U.S. Forest Service · Rio Grande National Forest · Colorado

Luders Creek Campground

The campground has 5 sites, 3 are pull through. There are 3 corrals for horses and other stock. This is a good area for big game hunting season. Mountain biking & 4WD driving on area roads. The most common trees are Engelmann Spruce and quaking Aspen. The road leading to the campground is itself of historical significance. It was one of the famous toll roads leading west from Saguache built by Otto Mears in 1876. Attractions include big game hunting, other dirt roads and the Cochetopa Pass on the Continental Divide. Continental Divide Trail is found 1 mile west. Horse camping is allowed.

Closed for the seasonFirst-come, first-served5 sitesFrom $10 per nightTents only

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

Luders Creek Campground
Photo from the area. John Sowell (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
2fires
active
Elk · 42 mi away · 7,257 acres
1 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesSingle site - $10/night. Day use - $10/day (picnicking). Fee envelopes and a collection box are provided near the entrance.

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

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonMid May to November
ForestRio Grande National Forest
FeesSingle site - $10/night. Day use - $10/day (picnicking). Fee envelopes and a collection box are provided near the entrance.
RulesFires in designated fire rings only.

Rio Grande National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Luders Creek Campground10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 1.27 inches of precipitation, 21.5 inches of snowFebruary: 1.28 inches of precipitation, 19.0 inches of snowMarch: 1.21 inches of precipitation, 14.6 inches of snowApril: 1.47 inches of precipitation, 12.1 inches of snowMay: 1.23 inches of precipitation, 2.7 inches of snowJune: 0.76 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowJuly: 1.63 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.59 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.30 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowOctober: 0.98 inches of precipitation, 3.6 inches of snowNovember: 0.90 inches of precipitation, 11.8 inches of snowDecember: 1.13 inches of precipitation, 19.6 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 13.8°F averageFebruary: 17.1°F averageMarch: 27.1°F averageApril: 36.9°F averageMay: 45.1°F averageJune: 54.0°F averageJuly: 60.2°F averageAugust: 57.8°F averageSeptember: 50.1°F averageOctober: 39.0°F averageNovember: 27.2°F averageDecember: 15.1°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 in25 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Sargents, 18 miles from the campground at 8,460 feet, station USC00057460 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 15 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 105 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates38.1791° N, 106.5832° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Wildfire
    Elk

    42 mi from the campground · 7,257 acres · 90% contained

  • Prescribed
    High Mesa Piles Rx

    50 mi from the campground · 324 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗33.2 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗34.7 mi
Outdoor gearRocky Mountain Mercantile ↗40.4 mi

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

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 2.6 mi
    Corduroy Connector
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 3.1 mi
    Luder'S Creek
    3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.2 mi
    Pine Creek ↗
    12 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more · national_scenic_or_historic
  • 3.2 mi
    Summit ↗
    34.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more · national_scenic_or_historic
  • 3.7 mi
    CDNST - Cochetopa Roads ↗
    4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more · national_scenic_or_historic

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 →

Rio Grande National Forest begins about 0.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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 Luders Creek Campground?

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

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Luders Creek Campground?

Single site - $10/night. Day use - $10/day (picnicking). Fee envelopes and a collection box are provided near the entrance.

Source: Forest Service

Is Luders Creek Campground open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Mid May to November.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Luders Creek Campground have?

5 sites.

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Luders Creek Campground?

Luders Creek Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Luders Creek Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Buffalo Pass Campground (3.6 mi, first-come), Needle Creek Reservoir Camping Area (12.1 mi, first-come), and Storm King Campground (17.3 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby