Jefferson Creek
Campground · Colorado · 16 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Pike National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 16
- Bookable sites
- 40 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 8
- People per site
- 12
- Accessible sites
- 10,129 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Campers looking for a pleasant fishing destination with great mountain views will enjoy camping at Jefferson Creek. The campground is located a short drive or hike from Jefferson Lake. The lake is one of the highest elevation lakes around, capping 10,685 feet elevation and bordered by steep 12,000 foot peaks.Fishing in both the creek and lake offer promising catches of trout. Another noteworthy aspect of the campground is its access to the Colorado Trail.
Recreation
Two trails can be accessed near the campground. The best hiking, biking and horseback riding experience is on the epic Colorado Trail, a 471-mile trail that extends from Denver to Durango. The other is the West Jefferson Loop Trail, a foot path that extends for 11 miles to the Continental Divide.Rainbow, brown, mackinaw and brook trout can be found swimming in the creek and lake. Motorized boating is allowed in Jefferson Lake, but it is a no-wake lake.
Facilities
Jefferson Campground offers nearly 20 reservable campsites. Parking aprons are gravel and the max RV length 25 feet. Amenities include picnic tables, vault toilets, drinking water and campfire rings.Natural Features
Jefferson Creek Campground extends along a ridge looking over Jefferson Creek. The high elevation campground sits at 10,100 feet altitude with surroundings of mixed conifers. It is a mile from Jefferson Lake, a182-acre lake with deep, cold waters that freezes over in winter.Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.Nearby Attractions
Visitors enjoy Fairplay, Colorado, a ghost town that was once a frontier boom town. The South Park City Museum contains 34 authentic buildings with 60,000 artifacts.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: Mid May (depending on conditions) – Mid October — USDA Forest Service, Aug 24, 2026
- 16 bookable sites
- 17 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 12 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 40 ft
- Up to 8 people per site
- Loops: JEFFERSON CREEK
Site types
- 13 Standard Nonelectric
- 3 Tent Only Nonelectric
- 1 Management
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, picnic tables, grills.
17 campsites at Jefferson Creek
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 24 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 002 - Host site | JEFFERSON CREEK | Management | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 003 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 18 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 004 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 16 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 005 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 24 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 006 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 16 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 007 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 14 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 008 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 009 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 24 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 010 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 24 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 011 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 012 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 40 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 013 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 014 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 015 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 016 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 18 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 017 | JEFFERSON CREEK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 24 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
Getting there
39.43694, -105.86083 · 39°26'13.0"N 105°51'39.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.6 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 Jefferson Creek
- Can you reserve a site at Jefferson Creek?
- Yes, Jefferson Creek is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Jefferson Creek have?
- 17 sites in total, of which 16 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Jefferson Creek?
- 40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Jefferson Creek?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Jefferson Creek.
- Are campfires allowed at Jefferson Creek?
- Campfires are allowed at Jefferson Creek. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Jefferson Creek also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Jefferson Creek's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- $24.00 fee per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $11.00 for a third vehicle. $11.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight. Fees are payable by cash, check, or money order. Self-service fee tube is available. First-come, first-served sites
Restrictions:
- Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Campfires are restricted to fire rings only. Maximum 14 consecutive night stay.
Camping near Jefferson Creek
- Aspen (Co) 1.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lodgepole (Jefferson Lake, Fairplay Colorado) 1.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Michigan Creek 2.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Hall Valley 4.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Handcart 4.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Timberline Campground 5.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lodgepole Campground 1.4 mi · Campground
- Georgia Pass Road (South Fork Swan) #355 3.3 mi · Facility
- Gibson Lake Trailhead 4.3 mi · Facility
- Hall Valley Campground 4.3 mi · Campground
- French Gulch #2 5.4 mi · Facility
- Kenosha Pass Railroad Station Documentary Site: 2 5.6 mi · Facility
Contact
- Email tbolton@goexplorus.com
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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