Ute Campground (CO)
Ute Campground is located on US Hwy 160 across from Chimney Rock National Monument, 15 miles west of Pagosa Springs, 25 miles east of Bayfield, and 18 miles north of Arbolles, just west of the intersection with Colorado 151. Visitors enjoy quick access to Chimney Rock National Monument entrance and a centralized location to USFS trail systems, lake, and stream fishing.
The campground is shaded with Ponderosa Pines and offers easy access to Highway 160. Sites are spaciously placed and all feature natural areas adjacent to the campsites. 21 sites offer improved primitive camping with picnic tables, fire rings, and some with additional grills. There is a Group Area with a maximum for 32 people featuring a group picnic area and 2 fire rings. There is one potable water station under pressure and two pairs of vault toilets. Maximum stay is 28 days at first come-first serve sites. 12 days maximum stay on reservation sites. Pets allowed, leashing required. No horses or pack animals allowed in the park.
Need to Know
All sites are overnight use.
Check in 2:00pm. Check out 12:00 pm (noon)
There are no handicap accessible sites.
Pets are allowed at all sites, leashes are required.
Horses and pack animals are NOT permitted.
All sites have drive up accessibility with no hike-in.
All feature fire rings and allow camp fires.
All parking spurs are gravel and are large enough to accommodate an extended cab pickup truck size (approximately 20 feet in length) and wide enough for dual rear wheels.
All cargo/utility trailers must fit within the campsite parking area.
ATV's and boats on trailers may NOT be off-loaded within the campground.
No additional parking is provided within the facility.
NO sites have designated tent pads.
None are located near a body of water.
None feature cabins, beds, showers or boating facilities.
NO dump station.
First Come First Served (FCFS) Campsites are also available at this campground
Natural Features
Ute campground, named for and sharing land with the Southern Ute Nation is located along reservation borders situated at the base of Haystack Mountain facing Chimney Rock National Monument. The terrain is a hilly forest enviroment of Ponderosa pines, Gamble Oak, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Fragrant Sumac and meadows.
Nearby Attractions
The entrance to Chimney Rock National Monument is only 4 miles away on Colorado 151. It is centrally located between Turkey Springs Trail System and the Devil Mountain - Mule Mountain - Horse Mountain Trail Systems, featuring trails specific to ATV, motorcycle, mountain bike, hiking, horseback riding, along with stream fishing and a natural hot spring on the Piedra River. The Southern Ute Reservation allows access to fishing on tribal land at Lake Capote and the Piedra River with fee permits.
Recreation
Ute Campground is the only access to Forest Service land on Haystack Mountain.
Hiking views of Chimney Rock National Monument.
Changes & Cancellations
Cancellations
Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite.
Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
Group Sites
Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
No-Shows
A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.
No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.
Refunds
Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended.
Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.
For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.
In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
Contact Information
Physical
17351 W HWY 160 Bayfield CO 81122
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 970-264-2268 USFS Pagosa Ranger District
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
Directions from Pagosa Springs, CO: Travel west on U.S. Hwy 160 for 18.0 miles and campground is on north side of the highway.
Available Campsites
- Site 04, Loop East Spur, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 07-Group, Loop Lower North: Loop 1, Type Group Standard Nonelectric
- Site 10, Loop Main: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 12, Loop Main: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 14, Loop Upper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 02, Loop East Spur, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 13, Loop Main: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 03, Loop East Spur, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 08, Loop Main: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 17, Loop Main: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 20, Loop Upper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 21, Loop Upper: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 22, Loop Upper: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 20, Loop Main: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 15, Loop Upper, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 19, Loop Upper: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 09, Loop Main: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 18, Loop Upper: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 16, Loop Upper: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 01, Loop East Spur, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 05, Loop Main Loop, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 11, Loop Main: Loop 1, Type Standard Nonelectric
