Little Mattie Campground

Campground · Colorado · 18 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

White River National Forest (NF) · Open Access

18
Bookable sites
30 ft
Max rig length
up to 10
People per site
7,852 ft
Elevation
Little Mattie
Photo: Staff · Recreation.gov

Overview

Located approximately 14 miles eat of Basalt, CO, in the White River National Forest, Little Mattie Campground is situated on the Ruedi Reservoir at an elevation of 7800 feet. Sites are open to the starry nighttime skies and access to the lake and trails. It sits amid a mixed conifer forest and offers an ideal setting for guest seeking recreation and relaxation.

Little Mattie has 19 standard sites suitable for tents, trailers and RVs. There is a maximum length of 30 feet for RVs & trailers. The sites are equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings and bear boxes (food storage lockers). Guests also have access to vault toilets and drinking water, but electrical hook-ups are not available.

Recreation

Renown for its fly fishing, Frying pan River flows below Ruedi Dam. Here, large rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout are plentiful in an area nicknamed the “toilet bowl.” The fish feed on Mysis shrimp, a small freshwater shrimp stocked in the lake. The stretch of rive from below the dam down to the confluence of Frying Pan and the Roaring Fork River has been designated as Gold Medal Waters by the Colorado Wildlife Commission. Special regulations in this area include fishing only with artificial flies and lures, and releasing all trout except brown trout, with a limit of two fish over 14 inches. For hikers and bikers, the Ruedi Trail, located north of the reservoir, climbs to the top of Red Mountain. The trailhead is located 200 feet north of the Jeep trail near the boat ramp and parking lot. This eight mile trail gains over 3,000 feet in elevation, leading hikers to a spectacular panoramic view of the area. Boating, swimming, and water skiing are all possible. Interpretive programs are popular activities.

Facilities

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.

Charges & Cancellations

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

The facts

  • 18 bookable sites
  • 19 sites in total, including non-bookable
  • Vehicles up to 30 ft
  • Up to 10 people per site

Site types

  • 18 Standard Nonelectric
  • 1 Management

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Fire pits
  • Picnic tables
  • Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, grills, shade.

Book on Recreation.gov

19 campsites at Little Mattie Campground

Check-in 02:00 PM · Check-out 11:00 AM

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceMax rigPeople
001—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
002—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
003—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
004—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
005—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
006—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
007—Standard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel30 ft10 🐾
008—Standard NonelectricPull ThroughGravel30 ft10 🐾
009—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
010—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
011—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
012—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
013—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
014—ManagementBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
015—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
016—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
017—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
019—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾
020—Standard NonelectricBack InGravel30 ft10 🐾

Getting there

Take I-70 west of Denver to Glenwood Springs Exit 116, Highway 82 to Basalt. At Basalt, take Frying Pan Road 15 miles to the Ruedi Complex Entrance.

39.37675, -106.80747 · 39°22'36.3"N 106°48'26.9"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 81°F in Jul, down to 34°F in Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F343643516375818071614534
Low °F461321283440393223135
Precip in————————————

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.6 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

More photos

Little Mattie Site 1 View
Photo: Staff · Recreation.gov
Little Mattie View
Photo: Staff · Recreation.gov

Member photos

Common questions about Little Mattie Campground

Can you reserve a site at Little Mattie Campground?
Yes, Little Mattie Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Little Mattie Campground have?
19 sites in total, of which 18 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Little Mattie Campground?
30 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Little Mattie Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Little Mattie Campground.
Are campfires allowed at Little Mattie Campground?
Campfires are allowed at Little Mattie Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

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

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

    Restrictions:

    • Access is limited to fourteen days
    • Maximum length of 30 feet for RVs & trailers

    USDA Forest Service's own page

    Camping near Little Mattie Campground

    Comments

    Contact

    Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-03-11.

    Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.