Graham Creek Campground

Campground · Colorado · 24 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

San Juan National Forest (NF) · Open Access

24
Bookable sites
60 ft
Max rig length
up to 8
People per site
7,717 ft
Elevation
GRAHAM CREEK CAMPGROUND

Overview

Graham Creek Campground is situated above Vallecito Lake, in the scenic San Juan National Forest of southwestern Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its beautiful scenery and wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing and hiking.

Recreation

Vallecito Lake is a very popular fishing destination, where anglers cast 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 on its way through the canyon. A shorter trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake.

East Creek Trail begins a quarter-mile up Forest Road 852, just northeast of the campground. The trail 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

The campground offers single-family campsites, a few of which have lake views. Sites are each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. The south side of the campground is adjacent to private property.

Natural Features

Vallecito Lake, Spanish for "little valley," sits at an elevation of 7,900 feet. Scattered ponderosa pine trees tower over the open campground, offering limited shade. Hillside sites are about 100 yards from the high-water line and offer nice lake views.

A thick understory provides privacy between sites. Thickets of willow separate the camping area from the lakeshore. Several short trails lead to the lake from the campground. High peaks of the San Juans are visible to the northwest of the campground.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.

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.

The facts

  • Season: May – September — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
  • 24 bookable sites
  • Vehicles up to 60 ft
  • Up to 8 people per site
  • Loops: LOOP A

Site types

  • 24 Standard Nonelectric

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Picnic tables
  • Grills
  • Shade
  • Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits.

Book on Recreation.gov

24 campsites at Graham Creek Campground

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceGradeWaterMax rigPeople
001LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—38 ft8 🐾
002LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—38 ft8 🐾
003LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—38 ft8 🐾
004LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—24 ft8 🐾
005LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—35 ft8 🐾
006LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelModerate—35 ft8 🐾
007LOOP AStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravelModerate—35 ft8 🐾
008LOOP AStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravelSlight—30 ft8 🐾
009LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—38 ft8 🐾
010LOOP AStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravelSlight—60 ft8 🐾
011LOOP AStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravelSlight—60 ft8 🐾
012LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—25 ft8 🐾
013LOOP AStandard NonelectricPull ThroughGravelSlight—30 ft8 🐾
014LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—38 ft8 🐾
015LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—38 ft8 🐾
016LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSevere—25 ft8 🐾
017LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—38 ft8 🐾
018LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—38 ft8 🐾
019LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—35 ft8 🐾
020LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlightLakefront45 ft8 🐾
021LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelModerateLakefront35 ft8 🐾
022LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlightLakefront42 ft8 🐾
023LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlightLakefront35 ft8 🐾
025LOOP AStandard NonelectricBack InGravelSlight—38 ft8 🐾

Getting there

From Bayfield, travel 14 miles north on County Road 501. Turn right on County Road 501A at the fire station; travel over the dam and continue just over 3 miles to the campground.

37.39028, -107.54000 · 37°23'25.0"N 107°32'24.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 81°F in Jul, down to 38°F in Jan.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F384149576677817973614839
Low °F71120273542494840302112
Precip in2.52.11.71.41.70.92.63.23.42.31.92.1

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.4 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 Graham Creek Campground

Can you reserve a site at Graham Creek Campground?
Yes, Graham Creek Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Graham Creek Campground have?
24 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Graham Creek Campground?
60 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Graham Creek Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Graham Creek Campground.
Are campfires allowed at Graham Creek Campground?
Campfires are allowed at Graham Creek Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Graham Creek Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Graham Creek Campground's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

  • $27

Restrictions:

  • Quiet time is typically between 10pm - 6am. Please be a good neighbor and limit use of generators to no more than one hour at a time.
  • Dogs must be leashed or otherwise physically restrained. Do not leave pets unattended.
  • Check-out time: 12:00 pm; Check-in time: 2:00 pm - if the site is empty, campers may come in anytime.
  • Standard single site occupancy is 8, but a single family with > 8 members is acceptable.
  • Equipment with wheels (RVs, campers, cars) must fit in the parking spur. There is not any overflow parking available.
  • Max RV size = 35 ft
  • Do not trespass on the private property adjacent to the south side of the campground.

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Graham Creek Campground

Comments

Contact

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.