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Haviland Lake Campground is situated on its beautiful namesake within the San Juan National Forest, 18 miles north of Durango. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and hiking opportunities in a scenic, natural setting. The popular campground is beautiful any time of the year. Recreation Haviland Lake is an 80-acre, no-wake lake with excellent boating, canoeing and fishing opportunities. An accessible fishing dock is located on the lakeshore. Anglers cast for rainbow and brown trout. A Colorado Division of Wildlife fishing license is required to fish. Several trailheads are in the vicinity. The Forebay Lake Trail begins in the campground and leads to small Forebay Lake, just over a mile east of the campground. The historic Rico-to-Rockwood Wagon Road passes through Haviland and Chris Park. Built in the late 1800s, the road was used for six years until the railway opened. Facilities The campground offers single- and double-family sites, many of which have electric hookups. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are accessible vault toilets and drinking water. Natural Features The campground is situated on the shore of Haviland Lake, among shady, towering ponderosa pines, at an elevation of 8,705 feet. Many sites have lake views and easy shoreline access. Campers are awarded spectacular views of the Hermosa Cliffs across the lake. ADA Access: N
From Durango, travel north on Highway 550 for 18 miles to Haviland Lake Road. Turn right onto Haviland Lake Road and continue a mile to the campground.
We spent 2 nights here and enjoyed campsite 42 which is on the B loop with the best access to the lake. The grounds were easy to navigate with plenty of water stations and vault toilets on site. The lake was a bit low but still had enough water for watersports and fishing. The toilets did smell quite bad when you are caught down wind of them. Firewood is for sale on site for $7 a bundle and the camp supervisors were helpful. It's a nice area to camp in overall, we would return here. Cell service for Verizon is very poor just FYI
this is a gem of a park to come see. they have a beautiful lake with camping close by or down the road a bit. the trail here is wonderful with the more amazing views. also the best place to see the stars.
We stayed here Saturday, October 8-Tuesday, October 11.
The campground was labeled "Open" (with limited services) on NFS website. By limited services, they mean NO services.
No camp host and only Loop A was open (gate closed off access to all other loops). There were no envelopes available to pay for anything so we stayed here for free. All electric was turned off. Bathrooms were open with no toilet paper. All trash cans/dumpsters were locked. Be prepared to boondock if coming during off season! We filled our water at the JW Durango RV park 10 minutes from this campground (they charge $15 to fill).
All that said, this place is BEAUTIFUL! We loved it. But considering how expensive it is during the season we don't know if we'd have enjoyed it as much. $85 in some cases is a bit steep when you don't have water or sewage hookups.
When people talk about the tight turns, they aren't joking but we have a 33ft 5th wheel and managed just fine. Go slow and turn as wide as you can. Take your time backing in. Lots of pot holes to navigate. Again, go slow.
Verizon service was spotty to non-existent. Starlink worked great.
Overall, We stayed for free and were boondocking during off season so no complaints for what it was. Can't beat the views of the lake from Loop A.
Beautiful lake and a nice campground. We had electric hookups and there is water available. A lot of nice hiking trails behind the campground.
Gorgeous lake and scenery! Avoid going on summer weekend afternoons to use the lake. It was quiet and tranquil the first hour we were there, but the afternoon was crowded and loud. The $8 day use fee was unexpected. It was unclear whether or not we were required to pay the fee for using the lake, but we wanted to be sure so we paid.
