North Canyon Campground
North Canyon Campground is situated next to Vallecito Reservoir in southwestern Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its beautiful scenery and wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing and hiking.
The campground offers single-family sites, many of which have lake views. Sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Notifications and Alerts
Camping Options: First-Come, First Served sites are also available at this campground.
Need to Know
- Click here for more information on the San Juan National Forest
- For general information about the San Juan National Forest, please call (970) 884-2512. Campsite availability is not available at this phone number
- This facility has first come first serve sites. Even if all reservable sites have been taken, it might be possible to acquire one of these sites on a walk in basis
- 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.
Natural Features
Vallecito, which is Spanish for "little valley," sits at an elevation of 7,900 feet. Scattered ponderosa pines tower over the open campground, offering limited shade. A thick understory provides privacy between sites, many of which have partial lake views. Thickets of willow separate the camping area from the lakeshore. High peaks of the San Juans are visible to the northwest of the campground.
Recreation
Vallecito Reservoir is a very popular fishing lake, with anglers casting for German brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike.
The lake offers great boating, water skiing and canoeing opportunities. Boat rentals and fishing licenses are available at various locations around the lake.
A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are found in the area. The North Canyon Trail begins across the road from the campground and leads through ponderosa pine and aspen forests. A short side trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake.
East Creek Trail begins a quarter-mile northeast of the campground, on Forest Road 852. It provides access to a lightly used, scenic drainage where fly-fisherman cast for brook trout. Both trails are popular with horseback riders, however, horses are not allowed in the campground.
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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FS Road 603 San Juan NF CO
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Bayfield, Colo., at the Vallecito Lake sign on U.S. Highway 160 (County Road 501), go north about 13 miles to Vallecito. Turn right on County Road 501A at the fire station and travel 4 miles to the campground.
Available Campsites
- Site 006, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
