CAMP GROUNDS
The White River National Forest has many developed facilities including family and group campgrounds & picnic areas. Please refer to this section for detailed information regarding available services. Dispersed camping is also available at no cost if you truly want to get away from it all!
CAMPGROUNDS (this link will take you to the Forest Service page for the Green Mountain/Heeney area, scroll down to Campground section)
Dillon Ranger District (Silverthorne Colorado) | Phone: 970-468-5400 | Updated: 07/14/2011
All campgrounds are normally open 5/1-9/30.
|
Site Name
|
Elev.
|
Units
|
Spur
|
Reservations
|
Cost
|
Open
|
Water
|
Handicap
Accessibility
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cataract Creek
|
8,600'
|
5
|
21'
|
No
|
$5
|
Open
|
No
|
No
|
|
Cow Creek South
|
7,950'
|
40
|
n/a
|
*Not this year, closing July 18
|
$5
|
Open
|
No
|
No
|
|
Cow Creek North
|
7,950'
|
15
|
n/a
|
No
|
$5
|
Open
|
No
|
No
|
|
Elliot Creek
|
8,000'
|
15
|
n/a
|
No
|
$5
|
Open
|
No
|
No
|
|
McDonald Flats
|
7,950'
|
13
|
21'
|
No
|
$10
|
Open
|
No
|
No
|
|
Prairie Point
|
7,950'
|
33
|
20'
|
No
|
$10
|
Open
|
No
|
No
|
|
Willows
|
7,950'
|
35
|
n/a
|
No
|
$5
|
Open
|
No
|
No
|
|
Reconstruction at Cow Creek South Campground to begin July 18
Release Date: Jul 12, 2011
US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, White River National Forest
Contact: Ken Waugh, 970-262-3446 (voice), Pat Thrasher, 970-945-3237 (voice)
Glenwood Springs, Colorado –
The Forest Service will close the Cow Creek South Campground the evening of Sunday, July 17 to facilitate construction of campground improvements. The campground will be closed for the remainder of the summer season. The White River National Forest received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for the first phase of several improvements approved for this campground last year. Work to be completed this year includes new deceleration lanes on Colorado Highway 9 to help resolve a safety concern that has existed for several years and construction of twelve public use campsites along with two campground host sites within the campground.
“We are very concerned about public safety during the construction activity. Our contractor will have heavy equipment operating throughout the campground as well as along the highway. Travelers on Colorado Highway 9 should expect some daytime construction delays,” said Bruce Moss, Forest Service Project Engineer.
The $1.6 million contract will be carried out by Colorado based Tropical Contracting. This project accomplishes the goal of ARRA to improve the Federal government’s infrastructure. The improved campground entrance will allow for vehicles to enter and leave the campground safely. The additional campsites will help to accommodate the increasing demand for camping opportunities at Green Mountain Reservoir. The campground host sites will have photovoltaic electrical power and sewer hook ups. According to Ken Waugh, Dillon Ranger District Recreation Staff Officer, “The designated host sites with these amenities will allow the Dillon Ranger District to recruit volunteer campground hosts who will assist with maintenance duties and providing information to the visiting public.”
According to District Ranger Jan Cutts, “We regret any inconvenience this closure may cause the public. We believe that in the long run this project will improve the recreation experience at Green Mountain Reservoir while reducing the cost of operating the facility and protecting the natural resources of the site.”
Current campground status and additional information can be obtained by contacting the Dillon Ranger District office at 970-468-5400 or visiting the White River National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/whiteriver.
MOST OF THE CAMPGROUNDS ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED, SOME WITH UNMARKED SPOTS.
RESERVATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THE COW CREEK SOUTH CAMPGROUND NEXT YEAR. (visit www.recreation.gov to make reservations.)
Please note there is no water available at the campgrounds.
The area businesses cannot provide water for RV's or containers. Most businesses sell bottled water.
ALL CAMPGROUNDS AT GREEN MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR AND AT CATARACT LAKE ARE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE CAMPGROUNDS, RUN BY THE DILLON RANGER DISTRICT OF THE WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST.
Fees are nightly fees. CURRENTLY Season Passes are available at the Dillon Ranger Forest Service office in Silverthorne, AT MELODY LODGE CABINS and sometimes from Forest Service personnel at the campgrounds. Currently season passes are only $25 - your best value if you will be visiting area for more than 3-5 days. Season pass is good at all Green Mountain Reservoir Forest Service campgrounds and day parking areas around the Lake and at Cataract Lake area. It is not good at the Heeney Marina.
The following information is from the Forest Service website.
8,000' elevation
33 spaces
No reservations
$10
5/1-9/30
No water
Accessibility - one tent site
The campground is located on the southeast shore of the Green Mountain Reservoir.
Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Firegrates, Trash Disposal, Potable Water.
* Stay limit is 14 days.
* Campsites are allowed 10 people and 2 vehicles only. (Maximum vehicle length 50 feet.)
* An extra vehicle fee of $5.00 will be charged for camps with more than two vehicles present.
All campsites have picnic tables and metal fire rings.Dumpster in summer, Outhouse facility. Some shade at north end of Prairie Point,but the rest of campground has no shade.
Cow Creek South:Located on northeast side of lake. Access from Hwy 9 just north of the MM #123. These sites have a metal fire ring. Camp sites are marked and numbered. Available if not signed with a reservation notice. Dumpster and outhouse. Reservations are accepted on the Forest Service reservation website www.recreation.gov. Closing July 18, 2011 for remainder of season for improvement construction.
Cow Creek North: Located on northeast side of lake. Access from Hwy 9 just north of Cow Creek South entrance. These sites have metal fire rings. Camping is no longer permitted anywhere in the beach area(below the high water line&row of trees and willows). Most camping takes place next to the beach area. There is a group of trees that provide shade for some campsites.(best beach area) Dumpster and outhouse.
8,000' elevation
15 units
No reservations
$10
5/1-9/30
No water
No Accessibility
The campground is located on the northwest shore of the Green Mountain Reservoir. Vault Toilets, Parking .
All of the campsites in this campground are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Stay limit is 14 days.
Campfires permitted in metal fire rings only. Fishing from shore is usually good here. Many sites have shade trees. Some sites are only accessible by a steep, rough road. Campers on the east end required to have portable toilets. Dumpster and outhouse.
7,950' elevation
35 spaces
No reservations
$10
5/1-9/30
No Water
No Accessibility
The campground is located on the north shore of the Green Mountain Reservoir.
Vault Toilets, dumpsters
Stay limit is 14 days
There are a few campsites with established fire rings. Campers are required to use fire pans at most sites. Most camping takes place in the beach area. A group of trees provide shade for 5 campsites. Dumpster and outhouse.
8,000' elevation
13 spaces
No reservations
$10
5/1-9/30
No water
No Accessibility
The campground is located located on County Road 30 off of Colorado Highway 9.
Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Firegrates, Paved Roads, Trash Disposal.
Attractions & Considerations
* All of the campsites in this campground are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
* Stay limit is 14 days.
* Campsites are allowed 2 vehicles only. (Maximum vehicle lenght 32 feet.)
* An extra vehicle fee of $5.00 will be charged for camps with more than two vehicles present.
* This campground has a day use boat launch area and parking lot. There is a daily fee of $7.00 for use fo the boat launch and day use parking.
All campsites have picnic tables and fire rings. Camping in designated spots only. Popular with fisherman and boaters because of concrete boat ramp. Ramp open only at high water. Day vehicle/boat trailer parking available.(dumpster,out-house)
The reservoir is NO WAKE ZONE from McDonald Flats to the BLUE RIVER INLET!!!!!!!! Please follow the rules!!!!!!( saves a lot of boat bottoms)
Prairie Point Campground & day parking Boat ramp at McDonald Flats.
Day parking is available at Big Green where there is a gravel boat ramp. Unfortunately some users don't realize it is a ramp and park right in the middle, making it unusable.
Day parking also available at the Heeney Marina and Davis Springs.
Day parking
Surprise Trail
Tipperary Trail
Eaglesmere Trail All 3 of these trails connect with the GORE Range trail.
Cataract loop Trail
The much smaller and easier Cataract Lake trail goes all around the lake.
The campground is located on Cataract Creek Road (FSR 1725), just before Lower Cataract Lake
8,600' elevation
5 spaces
No reservations
$5 per night
5/1-9/30
Facilities: Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Firegrates, Trash Disposal
Access to fishing areas and trails is available.
* All of the campsites in this campground are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
* A FEE OF $5.00 WILL BE CHARGED FOR PARKING in trail head parking areas.
This website is not a US Forest Service website. This website is owned and maintained by Melody Lodge Cabins.
