U.S. Forest Service · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Fore · Colorado

Lost Lake Campground-Paonia RD

Lost Lake Campground is a great place for families to camp. Kids and parents alike will enjoy fishing and hiking around Lost Lake, Dollar Lake and Lost Lake Slough. Beckwith Pass provides breathtaking vistas of the Ruby Mountain Range. The wildflowers in this region are phenomenal during mid-July and early August. Campground Brochure

Open nowFirst-come, first-servedFrom $24 per nightTents only

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

3fires
active
Main Mesa Piles Rx (prescribed burn) · 38 mi away · 366 acres
2 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Site map

19 campsite locations mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The site numbers are theirs and may not match the posts at the campground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
Fees$24 per night per camping unit; $6 per vehicle overflow parking, over 2 vehicles; $10 firewood bundle.

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

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonJune 18 to Weather dependent
ForestGrand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Fore
BookingNo Reservations.
Fees$24 per night per camping unit; $6 per vehicle overflow parking, over 2 vehicles; $10 firewood bundle.
RulesOHV use is not allowed in campground. No motor boats on Lost Lake Slough. (Pursuant to Forest Order GMUG-2008-10). Dogs must be on a leash.

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Fore recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Lost Lake Campground-Paonia RD0°10°20°30°40°50°60°January: 2.72 inches of precipitation, 42.2 inches of snowFebruary: 2.54 inches of precipitation, 35.2 inches of snowMarch: 2.09 inches of precipitation, 29.1 inches of snowApril: 2.01 inches of precipitation, 19.4 inches of snowMay: 1.52 inches of precipitation, 6.7 inches of snowJune: 0.93 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowJuly: 1.96 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.98 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.95 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowOctober: 1.71 inches of precipitation, 8.5 inches of snowNovember: 2.04 inches of precipitation, 25.3 inches of snowDecember: 2.31 inches of precipitation, 35.1 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 9.6°F averageFebruary: 13.7°F averageMarch: 22.4°F averageApril: 33.0°F averageMay: 43.4°F averageJune: 51.9°F averageJuly: 57.8°F averageAugust: 55.9°F averageSeptember: 48.6°F averageOctober: 38.2°F averageNovember: 24.3°F averageDecember: 11.3°F average0 in10 in20 in30 in40 in50 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Crested Butte, 12 miles from the campground at 8,867 feet, station USC00051959 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 24 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 203 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates38.8693° N, 107.2093° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Main Mesa Piles Rx

    38 mi from the campground · 366 acres

  • Prescribed
    High Mesa Piles Rx

    47 mi from the campground · 324 acres

  • Wildfire
    Willow

    48 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained

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

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearOutdoor gear ↗11.9 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗25.3 mi

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

Explore

Video

Lost Lake Campground - Crested Butte

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • under 0.1 mi
    Lost Lake Snowmobile/Ski
    2.4 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
  • 0.1 mi
    Three Lakes Campground
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    Three Lakes Loop
    2.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.1 mi
    Beckwith Pass
    2.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.2 mi
    East Three Lakes
    0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Dollar Lake
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

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 Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.

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

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

Do I need a reservation at Lost Lake Campground-Paonia RD?

No. Lost Lake Campground-Paonia RD is first-come, first-served. No Reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Lost Lake Campground-Paonia RD?

$24 per night per camping unit; $6 per vehicle overflow parking, over 2 vehicles; $10 firewood bundle.

Source: Forest Service

Is Lost Lake Campground-Paonia RD open right now?

Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season June 18 to Weather dependent.

Source: Forest Service status

Can I bring an RV to Lost Lake Campground-Paonia RD?

Lost Lake Campground-Paonia RD is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Lost Lake Campground-Paonia RD is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Lake Irwin (5.6 mi), Erickson Springs (6.8 mi, first-come), and Oh Be Joyful Campground (10 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby