Eleven Mile State Park offers exceptional waterfront RV camping across nine campgrounds with 326 sites surrounding the 3,405-acre reservoir, featuring world-class fishing, ideal sailing conditions, and year-round outdoor adventures. Rocky Ridge Campground provides the only electrical hookups in the park, while strategic locations like Colorado Springs RV rentals and Denver camper van options offer prime access to this 7,662-acre mountain park that sits at an elevation of 8,600 feet, just 50 miles west of Colorado Springs in South Park's high alpine meadow.
In the middle of Colorado, you can find the 7,662-acre Eleven Mile State Park. Located on Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir, a 3,405-acre lake, this fantastic park is a year-round recreational hotspot perfect for waterfront RV camping. The park features 326 campsites scattered across nine separate campgrounds around the lake, including 14 backcountry sites.
From hiking and biking to RV camping and picnicking, there is plenty to do here. With ready access to water, plus the surrounding mountains, Eleven Mile State Park offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. This mountain park and reservoir offer opportunities to observe the wildlife, wildflowers, and geology of a plains environment situated on a mountain slope, known as a montane ecosystem. You will want to bring your binoculars because you can spot over 258 bird species, including rare white pelicans, American peregrine falcons, and bald eagles.
The reservoir is renowned for exceptional fishing year-round. Rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and carp make this reservoir home. On-site fishing tournaments are held throughout the year, with excellent ice fishing opportunities for kokanee, trout, and pike all winter long.
High season at Eleven Mile runs from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend, with temperatures at their warmest during this time. The late spring and early fall are excellent times to visit with mild temperatures and less crowded campgrounds. In the colder months, Eleven Mile State Park transforms into a winter wonderland. While many facilities close seasonally, Rocky Ridge Loop A remains open with electrical hookups for winter camping adventures, and ice fishing draws anglers from across the region.
From Colorado Springs, drive 38 miles west on US 24 to one mile west of the town of Lake George, then turn left (south) on County Road 90 and drive for six miles to County Road 92. Continue south on 92 for five miles to the park. The scenic drive from Colorado Springs takes approximately one hour, while Denver visitors should plan for about two hours of travel time.
The roads leading to Eleven Mile State Park feature mountain passes and switchback sections. Drivers should follow road grade warnings and take curves cautiously, especially when driving a large RV or pulling a trailer. The campground roads are well-maintained, but you should remain alert for low-hanging branches, wildlife, and other campers when navigating the park.
Colorado Springs Gateway Access: Colorado Springs RV rentals position you perfectly for Eleven Mile State Park, located just 50 miles west via US Highway 24. This gateway city offers the closest access to the park with approximately one hour of driving time. Colorado Springs provides numerous RV rental options, including Class B campervans and travel trailers, making it ideal for first-time RV renters exploring South Park's stunning reservoir.
Denver Metropolitan Access: Denver RV rentals offer a premium selection for multi-day adventures, combining Eleven Mile State Park with other Front Range destinations. Located about 120 miles northeast of the park, Denver serves as an excellent base for exploring Pike National Forest campgrounds and other nearby mountain recreation areas.
Howbert Point campground features an adorable peninsula jutting into the Eleven Mile Reservoir, creating a cozy camping atmosphere. This unique geographic feature provides campers with water views from multiple angles and excellent access for kayaking and fishing from shore.
The campground offers basic amenities with vault toilets and seasonal water access. With 9 sites, Howbert Point provides an intimate camping experience perfect for couples or small families.
Witcher's Cove Campground features lakeshore sites with convenient access to the south boat ramp. The south boat ramp is located at Witcher's Cove on the south side of the reservoir. This location makes it particularly popular with boating and fishing enthusiasts who want to launch directly from their campground.
The campground offers direct water access, though visitors should be prepared for wind, especially during evening hours. Sites are equipped with standard amenities, including picnic tables and fire rings. The nearby dump station serves this section of the park.
