Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf)

Rio Grande National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: ANTONITO, CO, CO

Price: From $29 per night

Price range: $29–$58 per night

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (108 reviews)

Season: May through October

Elk Creek Campground is located in Conejos County, approximately 23 miles west of Antonito, Colorado. Located in the lower portion of the Conejos Canyon a short distance from Highway 17, it is an easily reached destination for visitors to the area. Elk Creek runs alongside the campground.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/elk-creek-campground-rio-grande-nf to be notified when sites open up.

Elk Creek Campground offers large, well-separated sites in a scenic mountain setting at 8,500 ft elevation with Elk Creek running alongside. Google reviewers consistently praise the clean facilities, excellent campground hosts, and off-grid experience in a beautiful location with mountainous backdrops.

Wildlife alert: Pacific Marten, Coyote, Long-tailed Weasel, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Dusky Grouse, American Crow, Red Crossbill, and Song Sparrow are documented in the area.

Insider tips for Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf): Book early — this is a federal campground with 38 sites and high demand. Gravel roads and fairly level terrain throughout the campground. Consider day trip to nearby Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (64-mile steam journey through abandoned mining towns).

Skip Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available; suitable for self-contained RVs only.. You require flush toilets — vault toilets only.. You're visiting outside May-October — campground is seasonally closed..

Best time to visit Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf): May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..

Nearby campgrounds: Aspen Glade (Rio Grande National Forest, Co) (ANTONITO, CO), Mogote (LA JARA, CO), Lake Fork(Rio Grande Natl Fore (Antonito, CO), Platoro Cabin 1 (La Jara, CO).

Cell Phone Coverage at Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf)

Cell signal at Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) (ANTONITO, 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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Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) — photo 1
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Rio Grande National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf)

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ANTONITO, CO, CO★ 4.8 (108 reviews)From $29/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Elk Creek Campground is located in Conejos County, approximately 23 miles west of Antonito, Colorado. Located in the lower portion of the Conejos Canyon a short distance from Highway 17, it is an easily reached destination for visitors to the area. Elk Creek runs alongside the campground.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife 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 RV60 ft
Hookups1 electric sites
ADA sites4 sites
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking Water
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

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 — no hookups available; suitable for self-contained RVs only.✕ You require flush toilets — vault toilets only.✕ You're visiting outside May-October — campground is seasonally closed.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with 38 sites and high demand.

Gravel roads and fairly level terrain throughout the campground.

Consider day trip to nearby Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (64-mile steam journey through abandoned mining towns).

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: Pacific Marten, Coyote, Long-tailed Weasel, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Dusky Grouse, American Crow, Red Crossbill, and Song Sparrow are documented in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
1111111111· Rio Grande National Forest
Getting there →

From Antonito, CO, take US 285 south 0.3 miles to Hwy 17. Continue straight on Hwy 17 and go 22.6 miles to campground sign. Turn right onto dirt road and go 0.1 miles to a "T" intersection. Turn left, go 0.4 miles to a "Y" intersection. Bear right and turn into 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 — Rio Grande National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Rio Grande National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) cost per night?+
Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) costs $29–$58 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) open?+
Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf)?+
Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) can accommodate RVs up to 60 feet.
How do I make reservations at Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf)?+
Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) 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 Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) open, and what are check-in times?+
Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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.

$29 /night★ 4.8 (108)
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 Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) cost per night?+
What season is Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) open?+
Does Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Aspen Glade (Rio Grande National Forest, Co)

ANTONITO, CO

From $29/night

Mogote

LA JARA, CO

From $29/night

Lake Fork(Rio Grande Natl Fore

Antonito, CO

From $29/night

Platoro Cabin 1

La Jara, CO

From $75/night

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