USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Big Meadows Reservoir Campground (South Central CO)
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 47
- Hookups
- 47 no hookups
- Season
- May 22 to September 7
- Max RV length
- 60 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 9,275 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
- BIG MEADOWS CG (NFSR 413) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Rio Grande National Forest
- Nearest town
- DEL NORTE
- Address
- 13308 WEST HWY 160, DEL NORTE, CO, 81132
- Phone
- 435-245-6521
- Activities
- Amphitheater, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Wildlife Viewing
47 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Big Meadows is located in the San Juan Mountains in south-central Colorado, about 11 miles west of South Fork. The campground is lightly wooded with spruce trees, creating a beautiful meadow atmosphere.
The Rio Grande National Forest spans 1.86 million acres in south-central Colorado. The Continental Divide runs for 236 miles along most of the forest's western border, presenting a myriad of ecosystems from alpine desert to dense wilderness.
Recreation
An accessible fishing pier, located on the north shore of the reservoir, allows anglers to cast for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Hunting, boating and hiking are also popular pastimes.
Hikers and horseback riders will enjoy the 6-mile Archuleta Trail. The trail accesses the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado's largest wilderness, which boasts the headwaters of dozens of major streams and rivers that feed into the Rio Grande and San Juan rivers.
Facilities
Each site has a campfire ring and picnic tables. Drinking water is available.
The nearest dump station is 13 miles away, and a boat ramp is located on the north shore of the reservoir.
Natural Features
The campground meanders up a mountainside above Big Meadows Reservoir in a series of loops. As a sub-alpine region, the campground gets more rainfall than the opposite side of the lake, resulting in plentiful wildflowers and aspens surrounding the campsites.
Nearby Attractions
The surrounding area has plenty to keep visitors busy, with attractions like Great Sand Dunes National Park, Native American ruins, remnants of the Spanish Conquistadors and gold rush ghost towns. The Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Ranges are laced with trails for avid hikers.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (805) 434-1996.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32° | 12° | -12° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 33° | 14° | -4° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 37° | 20° | 7° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 46° | 27° | 10° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 54° | 34° | 18° | 64° | 8 of 11 |
| June | 69° | 45° | 32° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 75° | 51° | 43° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 72° | 49° | 42° | 78° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 65° | 45° | 17° | 76° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 34° | 9° | 67° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 47° | 26° | -12° | 58° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 12° | -12° | 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.
Nearby campgrounds
- Tucker Ponds Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Park Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Upper Beaver Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
- Highway Springs Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
- Cross Creek Campground · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi
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.