Cayton Campground
Cayton Campground is located along the San Juan Skyway (Colorado Highway 145) and the Dolores River. Visitors enjoy the area for its great fishing, hiking and scenic driving opportunities.
The campground offers 27 single-family campsites, many of which are situated along the river. Eighteen sites offer electric hookups. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets, drinking water and a dump station are provided.
Need to Know
Sites 5, 6, 10 and 25 meet established accessibility standards; all sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis
- Click here for more information on the San Juan National Forest
- 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.
There is a dump station (fee to use is $15.00) on site. It is provided as a convenience, it is not free.
First Come First Served (FCFS) Campsites are also available at this campground
Natural Features
The campground is situated near the banks of the Dolores River, in a grassy meadow surrounded by fir and aspen trees. At an elevation of 9,400 feet, campers should expect cool evenings.
Nearby Attractions
The Priest Gulch Trailhead, 11 miles southwest of Rico, leads to the alpine country west of the campground. The Bear Creek Trail, 14 miles south of Rico, heads southeast into the La Plata Mountains. Other nearby trails include the Calico National Recreation Trail and the Rico-Silverton Trail.
Highway 145, which runs between the campground and Telluride, offers some of the most majestic scenery along the San Juan Skyway, including views of the "14ers," which are peaks over 14,000 feet.
Recreation
The Dolores River is a popular fishing destination that can often be crowded on summer weekends. Anglers will find rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout.
The area boasts some excellent trails. The Colorado Trail follows the ridge across Bolam Pass. The Lizard Head and Cross Mountain Trails near Lizard Head Pass lead to alpine basins surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks.
The Barlow Creek Road continues past the campground and crosses Bolam Pass with spectacular views. Road conditions near the pass often limit travel to four-wheel drive vehicles. The route eventually connects with the Hermosa Park Road, behind Durango Mountain Resort, and leads to U.S. Highway 550.
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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San Juan NF Rico CO
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Rico, travel northeast on Colorado Highway 145 for 6 miles. Turn right (east) on Forest Road 578 (Barlow Creek Road). The campground entrance is a half-mile further.
Available Campsites
- Site 19, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
- Site 13, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
- Site 15, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
- Site 14, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
- Site 22, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 20, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
- Site 18, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
- Site 21, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 23, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 1, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 4, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
- Site 2, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
- Site 6, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
- Site 24, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 12, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
- Site 11, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Electric
