May Queen, PSICC - Recreation.gov

Campground

Facilities

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.

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.

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.

Recreation Sites

Standard Nonelectric
Tent Only Nonelectric
Management
Overnight

Activities

Swimming Site
Hiking
Fishing
Camping
Historic & Cultural Site
Boating

Amenities

Campfire Rings
Firewood
Host
Lake Access
Picnic Tables
Self Pay Station
Trash Collection
Vault Toilets

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.

Getting Here

Latitude

39° 16' 43.0000" N

Longitude

106° 25' 55.9999" W

From Leadville, Colorado, head west on County Road 4. Continue on the paved road about 9 miles to May Queen Campground on the right.

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