Cross Creek Campground is an isolated campground that offers basic services and sites ranging in size from 60 to 90 feet. This remote location provides the most secluded camping experience in the park, ideal for those seeking solitude and a more primitive experience.
With only 14 sites, Cross Creek Campground is a great place to escape the crowds. The campground features vault toilets and community water spigots. Its isolated location means fewer amenities but greater peace and quiet away from the busier sections of the park.
Stoll Mountain is a more private waterfront campground with basic services. These 25 sites have parking pads that range in size from 35 to 120 feet. There is one water spigot located in between the two sections of the campground by the parking lot as well as one pit toilet near the faucet. All sites have their own picnic table, a large cleared space for hanging out around the fire, and a fire pit with a grill for cooking. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash and supervised at all times during your stay.
There are two RV dump sites: one near Witcher’s Cove Campground and one by the North Shore Campground. Everyone has access to the Camper’s Services Building from the end of May until Labor Day, which has laundry facilities, hot showers, and modern restrooms with flush toilets and running water. This is located near the entrance of the main park.
Hiking is a favorite activity during Colorado's warmer months. Eleven Mile State Park has nearly five miles of scenic hiking trails in the Coyote Ridge and backcountry areas of the park. For a leisurely family and dog-friendly hike, try the Coyote Ridge Interpretive Trail. This trail is a one and a half-mile trail loop that showcases some of the micro-ecosystems in the area. You can pick up the self-guided map at the park office and access the trailhead, just off the Coyote Ridge parking lot after parking your RV at the campsite.
During the summer from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day, the park provides interpretive programs for people of all ages. Guest speakers and Saturday evening programs give visitors a closer look at the natural resources and favorite outdoor activities within and surrounding Eleven Mile State Park. You can enjoy a movie in the park or get up close and personal with some of the wild critters the park rangers bring to visit. The park's calendar provides visitors a detailed list of scheduled programs and upcoming events.
Eleven Mile Reservoir is the place to canoe, kayak, sail, and motorboat, so don’t forget to hook the boat trailer up to the campervan. Stay in your RV for a night, and then pack your gear into a kayak and stay the night in one of the park's backcountry campsites and enjoy one of the spectacular sunrises over the lake. Rent canoes, kayaks, and other boats at the marina and explore the lake on your own or charter a guide to show you the little-known areas of the park. Please be aware that Eleven Mile Reservoir does not allow body contact activities in the lake.
You can park your RV at designated campsites and day-use parking lots near boat ramps and major facilities like the park office and marina. Most campsites accommodate RVs and trailers, with Rocky Ridge offering sites ranging from 20 to 115 feet long. Parking on vegetation is prohibited and will result in fines. Towed vehicles are permitted at campsites if they fit within the designated parking area.
Public transportation is not available to or within Eleven Mile State Park. The nearest towns with limited services are Lake George (11 miles north) and Hartsel. Once inside the park, driving is the primary mode of transportation due to distances between campgrounds and facilities. The park's roads connect all nine campgrounds and recreational areas around the reservoir.
The Rocky Ridge Campground boasts 144 campsites and is the only campground in the park that offers 30-amp electrical service. The park has five loops, A through E, and only loops A, B, and D have electric hookups. These sites sit in the rocky outcrops isolated from any trees. People who want shade, but don’t need electrical should choose loops C and E. Sites range in size from 20 to 115 feet long, and there are five water spigots scattered through the campground. Each site also has a picnic table, fire ring with a grill for cooking, and a large cleared space.
Reservations must be made before arriving at the park. There are no first-come, first-served RV spaces. This campground has pit toilets and plenty of parking. When the Camp Services Building is open, seasonally, campers in the Rocky Ridge Campground are closest to the park offices, hot showers, flush toilets with running water, and laundry facilities. Pets are welcome as long as they are restrained and supervised at all times during your stay.
