Deer Lakes
Deer Lakes Campground
Deer Lakes Campground and Day Use Area is closed as of 10/2/2023 and will not reopen until construction is complete.
Gunnison, Colorado, Sept. 28, 2023 — The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests’ Gunnison Ranger District, in partnership with the National Forest Foundation (NFF), announce the beginning of a campground rehabilitation project at the Deer Lakes Campground and day-use area utilizing funding through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).
Deer Lakes Campground will close on Sept. 28 for reconstruction and the closure is expected to last through the summer of 2024. Site modernization includes the installation of new restrooms, picnic tables and fire rings. Infrastructure improvements will also be made to the roads, walkways and kiosks in the campground and day-use area to enhance public accessibility and enjoyment.
“The Deer Lakes Campground reconstruction marks the beginning of several campground revival projects to address deferred maintenance on the GMUG.” Said Julie Jackson, assistant recreation program manager, “As a result of funds awarded through GAOA, these critical projects will enrich the recreational experience for visitors and bring outdated facilities into the 21st century.”
The GAOA was enacted in 2020 and is the single largest investment in public lands in U.S. history. GAOA funding provides federal land management agencies with critical resources to address deferred maintenance and improve infrastructure on our public lands. For more information on GAOA funded projects in the Rocky Mountain region, visit here.
Open Seasonally: June-September | Number of Units: 12 | Rates: $12
This campground is located near Deer Lakes and provides fishing access to them. Most visitors to this campground come for great fishing in a beautiful location. Hikers, backpackers, and equestrians will enjoy the trails of the La Garita and Powderhorn Wilderness Areas located southeast and northeast (respectively) of this site. This high elevation landscape is mostly aspen trees. 12 campsites. Directions: Drive 9 miles southeast on State Highway 149 to Forest Road 768. Turn left on FDR 768 drive 3 miles on Forest Road 788 to Forest Road 458. Turn left on FDR 458 and drive 2 miles.
