With 1.86 million acres of space, the Rio Grande National Forest in southwestern Colorado is a fantastic place to spend the night or the week. The forest, which was developed in 1908, is named after the 1,800-mile-long Rio Grande River, which begins its journey in the San Juan Mountains and ends at the Gulf of Mexico. This huge wooded wonderland stretches across nine different counties and has four wilderness areas, which include Weminuche, South San Juan, Sangre de Cristo, and La Garita. It is also the home of the world’s largest desert as well as the biggest agricultural alpine valley, San Luis Valley.
If you are into backpacking, the 3,100-mile Continental Divide Trail runs for 236 miles through the western part of the forest. In fact, there are 288 named trails in the Rio Grande National Forest ranging from a quarter mile to over 20 miles long. And if you like mountains, there are plenty of those here too with the highest point in the forest being Blanca Peak, which is 14,345 feet above sea level. Water activities are popular here too with more than 100 lakes and ponds to enjoy, as well as dozens of creeks and, of course, the Rio Grande River.
There are 23 RV campgrounds spread across the Rio Grande National Forest that boast from five to 65 campsites each.There is plenty of space for you and your family and friends to enjoy camping in your campervan or trailer. We have highlighted our top three favorites below.
The Rio Grande National Forest is located just 3.5 hours south of Denver and four hours north of Albuquerque. You will have no trouble finding this huge expanse of land because it is one of the most popular places in the country to vacation with the Rio Grande one of the most well-known rivers in the world.
You can enjoy breathtaking scenery on Forest Road 250, which will include sights such as the Conejos River and Canyon as well as the Terrace Reservoir by Lake Fork Campground. The Silver Thread Byway meanders through the forest’s two historic districts, Creede and Lake City. Los Caminos Antiguos is another famous spot for sightseeing on the upper Rio Grande. The Bachelor Loop, a self-guided driving tour, offers 17 miles through ghost towns and Creede’s mining district.
Getting to where you need to go is simple because there are only two major roads that go through here. Highway 149 runs through the northern half and Highway 160 takes you through the southern half. Once you get off either of these highways, you will be traveling on curvy and narrow roads that are typically dirt or gravel. It is best to park the rig at your campsite and walk or ride a bike anywhere you want to go because maneuvering an RV or trailer here in these woods can be tricky.
Lake Fork Campground near Antonito has 18 spacious and rugged campsites nestled in the mature Aspens. Each site has enough space for an RV or camper from 24 to 50 feet in length, and there is a picnic table and fire ring with a grill for cooking. Eight of the sites have pull-throughs for those with larger rigs but you will have to make a reservation early to get one of those spots. There are vault toilets and one drinking water spigot for campers to use.
Many of these campsites are close to the Conejos River, which has gold medal trout fishing for fly fishermen. Floating and swimming are also popular here. If you want to take a hike, try the 3.2-mile Lake Fork Trail or the 6.7-mile Conejos Peak Trails. Make sure you bring water and map the area first. Pets are welcome, as long as they are kept restrained and supervised at all times. Bears frequent the area so practice bear safety rules such as locking your food up in bear proof boxes.
Just a short drive from Creede, on the banks of the Rio Grande River, Thirty Mile Campground boasts 35 huge campsites with nine of them being pull-throughs. Other sites have parking pads from 20 to 51 feet long. However, to get a good spot, make sure you reserve one early. Each campsite offers its own fire pit with a grill for cooking and a large picnic table that seats up to eight. The park provides several vault toilets and three potable water spigots for drinking water.
Between the Rio Grande River and the Squaw Creek, anglers have plenty of opportunity to catch some trout and other types of fish. The amphitheater hosts programs during the summer and you can do some swimming, canoeing, or kayaking as well. Climbers and equestrians also frequent the area for the 13-mile Big Squaw Trail and 14-mile Weminuche Trail, which are both for hiking and horseback riding. Your pets can join you but must be restrained and supervised at all times. Also, there are bears in the area so practice safety rules like locking your food up in bear proof containers.
