Ute Campground (CO)
Campground · Colorado · 21 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
San Juan National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 21
- Bookable sites
- 40 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 32
- People per site
- 6,826 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Ute Campground is located on US Hwy 160 across from Chimney Rock National Monument, 15 miles west of Pagosa Springs, 25 miles east of Bayfield, and 18 miles north of Arbolles, just west of the intersection with Colorado 151. Visitors enjoy quick access to Chimney Rock National Monument entrance and a centralized location to USFS trail systems, lake, and stream fishing.
Recreation
Ute Campground is the only access to Forest Service land on Haystack Mountain.
Hiking views of Chimney Rock National Monument.
Facilities
The campground is shaded with Ponderosa Pines and offers easy access to Highway 160. Sites are spaciously placed and all feature natural areas adjacent to the campsites. 21 sites offer improved primitive camping with picnic tables, fire rings, and some with additional grills. There is a Group Area with a maximum for 32 people featuring a group picnic area and 2 fire rings. There is one potable water station under pressure and two pairs of vault toilets. Maximum stay is 28 days at first come-first serve sites. 12 days maximum stay on reservation sites. Pets allowed, leashing required. No horses or pack animals allowed in the park.
Natural Features
Ute campground, named for and sharing land with the Southern Ute Nation is located along reservation borders situated at the base of Haystack Mountain facing Chimney Rock National Monument. The terrain is a hilly forest enviroment of Ponderosa pines, Gamble Oak, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Fragrant Sumac and meadows.
Nearby Attractions
The entrance to Chimney Rock National Monument is only 4 miles away on Colorado 151. It is centrally located between Turkey Springs Trail System and the Devil Mountain - Mule Mountain - Horse Mountain Trail Systems, featuring trails specific to ATV, motorcycle, mountain bike, hiking, horseback riding, along with stream fishing and a natural hot spring on the Piedra River. The Southern Ute Reservation allows access to fishing on tribal land at Lake Capote and the Piedra River with fee permits.
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.
Group Sites
Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use 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
- 21 bookable sites
- 22 sites in total, including non-bookable
- Vehicles up to 40 ft
- Up to 32 people per site
- Loops: East Spur, Lower North: Loop 1, Main Loop, Main: Loop 1, Upper, Upper: Loop 1
Site types
- 20 Standard Nonelectric
- 1 Group Standard Nonelectric
- 1 Management
Amenities
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Campfires allowed
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
- Sewer hookups — not available
22 campsites at Ute Campground (CO)
Check-in 02:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Grade | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | East Spur | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 02 | East Spur | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 03 | East Spur | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | Slight | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 04 | East Spur | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Moderate | 30 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 07-Group | Lower North: Loop 1 | Group Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | — | — | 32 | 🐾 |
| 05 | Main Loop | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Moderate | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 06 - Host | Main: Loop 1 | Management | Pull Through | Gravel | Slight | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 08 | Main: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 09 | Main: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 10 | Main: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Moderate | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 11 | Main: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Moderate | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 12 | Main: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Slight | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 13 | Main: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Moderate | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 17 | Main: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | — | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 14 | Upper | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | Moderate | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 15 | Upper | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | Moderate | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 20 | Upper | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | Moderate | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 16 | Upper: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | Moderate | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 18 | Upper: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | Severe | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 19 | Upper: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | Severe | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 21 | Upper: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | Slight | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 22 | Upper: Loop 1 | Standard Nonelectric | — | — | Moderate | — | 8 | 🐾 |
Getting there
Directions from Pagosa Springs, CO: Travel west on U.S. Hwy 160 for 18.0 miles and campground is on north side of the highway.
37.21540, -107.27250 · 37°12'55.4"N 107°16'21.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.9 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 15.5 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 Ute Campground (CO)
- Can you reserve a site at Ute Campground (CO)?
- Yes, Ute Campground (CO) is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Ute Campground (CO) have?
- 22 sites in total, of which 21 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Ute Campground (CO)?
- 40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Ute Campground (CO)?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Ute Campground (CO).
- Does Ute Campground (CO) have hookups?
- Electric, Water.
- Are campfires allowed at Ute Campground (CO)?
- Campfires are allowed at Ute Campground (CO). Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Also listed by
Ute Campground (CO) also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Ute Campground (CO)'s operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- Standard: $24 Group: $100
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
Camping near Ute Campground (CO)
- Chimney Rock National Monument 3.3 mi · Tickets · we watch it
- Lower Piedra 4.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Bridge 17.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Graham Creek Campground 19 mi · Campground · we watch it
- North Canyon Campground 19.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Pine Point (Vallecito Reservoir, CO) 19.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Williams Creek Campground 19.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Middle Mountain 19.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Teal 20.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Pine River 20.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Pine Point Campground 19.3 mi · Campground
- Old Timers Day Use Area 19.4 mi · Facility
Contact
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-06-17.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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