Jersey Jim Fire Tower

Federal campground in San Juan National Forest

Location: Mancos, CO, CO

Price: From $50 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

The Jersey Jim Lookout Tower is named after an early cattleman who ran Jersey cattle in the area. Today, cattle are still grazed in the area under permit. Many nearby trails were established by loggers seeking timber or by miners accessing hard-rock ore deposits in the La Plata (Spanish for silver) Mountains.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Electric Hookups

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/jersey-jim-fire-tower to be notified when sites open up.

Jersey Jim Fire Tower offers incredible panoramic views of La Plata Mountains, Hesperus Peak, and Sleeping Ute Mountain with well-maintained grounds. Campers consistently praise the once-in-a-lifetime experience and exceptional vistas.

Wildlife alert: American Pika, Fremont's Squirrel, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Wilson's Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Western Tanager, Greater Short-horned Lizard, Wandering Garter Snake, and Eastern Collared Lizard documented in area

Insider tips for Jersey Jim Fire Tower: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand Bring all supplies as if camping in remote area Watch for hummingbirds during your stay Access via 14 miles on graveled road from Highway 184 near Mancos — check weather conditions before visiting

Skip Jersey Jim Fire Tower if: You need full hookups — no hookups available at sites. You require paved road access — access is via two-wheel drive graveled road subject to adverse weather. You prefer year-round camping — seasonal operations only May-October.

Best time to visit Jersey Jim Fire Tower: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Transfer Campground (Mancos, CO), Kroeger (Hesperus, CO), Snowslide (Durango, CO), Target Tree Campground (Mancos, CO).

Cell Phone Coverage at Jersey Jim Fire Tower

Cell signal at Jersey Jim Fire Tower (Mancos, 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.

CamperWatch
CamperWatch›CO›Jersey Jim Fire Tower
Jersey Jim Fire Tower — photo 1
Jersey Jim Fire Tower — photo 2
Jersey Jim Fire Tower — photo 3
Federal campground in San Juan National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Jersey Jim Fire Tower

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Mancos, CO, CO★ 4 (0 reviews)From $50/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

The Jersey Jim Lookout Tower is named after an early cattleman who ran Jersey cattle in the area. Today, cattle are still grazed in the area under permit. Many nearby trails were established by loggers seeking timber or by miners accessing hard-rock ore deposits in the La Plata (Spanish for silver) Mountains.

Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites: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
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables
Family & Pets
Electric Hookups

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 full hookups — no hookups available at sites✕ You require paved road access — access is via two-wheel drive graveled road subject to adverse weather✕ You prefer year-round camping — seasonal operations only May-October

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with high demand

Bring all supplies as if camping in remote area

Watch for hummingbirds during your stay

Access via 14 miles on graveled road from Highway 184 near Mancos

check weather conditions before visiting

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: American Pika, Fremont's Squirrel, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Wilson's Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Western Tanager, Greater Short-horned Lizard, Wandering Garter Snake, and Eastern Collared Lizard documented in area

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
970 882-7296· San Juan National Forest
Getting there →

The Tower is 14 miles from Highway 184 on a two-wheel drive graveled road subject to adverse weather conditions. At Mancos, Colorado, Highway 184 north, about 1/2 mile turn right on Montezuma County Road 42. County Road turns into Forest Service Road 561. Landmark references: Four miles on FS 561 is Transfer Campground. Seven miles on FS 561 is Aspen Guard Station.

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 — 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, speakable
How much does Jersey Jim Fire Tower cost per night?+
Jersey Jim Fire Tower costs $50 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Jersey Jim Fire Tower open?+
Jersey Jim Fire Tower is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Jersey Jim Fire Tower have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Jersey Jim Fire Tower?+
Jersey Jim Fire Tower is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Jersey Jim Fire Tower?+
Jersey Jim Fire Tower 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 Jersey Jim Fire Tower?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Jersey Jim Fire Tower is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Jersey Jim Fire Tower open, and what are check-in times?+
Jersey Jim Fire Tower is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Safety Rules: To be signed at Key Pick-upDisclosure Form: To be signed at Key Pick-up
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.

$50 /night★ 4 (0)
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 Jersey Jim Fire Tower cost per night?+
What season is Jersey Jim Fire Tower open?+
Does Jersey Jim Fire Tower have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Transfer Campground

Mancos, CO

From $24/night

Kroeger

Hesperus, CO

From $22/night

Snowslide

Durango, CO

From $22/night

Target Tree Campground

Mancos, CO

From $24/night

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