U.S. Forest Service · Medicine Bow-Routt NFs and Thunder Basin NG · Colorado

Horseshoe Campground

*Remains open until snow makes it unreachable. Located off Forest Service Road 900 in Yampa, CO. This is a small, quiet campground that makes a loop with 7 campsites among the trees, lending a feeling of privacy surrounded by the scenic 235,000 acre Flat Tops Wilderness, so bring your camera for these postcard views. Each site offers a picnic table and a fire grate. Sites can accomodate trailers up to 25 feet in length. Additionally, those interested in hiking can access Mandall Lakes, Smith Lake, and Stillwater Trailhead nearby within a short drive along Forest Service Road 900. The trailheads are all clearly marked with a sign and can be seen from the road.

Open nowFirst-come, first-served7 sitesFrom $20 per nightTents only

More like this: first-come in Colorado · tent only in Colorado

Horseshoe Campground
Photo from the area. Jim Morefield from Nevada, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
Fees$20 per site. Exact cash or check only as there is no option for change back if paying cash. No credit cards accepted. Payment instructions are found on the kiosk.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonMid June (Dependent on snowfall) to Late October early Nov (Dependent on snowfall)
ForestMedicine Bow-Routt NFs and Thunder Basin NG
BookingNo reservations accepted.
Fees$20 per site. Exact cash or check only as there is no option for change back if paying cash. No credit cards accepted. Payment instructions are found on the kiosk.
RulesMax Trailer length 25 feet Dogs must remain on a leash at all times in the campground.

Medicine Bow-Routt NFs and Thunder Basin NG recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Horseshoe Campground10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.37 inches of precipitation, 26.1 inches of snowFebruary: 1.29 inches of precipitation, 21.3 inches of snowMarch: 1.32 inches of precipitation, 16.8 inches of snowApril: 1.82 inches of precipitation, 15.5 inches of snowMay: 1.62 inches of precipitation, 4.7 inches of snowJune: 1.11 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowJuly: 1.62 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.59 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.48 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowOctober: 1.26 inches of precipitation, 6.9 inches of snowNovember: 1.19 inches of precipitation, 17.4 inches of snowDecember: 1.27 inches of precipitation, 21.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 19.4°F averageFebruary: 21.5°F averageMarch: 30.0°F averageApril: 38.1°F averageMay: 47.4°F averageJune: 56.7°F averageJuly: 63.0°F averageAugust: 61.3°F averageSeptember: 53.8°F averageOctober: 41.9°F averageNovember: 29.6°F averageDecember: 20.0°F average0 in10 in20 in30 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Yampa, 14 miles from the campground at 7,857 feet, station USC00059265 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 17 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 131 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates40.0346° N, 107.1132° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗21.8 mi
Outdoor gearGearhead Outfitters ↗35.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Horseshoe Campground - Pike National Forest, CO

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.2 mi
    Smith Lake
    0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    East Fork ↗
    15.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.8 mi
    North Derby
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.4 mi
    Bear River
    3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.9 mi
    Devils Causeway
    1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 2.1 mi
    Edge Lake
    2 mi trail · hiking, horse

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Flat Tops Wilderness, which overlaps White River National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Guidebooks for Colorado

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Horseshoe Campground?

No. Horseshoe Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations accepted. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Horseshoe Campground?

$20 per site. Exact cash or check only as there is no option for change back if paying cash. No credit cards accepted.

Source: Forest Service

Is Horseshoe Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Mid June (Dependent on snowfall) to Late October early Nov (Dependent on snowfall).

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Horseshoe Campground have?

7 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Horseshoe Campground?

Horseshoe Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Horseshoe Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Cold Springs Campground (0.4 mi, first-come), Bear Lake Campground (2.2 mi, first-come), and Trappers Lake / Horse Thief Campground (7.2 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby