USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Chapman Campground and Group
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 84
- Hookups
- 76 no hookups
- Season
- May 13 to October 2
- Max RV length
- 40 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,602 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- CHAPMAN GROUP CAMPGROUND (NFSR 105.1F) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- White River National Forest
- Nearest town
- Carbondale
- Address
- Aspen Sopris Ranger District PO Box 309, Carbondale, CO, 81623
- Phone
- 970-927-0107
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing
84 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Situated above the Ruedi Reservoir, Chapman Campground sits at the base of a wide valley adjacent to the Fryingpan River in White River National Forest.
Sites are surrounded by lodgepole pine, and several are at the river's edge, offering an ideal setting for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation.
Recreation
Flowing through this campground is Fryingpan River, renowned for its fly fishing. Downriver, below the campground and Ruedi
Dam, large rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout are plentiful in an area nicknamed the "toilet bowl." Here, the
fish feed on mysis shrimp, a small freshwater shrimp stocked in the lake.
The stretch of river from the dam down to the confluence of Fryingpan and the Roaring Fork River has been designated as Gold Medal Waters by the Colorado Wildlife
Commission. Special regulations in this area include fishing only with artificial flies and lures, and releasing all trout except brown trout, with a limit of 2 fish
over 14 inches.
Chapman Reservoir is also an option for anglers wanting to cast lines in at its shore. Motorized watercraft is prohibited on Chapman Reservoir.
A horseshoe pit and volleyball court encourage game playing. A nature trail can be accessed from the site.
Facilities
Chapman Campground has 84 standard sites suitable for tents, trailers, and RVs. The campground is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water located in Loops F, G & H. Electrical hook-ups are not available. Trash and recycling collection is provided.
Chapman Group Site has one site available for reservation. There is no electric hook-up but potable water is available withing the campground at the fill station spigots. The Group Site facilities include: hardened parking for campers and passenger vehicles along the access road into the site. The site has 6 regular fire rings and 1 group size rock fire ring, 1 pedestal grill, 5 food lockers, 7 picnic tables, and a horseshoe pit.
Vehicles must stay on the main road or pull outs. Vehicles are not allowed to travel into the woods. All camping in the woods must be hand carried.
Natural Features
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting 8 wilderness areas, 4
defined seasons, and 10 peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation.
Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations
of cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout. Alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. These species, along with many
others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.
Charges & Cancellations
Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 13° | -7° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 32° | 15° | -5° | 48° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 19° | 7° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 47° | 26° | 5° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 55° | 34° | 23° | 65° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 68° | 40° | 29° | 81° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 77° | 49° | 36° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 49° | 41° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 69° | 43° | 25° | 78° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 35° | -9° | 65° | 6 of 10 |
| November | 44° | 17° | -8° | 57° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 11° | -6° | 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
- Chapman Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi
- Elk Wallow Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Dearhamer Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 13 sites
- Little Mattie Campground · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 19 sites
- Ruedi Marina Campground · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 8 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.