USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Mcphee Recreation Complex
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 97
- Hookups
- 13 electric, 5 with water, 39 no hookups
- Season
- June 5 to September 26
- Max RV length
- 50 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 7,073 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- MCPHEE OVERLOOK (NFSR 272) · asphalt · high degree of user comfort
- Lake
- San Juan National Forest
- Address
- SAN JUAN NF, CO
- Phone
- (970) 882-7296
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Water Skiing, Wildlife Viewing
76 numbered sites are mapped one by one - the site map below shows each with its facts and pictures.
Site map
76 numbered sites are mapped one by one on the imagery, with the operator's own facts and pictures for each site where it publishes them. Tap a site to rate it, keep a note and add your own photos; press and hold the map for a pin of your own. Your ratings, notes, pins and photos are kept with the campground on your Saved list, the same list the camping map and the drive page keep.
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About
Overview
McPhee Recreation Complex is located on the south shore of McPhee Reservoir near the town of Dolores in southwestern Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its boating, water skiing and fishing opportunities.
Recreation
McPhee Reservoir, the largest within the San Juan National Forest and second-largest in Colorado, has 50 miles of shoreline. Boating, water skiing and fishing are popular activities. A boat ramp and fish cleaning station are located within the complex.
The half-mile Can Do Trail climbs to a scenic overlook with panoramic views of the reservoir and the beautiful peaks surrounding Mesa Verde to the south.
Facilities
This large campground offers group sites, RV and tent sites, some of which have electric hookups. Several sites have shelters for shade. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are flush toilets.
The McPhee Campground has 71 campsites on 2 loops with paved access. There are 50 reservable campsites, 24 sites with electric hookups, and 2 sites offer tables and toilets accommodating wheelchairs. A dozen campsites are walk-ins with tent pads near scenic overlooks.
The adjacent McPhee Group Area has 4 group campsites available for reservation (with limited electrical hookups). There are volleyball posts, a ball field, and horseshoe pits (you supply the equipment).
Natural Features
The campground is situated on a mesa 500 feet above the reservoir, at an elevation of 7,400 feet. Pinyon and juniper trees offer shade throughout the campground.
Nearby Attractions
Southwestern Colorado, part of the Four Corners region, contains more than 4,000 archaeological sites and more than 600 cliff dwellings. Many sites offer glimpses of the ancient Anasazi culture for which the area is known.
Anasazi Heritage Center is 10 minutes away in Dolores. Mesa Verde National Park is one hour south of the campground. The Canyon of the Ancients is an hour southwest and Hovenweep National Monument is an hour west.
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 14° | -1° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 38° | 17° | -4° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 45° | 25° | 6° | 72° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 57° | 33° | 19° | 72° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 69° | 41° | 26° | 79° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 81° | 52° | 41° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 87° | 60° | 48° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 83° | 56° | 46° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 76° | 50° | 35° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 62° | 35° | 24° | 75° | 6 of 10 |
| November | 52° | 27° | -2° | 62° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 38° | 17° | -10° | 52° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Trails nearby
- Phil's World OHV Access Point · 7.9 mi as the crow flies
Abbzug (Bonnie) 1.3 mi Hike · Drive there - Simon Draw Trailhead · 8.0 mi as the crow flies
Abbzug (Bonnie) 1.3 mi Hike, Cash-Money Link N. Hike · Drive there - Phil's World OHV Access Point · 8.6 mi as the crow flies
Highline 2.5 mi Hike, High-life 0.7 mi Hike · Drive there - Cash Canyon Trailhead · 8.8 mi as the crow flies
High-life 0.7 mi Hike, Highline-Road L Link 0.1 mi Hike · Drive there - Cash Canyon OHV Trail Access · 8.8 mi as the crow flies
High-life 0.7 mi Hike, Highline-Road L Link 0.1 mi Hike · Drive there
All 381 trails in San Juan National Forest · All 2,359 trails in BLM lands in Colorado
Trailheads the Park Service and the Forest Service map, within 10 miles as the crow flies; each trail's page has its length, climbing and the Service's description.
Nearby campgrounds
- House Creek · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 49 sites
- Morefield Campground · National Park Service · 16 mi · 267 sites
- Mancos State Park · Colorado State Parks · 17 mi · 34 sites
- Mavreeso Campground · USDA Forest Service · 17 mi · 19 sites
- West Dolores Campground · USDA Forest Service · 19 mi · 18 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-06-23. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.