USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande NF)
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 38
- Hookups
- 1 electric, 37 no hookups
- Season
- May 28 to September 6
- Max RV length
- 60 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,691 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
- ELK CR CG (NFSR 128.2B) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Rio Grande National Forest
- Nearest town
- ANTONITO
- Address
- 23750 STATE HIGHWAY 17, ANTONITO, CO, 81120
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing
38 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Elk Creek Campground is located in Conejos County, approximately 23 miles west of Antonito, Colorado. Located in the lower portion of the Conejos Canyon a short distance from Highway 17, it is an easily reached destination for visitors to the area. Elk Creek runs alongside the campground. The elevation of the campground is 8,500 ft.
Recreation
Consider a day trip to the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (steam) which offers a 64-mile journey through abandoned mining towns. One access to the train is in Antonito, CO, about 23 miles from the campground.
Fishing, hunting, hiking, scenic driving and wildlife watching are some of the popular activities in the area. Elk Creek and Duck Lake trailheads are a short distance away, both of which are access points to the South San Juan Wilderness Area.
Facilities
This campground contains a variety of campsites including single and double sites which can accommodate RVs or tents. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Most sites are equipped with accessible tables, grills and fire rings.
Natural Features
The campground is lightly wooded with spruce and some ponderosa pine trees. The understory is grass with some campsites located next to Elk Creek. The campground is conveniently located within close proximity to the South San Juan Wilderness Area.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (805) 434-1996.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby Elk Creek has fishing, including brown and rainbow trout. Two hiking trails are also nearby and lead into the south San Juan Wilderness. These trails access Dipping Lakes and Duck Lake and are an easy to intermediate hike.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34° | 14° | -12° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 36° | 15° | -1° | 53° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 21° | 8° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 48° | 27° | 12° | 59° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 58° | 35° | 25° | 70° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 72° | 48° | 36° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 52° | 45° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 75° | 51° | 45° | 80° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 68° | 47° | 26° | 78° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 58° | 36° | 26° | 68° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 49° | 29° | -4° | 61° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 38° | 13° | -9° | 53° | 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
- Spectacle Lake Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Conejos Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Aspen Glade (Rio Grande National Forest, CO) · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 32 sites
- Trujillo Meadows Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
- Mogote · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 43 sites
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.