Island Lake campground
Island Lake
The best time to visit the Island Lake camping area is during the summer months, from June to September. The weather is generally pleasant, with warm days and cool nights, perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and wildlife watching. It's important to be cautious of possible encounters with black bears in the area. It is recommended to store food properly and use bear-proof containers to minimize any potential interactions. Additionally, visitors should be prepared for sudden weather changes and ensure they have appropriate camping gear, including warm clothing and sturdy tents, as high winds are not uncommon in the region. Overall, Island Lake camping area offers a fantastic opportunity for nature enthusiasts to experience the beauty of Colorado's wilderness while enjoying a range of outdoor activities.
What's on-site at Island Lake
Key facilities Snoflo tracks for this campground. Confirm with the operator before booking -- amenities can change seasonally.
Plan your trip down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max so trends jump out at a glance.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks. Hover any point for the full breakdown.
Other campgrounds in the area
Snoflo-tracked campsites within driving distance of Island Lake, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island Lake Campground - Grand Valley Rd | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Little Bear Campground - Grand Valley Rd | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Cobbett Campground - Grand Valley Rd | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Carp Lake | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Ward Lake | ✗ | ✓ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Island Lake -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek At Upper Station | 12 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek Near Cedaredge | 35 cfs | → |
| Surface Creek At Cedaredge | 40 cfs | → |
| Plateau Creek Near Cameo | 42 cfs | → |
| Colo River Blw Grd Valley Div Nr Palisade Co | 1,940 cfs | → |
| North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear | 594 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Island Lake -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nohrsc Mesa Lakes | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Mesa Lakes | 1.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Mesa 5sse | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Park Reservoir | 16.0 in | -1.0 in | → |
| Park Reservoir | 16.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Cedaredge 1.3 E | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, boat launches, and paddle runs so a camping night can grow into a full weekend.
Parks
- Grand Mesa National Forest
- Vega State Park
- Peach Valley Park
- Confluence Park
- Sweitzer Lake State Park
- James M Robb Colorado River State Park
Boat launches
- Z Road Delta County
- State Highway 65 25261, Delta County
- Ward Lake Boat Access - Grand Valley Rd
- Lakeshore Drive Delta County
- Sunset Boat Access- Grand Valley Rd
- Forest Road 125 Delta County
Fishing spots
- Little Gem Reservoir
- Island Lake (Grand Mesa)
- Deep Slough Reservoir
- Ward Creek Reservoir
- Cobbett (Carp) Lake
- Ward Lake
Camping essentials & Leave No Trace
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Take all trash, food scraps, and gear back with you to keep campsites clean and protect wildlife.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe animals from a distance, store food securely, and never feed wildlife to maintain natural behavior and safety.
- Know before you go
- Check weather, fire restrictions, trail conditions, and permit requirements to ensure a safe and well-planned trip.
- Minimize campfire impact
- Use established fire rings, keep fires small, fully extinguish them, or opt for a camp stove when fires are restricted.
- Leave what you find
- Preserve natural and cultural features by avoiding removal of plants, rocks, artifacts, or other elements of the environment.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Island Lake as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Island Lake
Can I make reservations at Island Lake?
This campground does not appear to accept reservations -- it's typically first-come, first-served. Arrive early on summer weekends.
How fresh is the weather data on this page?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from the NOAA / yr.no public feeds. Streamflow data is pulled live from USGS streamgauges and snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network.
What's the best time of year to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation. For longer trips, the 5-day hourly meteogram shows snow + rain accumulation hour-by-hour.
How do I get to Island Lake?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the campground.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed through the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this campground, set a threshold (temperature, snowpack, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other campgrounds near here
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within driving distance of Island Lake.