Dowdy Lake
Campground · Colorado · 62 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Roosevelt National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 62
- Bookable sites
- 130 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 16
- People per site
- 55
- Accessible sites
- 8,167 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Dowdy Lake Campground is located 48 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., near the village of Red Feather Lakes. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and trail opportunities.Recreation
Canoeing and fishing are popular activities on the 115-acre, no-wake Dowdy Lake. Motorized boats are allowed on the lake, but a 10 mph speed limit is enforced. Anglers cast for brown, brook, cutthroat and lake trout. Several additional lakes are in the vicinity.Many hiking, biking and horseback riding trails are in the surrounding area, including the 4-mile Mount Margaret Trail. Several off-road vehicle trails are located within five miles of the campground.
Other popular activities include viewing wildlife and visiting the nearby Redfeather Visitor Center.
Facilities
The campground offers 60 accessible single and double family campsites with electric hookups. Ten sites are designated for tent camping only and do not have hookups. Each site contains a tent pad, picnic table and campfire ring with grill.Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided. Dead and downed firewood may be gathered in the forest or purchased in bundles from the campground host.
Natural Features
The campground is situated in a ponderosa pine forest on the shore of Dowdy Lake, at an elevation of 8,200 feet. Afternoon thunderstorms can be expected during spring and summer months.Due to the mountain pine beetle infestation and removal of hazardous trees, some sites have reduced shade.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.Nearby Attractions
The small village of Red Feather Lakes is nearby, offering limited dining options, gift shops, general stores, a library, post office and a golf course.Charges & Cancellations
Modifications for this campground must be made through Recreation.gov or by calling the call center at 1-877-444-6777 PRIOR to your reservation start date. Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.
The facts
- 62 bookable sites
- 55 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 130 ft
- Up to 16 people per site
- Loops: A, B, C, D, E
Site types
- 52 Standard Electric
- 10 Tent Only Nonelectric
Amenities
- Electric hookups
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.
62 campsites at Dowdy Lake
Check-in 02:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Access | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | A | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 64 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 002 | A | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 84 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 003 | A | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 56 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 004 | A | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 48 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 011 | A | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 43 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 012 | A | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 36 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 013 | A | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 43 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 014 | A | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 005 | B | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 75 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 006 | B | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 50 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 007 | B | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 65 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 008 | B | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 48 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 009 | B | Standard Electric | Pull Through | Gravel | — | 130 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 010 | B | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 73 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 015 | C | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 41 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 016 | C | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 74 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 017 | C | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 60 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 018 | C | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 019 | C | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 020 | C | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 021 | C | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 022 | C | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 023 | C | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 024 | C | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 025 | C | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 026 | C | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 027 | C | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 028 | C | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 60 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 029 | C | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 25 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 030 | C | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 50 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 031 | D | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 44 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 032 | D | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 48 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 033 | D | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 28 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 034 | D | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 53 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 035 | D | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 60 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 036 | D | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 33 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 037 | D | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 66 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 038 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 47 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 039 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 53 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 040 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 32 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 041 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 53 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 042 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 48 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 043 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 38 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 044 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 31 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 045 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 47 ft | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 046 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 48 ft | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 047 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 52 ft | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 048 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 30 ft | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 049 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 33 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 050 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 37 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 051 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 44 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 052 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 59 ft | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 053 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 82 ft | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 054 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 37 ft | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 055 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 23 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 056 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 61 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 057 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 57 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 058 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 57 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 059 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 61 ft | 16 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 060 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 56 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 061 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 37 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 062 | E | Standard Electric | Back In | Gravel | — | 47 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
Getting there
From Fort Collins, take Highway 287 north for approximately 24 miles to Livermore. Turn west on County Road 74 and continue about 23 miles to Dowdy Lake Road. Turn right, then another right onto Dowdy Drive and continue to the campground.
40.79651, -105.56551 · 40°47'47.5"N 105°33'55.8"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Dowdy Lake
- Can you reserve a site at Dowdy Lake?
- Yes, Dowdy Lake is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Dowdy Lake have?
- 62 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Dowdy Lake?
- 130 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Dowdy Lake?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Dowdy Lake.
- Does Dowdy Lake have hookups?
- Electric.
Also listed by
Dowdy Lake also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Dowdy Lake's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Check detailed fee information on www.recreation.gov or see general fees on our campground table .
Restrictions:
- A single site may hold up to eight people. Double sites will accommodate more people. Tents must fit on the pads provided. RVs, trailers or other vehicles must fit on the parking spur because driving or parking off road is not permitted. The parking length ranges from 30 to 70 feet.
Camping near Dowdy Lake
- Redfeather Ranger Station 0.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- West Lake 0.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Bellaire Lake Campground 3.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Dowdy Lake Picnic Site Day Pass 0.1 mi · Activity pass
- Redfeather Visitor Center 0.4 mi · Facility
- West Lake Day Use Area 0.6 mi · Facility
- West Lake Picnic Site Day Pass 0.6 mi · Activity pass
- Bellaire Lake Picnic Site 3.3 mi · Facility
- Sevenmile Road (#225) 6.5 mi · Facility
- North Fork Poudre Campground 7.7 mi · Campground
- South Pearl Road (#178) 8.6 mi · Facility
- Kelly Flats Campground 9.1 mi · Campground
Contact
- Phone 970-295-6700
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-08-11.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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