Lazy Boy Campground is a waterfront campground with basic services offering 14 sites with parking pads ranging from 45 to 85 feet long. Both sections of this campground provide access to vault toilets, with one water spigot located in the section closest to the parking area. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and cleared space for outdoor relaxation.
This smaller campground offers a more intimate camping experience with direct access to the reservoir's shoreline. The open vista of lakeshore stretching for miles makes Lazy Boy a scenic choice for those wanting peaceful waterfront camping.
Rocking Chair Campground is a waterfront campground with basic services featuring 13 sites with parking pads ranging from 40 to 70 feet long. The campground is divided into two sections. One section has a vault toilet and water spigot, while the other section lacks facilities and is best suited for self-contained RVs.
Each site provides a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and cleared outdoor space. A nearby day-use area offers additional parking for visitors wanting lake access. Rocking Chair sites #610-#613 remain open during the winter camping season.
North Shore campground has 80 single-family campsites and is located next to Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. While this campground lacks tree cover, the stunning vistas compensate with sweeping views across the water. Sites accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs, each equipped with a table, fire ring, and grate.
People staying at North Shore have close access to two boat ramps, an amphitheater, and a playground. The park's northern dump station is located at the campground entrance. Water spigots are available when seasonal services operate from May through Labor Day. This campground is ideal for boating enthusiasts who want easy water access.
Fourteen beautiful and secluded backcountry sites are perfect for those willing to pack or boat in, with hiking distances between 0.50 and 0.75 miles, depending on the campsite selected. These primitive sites offer the most remote and peaceful camping experience in the park.
The backcountry sites are accessible by hiking, or you can pay someone at 11 Mile Marina to haul your gear over by boat, as most backcountry sites are close to the water. Bear-proof food storage lockers are provided at backcountry sites. These locations feature some of the most scenic and private campsites in all of Eleven Mile State Park.
Go ahead and attach those mountain bikes to the bike rack on the motorhome because you can enjoy riding the 1.5-mile Coyote Ridge Trail on a bike as well. The average grade here is 10 percent, but the ascent is only 137 feet, so this is a short and easy trail. However, you need to watch out for large rocks and roots along the trail. The Eleven Mile Loop, which is actually only 3.4 miles long, is also fun for mountain biking with a 413-foot elevation gain along the lake and into the woods.
If you enjoy bird watching, Eleven Mile State Park is a great place for that so pack up the RV and head to the park. As long as you wear your warm clothes and gloves, you should be able to stay out and brave the Colorado coolness to do some birding. In fact, there are over 150 different species of birds in the park to check off your birding list. This includes ducks such as canvasbacks, pintails, and teals, as well as raptors like eagles, hawks, and ospreys.
Eleven Mile State Park is the perfect place to set up base camp for hunting excursions. The diverse migratory waterfowl population makes duck hunting a popular sport in Colorado, and Eleven Mile gives hunters a unique hunting terrain. Big and small game hunters will also enjoy the challenge of hunting in the mountain ranges surrounding Eleven Mile, and having a beautiful camping location to return to each night makes the adventure even more enjoyable. Contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife for hunting rules, regulations, and more information about hunting in the area.
People who love the cold and understand the importance of ice safety can use the frozen lake’s surface for cross-country skiing after the ice covers with snow. Skiers will need to use their own equipment, so don’t forget to pack your skis in the RV. For a more challenging activity, experienced skiers can ski the park’s backcountry, and ski the fields and meadows. As with any activity on the reservoir, weather conditions can change quickly, so skiers should always prepare for any winter-weather condition.
Avid fishers who can't wait for the summer fishing season can try ice fishing at Eleven Mile State Park. Once the formation of the ice cap is thick enough, ice fishers can fish for kokanee, trout, and pike all winter long. Ice-fishing shelters must be portable, and fishers must adhere to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fishing Regulations at all times. Guided ice fishing trips and equipment rentals are available. Contact the Eleven Mile Marina page for more information.
