Big Meadows Reservoir Campground (South Central CO)
federal · DEL NORTE, CO
- dump station23 mi
- fuel station13 mi

Scenic Canyons Recreational Services, inc. · Data Source: Recreation.gov
About
Overview Big Meadows is located in the San Juan Mountains in south-central Colorado, about 11 miles west of South Fork. The campground is lightly wooded with spruce trees, creating a beautiful meadow atmosphere. The Rio Grande National Forest spans 1.86 million acres in south-central Colorado. The Continental Divide runs for 236 miles along most of the forest's western border, presenting a myriad of ecosystems from alpine desert to dense wilderness. Recreation An accessible fishing pier, located on the north shore of the reservoir, allows anglers to cast for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Hunting, boating and hiking are also popular pastimes. Hikers and horseback riders will enjoy the 6-mile Archuleta Trail. The trail accesses the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado's largest wilderness, which boasts the headwaters of dozens of major streams and rivers that feed into the Rio Grande and San Juan rivers. Facilities Each site has a campfire ring and picnic tables. Drinking water is available. The nearest dump station is 13 miles away, and a boat ramp is located on the north shore of the reservoir. Natural Features The campground meanders up a mountainside above Big Meadows Reservoir in a series of loops. As a sub-alpine region, the campground gets more rainfall than the opposite side of the lake, resulting in plentiful wildflowers and aspens surrounding the campsites. Nearby Attractions The surrounding area has plenty to keep visitors busy, with attractions like Great Sand Dunes National Park, Native American ruins, remnants of the Spanish Conquistadors and gold rush ghost towns. The Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Ranges are laced with trails for avid hikers. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (805) 434-1996.
Around this stay
Nearest surrounding services and recreation within ~25 mi — not on-site amenities.
- 23 mi
dump station
Speedway
- 13 mi
fuel station
Conoco
- 13 mi
grocery
Rainbow Grocery
- 22 mi
potable water
Potable water
- 0.4 mi
trailhead
Big Meadows/archuleta Trailhead
- 3.8 mi
attraction
Wolf Creek Pass
- < 0.1 mi
recreation site
Big Meadows Picnic Site
Contact & access
- 13308 WEST HWY 160 · DEL NORTE, CO 81132
- 435-245-6521
Reservations & demand
August weekends are typically reserved about 86 days ahead.
Based on 79 Recreation.gov reservations (Oct 2023–Sep 2024). Historical demand — not live availability.
Outbound provider links only. Roam Atlas does not book sites or show live availability.
Source and verification
Last verified: 10/5/2026
See the Sources tab for provenance detail.

