Horse Thief

Show on map 970-878-4039 help.whiteriver.blanco@americanll.com

Estimated location

No source publishes exact coordinates for Horse Thief. Its map marker is estimated from the surrounding area and can be miles from the actual site — don't navigate to it. Its official page may have the detail needed to find it on the ground.

Overview

The Horse Thief Campground, located at Trappers Lake in the White River National Forest, offers a natural setting for stock users adjacent to the Flat Tops Wilderness. The campsites are set aside for stock users only, with corrals, long spurs for large trailers, and an RV Dump just up the road. The Flat Tops Wilderness area provides miles of riding within this historic wilderness area. Trappers Lake is in the wilderness, so motorized, mechanized, and any kind of wheeled cart is prohibited; this goes for bikes and game carts on the trails as well.

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

Horse Thief Campground (Elevation 9,700ft) has 7 single first-come first-serve sites with corrals . There are long spurs to accommodate large trailers (max length 60ft). The campground is equipped with picnic tables, fire grates, vault toilets, trash disposal, bear boxes, and potable water. Limited shade is available so shade shelters are recommended. An RV dump station within the TL Campground complex. Electrical hook-ups are not available.

Natural Features

The Horse Thief 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.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.

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

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.

Camp site features

Across 7 camp sites:

Pets allowed: all 7 sites
Longest RV: 55 ft
Largest party: 10 people

Directions

From Meeker, take Colorado Highway 13 east for 1 mile, then turn right on Rio Blanco County Road 8 and follow this for 39 miles to Trappers Lake Road #205. Turn south on Trappers Lake Road #205, and continue for 10 miles turn right at the bridge near Trappers Lake Lodge. Horse Thief Campground is approximately 1 mile further on the right.

Stay Limit

Check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

15 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

Tod T

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Reviewed 2 months ago

Great weather for hiking. Quiet place as I was the only one in Horse Thief Loop.

Jason C

Loop:Horse Thief

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Reviewed 2 months ago

The camp ground is great. The camp host is awesome! My complaint is the number of non-equestrians in the Equestrians Campground. People need to keep control of their kids. My horses aren’t there for them to pet, feed, or interact with in anyway. Kids should not enter the pen, pet the horses, or give them any kind of food without the owners permission. It isn’t a petting zoo! It’s also unfortunate that the majority of the campground is taken up my non equestrians . Has reservations, arrived after dark only to find the corral at my campground site taken. All other camp sites were reserved or had non equestrian campers in them. Got it worked out, but frustrating. The Forest Service should only allow people with livestock to camp in an equestrian campground. That would also eliminate the pack of kids running the campground messing with horses.

David A

Loop:Horse Thief

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Reviewed 2 months ago

First Tim the camp host went above and beyond to help us. Our large 3 horse camper trailer got stuck and Tim in the wind and rain was able to remove the stump and get it unstuck without any damage. Second, the horse camp site is great for camping with our horses. It is quiet and beautiful. We couldn't ask for more. We'll be back. Also it is so nice to have the lodge and restaurant near by. Everyone was so helpful.

Sarah S

Loop:Horse Thief

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Reviewed 2 months ago

The sites were clean and super safe for horses and the camp hosts were amazing!!

Bruce B

Loop:Horse Thief

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Reviewed 3 months ago

We camped with people who had horses, our neighbor, Mark, was nice and friendly. I had volunteered with rescue horses so was familiar with owners. It was good as we fished Crescent lake and landed many fish, very enjoyable. Scenery beautiful!

CarlDouglas O

Loop:Horse Thief

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Reviewed 3 months ago

Great campsite in a beautiful location.

Availability

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

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