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Lost Trail Campground
This isolated campground is located 38.2 miles southwest of Creede on Forest Road 520. There are numerous attractions to tempt the camper. Nearby Trails include: access to the Continental Divide, Lost Trail Creek Trail 821 to Carson City Mining area, West Lost Creek Trail 821 to Cataract Lake (A National Scenic Trail), Heart Lake Trail 823 to Heart Lake and Ute Creek Trail 819 to the Weminuche Wilderness. The 4 WD roads are Stony Pass (Forest Road 520) and Beartown/Kite Lake (Forest Road 506). Lost Trail Creek, Ute Creek and one mile from the upper end of Rio Grande Reservoir are all accessible fishing sites. The Lost Trail Guest Ranch is adjacent to the campground. Do not use the private land footbridge on the Sky Hi Ranch for any purpose. The campground facilities have 7 sites, each with a parking spur, table and fire ring. A vault type toilet is provided. The drinking system, which is a well, is now CLOSED , because the water will not test as safe. Firewood and refuse receptacles are not provided. There is only limited maneuvering for RV's and trailers and most of the spurs and pull-throughs are short and cannot accommodate large RV's or trailers. The access road above Rio Grande Reservoir is also narrow and sometimes rough. Screening and trees are limited. The campground is usually busy from mid-June through the end of August. Scroll down to Information Center to see individual site descriptions. 14 DAY CAMPING LIMIT.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | Concessionaire operations end October 1, 2024. Shoulder season fees apply after that. No potable water will be available. |
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| Operational Hours: | No water or trash services. Open all year, but this campground is usually physically closed by deep winter snows and closed access roads from November through May 15th of each year. . |
| Reservations: | First come, first serve. |
| Area Amenities: | Tent camping, Camping trailer, Picnic tables, Toilets, Parking |
| Fees: | Single Site - $26 - $30/night. Day Use - $12 (picnicking) Fee envelopes and collection box located near the entrance. Shoulder season - $10/night |
| Permit Info: | 7 sites - 3 are pull through sites, 4 are dead end spurs. |
| Open Season: | May 15 |
| Usage: | Light |
| Best Season: | June-Sept |
| Busiest Season: | July |
| Restrictions: | Near Rio Grande Reservoir, boats allowed, no wakes, trolling motors OK, primitive boat ramp. Must have a Colorado Fishing license to fish in nearby streams and reservoirs. Must have Colorado ATV registration stickers if using ATV's on nearby Lost Trail or Stony Pass Road. |
| Closest Towns: | Creede, CO |
| Water: | NO - water did not test potable |
| Restroom: | 1 Vault Toilet |
| Operated By: | Forest Service |
| Information Center: | Click here for site descriptions Call 719-657-3321 or 719-658-2556 for real time information on conditions in the area. |
General Information
Directions: Directions from Creede, Colorado: Travel 19 miles southwest on Colorado Highway 149 to Forest Road 520 (Rio Grande Reservoir Road). Take Road 520 west for 18.1 miles. The Campground is on the south side of the main road.Activities
Mountain Biking
#821-Lost Trail Creek Trail \& forest road #520 to Stoney Pass| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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Campground Camping
| No. of Sites | 7 single site(s) |
| Reservation Info | Not reservable |
| No. of Accessible sites | None |
Lake and Pond Fishing
Rio Grande Reservoir| Fish Species | Rainbow, Brown, Brook \& Cutthroat trout |
| Water Temperature | cold |
| Fishing Method | Lures \& flies only |
| Water/Flow Level | seasonal |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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River and Stream Fishing
Rio Grande Reservoir \& Lost Trail Creek| Fish Species | seasonal |
| Fishing Mode | Brook Trout |
| Special Designations | Flies, lures \& bait where allowed |
| Water Temperature | Easy |
| Water/Flow Level | cold |
Ice Fishing
Rio Grande Reservoir
| Fish Species | seasonal |
| Special Designations | Lures \& flies only |
| Fishing Mode | Rainbow, Brown, Brook \& Cutthroat trout |
| Water/Flow Level | Easy |
Day Hiking
#821 - Lost Trail Creek Trail \& # 819-Ute Creek Trail into Weminuche Wilderness \& Continental Divide Trail| Elevation desc | #819-9,600' to 11,800' 12.1 miles, #821-9,750' to 12,350' 11 miles |
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
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Backpacking
#821 - Lost Trail Creek Trail \& # 819-Ute Creek Trail into Weminuche Wilderness \& Continental Divide Trail| Elevation desc | #819-9,600' to 11,800' 12.1 miles, #821-9,750' to12,350' 11 miles |
| Difficulty Level: | Intermediate |
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Horse Riding
Trails - #821 this trail is also signed for motorcycle \& ATV use. # 819 Ute Creek Trail - into the Weminuche Wilderness. No grazing available, guest is responsible to bring certified weed free hay or pelletized feed. You may use portable panels or electric fence to corral horses outside the campground.| Water Availability | nearby creeks |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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Big Game Hunting
Open during hunting season - see Colorado Division of Wildlife regulations. Unit 76, easy access to Upper Rio Grande Basin, Weminuche Wilderness and Continental Divide| Species | deer, elk |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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Viewing Wildlife
OHV Trail Riding
#821-ATVs, # 822, 787, 820-motocycles and road 520 to Stoney Pass| Staging Area | no |
| Class of Vehicle | ATV \& motorcycle |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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Picnicking
Beautifull area at the top of the Rio Grande Reservoir| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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Scenic Driving
Forest road #520 over Stoney Pass can take you to Silverton, beautiful mountain views of the Rio Grande Pyramid and Window, above the reservoir becomes a 4x4 road with good clearance required.
| Pavement Type for Parking | gravel |
| Vehicle Clearence | good |
Related Information
Location