USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Thistledown Campground
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Cost
- Overnight Use: Single Site: $10 per night
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,802 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Nearest town
- Ouray, CO
- Activities
- Camping, Tent, Camping, Trailer, Camping, Vehicle, Hiking, Picnicking, Special Landcraft (Ohvs), Viewing Scenery, Viewing Wildflowers
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.
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About
US Forest Service campground. Thistledown Campground is adjacent to the historic site of Thistledown and the Weehawken Trailhead in Canyon Creek near Ouray, CO. This campground is heavily used by people planning to hike into Mount Sneffles and other nearby trails, enjoying the wildflowers in Yankee Boy Basin or driving on the local jeep trails. Most campsites are small and tent camping is recommended. Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34° | 14° | -8° | 47° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 35° | 15° | -6° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 19° | 6° | 61° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 47° | 27° | 7° | 57° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 55° | 32° | 14° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 71° | 43° | 33° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 76° | 50° | 41° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 73° | 49° | 42° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 67° | 44° | 32° | 77° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 56° | 34° | 2° | 67° | 5 of 10 |
| November | 47° | 27° | -10° | 59° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 38° | 10° | -11° | 51° | 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
- American Flats · 6.4 mi as the crow flies
Horsethief Trail 3.4 mi Hike · Drive there - Denver Pass Trailhead · 7.4 mi as the crow flies · Drive there
- American Basin Trailhead · 9.3 mi as the crow flies
American Basin to Grouse Gulch 3.0 mi Hike · Drive there - South Fork · 9.6 mi as the crow flies
South Fork Trail 4.6 mi Hike · Drive there
All 762 trails in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · 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
- Angel Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Amphitheater (Co) · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 35 sites
- Telluride Town Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 7 mi · 28 sites
- Mary E Campground · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi
- Sunshine · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi · 4 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-06. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.