USDA Forest Service · Colorado

Bristol Head Campground

USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States

Open on the map Drive there Official page Directions
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Elevation
9,511 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 1
Cell coverage
Verizon weak · AT&T good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Access road
BRISTOL VIEW CG (NFSR 510.1A) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
Lake
Rio Grande National Forest
Nearest town
Lake City
Address
CO
Activities
15 sites, <h3> Some sites can accommodate up to a 40 ft. unit.&nbsp; Not too much shade is available but plenty of manuever room for setting up large RVs.</h3> , Open during hunting season - see Colorado Division of Wildlife regulations. Unit 76 hunting nearby, Silver Thread Scenic Byway, highway 149. Improved forest roads (# 509, 510 \& 513) in area for sidetrips to North Clear Creek falls, Rito Hondo reservoir., Trail from campground to a small waterfall - 1/4 mile., Wildlife viewing, just 1/2 mile off Silverthread Scenic Byway - quiet \& secluded

Season dates aren't confirmed for this campground yet - opening and closing dates haven't been verified. Check the operator's page or call ahead before you plan a trip.

Site map

The imagery of the campground. Press and hold the map to drop your own pins and notes; the operator publishes no site points here. 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.

Site map · loading…

About

This campground contains 15 sites (11 are pull through) ranging from 35 to 55 feet in length.  There are both dead end spurs and pull throughs.  Sits in a meadow on a bench above  South Clear Creek. A short trail from campground leads to an overlook of the Clear Creek Canyons and a waterfall. The campground stretches 0.6 mile along a "bench" (a level area) above South Clear Creek. The grassy field between camping sites and creek are dotted with wild flowers. Every site has a view of towering mountains dominated by Bristol Head Peak. Spruce and Aspen line the meadow and provide some shade. The campground is an excellent area for viewing wild life, especially moose. Quiet & secluded. Fishing in the creek nearby.

14 DAY CAMPING LIMIT.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January31°7°-19°48°11 of 11
February32°10°-9°46°11 of 11
March37°17°-2°59°11 of 11
April46°24°5°55°11 of 11
May53°34°13°64°9 of 11
June68°41°26°79°3 of 11
July74°48°40°81°0 of 11
August70°47°34°77°0 of 11
September65°42°17°76°3 of 11
October54°32°5°65°10 of 10
November46°19°-14°57°10 of 10
December32°6°-20°50°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

All 227 trails in Rio Grande National Forest

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

All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.