USDA Forest Service · Colorado

Shepherds Rim Campground

USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States

Open on the map Drive there Reserve Official page Directions
Sites
16
Hookups
15 no hookups
Season
June 3 to November 2
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Dump station
Yes
Pets
Yes
Elevation
9,787 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
SHEPHERDS RIM CAMPGROUND (NFSR 205.8) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
Lake
White River National Forest
Nearest town
MEEKER
Address
220 East Market Street , MEEKER, CO, 81641
Phone
970-927-0107
Activities
Backpacking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Star Gazing, Wildlife Viewing

15 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.

About

Overview

Surrounded by mountains and nestled near the wilderness, the Shepherds Rim Campground at Trappers Lake has 15 scenic campsites. Located at 9,720 feet in elevation, visitors can locate this campground on the right side of the road as you travel south from the Trappers Lake Outlet area.

Recreation

Trappers Lake is known as the Cradle of Wilderness.
At approximately 302 surface acres, the lake contains a strain of native cutthroat trout and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife operates a spawn collection station at the Cabin Creek inlet during May and June.

Trappers Lake lies completely within the Flat Tops Wilderness; motorized boats and wheeled carts for boat transport are prohibited.

Facilities

Shepherds Rim Campground has 16 sites suitable for tents, trailers and RVs. The sites are equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings. Guests also have access to vault toilets and drinking water, but electrical hook-ups are not available. There is an RV dump station within the Trappers Lake complex.

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 eight wilderness areas, four 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.

Shepherds Rim Campground at Trappers Lake is located adjacent to the Flat Tops Wilderness, offering a natural environment with many pothole lakes, surrounding glacier carved mountains, and access to trails and wilderness areas. Wildlife frequent the area and moose, elk, deer, marmots, pine marten, and an abundance of birds may be seen.

Nearby Attractions

Fishing Access: Trappers Lake, Little Trappers Lake, Wall Lake, Fraser Creek, Lake of the Woods

Trail Access: Little Trappers Trail #1814, Carhart Trail #1815, Trappers Lake Trail #1816, Wall Lake Trail #1818, Island Lakes Trail #1842, Chinese Wall Trail #1803, Deer Lake Trail #2021, South Derby Trail #1857, Himes Peak Trail #1877

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

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January27°8°-14°38°11 of 11
February28°11°-7°44°11 of 11
March35°16°0°52°11 of 11
April42°22°0°53°11 of 11
May50°29°17°60°11 of 11
June64°39°28°79°5 of 11
July74°48°39°82°0 of 11
August70°48°41°78°0 of 11
September64°41°20°75°1 of 11
October50°29°-10°61°10 of 10
November40°16°-6°52°10 of 10
December28°9°-9°42°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

All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-07-04. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.