If you enjoy rock climbing, you are in luck because the Rio Grande National Forest has one of the internationally recognized climbing areas, the Penitente Canyon. In fact, you will not need to go anywhere else because there are over 300 awesome climbing routes here. Right outside of La Garita off County Road 38A, there are several trails and even some campgrounds along the area where you can climb all year long if you do the southern-facing walls. So, make sure you pack your climbing gear in the camper before coming.
Get your trailer hooked up to the RV before heading out so you can explore some of the hundreds of OHV trails in the forest. The Wheeler Geological Area in the La Garita Wilderness Area has tons of trails in and around the old mining town of Creede and has a challenging 14-mile ride to see the awesome geological formation. For an easier trek, check out the 1.75-mile Palisade Trail #761 beginning at Forest Trail #799 or the 2.5-mile Antora Meadows Trail #764 beginning at Forest Road 880.2B.
Gather all your friends into the camper and head to the Rio Grande National Forest because they have a bunch of group picnic areas to choose from. Big Springs by Saguache has a large group site with tables, restrooms, and BBQs. Rock Creek near Monte Vista has five large picnic tables along the banks of Rock Creek with restrooms and a BBQ grill. If you have an especially large group, try the Mogote-Juniper Group Site, which accommodates up to 100 people for camping and picnicking. Reservations are required for this one though so plan ahead.
Spectacle Lake Campground has 24 campsites that are open year-round. Each site has its own picnic table that seats eight, a campfire circle with a grill for cooking, and a cleared space for sitting around the campfire. The parking pads range from 18 to 38 feet in length, but there are no reservations, so get here early to get the spot you need. There is an RV waste area, vault toilets, and several potable water spigots for drinking water.
The two-acre Spectacle Lake is stocked with hungry rainbow trout so bring your fishing gear and license. You can also swim here but there is no official beach provided. The Conejos River is also nearby if you would rather fish or swim there. For some hiking, try the 3.5-mile Notch Trail or the 2.1-mile Spectacle Lake Trail. If you want a bigger challenge, the 5.2-mile Ruybalid Trail is rated as difficult and ascends 2,460 feet. Pets are welcome but must be restrained and supervised. There are bears in the area so practice bear safety rules such as locking food in bear proof boxes.
The Spectacle Lake Campground has several trails including the 3.5-mile Notch Trail #729 or the 2.1-mile Spectacle Lake Trail. If you want a bigger challenge, the 5.1-mile Ruybalid Trail ascends 2,460 feet. Or you can check out the 3.2-mile Lake Fork Trail or the 6.7-mile Conejos Peak Trail near the Lake Fork Campground. Grab a fishing pole and head for the 3.4-mile Bear Lake Trail near Forest Road 105 or the 5.2-mile Red Lake Trail near Chama.
If you are a horse lover, hook the horses up to the trailer and head to the Rio Grande because there are 249 named equestrian trails to explore. Two of the easiest and shortest include the 1.8-mile East Frisco Trail #848 and the 1.8-mile Heart Lake Trail #821. The 9.7-mile Big Squaw Trail #814 and 14-mile Weminuche Trail #818 are both for hiking and horseback riding and can be found at the Thirty Mile Campground. Another popular one is the Mckenzie Trail, which is seven miles long, ending at Table Mountain where you can join other trails to Crystal Lake or Miners Creek.
You cannot go to the Rio Grande in the off-season in your RV and not do some skiing. Actually, the higher elevations have snow year-round if you enjoy finding your own skiing spot. However, the most popular choice is the Wolf Creek Ski Lodge, which is 20 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs. It has slopes from 8 percent to more than 70 precent to satisfy every skier from beginners to experts. With over 1,500 acres of land, the ski area is the largest one around is an amazing place to spend the winter months.
