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Guanella Pass

Notice

STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT: Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland.

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal barbecue, or grill, except if using a device solely fueled by liquid or gas that can be turned on and off in an area barren or cleared of all flammable materials within three feet of the device. 36 CFR § 261.52(a)

2. Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building. 36 CFR § 261.52(d)

3. Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame. 36 CFR § 261.52(h)

4. Using an explosive. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(b)

5. Possessing or using a motor vehicle off NFS roads, except when parking in an area devoid of vegetation within 10 feet of the motor vehicle. 36 CFR § 261.56.

Jul 2, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027

Overview

Guanella Pass Campground is located about 7 miles south of Georgetown on the South Fork of Clear Creek on the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway. Located at an elevation of 10,900 feet on the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest, visitors to the campground can also enjoy hiking and fishing in the area.

The Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway follows an old wagon route that linked the mining towns of Georgetown and Grant, Colorado.

Recreation

Visitors can go trout fishing on the South Fork of Clear Creek. Silver Dollar Lake is nearby, but cannot be reached by car. Instead, the Silver Dollar Lake Trail leads hikers above treeline to the scenic lake.

Facilities

The campground is split into two loops by the county road and South Clear Creek. There are 18 sites in the campground. Eleven are suitable for RV camping and seven are more suitable for tents. Large RVs are not recommended on the byway. Most of the sites are in the open with some tent sites located among some spruce trees. Each site has a tent pad, picnic table, fire ring and charcoal grill. The roads through the campground are gravel. This facility provides hand pumps with potable water, vault toilets and trash dumpsters.

Natural Features

The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland sit along the foothills and Rockies of Colorado. The forests and grassland cover 1.5 million acres and extend north to the Wyoming border, south to Mount Evans and west across the Continental Divide.

The area includes mountains, lakes and five scenic byways, designated by Congress for their scenery, wildlife or history, including the highest road in North America. Mount Evans Road, also known as Colorado Highway 5, allows visitors to drive from 10,500' to 14,130' above sea level in just 14 miles.

Nearby Attractions

Visitors enjoy touring historic Georgetown, a former mining town of about 1,000 residents. Additional ghost towns dot the region.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.

Charges & Cancellations

Modifications for this campground must be made through Recreation.gov or by calling the call center at 1-877-444-6777 PRIOR to your reservation start date. Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.

Directions

From I-25 in Denver, take I-70 West to Georgetown Exit 228. Go south on County Road 381 (Guanella Pass Scenic Byway) for 9 miles. From Denver take Highway 285 to Grant. Turn right (north) on to Park County Road 62. Drive approx. 14.5 miles to the campground.