NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND campground
San Juan NF, Colorado

NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND

Mostly first-come
12 campsites
Open in maps

12

Total Campsites

Campground

Reservable Sites

Mostly first-come

Accessible

ADA-compliant sites

Organization

Managing agency

Overview

About NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND

Overview North Canyon Campground is situated next to Vallecito Reservoir in southwestern Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its beautiful scenery and wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing and hiking. Recreation Vallecito Reservoir is a very popular fishing lake, with anglers casting for German brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike. The lake offers great boating, water skiing and canoeing opportunities. Boat rentals and fishing licenses are available at various locations around the lake. A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are found in the area. The North Canyon Trail begins across the road from the campground and leads through ponderosa pine and aspen forests. A short side trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake. East Creek Trail begins a quarter-mile northeast of the campground, on Forest Road 852. It provides access to a lightly used, scenic drainage where fly-fisherman cast for brook trout. Both trails are popular with horseback riders, however, horses are not allowed in the campground. Facilities Vallecito Reservoir is a very popular fishing lake, with anglers casting for German brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike. The lake offers great boating, water skiing and canoeing opportunities. Boat rentals and fishing licenses are available at various locations around the lake. A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are found in the area. The North Canyon Trail begins across the road from the campground and leads through ponderosa pine and aspen forests. A short side trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake. East Creek Trail begins a quarter-mile northeast of the campground, on Forest Road 852. It provides access to a lightly used, scenic drainage where fly-fisherman cast for brook trout. Both trails are popular with horseback riders, however, horses are not allowed in the campground. Natural Features Vallecito, which is Spanish for "little valley," sits at an elevation of 7,900 feet. Scattered ponderosa pines tower over the open campground, offering limited shade. A thick understory provides privacy between sites, many of which have partial lake views. Thickets of willow separate the camping area from the lakeshore. High peaks of the San Juans are visible to the northwest of the campground. Charges & Cancellations 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.

  • 12 total campsites listed.
  • Primarily first-come camping based on current listing data.
  • Most common site type: unknown (12).
  • Map coordinates are available for trip planning.
NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND photo 2
NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND photo 3

Our Take

What makes NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND special

Perched on the shores of Vallecito Reservoir in the heart of southwest Colorado, North Canyon Campground delivers a striking combination of high-desert warmth and alpine grandeur. The San Juan National Forest rises in every direction, with rugged peaks and dense stands of spruce and fir forming a dramatic backdrop to the deep blue reservoir below. Vallecito is a popular destination for boating, waterskiing, and fishing, with healthy populations of northern pike, rainbow trout, and kokanee salmon keeping anglers busy from shore and boat alike. The campground itself occupies a gentle hillside dotted with ponderosa pine, offering sites with filtered views of the water and easy access to the reservoir's northern end. Hiking trails fan out into the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado's largest wilderness area, where backpackers can disappear into high alpine basins and encounter elk, mule deer, and the occasional black bear. Summer is the peak season, with July and August bringing warm days perfect for water sports, while September ushers in cooler temperatures and the first hints of golden aspen. North Canyon is well suited for boating families, anglers seeking variety, and hikers who want a comfortable lakeside camp with world-class wilderness just over the ridge.

Campsite Inventory

12 sites to choose from

Unknown

12total sites

0

Reservable

0

Accessible

Amenities & Details

Everything you need to know

Campfire Allowed

Yes

Site capacity

Single

Check-in time

2:00 PM

Check-out time

12:00 PM

Condition Rating

Good

Driveway entry

Back-In

Driveway Grade

Moderate, Slight

Driveway length (ft)

21, 30, 32, 35

Driveway surface

Gravel

Grills/Fire Ring

Yes

Location Rating

Good

Max guests

8

Max vehicle length (ft)

21, 30, 32, 35

Minimum guests

Yes

Pets allowed

Yes

Picnic Table

Yes

Privacy

Yes

Quiet Area

Yes

Reservations & Contact

Plan your stay

Mostly first-come

Email

mandy@rockymountainrec.com

Getting There

From Bayfield, Colo., at the Vallecito Lake sign on U.S. Highway 160 (County Road 501), go north about 13 miles to Vallecito. Turn right on County Road 501A at the fire station and travel 4 miles to the campground.

FAQ

Common questions

Everything you need to know before your trip to NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND.

How do reservations work for NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND?

Reservation availability for NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND can vary by season and campsite type. Check the contact and access section before booking.

What campsite types are available at NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND?

NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND currently lists Unknown (12).

Where is NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND located?

NORTH CANYON CAMPGROUND is in Colorado near San Juan NF. Coordinates: 37.3939, -107.5389.

Keep Exploring

Discover more campgrounds

More campgrounds in Colorado