Camping At Jefferson Lake Recreation Area
Looking for a fabulous Colorado camping destination? Looking no further, family camping in Jefferson Lake Recreation Area is a dream. From adventures on the lake to fishing in the creek and three campgrounds to choose from, Jefferson Lake has everything you need for a great family camping trip.
Camping at Jefferson Lake Recreation Area: Getting There
Location
Jefferson Lake Recreation Area is part of Pike National Forest just outside of Jefferson, Colorado. It’s an hour drive from Denver along US Highway 285 and only 9 miles south of Breckenridge, Colorado.
Terrain
The road leading to the recreation area has some significant road damage in the form of large potholes on both sides of the road, so drive cautiously. Once inside the recreation area, the dirt road is well maintained.
Past the campgrounds, the road becomes steep and one lane up to the lake. This portion is paved and there are turnouts.
The parking lot at the boat launch at Jefferson Lake is very rocky. We were glad we had a GMC Sierra 1500 AT4, provided by GMC for our trip, but there were other vehicles managing it. If you have a smaller vehicle I would stay toward the back of the parking lot where it is less rocky and rough.
Fees and Permits
There is a $7 daily permit fee for Jefferson Lake Recreation Area. You must pay this fee upon entering even with a camping reservation.
Campsites are $17 per night.
You can make reservations and pay for the campsite ahead of time online, but the day use fee must be paid upon entry at the fee booth.
A Colorado fishing license is required for anyone older 16 fishing within the Jefferson County Recreation Area.
Camping at Jefferson Lake Recreation Area: Campgrounds to Choose From
All of the campgrounds within Jefferson Lake Recreation Area are great. The area is gorgeous and quiet and has access to so much recreation.
Just a note that this is bear country. Please lock ALL food and any containers, or dishes or trash that smells like food, in your vehicle overnight.
We loved that our GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 not only had a great bed with room for everything we wanted to bring camping, it also had a roomy interior and plenty of room to put our two coolers inside the cab at night!
For more about this vehicle checkout our review on Instagram!
Lodgepole Campground
Lodgepole Campground is the first campsite you’ll come to once inside of Jefferson Lake Recreation Area. It has 34 campsites, vault toilets at multiple spots through the campgrounds, drinking water pump, charcoal grills, and a dirt road loop that is perfect for kids on bikes!
Each spot has a picnic table and tandem parking for two vehicles.
This is the campground we stayed at and we loved it. The sites were spacious and private. There are aspen trees and pine trees and easy access to the creek right across the main road.
You can get more details and make reservations online here.
The boys loved the wildness of the campsite and had such a fun time exploring the trees!
Aspen Campground
Aspen Campground is a similar campground a little further along the road and closer to Jefferson Lake. It’s a smaller campground with only 12 sites.
There are vault toilets, a drinking water pump, picnic tables and campfire rings. The campsites are surrounded by aspens and spruce trees and backup to Jefferson Hill.
You can get more details and make reservations online here.
Jefferson Creek Campground
The third campground in Jefferson Lake Recreation Area is Jefferson Creek Campground. It’s the closest to the lake and has 17 campsites. The campground offers a water pump, vault toilets, fire rings and picnic tables.
This campground is also the highest elevation of the three at 10,100 feet.
You can get more details and make reservations online here.
Camping at Jefferson Lake Recreation Area: Hiking Trails
While camping in Jefferson Lake Recreation Area, you have to spend some time on the trails! Whether you want a nice and easy trail or a more challenging hike there is an option for you!
Jefferson Lake Trail
The Jefferson Lake Trail circles Jefferson Lake and is a very easy 1.5-mile walk with tremendous views of the lake and the surrounding peaks. The trail is pretty well maintained and offers some shade. It’s a great option with little kids or those who are not accustomed to hiking at elevation.
West Jefferson Trail
If you are looking for a more challenging hike, the West Jefferson Trail is a 9-mile out-and-back trail that takes you along Jefferson Creek and up to the Continental Divide and connects with the Colorado Trail. It offers wildflowers, various types of pine trees and views of the lake and beyond. You can do an 11-mile loop if you take the Colorado Trail back to the camping area.
Colorado Trail
A segment of the famed Colorado Trail runs directly through Jefferson Lake Recreation Area. This trail is 486 miles and runs from Durango all the way to Waterton Canyon, just south of Denver. From Forest Road 37, you can access the Colorado Trail in between Lodgepole Campground and Jefferson Campground and take it either west or east. Heading west will be a pretty steep incline, east is more gradual. Even if you only go a mile or two, it’s fun to be able to say you have hiked the Colorado Trail!
Forest Roads
Our campsite in the Lodgepole Campground backed right up to one of the forest roads in Jefferson Lake Recreation Area. This was a great trail for the kids, as it was easy and close. It was a great opportunity to see the forest. Much of this area is being rehabilitated or regrown, so please make sure to stay on the road.
For family-friendly hiking trails near Denver, CO, check out this list.
Camping at Jefferson Lake Recreation Area: Water Recreation
While camping at Jefferson Lake Recreation Area don’t forget your swimsuit and water shoes! There is a ton of recreation to be had to in and around the water!
Jefferson Lake
Of course the lake is the main attraction. Jefferson Lake sits at just over 10,000 feet of elevation and holds 300,000+ gallons of water. It’s a natural lake that was formed by a rockslide. Because of the high altitude and the fact that the lake is fed by snow melt, it is frigid, even in summer. But the lake offers great kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. The views are fantastic in every direction and there are several parts of the lake to explore. Fishing boats are allowed on the lake, although it is a no-wake zone. Kids may also like to play at the shoreline, though it’s rocky so bring proper footwear!
We loved being able to pull our GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 right up to the boat dock and dropping the MultiPro Tailgate to easily load and unload our board, chairs, life jackets and more!
Jefferson Creek
There are multiple areas to access Jefferson Creek through the recreation area and nearby the campgrounds. We just walked along the main road and found several spots to hop in and enjoy the creek. The kids loved splashing around in the creek, looking for tadpoles and skipping rocks. Be aware of your surroundings and please do not disturb any part of the creek where there are beaver dams.
Fishing
Both Jefferson Lake and Jefferson Creek offer great fishing. At the lake, follow signs for angler parking. Jefferson Lake is full of several types of trout, as well as stocked Kokanee Salmon. A valid Colorado fishing license is required to fish within Jefferson Lake Recreation Area.
Picnicking
There are six picnic areas around Jefferson Lake that offer great views of the lake and shade from the pine trees. Each picnic site has a picnic table, charcoal grill and parking. There are also restrooms at the parking lot for the lake.
Have a great camping trip!
For more Colorado summer getaways, check out this great list!
