USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Dowdy Lake
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 62
- Hookups
- 52 electric, 10 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 130 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,182 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- DOWDY LAKE CG (NFSR 218) · asphalt · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
- Nearest town
- Morrison
- Address
- 9054 U.S Hwy 285, Morrison, CO, 80465
- Phone
- 970-295-6700
- Activities
- Biking, Birding, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Wildlife Viewing
62 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Dowdy Lake Campground is located 48 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., near the village of Red Feather Lakes. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and trail opportunities.
Recreation
Canoeing and fishing are popular activities on the 115-acre, no-wake Dowdy Lake. Motorized boats are allowed on the lake, but a 10 mph speed limit is enforced. Anglers cast for brown, brook, cutthroat and lake trout. Several additional lakes are in the vicinity.
Many hiking, biking and horseback riding trails are in the surrounding area, including the 4-mile Mount Margaret Trail. Several off-road vehicle trails are located within five miles of the campground.
Other popular activities include viewing wildlife and visiting the nearby Redfeather Visitor Center.
Facilities
The campground offers 60 accessible single and double family campsites with electric hookups. Ten sites are designated for tent camping only and do not have hookups. Each site contains a tent pad, picnic table and campfire ring with grill.
Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided. Dead and downed firewood may be gathered in the forest or purchased in bundles from the campground host.
Natural Features
The campground is situated in a ponderosa pine forest on the shore of Dowdy Lake, at an elevation of 8,200 feet. Afternoon thunderstorms can be expected during spring and summer months.
Due to the mountain pine beetle infestation and removal of hazardous trees, some sites have reduced shade.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.
Nearby Attractions
The small village of Red Feather Lakes is nearby, offering limited dining options, gift shops, general stores, a library, post office and a golf course.
Charges & Cancellations
Modifications for this campground must be made through Recreation.gov or by calling the call center at 1-877-444-6777 PRIOR to your reservation start date. Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 12° | -20° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 33° | 11° | -16° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 17° | -2° | 60° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 47° | 24° | -2° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 57° | 34° | 13° | 73° | 9 of 11 |
| June | 74° | 45° | 36° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 79° | 51° | 40° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 49° | 43° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 71° | 43° | 19° | 83° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 56° | 33° | -6° | 68° | 9 of 10 |
| November | 43° | 20° | -3° | 60° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 14° | -10° | 49° | 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.
Nearby campgrounds
- Redfeather Ranger Station · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi · 2 sites
- West Lake · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 36 sites
- Bellaire Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 27 sites
- North Fork Poudre Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
- Kelly Flats Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.