Needle Creek Reservoir Camping Area
Elevation: 8830' Needle Creek Reservoir lies between Highways 50 and 114 in the Cochetopa Hills along the headwaters of Needle Creek. This reservoir was constructed in 1962 for irrigation water storage. Its low elevation, 8,830 feet, and easy access make it a favorite fishing area for many. Fishing is usually good at this site, where rainbow and brook trout average ten to eleven inches. Boats are allowed in the reservoir, but most people fish from shore with good success.
More like this: first-come in Colorado · free in Colorado · tent only in Colorado
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No fee |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | June |
| Forest | Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Fore |
| Fees | No fee |
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Fore recreation page ↗
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 38.3534° N, 106.5597° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireElk
46 mi from the campground · 7,257 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 25 mi |
| RV sales & service | Holiday RV ↗ | 28.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Rocky Mountain Mercantile ↗ | 33.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 14.9 miMiddle Creek Trailhead #768 ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miRight Hand ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.5 miRazor Creek ↗11.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 0.5 miGreen Mountain ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1 miLeft Barret2.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 2.2 miLeft Hand3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 2.4 miMiddle Barrett Creek4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
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
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests begins about 10.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.6 miGrand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,153,199 acres
- 12.4 miRio Grande National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,937,280 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
- St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal (AME) ChurchBuilding · Pueblo · 8.1 mi
- Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Sargents Water Tank Western LineStructure · Sargents · 8.6 mi
Guidebooks for Colorado
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Needle Creek Reservoir Camping Area?
Nothing. Needle Creek Reservoir Camping Area is listed as free. No fee
Source: Forest Service
Is Needle Creek Reservoir Camping Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season June.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Needle Creek Reservoir Camping Area?
Needle Creek Reservoir Camping Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Needle Creek Reservoir Camping Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Buffalo Pass Campground (11.9 mi, first-come), Luders Creek Campground (12.1 mi, first-come), and Snowblind (14 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby