Graham Creek Campground

Overview

Graham Creek Campground is situated above Vallecito Lake, in the scenic San Juan National Forest of southwestern Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its beautiful scenery and wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing and hiking.

Recreation

Vallecito Lake is a very popular fishing destination, where anglers cast for German brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike.

The lake offers great boating, water skiing and canoeing opportunities. Boat rentals and fishing licenses are available at various locations around the lake.

A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are found in the area. The North Canyon Trail begins across the road from the campground and leads through ponderosa pine and aspen forests on its way through the canyon. A shorter trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake.

East Creek Trail begins a quarter-mile up Forest Road 852, just northeast of the campground. The trail provides access to a lightly used, scenic drainage where fly-fisherman cast for brook trout. Both trails are popular with horseback riders, however, horses are not allowed in the campground.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family campsites, a few of which have lake views. Sites are each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. The south side of the campground is adjacent to private property.

Natural Features

Vallecito Lake, Spanish for "little valley," sits at an elevation of 7,900 feet. Scattered ponderosa pine trees tower over the open campground, offering limited shade. Hillside sites are about 100 yards from the high-water line and offer nice lake views.

A thick understory provides privacy between sites. Thickets of willow separate the camping area from the lakeshore. Several short trails lead to the lake from the campground. High peaks of the San Juans are visible to the northwest of the campground.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.

Charges & Cancellations

Cancellations

Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. 

A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite.

Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.

No-Shows

A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.

No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.  

Refunds

Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended.

Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.

For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. 

In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.

Camp site features

Across 24 camp sites:

  • Picnic table: all 24 sites
  • Pets allowed: all 24 sites
  • Longest RV: 60 ft
  • Largest party: 8 people
  • Equipment: RV, Tent, Trailer

Directions

From Bayfield, travel 14 miles north on County Road 501. Turn right on County Road 501A at the fire station; travel over the dam and continue just over 3 miles to the campground.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

101 reviews
5 stars
78
4 stars
8
3 stars
10
2 stars
3
1 stars
2
Carrie P
Loop:Loop A
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Great spot! Can’t wait to be back
Kelle B
Loop:Loop A
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Beautiful spot!
Shane M
Loop:Loop A
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Very clean and quiet campground. Easy access to the reservoir. Level site, worked well with tent.
rikki p
Loop:Loop A
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
Campground is very well taken care of but making sure quiet time hours are enforced would be great.
Manuel R
Loop:Loop A
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
Bathrooms were the cleanest outhouses I have ever seen! Still an outhouse, so keep that in mind. But despite that, they have been the cleanest I have ever seen. The campsites felt big and private enough, , not a very easy walk to the lake but still super nice.
Rosemary A
Loop:Loop A
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
This is a peaceful little campground. The smell of the forest trees is so pleasant. In my opinion, sites 10 and 11 are the best!
Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve

Season dates

Peak season

May 7, 2027 – Sep 18, 2027

Reservable online

Peak season

May 12, 2028 – Sep 16, 2028

Reservable online

Camp Sites

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