Happy Meadows Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground operates mid-May to mid-October, weather dependent. Reservations available up to 5 days before arrival through Recreation.gov; unreserved sites become first-come, first-served.

About

Happy Meadows Campground is located along the South Platte River, 3 miles north of Lake George in Pike National Forest at 7,900 feet elevation. The campground offers seven reservable campsites, including two buddy sites, with parking spurs ranging from 20-30 feet and a maximum trailer length of 22 feet. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and pedestal grill. The campground provides vault toilets and drinking water from a hand pump. The South Platte River offers world-class trout fishing and excellent tubing opportunities just a short walk from the campsites. Six of the eight sites are positioned along the river, with sites 3 and 5 located in the middle of the campground. The area is rich in natural beauty and historic significance, with Eleven Mile Canyon's granite walls rising 500 feet above the river. As part of Pike National Forest, visitors can enjoy abundant wildlife, access to seven fourteeners, and miles of scenic trails. Nearby attractions include Eleven Mile Canyon and the Tarryall Valley for scenic drives, Florissant Fossil Beds for viewing fossils and petrified redwoods, and the town of Lake George just 3 miles away with a general store, fish tackle shop, and cabin rentals. This is a pack-in, pack-out facility, and bear-resistant food storage is required as bears are common in the area.

Directions

At Lake George on US-24, turn north on County Road 77 (Tarryall Road). Travel about 1 mile and turn east on County Road 112. Continue on County Road 112, turning right at the dead end. The campground will be on the right after about 1 mile.

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