, and bear-proof trash dumpsters on site. No electric or hookups are available at Mill Creek Campground. Campground hosts are available from June through early September.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Lake Highway, take highway 149 south for about 2 miles. Turn right onto County Road 30 and continue for about 10.5 miles. Mill Creek Campground is on the left, over the bridge.
| Coordinates | 37.9073° N, 107.3928° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Nestled along the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, the campground offers a fishing access trail for anglers and river access (though boating is not recommended from this location).
Charges and cancellations
- Reservations cannot be modified less than 72 hours prior to reservation start date.
- Only 2 modifications can be made to a 180-day advanced reservations sites.
- Reservation cancellations occurring less than 72 hours prior to reservation start date are subject to NO REFUND.
Fire nearby
- WildfireGold Mountain
19 mi from the campground · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedHigh Mesa Piles Rx
23 mi from the campground · 324 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 ↗ | 9.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Ouray Mountain Sports ↗ | 17.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 48 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Mill Creek Campground, Campground Review and Things to Do, Berlin Center, Ohio - COE PARK
Worth a stop
Enjoy Lake City, nestled in the valley of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and Henson Creek, not only for shopping but to take in the impressive Hinsdale County Museum that celebrates the residents of past and present and tells of the rich railway history of the rail line that went to Lake City from 1889 to 1933. A variety of tours are also available including learning about the momental volcano that formed Lake City. Lake City also is a Gateway Community for hiking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) that traverses 800 miles of majestic and challenging peaks dotted with abandoned homesteads, ghost towns, and remnants of Native Americans and settlers who flocked here to mine gold and silver. Other shorter hikes from town can lead to some wonderful waterfalls. Discover Lake San Cristobal, the second largest natural lake in Colorado that was formed by the Slumgullion Earthflow that slid 700 years ago, damming the Lake Fork of the Gunnison. The lake offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities including boating and fishing and much more.
- 9.6 miLost Trailhead #821 ↗Trailhead
- 10.6 miUte Creek Trailhead #819 ↗Trailhead
- 13.7 mi
- 15 miRoad Canyon Boat Ramp ↗Boat launch
Trails nearby
- 1.9 miWager Gulch Memorial Trail0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3 miWilliams Creek0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.2 miCataract Creek2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.3 miCamp4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.3 miLost Trail ↗6.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 4.8 miWest Lost ↗7 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
- 5.6 miWeminuche Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 497,111 acres
- 6.2 miGrand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,153,199 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
Mill Creek offers shaded campsites among a mixed spruce/fir and aspen forest with magnificent mountain views of some of the highest peaks in Colorado and the sounds of the nearby Mill Creek and the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River.
Recreation
Mill Creek Campground is an ideal base camp for exploring the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway and the majestic San Juan Mountains. Whether you like to ride an off-highway vehicle, fly fish the Lake Fork, learn about the area's hardrock mining history, or challenge yourself to hike one of the 14,000-foot peaks, this area has something for everyone. There are also opportunities for viewing wildlife, seasonal wildflowers, and fishing the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River or nearby Lake San Cristobal.
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 Mill Creek Campground?
Sites at Mill Creek Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Mill Creek Campground?
At Mill Creek Campground thirteen sites are RESERVABLE up to 180-days in advance during peak season, Memorial Day through September 30th. The remaining nine sites are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED with camp fee paid on site with Recreation.gov app (preferred), cash or check. Sites cost $20 per night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Mill Creek Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 02:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Mill Creek Campground have?
31 sites, including 31 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Mill Creek 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
Are pets allowed at Mill Creek Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Mill Creek Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Mill Creek Campground?
Mill Creek Campground is an ideal base camp for exploring the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway and the majestic San Juan Mountains. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Mill Creek Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Williams Creek (3.4 mi, first-come), Deer Lakes (13.6 mi, first-come), and Silver Thread Campground (13.9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby