Alternative Campgrounds
Alternative Campgrounds
Alternative Campgrounds
There are several options for camping in the Telluride area! Please call or visit the individual campground websites to check for availability before traveling.
Please note: since no shuttles are offered from these campgrounds to the Festival, you will need to drive yourself to Telluride each day (and park in Mountain Village).
Campgrounds
Matterhorn Campground
- Directions: from Telluride, travel west 3 miles to Highway 145. Turn left and travel south for 8 miles. The campground is on the left side of the highway.
- Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov.
Sunshine Campground
- Directions: from Telluride, travel west 3 miles to Highway 145. Turn left and travel south for 5 miles. The campground is on the right side of road.
- No reservations available for this campground.
Woods Lake
- Directions: from Telluride, travel west 12 miles on Highway 145 through Sawpit. Turn left on Falls Creek Road (Forest Road 618) for 7.4 miles. Turn left on Forest Road 621 for about 2 miles.
- No reservations available for this campground.
Cayton
- Location: 6 miles northeast of Rico on Highway 145 (the San Juan Skyway) and 43 miles from Dolores. The entrance is 1/2 mile east of the highway on the Barlow Creek Road (Forest Road 578). Burro Bridge Campground is 8 miles west, on Forest Road 535.
- Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov.
Ridgway Reservoir
- Location: 46 miles northeast of Telluride between Ridgway and Montrose.
- Contact Colorado State Parks at 800-678-2267.
McPhee Reservoir
- Location: 65 miles southwest of Telluride, near Dolores.
- Contact 800-500-CAMP.
Miramonte Reservoir
- Location: 40 miles northwest of Telluride, near Norwood.
- Contact 970-297-1192.
National Forest Camping (No Fee)
Alta Lakes
- Directions: From Telluride, travel west on Highway 145 for 4 miles. Turn south at Society Turn intersection (towards Rico and Dolores) and continue on Highway 145 for 6 miles. Turn east (left) onto Alta Lakes Road (Forest Road 632). Stay on this road through the ghost town of Alta (approximately 5 miles) to campground. Road is rough, best for high clearance vehicles only.
Priest Lake
- Directions: From Telluride, travel west on Highway 145 for 4 miles. Turn south at Society Turn intersection (towards Rico and Dolores) and continue on Highway 145 for 14 miles. Turn east (left) into Trout Lake subdivision. Proceed down road for 1/4 mile, take first left onto unmarked forest road, and continue north on this road for 1 mile. Undeveloped camping area near Priest Lake is on the west side of the road.
Lizard Head Pass
- Directions: From Telluride, travel west on Highway 145 for 4 miles. Turn south at Society Turn intersection (towards Rico and Dolores) and continue on Highway 145 for 14 miles to Lizard Head Pass. See restroom/overlook on right and sheep corrals on left side of highway. After passing restroom/overlook, turn left (east) onto small dirt road on left, follow right fork of road that goes past sheep corrals. Camping is allowed only along the short segment of road that passes alongside the sheep corrals. There is room only for approximately 3-4 groups in this area. Please respect all road closure signs. Road is rough, best for high clearance vehicles only.