Ward Lake

Federal campground in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest

Location: Cedaredge, CO, CO

Price: From $20 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

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

Ward Lake offers beautiful scenery with a 4.6/5 rating from 50 Google reviews, praised for meticulous maintenance, crisp air, and plenty of space. The campground features a lake with fishing, kayaking, and paddle board opportunities.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear, Pacific Marten, North American Porcupine, Boreal Owl, and Steller's Jay documented in the area.

Insider tips for Ward Lake: Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand. First-come, first-served only; physically arrive to claim a site and pay via Recreation.gov mobile app QR code if available. Stay in lower elevation sites if your RV has solar for better sky exposure.

Skip Ward Lake if: You need hookups—no hookups available at sites.. You require advance reservations—first-come, first-served only.. You're visiting outside May-October—seasonal operations only..

Best time to visit Ward Lake: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..

Nearby campgrounds: Cobbett Lake (CEDAREDGE, CO), Little Bear (Cedaredge, CO), Island Lake Campground (Delta, CO), Crag Crest (Cedaredge, CO).

Cell Phone Coverage at Ward Lake

Cell signal at Ward Lake (Cedaredge, 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›Ward Lake
Forest campground camping
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Federal campground in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Ward Lake

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Cedaredge, CO, CO★ 4 (0 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature.

Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites:Tent
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

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 hookups—no hookups available at sites.✕ You require advance reservations—first-come, first-served only.✕ You're visiting outside May-October—seasonal operations only.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with high demand.

First-come, first-served only; physically arrive to claim a site and pay via Recreation.gov mobile app QR code if available.

Stay in lower elevation sites if your RV has solar for better sky exposure.

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 Black Bear, Pacific Marten, North American Porcupine, Boreal Owl, and Steller's Jay documented in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
N/A· Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest

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 — Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Ward Lake cost per night?+
Ward Lake costs $20 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Ward Lake open?+
Ward Lake is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Ward Lake have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Ward Lake?+
Ward Lake is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Ward Lake?+
Ward Lake 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 Ward Lake?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Ward Lake is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Ward Lake open, and what are check-in times?+
Ward Lake is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●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.

$20 /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 Ward Lake cost per night?+
What season is Ward Lake open?+
Does Ward Lake have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Cobbett Lake

CEDAREDGE, CO

From $22/night

Little Bear

Cedaredge, CO

From $20/night

Island Lake Campground

Delta, CO

From $26/night

Crag Crest

Cedaredge, CO

From $20/night

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