4.4091 reviewsPrice
$6 - $24/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
18 campsites
Season
June 15 through Octo...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Price
$6 - $24/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
18 campsites
Season
June 15 through Octo...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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38.8693, -107.2093
Kayakers, anglers, and wildflower hikers who can arrive Thursday or Friday morning will find the Three Lakes loop trail and rainbow trout fishing on Lost Lake worth the 9-mile dirt road. Site #5 gets a specific callout from reviewers. Bring all your water.
Weekend day-trippers or anyone driving from Paonia expecting to find an open site after noon in July will likely be turned away. No potable water, no showers, no hookups, and a gravel access road that challenges low-clearance vehicles round out the hard nos.
Reference information about Lost Lake Campground-Paonia Rd sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p><img alt="photo of new cement accessible fishing deck" src="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprdb5367631.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 386px;" /></p><p style="clear: both;"> </p><p>Lost Lake Campground is a great place for families to camp. Kids and parents alike will enjoy fishing and hiking around Lost Lake, Dollar Lake and Lost Lake Slough. Beckwith Pass provides breathtaking vistas of the Ruby Mountain Range. The wildflowers in this region are phenomenal during mid-July and early August. <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1092229.pdf">Campground Brochure</a></p><p> </p>
The elevation is 9,300 ft. The campground stretches around half of Lost Lake Slough among spruce trees and wildflowers and has two unnamed sections. The smaller section doubles as a picnic area and equestrian camping area. Campers without horses are welcomed in the whole campground but equestrian campers are permitted only in this section. Beside horses, "equestrian" also includes llama, goats, pot bellied pigs, etc; confirm with ranger district office. Some sites have view of lake with Beckwith Mountains in the background. This is a very pretty little campground; well worth the drive. Consider hiking Three Lakes trail to Lost Lake, Dollar Lake and waterfall for good photography and picnic lunch.
Open June 15 through October 1
Hot showers are available for a fee at Crested Butte Hostel, in Crested Butte, CO. Call 888-412-7310 for availability.
Lost Lake Slough is 10 acres. It is used for irrigation causing water level to decrease considerably toward the Fall. Although there is no provided/designated swimming area, swimming is permitted in the lake.
The parking aprons are gravel and all about same size. Interior road is narrow and rough. The parking aprons along the short spur leading to picnic area have an average length of 60' and are designated for equestrian campers.
In Paonia, CO, at intersection of State Rts. 133 and 187, take Rt. 133 east 14.9 miles to a Crested Butte sign (County Rd. 12). Turn right at sign onto Rt. 12 (toward Kebler Pass) and go 17.8 miles to campground sign (Forest Rt. 706). Turn right at sign onto Rt. 706 and go 2.4 miles to campground. NOTE: The last 9.2 miles of County Rd. 12 are dirt and gravel. Forest Rt. 706 is dirt, narrow and maybe rough in places.
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Summer brings the best access and conditions. Days run 50–75°F, nights drop into the 30s and 40s. Late-afternoon thunderstorms are common, and UV exposure is strong at this elevation. The campground opens mid-June and stays accessible through October. Wildflowers peak in July. By autumn, Lost Lake Slough's water level drops as it drains toward lower valleys. Snow can arrive early or late, depending on the year.
Best access/conditions; wildflowers peak mid-July to early August; days 50–75°F.
Lost Lake Campground offers a range of amenities and facilities that make it suitable for family camping experiences. While the campground is well-maintained, amenities are somewhat limited in certain areas such as water availability. The vault toilets are wheelchair-friendly, but there are no showers on-site, and potable water is not available. Campers will need to bring their own drinking water. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and a fire ring, ensuring convenient setups for cooking and dining outdoors. The campsite also accommodates equestrian camping in a designated section.
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