Eleven Mile State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Eleven Mile State Park, located on the 3,405-acre Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir, is a year-round camping and recreational hotspot. The park, situated in Colorado’s Front Range, is approximately 11 miles southwest from the town of Lake George. Eleven Mile State Park offers its visitors varying views of Colorado’s colorful terrain. Located on the reservoir, the immediate landscape around the water is a highly planed grassland with outcrops of rocks and ledges. The Pikes Peak, Tarryall, and Continental Divide mountain ranges frame the park, creating a stark contrast of water, mountain, and sky.
The park is bordered on two sides by the Pike National Forest, which provides the park with plenty of flora and fauna to enjoy. If you enjoy wildlife watching, bring your camera because there are a plethora of critters here to get pictures of and share on social media. There are even three rare birds here: the white pelican, American peregrine falcon, and the bald eagle. Bring along your hiking boots so you can explore the forest while you are here. There are several trails in the park, including the 3.16-mile orienteering trail that teaches you how to use a compass. You are sure to get some fantastic shots of some wildlife there too.
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. Visit this park and experience some of Colorado's magnificent backcountry. The Eleven Mile State Park offers eight RV-friendly campgrounds to choose from, which we have highlighted below.
RV Rentals in Eleven Mile State Park
Transportation
Driving
Eleven Mile State Park is approximately 50 miles northwest of Colorado Springs, and 121 miles southwest of Denver, Colorado. The scenic drive from both cities takes RVers on mountain passes and switchback roads. Drivers should follow road grade warnings and take curves cautiously. The roads can be a bit treacherous, especially if you are driving a large RV or pulling a trailer, so you should drive slowly on the back roads. You will also need to watch out for any wildlife that is crossing the road, mainly during dusk and dawn.
The campground roads are well-maintained, but you should be alert for low hanging branches, wildlife, and other campers when entering and exiting the campground. It is important to note that some areas in the campgrounds are not suited for larger RVs, so do your research before choosing a campsite.
Eleven Mile State Park is a reservation-only park. Patrons of the park must reserve a space before coming to the facility. There aren’t any self-serve boxes for first-come, first-serve campers, so visitors must plan ahead if they wish to stay at this state park. In addition to the nightly rate, all vehicles must display a current Colorado State Parks Pass on the windshield. Visitors can purchase daily, or yearly vehicle passes at the entrance station.
Parking
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Eleven Mile State Park
Campsites in Eleven Mile State Park
Reservations camping
Cross Creek Campground
Cross Creek Campground is an isolated campground that offers basic services and sites ranging in size from 60 to 90 feet. These 12 waterfront sites have access to one pit toilet and a large parking area. There is no water spigot in this campground. Each site also has a picnic table, fire ring with a grill for cooking, and a large cleared space. Pets are welcome if they are restrained and supervised at all times during your stay. Reservations must be made before arriving at the park. There are no first-come, first-served RV spaces.
All campers have access to the Camper’s Services Building, which is located near the main entrance to the park. This facility operates seasonally and has flush toilets, coin-operated showers, and a coin-operated laundry. All campers also have access to the park’s two dry dump stations, located at the entrance to the North Shore and Witcher’s Cove Campgrounds.
Howbert Point Campground
Howbert Point Campground has 10 secluded campsites and sits on a little peninsula, giving all of the sites waterfront views. This campground offers basic sites with parking pads ranging in size from 50 to 80 feet long. There is also a large parking area, pit toilet, and water spigot available in this campground. Each site also has a picnic table, a fire ring with a grill for cooking, and a large cleared space for sitting around the campfire. Dogs and cats are allowed as long as they are kept on a leash and supervised at all times during your stay.
In addition, you can find the Camper’s Services Building has laundry facilities, hot showers, and modern restrooms with running water near the entrance of the park. This office is open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day. There are also two RV dump stations, which are located near the Witcher’s Cove and North Shore Campgrounds.
Witcher's Cove Campground
Witcher’s Cove Campground offers 22 basic campsites with parking pads ranging in size from 40 to 70 feet. These open lakeshore sites provide convenient access to boat ramps, parking areas, and pit toilets. The park’s southern dump station is located at the entrance to this campground, so campers who stay here will have easy access to the dump station. However, there are no water spigots in this campground.
Each site also has a large picnic table, a fire ring with a grill for cooking, and a spacious cleared space for sitting around the campfire. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash and supervised at all times during your stay. There are pay showers, restrooms with running water, and laundry facilities in the Camper’s Services Building, which is open seasonally from Memorial Day until Labor Day and is located at the entrance to the park.
Stoll Mountain Campground
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.
Rocky Ridge Campground
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
Lazy Boy Campground is a waterfront campground with basic services. Campers staying at this campground can choose from 14 sites with parking pads ranging from 45 to 85 feet long. Both sections of this campground have access to pit toilets, and there is one water spigot located in the section of the campground closest to the parking area. Each site also has a picnic table, a fire ring with a grill for cooking, and a large cleared space for sitting around the campfire. Dogs and cats are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash and supervised at all times during your stay.
The Camper’s Services Building is open seasonally, from Memorial Day until Labor Day and is located near the beginning of the park. You will find modern restrooms with running water, hot showers, and laundry facilities here for all campers to use. Near Witcher’s Cove and North Shore Campgrounds you can find RV dump sites for your convenience.
Rocking Chair Campground
Rocking Chair Campground is a waterfront campground with basic services. The 13 sites have parking pads that range from 40 to 70 feet long. Each site also has a picnic table, a fire ring with a grill for cooking, and a large cleared space for sitting around the campfire. There are two sections to the campground. One section of the campground has a pit toilet and a water spigot. The other section doesn’t have a pit toilet nearby, so only self-contained units should camp here.
There is a day use area with access to parking nearby. Dogs and cats are welcome as long as they are kept on a leash and supervised at all times during your stay. If you need to take a shower or do some laundry, the Camper’s Services Building by the park entrance is open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day. They also have modern restrooms with flush toilets and running water. RV dump sites are located near Witcher’s Cove and North Shore Campgrounds for your convenience.
North Shore Campground
This campground has five loops A through E, with a total of 80 campsites. Some sites sit lakeside or have a view of the reservoir. All spaces in this campground have basic services and access to pit toilets. Each site also has a picnic table, a fire ring with a grill for cooking, and a large cleared space for sitting around the campfire. Water is available from the community water spigots located in loops A through B. Parking pads range in size from 35 to 110 feet.
People staying in this campground have close access to two boat ramps, an amphitheater, and a playground. The park’s northern dump station is also located at the entrance to the North Shore Campground. If you have some laundry to do or need to take a shower, the Camper’s Services Building is open from Memorial Day until Labor Day and is located by the entrance to the park. Pets are also welcome but have to be properly restrained and accompanied while you are here.
Seasonal activities in Eleven Mile State Park
In-Season
Hiking
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.
Educational Programs
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.
Boating
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.
Mountain Biking
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.
Off-Season
Hunting
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.
Cross-Country Skiing
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.
Ice fishing
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.
Birding
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.
