Woods Lake

Federal campground in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest

Location: Telluride, 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/woods-lake to be notified when sites open up.

Breathtaking alpine lake setting with well-spaced campsites and excellent amenities including fire rings and picnic tables. Reviewers consistently praise the beautiful scenery, clean facilities, and attentive camp host.

Wildlife alert: American Pika, Bighorn Sheep, Pacific Marten, Muskrat, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Dusky Grouse, MacGillivray's Warbler, American Dipper, American Three-toed Woodpecker

Insider tips for Woods Lake: First-come, first-served only — arrive early or on weekdays Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival for QR code payment option; cell service may be limited Budget 30 minutes of bumpy dirt road access from main roads Only 1 tent site available — competition is high

Skip Woods Lake if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available. You require reserved sites — first-come, first-served only. You visit November through April — seasonal closure. You have a low-clearance vehicle — rough dirt road access.

Best time to visit Woods Lake: September-October — Leaf peeping season with beautiful fall colors and fewer crowds than peak summer. May-June — Season opens in May; early summer offers wildflower blooms.

Nearby campgrounds: Lone Cone Cabin (Norwood , CO), Burro Bridge (Dolores, CO), Cayton Campground (Rico, CO), Sunshine (Telluride, CO).

Cell Phone Coverage at Woods Lake

Cell signal at Woods Lake (Telluride, 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›Woods 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

Woods Lake

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Telluride, 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 RV hookups — no hookups available✕ You require reserved sites — first-come, first-served only✕ You visit November through April — seasonal closure✕ You have a low-clearance vehicle — rough dirt road access

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

First-come, first-served only

arrive early or on weekdays

Download Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival for QR code payment option; cell service may be limited

Budget 30 minutes of bumpy dirt road access from main roads

Only 1 tent site available

competition is high

Best: September-October

Leaf peeping season with beautiful fall colors and fewer crowds than peak summer

Best: May-June

Season opens in May; early summer offers wildflower blooms

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, Bighorn Sheep, Pacific Marten, Muskrat, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Dusky Grouse, MacGillivray's Warbler, American Dipper, American Three-toed Woodpecker

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

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

Nearby Campgrounds

Lone Cone Cabin

Norwood , CO

From $120/night

Burro Bridge

Dolores, CO

From $23/night

Cayton Campground

Rico, CO

From $30/night

Forest campground camping

Sunshine

Telluride, CO

From $20/night

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