Lower Margaritaville campground
Lower Margaritaville
This area is known for its abundance of outdoor recreational activities, including hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The nearby Gunnison River and Taylor River offer world-class fishing opportunities, with rainbow and brown trout commonly caught. The Blue Mesa Reservoir is also a popular spot for boating and fishing.
The Lower Margaritaville Campsite provides basic amenities such as vault toilets and fire rings, but visitors should come prepared with their own water and camping supplies. There are no RV hookups available.
Interesting facts about the area include the presence of several ghost towns nearby, remnants of the area's mining history. The town of Crested Butte, known for its charming historic district and world-renowned skiing, is also just a short drive away.
The best time to visit the Lower Margaritaville Campsite is during the summer months, with average temperatures ranging from 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and cooling off to 30-40 degrees at night. Visitors should also be aware of the potential for afternoon thunderstorms during this time.
Sources:
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/BlueMesaReservoir
- Visit Crested Butte: https://www.visitcrestedbutte.com/activities/fishing/
- AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/lower-margaritaville-campground-trail
What's on-site at Lower Margaritaville
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 Lower Margaritaville, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Magaritaville | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Chukar | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Chukar Trailhead Camping Area | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Rainbow Wall (Lunch Spot) | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Otter #1 | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Lower Margaritaville -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Fork Near Lazear | 1 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River Below Gunnison Tunnel | 303 cfs | → |
| North Fk Gunnison River Above Mouth Nr Lazear | 594 cfs | → |
| N.F. Gunnison R Blw Leroux Cr | 643 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River At Delta | 100 cfs | → |
| Gunnison River At Delta | 886 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Lower Margaritaville -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose 7.3 Ene | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Montrose 4.0 Nw | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Black Canyon Of The Gunnison | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Montrose 1.6 E | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Hotchkiss 4.7 W | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Hotchkiss 5wnw | 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
- Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
- Olathe Community Park
- Centennial Plaza
- Rainbow Meadows
- Wilderness Black Canyon Of The Gunnison
- Sweitzer Lake State Park
Boat launches
- Chukar Boat Ramp
- Orchard Boat Launch
- Shea Road Delta County
- South River Road Delta County
- Delta County
- Gunnison Forks
Fishing spots
- Chipeta Lakes Swa
- Crawford Reservoir
- Sweitzer Lake
- Gould Reservoir
- Crystal Reservoir
- Fruitgrowers Reservoir
Points of interest
- Astronomy Program
- South Rim Visitor Center
- Eagle Rock Shelter Archaeological Site
- Cimarron Visitor Center
- Cedaredge Observation Site
- Morrow Point Boat Tour
Paddle runs
- The Painted Wall To The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument-Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Boundary
- Gunnison Gorge
- The Southern Boundary Of The Black Canyon Gunnison National Monument To The Painted Wall
- Gunnison River Segment 2
- Roubideau Creek Segment 2
- Roubideau Creek Segment 1
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 Lower Margaritaville as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Lower Margaritaville
Can I make reservations at Lower Margaritaville?
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 Lower Margaritaville?
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 Lower Margaritaville.