Upper Colorado Rec Area campground
Upper Colorado Rec Area
The campground itself offers several amenities for visitors, including restrooms, showers, and picnic tables. Additionally, there are both reservation and first-come-first-serve sites available, with a total of 33 campsites to choose from.
One interesting fact about the area is that it was once a popular spot for gold mining during the late 1800s. Today, visitors can still see remnants of the old mining camps and equipment throughout the area.
The best time of year to visit the Upper Colorado River Recreation Area is during the summer months, with July and August being the most popular. The average temperature during this time is in the mid-80s, making it a great time to enjoy the river, go fishing, and hike the nearby trails.
Overall, the Upper Colorado River Recreation Area is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Colorado. With its stunning views, rich history, and abundance of outdoor activities, it's sure to be a memorable experience for all.
What's on-site at Upper Colorado Rec Area
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 Upper Colorado Rec Area, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyons Gulch Dispersed | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Lyons Gulch Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Cottonwood Island | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Gypsum Rec. Site | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Gypsum Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Upper Colorado Rec Area -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado River Near Dotsero | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Eagle River Below Gypsum | 656 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Below Glenwood Springs | 3,130 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River Near Emma | 542 cfs | → |
| Fryingpan River Near Ruedi | 117 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Upper Colorado Rec Area -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbondale 4.6 Nne | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Carbondale 4.8 Ne | 0.0 in | 0.2 in | → |
| Glenwood Springs .64 S | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Carbondale 5.9 Ene | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Bison Lake | 16.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Bison Lake | 16.0 in | -1.0 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
- Two Rivers Park
- A E Axtell Park
- Hyland Park
- Sister Lucy Downey Park
- Wilderness Flat Tops
- Sopris Park
Boat launches
- Dotsero Landing Boat Ramp
- Lyon's Gulch Boat Ramp
- Cottonwood Island Boat Ramp
- Community Boat Ramp
- Grizzly Creek Garfield County
- Pinball Access Boat Ramp
Fishing spots
- Gypsum Ponds
- Deep Lake Fishing/Picnic Area Fishing Site
- Fryingpan River
- Christine Lake
- Sylvan Lake
- Trappers 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 Upper Colorado Rec Area as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Upper Colorado Rec Area
Can I make reservations at Upper Colorado Rec Area?
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 Upper Colorado Rec Area?
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 Upper Colorado Rec Area.