Closed
— Closed for the winter season. Typically opens around mid-June and operates through October depending on weather and snow conditions. Sites are first-come, first-served. Most sites will become reservable through Recreation.gov starting in 2026.
About
Located 8 miles northeast of Steamboat Springs on Buffalo Pass Road, Dry Lake Campground underwent a major $1.2-1.5 million expansion and improvement project in 2024, reopening in summer 2025 with 23 sites compared to its previous 8. The campground sits at 8,277 feet elevation surrounded by aspen, spruce, and fir forests within the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.
The expanded campground features a new upper loop, two vault toilet buildings, bear-proof storage boxes at each site, tent pads, metal fire rings, and picnic tables. Sites include 20 standard sites, a camp host site, and two large double sites. All sites remain first-come, first-served through the 2025 season, with most sites becoming reservable through Recreation.gov starting in 2026.
Dry Lake Campground provides immediate access to an extensive trail system popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and motorized users. Popular trails include Panorama, Fiddlehead, Flash of Gold, Spring Creek, and numerous single-track dirt bike trails. The Continental Divide Trail passes through the area, and the Mount Zirkel Wilderness lies nearby. In winter, the Dry Lake Trailhead becomes the primary access point for the Buffalo Pass Winter Backcountry Permit Area, serving both snowmobilers and backcountry skiers under special use regulations.
Directions
From Steamboat Springs, travel 4 miles north on Routt County Road 36 (Strawberry Park Road), then 3.6 miles east on Routt County Road 38 (Buffalo Pass Road). The campground is located on the north side of the road.
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