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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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    CamperWatch›CO›Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf)
    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
    customerservice@pmcparks.com
    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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