4.1736 reviewsPrice
$10 - $20/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
16 campsites
Season
Opens mid-July and c...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
$10 - $20/night
Booking
First-Come
Sites
16 campsites
Season
Opens mid-July and c...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Summit Lake Campground
Buffalo Pass, near Steamboat Springs, CO
Brook trout fishers, CDT hikers, and kayakers who pack in hand-powered watercraft will get the most out of this. Grab a lakeside back-in site early on a Friday morning, bring exact cash, and load up on DEET, the views at sunrise are worth the hassle.
No potable water on-site, vault toilets draw complaints about cleanliness, and mosquitoes overwhelm most of the day in peak summer. Anyone arriving from the Steamboat Springs side needs high-clearance 4WD, the road is legitimately rough, not just bumpy.
Reference information about Summit Lake Campground sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<div class="usa-alert usa-alert--info usa-alert--slim"><div class="usa-alert__body"><p class="usa-alert__text"><strong>Opens mid July in 2024.</strong><br /><br />Summit Lake Campground generally does not open until Mid July due to the high elevation of 10,300 ft and is located on Buffalo Pass outside of Steamboat Springs. It provides 9 back-in campsites and 6 walk-in tent sites (all are first come first serve and cannot be reserved. Each site has a table and a fire grate, and vault toilets and trash service is offered.</p><p>Day Use is also obtainable in two parking lots provided for the visitor to use while fishing or picnicking. Only hand powered watercraft are permitted on Summit Lake, with no boat ramp available. This campground provides great opportunities for mountain biking, dirt biking and ATVing, horseback riding, fishing and hiking. It is located near the boundary of Mount Zirkel Wilderness which offers numerous backcountry opportunities.</p><p class="usa-alert__text">This site was approved for a fee change - <a class="usa-link" href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mbr/fire/?cid=FSEPRD1092198">Click here for more information</a></p></div></div>
The elevation is 10,400 ft. The campground, located on the southern edge of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, is rustic and adjacent to the western end of Summit Lake among Engelmann spruce trees. Some camp sites overlook the lake and all tent sites are walk-in. NOTE: Snow conditions prevented a physical survey of the campground; information provided by Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District Office. Routt National Forest 447
Open July 10 through September 30
Summit Lake is 40 acres and is partially in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. Hiking: Continental Divide National Scenic Trail #1101 (foot) - 3,100 miles Fishing: Brook trout
Summit Lake is 40 acres and is partially in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness.
The parking aprons are dirt. A RV waste station is available in Walden, CO. Take 4th St. east to its end. Turn left and go past the high school. The waste station is at the next corner. A donation is requested and there is potable water.
From Walden, CO, take State Rts. 125S/14W 0.9 miles to Steamboat Springs sign. At sign, turn right onto Rt. 14W and go 11.6 miles to National Forest Access/Buffalo Pass sign (County Rt. 24). Turn right at sign onto Rt. 24 and go 7.4 miles to a "Y" intersection and end of paved road. Bear left, continuing on Rt. 24, and go 8.8 miles to campground on right. NOTE: County Rt. 24 also becomes Forest Rt. 60 just passed the Grizzly Creek campground. The condition of Forest Rt. 60 may deteriorate as the season progresses. Check with the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District Office for condition.
Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.
Summer brings daytime highs around 60-68°F and nights in the low 30s to 40s. This is the most reliable season for access, with trails fully clear after snowmelt and long daylight hours for exploring. Mosquitoes are worst during peak summer, relenting only briefly each day. Early and late season visitors risk surprise snowfalls. Weekends fill up despite the remote location, though crowds remain modest compared to Front Range destinations.
Best access mid-July–early Sept; cool days, cold nights and heavy mosquitoes during summer.
Summit Lake Campground is located at a high elevation of 10,300 feet and is accessible seasonally, generally from mid-July until it becomes unreachable due to snow. The campground provides 9 back-in campsites and 6 walk-in tent sites, all of which are first-come, first-served. Each site includes a picnic table and a fire grate. Vault toilets are available, along with trash service, but potable water is not provided on-site.
Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.
Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.
Rate Summit Lake Campground
Been here? Tap a star to start. Takes about a minute.
Sign-in required only if you want your name on it.
Be the first to review this campground
Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.
