Chris Park
San Juan National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Durango, CO, CO
Price: From $140 per night
Price range: $140–$280 per night
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (17 reviews)
Season: May through October
Chris Park is located near Haviland Lake in southwestern Colorado, 18 miles north of Durango. Visitors enjoy the area for its hiking, canoeing and fishing opportunities.Several trailheads are in the vicinity, including Forebay, Goulding, Elbert Creek and Purgatory Flats. The historic Rico-to-Rockwood Wagon Road passes through Chris Park.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/chris-park to be notified when sites open up.
Chris Park offers three spacious group sites near Haviland Lake with excellent hiking, fishing, and canoeing opportunities. Google reviewers praise the beautiful setting, cleanliness, wide-open spaces, and proximity to Durango, Silverton, and Purgatory.
Wildlife alert: Wapiti (elk) present in area. Also Cedar Waxwing, Evening Grosbeak, White-throated Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Plateau Fence Lizard, and Greater Short-horned Lizard.
Insider tips for Chris Park: Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand Bring your own water for non-drinking needs; vault toilets available but no running water at sites Three group sites offer privacy and multiple fire rings per area
Skip Chris Park if: You need RV hookups—no hookups available; only suitable for self-contained RVs. You require running water at your site. You plan to visit November through April when campground is closed.
Best time to visit Chris Park: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Haviland Lake Campground (Durango, CO), Lower Hermosa (Co) (CO), Transfer Park Campground (Durango, CO), Florida Campground (Co) (Durango, CO).
Cell Phone Coverage at Chris Park
Cell signal at Chris Park (Durango, CO): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
Chris Park is located near Haviland Lake in southwestern Colorado, 18 miles north of Durango. Visitors enjoy the area for its hiking, canoeing and fishing opportunities.Several trailheads are in the vicinity, including Forebay, Goulding, Elbert Creek and Purgatory Flats. The historic Rico-to-Rockwood Wagon Road passes through Chris Park.
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
Bring your own water for non-drinking needs; vault toilets available but no running water at sites
Three group sites offer privacy and multiple fire rings per area
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Durango, travel north on Highway 550 for about 18 miles to the campground. Turn at Haviland Lake sign, continue for a half-mile, then turn right at the intersection.
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.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Chris Park cost per night?+
What season is Chris Park open?+
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What is the maximum RV length at Chris Park?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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