Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero.
Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area
Big Meadows is located in the San Juan Mountains in south-central Colorado, about 11 miles west of South Fork. The campground is lightly wooded with spruce trees, creating a beautiful meadow atmosphere. The Rio Grande National Forest spans 1.86 million acres in south-central Colorado. The Continental Divide runs for 236 miles along most of the forest’s western border, presenting a myriad of ecosystems from alpine desert to dense wilderness. Natural Features : The campground meanders up a mountainside above Big Meadows Reservoir in a series of 3 loops. As a sub-alpine region, the campground gets more snow melt and rainfall than the opposite side of the lake, resulting in plentiful wildflowers and aspens surrounding the campsites. Recreation : An accessible fishing pier, located on the north shore of the reservoir, allows anglers to cast for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Hunting, boating and hiking are also popular pastimes. Hikers and horseback riders will enjoy the nearby, 6-mile Archuleta Trail. The trail accesses the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado’s largest wilderness, which boasts the headwaters of dozens of major streams and rivers that feed into the Rio Grande and San Juan rivers. Facilities : Each site has a campfire ring and picnic tables. Drinking water is available. The nearest dump station is 13 miles away, and a boat ramp is located on the north shore of the reservoir. There is a picnic area adjacent to this campground. Nearby Attractions: The surrounding area has plenty to keep visitors busy, with attractions like Great Sand Dunes National Park, Native American ruins, the Continental Divide Trail and gold rush ghost towns. The Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Ranges are laced with trails for all levels of hikers. Fish Your National Forests: This site can be accessed by passenger car. Fish available include: Trout, Native Trout. Types of fishing available include: Wade, Shore, Non-motorized boat, Float tube, Fly, Spin, Bait. ADA accessible fishing access with fishing pier and boat launch
Before you go
Season
Memorial Day weekend – The second Monday of September.
Reservations
Reservations accepted
Fees
Single site - $29 to $31/night Double site - $58 to $62/night Group site - $99 to $103/night Shoulder season - $10/night (sometime after Labor Day) $12 for day use (picnicking in the campground) Picnic area - Free, no camping. Fee envelopes and a collection box are provided near the entrance.
Restrictions
On Big Meadows Reservoir, boats are allowed. No wakes are allowed, trolling motors are okay. Boat ramp on north shore. There is a 14-day camping limit in campground. Must have a Colorado fishing license to fish the reservoir and streams.
Accessibility
Accessible sites and fishing access.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.