Thistledown campground
Thistledown
There are several nearby points of interest, including the historic mining town of Silverton and the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Hiking trails and fishing opportunities are also abundant in the area.
The campground has 32 sites and amenities include drinking water, vault toilets, and fire rings. Reservations are available on Recreation.gov, but some sites are first-come-first-serve.
An interesting fact about the area is that it was once home to the Ute Native American tribe, who used the area for hunting and gathering. The Ute Trail, a historic trail used by the tribe, is accessible from the campground.
The best time to visit Thistledown Camping Area is from June to September, with average temperatures ranging from the 60s to the 80s Fahrenheit. However, visitors should be prepared for sudden weather changes and cold nights, even in the summer months.
What's on-site at Thistledown
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 Thistledown, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thistledown Campground - Ouray Rd | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Angel Creek Campground - Ouray Rd | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Angel Creek Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Four J Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Amphitheater | ✓ | ✓ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Thistledown -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompahgre River Near Ouray | 103 cfs | → |
| Dallas Creek Near Ridgway | 1 cfs | → |
| Cement Creek At Silverton | 35 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Howardsville | 119 cfs | → |
| Uncompahgre River Near Ridgway | 100 cfs | → |
| Animas River At Silverton | 149 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Thistledown -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouray .23 Nnw | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Ouray | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Idarado | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Idarado | 163.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Red Mountain Pass | 1.0 in | 1.0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Red Mountain Pass | 1.0 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
- Wilderness Mount Sneffels
- Telluride Town Park
- Judy Long Memorial Park
- Wilderness Uncompahgre
- Ridgway State Park
- Gunnison National Forest
Boat launches
Fishing spots
- North Fork Animas River
- Sheep Corrals Fishing Site
- Ridgway Reservoir
- Silver Jack Fisherman Access
- Silver Jack Reservoir
- Andrews Lake Swa
Points of interest
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 Thistledown as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Thistledown
Can I make reservations at Thistledown?
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 Thistledown?
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 Thistledown.