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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.
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.
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.
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.
Vallecito Lake is located four miles from the campground and offers boating, water skiing, fishing and hiking opportunities, as well as beautiful scenery.
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
Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. 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.
For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.
In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
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.
This is a wonderful place to go camping. Whether you have a tent or a camper, it's amazing. The camp hosts are super friendly and caring about your experience. The hikes around the area are absolutely gorgeous. We only live about 30 minutes away from here and it continues to be our favorite place to camp.
Amazing! Gorgeous scenery, incredible mountain hike trail across creeks, chipmunks that walk up to you, Stellar's Blue Jays and humming birds. Within driving distance of Durango and the lake. It does get a little crowded and occasionally loud in the evenings, but there are enough trees in between campsites to preserve a feeling of privacy.
Sites are big and well separated, giving us privacy but close enough to meet the neighbors. Wet weather has resulted in very green atmosphere and clear air. Very dog friendly and if you can control your dog leashes are optional on the trail into the wilderness. One of our favorite campgrounds.
Campground hosts all excellent at what they do. Constantly helping folks with everything from fixing a generator to jump starting stranded travelers. No extra fees for pets here and many tent and RV sites available.
I'm so glad the State of Colorado kept the area public. What a jewel. I wouldn't bring a large camper here( over 38) due to the fact that most sites are smaller. I enjoyed walks and hikes in the Weminuche, too.
