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Divide Ranger District

Quick Facts

Lost Trail Campground

Elevation:	9,500 Feet (2961.3 Meters)
Length of Stay:	14 Days
Number of Sites:	7
Reservation Remarks:	NO FEE. 7 CAMPSITES OPERATED BY FOREST SERVICE.
Reservation Status:	Not Accepted

		Satellite and Topo Map

General Description

The campground is located 38.2 miles southwest of Creede on Forest Road 520. There are numerous attractions to tempt the camper. Trails include: access to the Continental Divide, Lost Trail Creek Trail 821 to Carson City Mining area, West Lost Creek Trail 821 to Cataract Lake (A National Scenic Trail), Heart Lake Trail 823 to Heart Lake and Ute Creek Trail 819 to the Weminuche Wilderness. The 4 WD roads are Stony Pass (Forest Road 520) and Beartown/Kite Lake (Forest Road 506). Lost Trail Creek, Ute Creek and one mile from the upper end of Rio Grande Reservoir are all accessible fishing sites. The Sky Hi Ranch and Lost Trail Guest Ranch are adjacent to the campground. Do not use the private footbridge on the Sky Hi Ranch for any purpose.

The facilities have 7 sites, each with a parking spur, table and fire ring. A vault type toilet is provided. The drinking system, which is a well, is closed after Labor Day. Firewood and refuse receptacles are not provided. There is only limited maneuvering for RV's and trailers and most of the spurs and pull-throughs are short and cannot accommodate large RV's or trailers. Screening and trees are limited. The campground is usually full from mid-June through the end of August.

Directions from Creede, Colorado: Travel 20.1 miles southwest on Colorado Highway 149 to Forest Road 520 (Rio Grande Reservoir Road). Take Road 520 west for 18.1 miles.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Open: Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend (NOTE: may close earlier because of snow. Campground usually full from Mid-June through the end of August.) .

Fee Information

Type	Price	Remarks
Camping, Single Unit	Call for Current Fee	Tables, fire rings, water (wel

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

Open May 15th through the October hunting seasons. No fee. Updated: 2000-05-18 17:15:00.0

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Filed By: Franklin (Amarillo, TX)
Difficulty:
Number of People Encountered: 11-25 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: A beautiful location in the valley near the Rio Grande Reservoir. My wife and I arrived to the last available site on Wednesday. As the weekend approached, sites emptied. Everyone has their own idea for fun and neighbors inconsiderately rode motorcycles throughout the camp which disrupted our peace. (No fees, no host.) One neighbor moved to another campground because of it. I kindly spoke my peace, and it helped some. 25 mph limit on hwy 520 means about 1 hour from Creede. Plus 20 minute delay for road construction going into Creede from direction of South Fork. Awesome hike to peak west/nw of camp took a few hours. Saw elk and eagles. Magnificent views.
Conditions: Overnight low of 40-45. Daytime high of 70. It was perfect. Rained some each afternoon. Fire rings also have grates which makes campfires legal during a stage 1 fire ban. A couple of snow patches in highest elevations.
Water Availability: Water pump woked great. Chlorinated. Drinkable. Bathrooms also well maintained.

Filed By: PBoucher (Dulce, NM)
Difficulty:
Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: This is in a very beautiful location. Road is a little rough if you have a trailer. Excellent secluded sites(some right on stream) and close to hiking trails. Has a hand pump and toilets. Lots of opportunity to see wildlife and do some fishing.
Conditions: We were here in mid-June and woke up to our dog's frozen water dish. Just be prepared for "cooler" temps at this elevation.
Water Availability: Hand Water Pump worked fine.

Filed By: PBoucher (Dulce, NM)
Difficulty:
Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: This is in a very beautiful location. Road is a little rough if you have a trailer. Excellent secluded sites(some right on stream) and close to hiking trails. Has a hand pump and toilets. Lots of opportunity to see wildlife and do some fishing.
Conditions: We were here in mid-June and woke up to our dog's frozen water dish. Just be prepared for "cooler" temps at this elevation.
Water Availability: Hand Water Pump worked fine.

Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	RV Camping	Most spurs and pull-throughs cannot accommodate large RV's.	Yes
	Tent Camping	7 sites, tables, fire rings, toilet, drinking water (in season)	Yes
	Camping	Lost Trail Campground	Yes
	Cold Water Fishing	Lost Trail Creek, Ute Creek and the upper end of Rio Grande Reservoir	No
	Four-Wheel Driving	Stony Pass (Forest Road 520) and Beartown/Kite Lake (Forest Road 506)	No
	Hiking & Walking	Access to numerous trails	Yes
	Resort & Commercial Services	Lost Trail Guest Ranch and Sky High Ranch.	Yes
	Picnicking	Tables, fire rings, toilet, drinking water (in season)	Yes

Nearby Services

Guest Ranch: Sky Hi Ranch (Private-Profit) Directions: Adjacent to the campground

Guest Ranch: Lost Trail Guest Ranch (Private-Profit) Directions: Adjacent to the campground

Groceries: FREEMAN'S STORE (Private - Profit) Directions: 24 MILES EAST OF CAMPGROUND

Related Activities

Beartown Road - This scenic, remote and primitive road that is a fairly popular side trip off the Stony Pass Road (Forest Road 520) between Creede and Silverton.

Heart Lake Road 518.1b - Vehicle access ends on a flat bench overlooking Heart Lake which lies down in a bowl just below timberline. Good trout fishing and beautiful mountain scenery greets any visitor.

Heart Lake Trail - Good views of Fingers Mesa and Pole Mountain. The trail travels through a few small open parks but primarily stays in mixed aspen and spruce/fir stands.

Lost Trail Creek - Excellent views and good fishing are both possible along this trail. Evidence of recent and historic mining activity is visible near Carson Pass on the Continental Divide.

Pole Creek-Cataract Lake (Continental Divide/La Ga - This trail serves as a link between the Lost Trail Creek and Pole Creek drainages. The trail also provides access to the Continental Divide and Cataract Lake.

Reservoir (rio Grande) Picnic Ground - This site overlooks Rio Grande Reservoir and has 4 picnic units, each with tables and fireplaces.

Rio Grande Reservoir - This is a scenic high mountain reservoir with access to wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities. There are five campgrounds, picnic areas, many trails leading from the area and a jeep road with a historical site.

Stony Pass Road 520 - This is a scenic and remote primitive road that is a popular route between the historic mining towns of Creede and Silverton. Numerous mining claims, mines, and associated structures are found along the route.

Ute Creek Trail - This trail is the major access route into the vast Ute Basin Area. Four major fishable lakes sit in the beautiful basin. The Ute Trail is a popular route with Weminuche Wilderness visitors.

West Lost Trail Creek - Beautiful views of Pole Mountain and vast panoramic views are possible once a hiker begins approaching the Continental Divide. This trail provides the shortest access to Cataract Lake from the Rio Grande River drainage.

West Pole Creek Trail - Excellent views and an excellent assortment of wildflowers can be found in the West Pole Drainage. Few people hike in the West Pole Area. Hiking this trail is basically a cross-country type experience.