Cayton Campground
San Juan National Forest — riverside, fishing, hiking
Location: Rico, CO, CO
Price: From $30 per night
Price range: $30–$41 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (150 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.The campground offers 27 single-family campsites, many of which are situated along the river. Eighteen sites offer electric hookups.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cayton-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Cayton Campground offers excellent fishing on the Dolores River for rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout, plus scenic hiking opportunities including the Colorado Trail across Bolam Pass and nearby Lizard Head and Cross Mountain Trails.
Wildlife alert: Bighorn sheep, mule deer, osprey, and American pika inhabit the area. Wandering garter snakes also present.
Insider tips for Cayton Campground: Book early - this is a federal campground with high demand Only select sites have electric hookups; confirm hookup availability when reserving Dolores River is a popular fishing destination - arrive early for prime spots, especially on weekends
Skip Cayton Campground if: You need water or sewer hookups - only electric hookups available on select sites. You require year-round camping - seasonal operations May through October only. You prefer less crowded fishing conditions during summer weekends.
Best time to visit Cayton Campground: June-September — Campground operates May through October, but Dolores River fishing can be crowded on summer weekends; plan accordingly.
Nearby campgrounds: Burro Bridge (Dolores, CO), Matterhorn Cabin (Norwood , CO), Woods Lake (Telluride, CO), Sunshine (Telluride, CO).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cayton Campground
Cell signal at Cayton Campground (Rico, 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.
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.For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.The campground offers 27 single-family campsites, many of which are situated along the river. Eighteen sites offer electric hookups.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early - this is a federal campground with high demand
Only select sites have electric hookups; confirm hookup availability when reserving
Dolores River is a popular fishing destination - arrive early for prime spots, especially on weekends
Campground operates May through October, but Dolores River fishing can be crowded on summer weekends; plan accordingly
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — San Juan National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at San Juan National Forest 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, speakableHow much does Cayton Campground cost per night?+
What season is Cayton Campground open?+
Does Cayton Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cayton Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Cayton Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Cayton Campground?+
What season is Cayton Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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