Recreation Region: Leadville Ranger District

Father Dyer Campground

Father Dyer Campground has 26 sites and is located in a shaded lodgepole pine forest near the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake at an elevation of 9,900 feet. A foot trail to the lake is available between campsites 16 and 17. Facilities include picnic tables, fire rings, pedestal grills, potable water and vault toilets. Usage is moderate during weekdays but heavy on weekends. Altitude sickness may occur at this elevation.

Reservations

Make Reservations Here

Call 877-444-6777 or visit recreation.gov at least four days in advance. A minimum stay on Friday and Saturday night is required on weekends. A three-night minimum stay is required on holiday weekends. Walk-ups are exempt from the nightly minimum.

General Information

The campground is named after Father John Lewis Dyer, one of the first Methodist ministers to tour Colorado's high country mining camps. For 20 years, beginning in 1862, he travelled the circuit encompassing Alma, Fairplay and Leadville, regularly skiing over the 13,186-foot Mosquito Pass on long, wooden skis.

May to September.

Opening and closing dates are weather dependent. Services such as water, trash or a host may not be available during early and late season.

Check in: 2 p.m.
Check out: 12 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The Interagency Senior Pass (previously known as the Golden Age Pass) and the Interagency Access Pass qualifies for a 50% discount at concessionaire run campsites. The discount only applies to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass owner, not to any additional campsite(s) occupied by members of the pass owner's party.

The following restrictions apply to this campground:

A maximum of eight people, three tents and two vehicles or one recreational vehicle (RV) and two tents are allowed per site.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
No discharge of firearms or fireworks is permitted.
Only licensed vehicles can operate inside the campground.
Camping is not allowed behind a locked gate.

$29 fee per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one RV is included in the camping fee. $11 fee for a third vehicle. RVs and ATV/boat trailers count as one vehicle.

Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. A self-service fee tube is available for on-site payment. First-come, first-served sites must be occupied the first night.

Dogs must be on a leash at all times.

Contact Name: Leadville Ranger District

Contact Phone: 719-486-0749