Can you reserve a site at Upper Cataract Lake #63?

No. Upper Cataract Lake #63 is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Upper Cataract Lake #63

Facility · Colorado ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

White River National Forest (NF) · Open Access

10,401 ft
Elevation

Upper Cataract Lake is in the Eagles Nest Wilderness area in the Gore Range mountains. It is a beautiful lake that sits on the edge of tree line and has dramatic views of Eagles Nest Peak. The climb from the trailhead is steady and steep at times as it climbs through lodgepole pines, aspen groves and spruce/fir forests.

* There is a printable Recreation Quicksheet for this trail which is complete with directions, a map, details, and other information about this trail. Or to see quicksheets for other recreation areas across the Forest, click on the "Recreation Quicksheets" link in the right column and select the appropriate Ranger District.

Getting there

From I-70 take Exit 205, Silverthorne/Dillon, and travel north on HWY 9. Travel 16 miles north on HWY 9. Just after mile marker 118 turn left onto Heeney Rd (County Road 30). Follow Heeney Road 5.3 miles and turn left onto Cataract Creek Road (FDR 1725). Continue for 2.5 miles to the Surprise Lake Trailhead parking area on the left which is past the Cataract Creek Campground.

39.80950, -106.31236 · 39°48'34.2"N 106°18'44.5"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 79°F in Jul, down to 28°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	28	33	42	51	61	74	79	76	69	55	40	29
Low °F	4	7	15	24	32	39	44	43	36	26	16	6
Precip in	1.1	1.1	1.2	1.9	1.7	1.1	1.6	1.6	1.5	1.4	1.1	1.3

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 4.9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

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Common questions about Upper Cataract Lake #63

Can you reserve a site at Upper Cataract Lake #63?: No. Upper Cataract Lake #63 is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Upper Cataract Lake #63

Elliott Creek Campground (CO) 4.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Prairie Point Campground (CO) 4.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cow Creek South 5.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cow Creek North (CO) 5.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Willows Campground (CO) 5.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lower Cataract Lake Loop #57 1.9 mi · Facility
Cataract Creek Campground 2 mi · Campground
McDonald Flats Campground 4.9 mi · Campground
Elliot's Ridge #1889 6.2 mi · Facility
Lower/Upper Slate Lakes #65 7 mi · Facility
Eagles Nest Wilderness 7.5 mi · Facility
Upper Piney #1885 8.8 mi · Facility

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Info 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.