USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Buckeye Recreation Area (Co)
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 31
- Hookups
- 31 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Group sites
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 7,635 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
- UN-NAMED (NFSR 54204) · native material · high clearance vehicles
- Lake
- Manti-La Sal National Forest
- Nearest town
- Montrose County
- Address
- Montrose County, CO
- Phone
- 1-435-587-2041
- Activities
- Camping, Canoeing, Day Use Area, Fishing, Hunting, Kayaking, Off Highway Vehicle Trails, Paddle Boating, Paddling, Star Gazing, Water Access, Water Activities
31 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
The Buckeye Recreation Area is located adjacent to Buckeye Reservoir in Montrose County, Colorado. The area is popular for camping, OHV/ATV trails, hunting and fishing.
Note: Some GPS or driving app directions are sending people on 4WD roads or to locked gates that are on private property. If you are unfamiliar with the area, please visit our "Facility Information - Getting Here" section for instructions on the best route to get to Buckeye Reservoir before reserving. DO NOT rely soley on Google Maps or Apple Maps for getting to this campground.
Recreation
Recreation in the area centers around the reservoir which provides excellent opportunities for fishing and canoeing. Forest roads in the area provide for off-highway vehicle touring and the nearby state lands provide motorized trails for Off-highway vehicles and motorcycles. The La Sal Mountains are nearby which provide many hiking and biking trails.
Facilities
The Buckeye Recreation Area is located adjacent to Buckeye Reservoir. The Recreation Area is spread out around the reservoir and consists of the Pioneer Campground (30 single family reservable campsites), a boat ramp for small fishing boats (5 HP motor limit and wakeless speed), a reservable group site, a day-use picnic area and 18 less developed dispersed campsites scattered around the reservoir. Campsites in the Pioneer Campground include graveled parking spurs, concrete picnic tables, fire rings, a utility table and access to vault toilets. There is a 14 day stay limit at this campground.
Natural Features
The recreation area is located in a valley at 7,600 feet in elevation and is set amongst mature stands of Ponderosa Pines. The high peaks of the La Sal Mountains are visible from much of the area. The scenic Paradox Valley and the town of Paradox, Colorado are located approximately 10 miles to the southeast.
Nearby Attractions
The scenic La Sal Mountains are very close to the area and provide numerous opportunities for recreation. Canyonlands and Arches National Parks are about 1.5 hour drive away from the area as well as numerous recreation opportunities around the towns of Monticello and Moab, Utah.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (435) 259-7155.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 16° | -6° | 46° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 35° | 20° | -10° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 44° | 26° | 2° | 69° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 57° | 34° | 17° | 74° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 68° | 43° | 26° | 79° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 82° | 55° | 41° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 87° | 61° | 50° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 83° | 59° | 48° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 76° | 52° | 35° | 84° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 61° | 39° | 19° | 72° | 6 of 10 |
| November | 51° | 29° | 16° | 61° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 37° | 20° | -8° | 48° | 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
- Buckeye Recreation Area · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Dewey Bridge Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 8 mi · 8 sites
- Upper Onion Creek Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 9 mi · 14 sites
- Bedrock Campground · Bureau of Land Management · 13 mi
- Oowah Campground · USDA Forest Service · 13 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.