May Queen
May Queen Campground is located at the far western end of Turquoise Lake in a shaded lodgepole pine forest. Conveniently perched near the Charles Boustead Memorial Tunnel, May Queen offers easy access to boating, fishing and hiking.
Incredible views of the Holy Cross and Mount Massive Wildernesses can be seen from the area, and visitors are likely to see native wildlife like chipmunks, beavers and porcupines.
The Charles Boustead Memorial Tunnel is a 5.5-mile tunnel that transports water from the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork River Basins through the Continental Divide to the Arkansas River Basin by emptying water into Turquoise Lake.
Campground offers single family sites. Each site is equipped with a campfire ring and picnic table. Vault toilets and trash collection are provided. Easy access to the lake is provided for canoes and other hand-carried boats. Trailered boats can use Matchless Boat Ramp located on the east side of Turquoise Lake.
Need to Know
Check in: 2 pm, Check out: 12 pm (noon)
3 tent maximum per site, or 1 RV and 2 tents
Fee includes parking for 2 vehicles; $10 nightly fee for 3rd vehicle. An RV, boat or ATV trailer is considered 1 vehicle.
Dogs, including service and therapy dogs, must be leashed at all times.
Generators may not be operated after 10 PM. CPAP machines and other medical equipment are not exempt,
Be bear aware. Do not leave any food unattended at your site. Lock inside your vehicle or RV.
OHVs, ATVs, and dirt bikes are not permitted to operate in any campground
Firearms and fireworks are not permitted.
No hookups available
- This is a high elevation facility, please use caution when traveling from lower elevations
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Water will not be available in this campground in 2024. Please bring enough water for your needs, including water to fully extinguish your campfire.
Firewood is available for sale at host site for $10.00/bundle.
First Come First Served Campsites are available here.
Information regarding the distance between the parking area and the campsites are as follows:
Campsite #5 - 220 feet
Campsite #6 - 20 feet
Campsite #7 - 180 feet
Campsite #8 - 180 feet
Natural Features
The campground sits at an elevation of 9,900 ft. on Turquoise Lake. Most campsites are situated on a level, open field along a creek, feeding into the lake. Six first come-first, serve-sites are perched on the wooded hillside above the creek.
Nearby is the Mount Massive Wilderness area, a 30,540 acre expanse encompassing Mount Massive, Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby is the abandoned bed of the Colorado Midland Railroad, built in the 1890s. The trail is hard to trace, but visitors may find artifacts in the gulch it once crossed.
The town of Leadville, a historic gold and silver mining town, is a fun place to explore with the family.
Drive on the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway to Independence Pass, one of the highest paved passes in Colorado. Continue over the pass to the town of Aspen, a well-known ski resort town.
Recreation
Explore the 6.4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail, which parallels the shoreline of Turquoise Lake from May Queen Campground to the dam. The trail offers moderate hiking with spectacular views and a variety of flora and fauna, as well as remnants of old mines. The Timberline Lake trailhead is 1/2 mile up the road. A 2-mile hike to this lake is rewarded with stunning views and high alpine lake fishing. The Colorado Trail can also be accessed from this trailhead. On Turquoise Lake, sailing, boating and canoeing are enjoyed. Anglers seek out mostly mackinaw and rainbow trout.
Changes & 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.
Contact Information
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LEADVILLE RANGER DISTRICT 810 FRONT STREET LEADVILLE CO 80461
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 719-486-0749 (FOR INFORMATION ONLY, NO RESERVATIONS
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Leadville, Colorado, head west on County Road 4. Continue on the paved road about 9 miles to May Queen Campground on the right.
Available Campsites
- Site 020, Loop MAY, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop MAY, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop MAY, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop MAY, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop MAY, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop MAY, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop MAY, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop MAY, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop MAY, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop MAY, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop MAY, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop MAY, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop MAY, Type Standard Nonelectric
