USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Spectacle Lake Campground
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 8,786 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
- SPECTACLE LAKE CG (NFSR 250.7B) · crushed aggregate or gravel · suitable for passenger cars
- Nearest town
- Antonito
- Activities
- Fishing
About
US Forest Service campground. There is fishing access to the Conejos River and Spectacle Lake. The lake is year round, with winter ice-fishing. Two sites have parking for two car groups. Both day and overnight use is permitted. The facility has 24 sites (13 sites are pull-through) with tables and fireplaces. Firewood is limited. Refuse containers and pickup. Most sites have a panoramic view of towering cliff walls. No boating is allowed on Spectacle Lake. The Spectacle Lake Trail #730 begins 1/2 mile south on Forest Road 250. Ruybalid Trail 855 and Notch Trail 729 are also accessible. Open season: Memorial Day weekend . Not reservable through Recreation.gov, so plan on first-come, first-served; check with the ranger district for current conditions and fees.
Fees
Day Use:
$12 per day
Overnight Use:
Single Site: $29 per night
Single Site Hookup: $31 per night
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34° | 14° | -12° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 35° | 15° | -2° | 52° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 22° | 8° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 49° | 26° | 12° | 60° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 60° | 35° | 23° | 70° | 6 of 11 |
| June | 72° | 47° | 35° | 83° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 78° | 52° | 45° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 74° | 51° | 44° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 68° | 46° | 25° | 79° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 58° | 35° | 24° | 68° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 49° | 29° | -9° | 61° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 37° | 14° | -9° | 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
- Conejos Campground · USDA Forest Service · 0 mi
- Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande NF) · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 38 sites
- Trujillo Meadows Campground · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi
- Lake Fork(Rio Grande Natl Fore · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 19 sites
- Aspen Glade (Rio Grande National Forest, CO) · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 32 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2025-07-31. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.