Big Creek Lakes Campground

Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Walden, CO, CO

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 3.9 out of 5 (82 reviews)

Season: May through October

The popular Big Creek Lakes Campground offers a peaceful, scenic setting in the heart of the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado. The campground is located in Routt National Forest at an elevation of 9,000-ft., and is adjacent to Big Creek Lake, where fishing, boating and hiking are available. Trails and one corral are available for the Equestrians.This facility has a campground and day use area.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Camp Host, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/big-creek-lakes-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Big Creek Lakes offers fishing and boating on Colorado's second largest natural lake at 9,000 ft elevation in Routt National Forest, with adjacent hiking access to Mount Zirkel Wilderness and established equestrian trails.

Wildlife alert: Watch for Osprey and Swainson's Hawks near the lake; American Pika and Yellow-bellied Marmots in higher terrain; Wandering Garter Snakes and Wood Frogs near water. Also present: Red-tailed Hawks and western yellow pond-lilies.

Insider tips for Big Creek Lakes Campground: Book early—this is a popular federal campground with only 24 sites Bring a boat or fishing gear; the campground is adjacent to Big Creek Lake with a boat launch on-site No hookups available, so ensure your RV is self-contained if you're driving an RV

Skip Big Creek Lakes Campground if: You need RV hookups—this campground has none at most sites. You're visiting outside May-October—seasonal operations only. You need to book last-minute—federal campground fills quickly.

Best time to visit Big Creek Lakes Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Blackhall Lookout (Encampment, WY), Seedhouse Group Site - Medicine-Bow Routt Nf (Co) (STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO), Six Mile Campground (Wy) (WY), Seedhouse Guard Station (STEAMBOAT SPRINGS , CO).

Cell Phone Coverage at Big Creek Lakes Campground

Cell signal at Big Creek Lakes Campground (Walden, CO): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Big Creek Lakes Campground

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Walden, CO, CO★ 3.9 (82 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

The popular Big Creek Lakes Campground offers a peaceful, scenic setting in the heart of the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado. The campground is located in Routt National Forest at an elevation of 9,000-ft., and is adjacent to Big Creek Lake, where fishing, boating and hiking are available. Trails and one corral are available for the Equestrians.This facility has a campground and day use area.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV50 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
ADA sites9 sites
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFishing
Recreation
Picnic TablesBoat Launch
Family & Pets
Camp Host

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups—this campground has none at most sites✕ You're visiting outside May-October—seasonal operations only✕ You need to book last-minute—federal campground fills quickly

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with only 24 sites

Bring a boat or fishing gear; the campground is adjacent to Big Creek Lake with a boat launch on-site

No hookups available, so ensure your RV is self-contained if you're driving an RV

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Watch for Osprey and Swainson's Hawks near the lake; American Pika and Yellow-bellied Marmots in higher terrain; Wandering Garter Snakes and Wood Frogs near water. Also present: Red-tailed Hawks and western yellow pond-lilies.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
970-723-2700· Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG
Getting there →

From Walden, follow Route 125 north for 9 miles into Cowdrey. Turn left (west) onto CR 6W and travel 18 miles to Pearl. Turn onto Forest Road 600 and drive for 6 miles, following signs to campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Big Creek Lakes Campground cost per night?+
Big Creek Lakes Campground costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Big Creek Lakes Campground open?+
Big Creek Lakes Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Big Creek Lakes Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Big Creek Lakes Campground?+
Big Creek Lakes Campground can accommodate RVs up to 50 feet.
How do I make reservations at Big Creek Lakes Campground?+
Big Creek Lakes Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Big Creek Lakes Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Big Creek Lakes Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Big Creek Lakes Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Big Creek Lakes Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility Map
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$20 /night★ 3.9 (82)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Big Creek Lakes Campground cost per night?+
What season is Big Creek Lakes Campground open?+
Does Big Creek Lakes Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Blackhall Lookout

Encampment, WY

From $80/night

Seedhouse Group Site - Medicine-Bow Routt Nf (Co)

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO

From $150/night

Six Mile Campground (Wy)

WY

From $20/night

Seedhouse Guard Station

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS , CO

From $100/night

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