Heaton Bay

White River National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Silverthorne, CO, CO

Price: From $29 per night

Price range: $29–$56 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (573 reviews)

Season: Year-round

Heaton Bay Campground is situated at an elevation of 9,000 feet and centrally located for recreation and relaxation in the White River National Forest. There is little or no shade in the campground due to pine beetle infestation and the removal of hazard trees, but the sites offer open views to Dillon Reservoir and several mountain ranges.Dillon Reservoir is 3,233 acres with 26.8 miles of shoreline, offering an ideal spot for fishing, boating, and sailing. The reservoir supports a healthy popula

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, Camp Host, Fishing, Boat Launch, Firewood for Sale

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

Heaton Bay offers stunning views of Dillon Reservoir with 84 sites across multiple loops at 9,000 feet elevation in White River National Forest. Google reviewers consistently praise the gorgeous scenery, quiet atmosphere, and excellent recreation opportunities for fishing, boating, and hiking.

Wildlife alert: Mountain lions, moose, mule deer, red fox, and pacific marten present in area. Also brown-capped rosy-finches, pygmy nuthatches, black-billed magpies, and american dippers.

Insider tips for Heaton Bay: Loop C is the only loop with electricity and water hookups at sites; other loops have water access but not at each individual site. One loop is tents-only; verify loop assignment when booking if RV camping. Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand. Bike trails connect to the campground; bring bikes for easy access to recreation. Private water access available at some premium tent sites like T01.

Skip Heaton Bay if: You need full RV hookups — most sites have no hookups; only Loop C has electric and water.. You require shade — pine beetle infestation and hazard tree removal left little to no shade.. You cannot book well in advance — early booking is essential for federal campground access..

Best time to visit Heaton Bay: September-October — Fall color change at peak; verified by camper review noting excellent autumn foliage.. Summer — Optimal for boating and fishing on Dillon Reservoir; hiking and wildlife viewing conditions..

Nearby campgrounds: Peak One (Silverthorne, CO), Windy Point Group (Co) (Silverthorne, CO), Lowry Campground (Silverthorne, CO), Blue River Campground (Co) (Silverthorne, CO).