Big Meadows Reservoir (South Central Co)

Summary

Big Meadows is an enchanting campground located in Colorado's Rio Grande National Forest and close to the Continental Divide. It is perfect for fishing, boating, hiking, horseback riding and hunting, with accessible fishing pier, 6-mile Archuleta Trail and plenty of nearby attractions like Great Sand Dunes National Park. Each site has campfire rings and picnic tables for an unforgettable outdoor experience.

Overview

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.

Recreation

An accessible fishing pier, located on the north shore of the reservoir, allows anglers to cast for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Hunting, boating and hiking are also popular pastimes.

Hikers and horseback riders will enjoy the 6-mile Archuleta Trail. The trail accesses the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado's largest wilderness, which boasts the headwaters of dozens of major streams and rivers that feed into the Rio Grande and San Juan rivers.

Facilities

Each site has a campfire ring and picnic tables. Drinking water is available.

The nearest dump station is 13 miles away, and a boat ramp is located on the north shore of the reservoir.

Natural Features

The campground meanders up a mountainside above Big Meadows Reservoir in a series of loops. As a sub-alpine region, the campground gets more rainfall than the opposite side of the lake, resulting in plentiful wildflowers and aspens surrounding the campsites.

Nearby Attractions

The surrounding area has plenty to keep visitors busy, with attractions like Great Sand Dunes National Park, Native American ruins, remnants of the Spanish Conquistadors and gold rush ghost towns. The Sangre de Cristo and San Juan Ranges are laced with trails for avid hikers.