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.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · tent only in Colorado · accessible sites in Colorado
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| 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. |
| Accessibility | Accessible sites and fishing access |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | Memorial Day weekend to The second Monday of September |
| Forest | Rio Grande National Forest |
| 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. |
| Rules | 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. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 37.5381° N, 106.7961° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 15.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 23.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Kristi's Mountain Sports ↗ | 49.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Shenandoah National Park Big Meadows Campground
Worth a stop
- 0.4 mi
- 1.4 miBig Meadows Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 3.2 miColumbine Picnic Site ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miBig Meadows H.C. Access0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miBig Meadows Loop1.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.2 miHope Creek ↗6.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miKitty Creek ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miShaw Lake Loop1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.5 miSouth Fork Archuleta3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.4 miBig Meadows/Archuleta Trailhead # 839 ↗Rio Grande National Forest · Season June
- 1.4 miBig Meadows Trailhead ↗Rio Grande National Forest · Season January
- 2.2 miLake Fork Trailhead #836 ↗Rio Grande National Forest
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
This campground sits inside Rio Grande National Forest.
- inRio Grande National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,937,280 acres
- 12.5 miWeminuche Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 497,111 acres
- 13 miSouth San Juan Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 160,997 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Denver & Rio Grande Railroad South Fork Water TankStructure · South Fork · 13.1 mi
- Spruce LodgeBuilding · South Fork · 13.2 mi
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 Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area?
Sites at Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area take reservations. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area?
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.
Source: Forest Service
Is Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Memorial Day weekend to The second Monday of September.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area?
Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
Are there accessible sites at Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area?
Accessible sites and fishing access.
Source: Forest Service
What if Big Meadows Campground and Picnic Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Big Meadows Reservoir Campground (South Central Co) (under 0.1 mi), Tucker Ponds Campground (3.6 mi, first-come), and Park Creek Campground (5.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby