Lost Trail Campground
Open for the 2026 season. Forest Road 520 is currently open and passenger-car accessible to the campground. Water system is permanently closed; bring all drinking water. No trash service. The campground typically closes due to snow from November through mid-May.
Wheeled Vehicles in Wilderness
This order describes the prohibition of wheeled vehicles in all National Forest Wilderness Areas of the Rocky Mountain Region and any exceptions thereof.
Weed Free Forage Products
The purpose of this Order is to prevent the introduction or spread of noxious weeds.
Cave Closure and Restrictions
The purpose of this Order is to reduce the spread of the fungus that causes White nose syndrome and to protect bat species during critical biological periods.
South Fork Saguache Road 787 and Area Closure
A segment of Forest Road 787 and a nearby area are closed from July 6 to August 15, 2026.
Sangre de Cristo Domestic Goat Restriction
Restriction order prohibiting domestic goats in parts of the Rio Grande National Forest to protect Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep from disease.
Fall/Winter Slash Pile Burns Planned
Rio Grande National Forest announced today their winter slash pile burning plans. As conditions allow, fire crews plan to burn numerous piles of woody debris from timber sale and thinning project areas across the Rio Grande National Forest. This year’s pile burn areas include:Saguache Ranger…
Motor Vehicle Seasonal Groomed Road Closures
This special order is to protect public safety by preventing damage to groomed snowmobile and cross-country ski routes.
Wolf Creek Pass Winter Recreation Area
This special order restricts parking, camping and snowmobile use at Wolf Creek Pass.
Food Storage Regulations
This special order covers food storage restrictions from April 1 to December 1 annually, within recreation sites across the entire Rio Grande National Forest. The purpose of this Order to protect wildlife and human safety by reducing the risk of adverse interactions between bears and humans.
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Occupancy & Use
This special order covers the entire Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Area including the portion on the San Isabel National Forest. The includes restrictions on group size, camping, campfires, horse use, dogs, switchback cutting, and wagon or cart use.
Beaver Creek Recreation Area Use Restrictions
This special order restricts camping, parking, and dogs in the Beaver Creek Recreation Area. It also prohibits boats at Million Reservoir.
Big Meadows Recreation Area Use Regulations
This special order prohibits camping, parking, campfire and stove use, and restricts dogs within the Big Meadows Recreation area on the Divide Ranger District.
Camping limit on Rio Grande National Forest
This special order establishes a 14-day camping limit within a continuous 30-day period anywhere on the Rio Grande National Forest.
Weminuche Wilderness and South San Juan Wilderness Restrictions
This special order restricts group use, horse use, camping, campfires, and dogs in the Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness Areas.
Spectacle Lake Restriction
This special order prohibits anyone from being in Spectacle Lake due to biological considerations.
Camping Restriction N. Crestone Trailhead
This special order restricts camping at the North Crestone Trailhead.
Forest Road #950 N. Crestone Closure
This special order closes FSR # 950, near Crestone, seasonally from November 25 to May 1 annually.
Park Creek Road Speed Limit
This special order establishes a 25 MPH speed limit on FSR # 380 Park Creek Road.
Alamosa Canyon Speed Limit
This special order establishes a speed limit of 20 MPH or less on FSR # 250 in the Alamosa Canyon.
Rito Hondo Day Use Area
This special order restricts parking, camping, boat use, and campfire use around the Rito Hondo Dam.
Road Canyon Reservoir Day Use Area
This special order restricts parking, camping and campfire uses in the area around Road Canyon Reservoir #1.
Conejos Canyon Roads and Camping Restrictions
This special order restricts the vehicle use and parking and limits camping to designated areas on FSR# 250 along the Conejos River.
Fire Weather Watch issued June 10 at 11:51AM MDT until June 12 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels, which is in effect from 10 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued. This Fire Weather Watch for gusty winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels is in effect from Friday morning through Friday evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...In Colorado, Fire Weather Zone 207 Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area, Fire Weather Zone 293 Gunnison Basin Forecast Area and Fire Weather Zone 295 Southwest Colorado Upper East Forecast Area. * TIMING...For the first Red Flag Warning, until 10 PM MDT this evening. For the second Red Flag Warning, from 10 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday. For the Fire Weather Watch, from Friday morning through Friday evening. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...8 to 13 percent. * IMPACTS...Fires will catch and spread quickly. Exercise extreme caution with any outdoor burning.
Red Flag Warning issued June 10 at 11:51AM MDT until June 10 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels, which is in effect from 10 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued. This Fire Weather Watch for gusty winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels is in effect from Friday morning through Friday evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...In Colorado, Fire Weather Zone 207 Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area, Fire Weather Zone 293 Gunnison Basin Forecast Area and Fire Weather Zone 295 Southwest Colorado Upper East Forecast Area. * TIMING...For the first Red Flag Warning, until 10 PM MDT this evening. For the second Red Flag Warning, from 10 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday. For the Fire Weather Watch, from Friday morning through Friday evening. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...8 to 13 percent. * IMPACTS...Fires will catch and spread quickly. Exercise extreme caution with any outdoor burning.
Red Flag Warning issued June 10 at 11:51AM MDT until June 11 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels, which is in effect from 10 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued. This Fire Weather Watch for gusty winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels is in effect from Friday morning through Friday evening. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * AFFECTED AREA...In Colorado, Fire Weather Zone 207 Southwest Colorado Lower Forecast Area, Fire Weather Zone 293 Gunnison Basin Forecast Area and Fire Weather Zone 295 Southwest Colorado Upper East Forecast Area. * TIMING...For the first Red Flag Warning, until 10 PM MDT this evening. For the second Red Flag Warning, from 10 AM to 8 PM MDT Thursday. For the Fire Weather Watch, from Friday morning through Friday evening. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...8 to 13 percent. * IMPACTS...Fires will catch and spread quickly. Exercise extreme caution with any outdoor burning.
About
Lost Trail Campground sits at the end of Forest Road 520, deep in the Rio Grande National Forest near the Continental Divide. This remote 7-site campground serves as a basecamp for serious backcountry exploration, with trailheads providing access to the Weminuche Wilderness, Cataract Lake, Heart Lake, and the historic Carson City mining area. The nearby Rio Grande Reservoir offers fishing opportunities with boats allowed (trolling motors only, no wake). Facilities are basic: each site has a parking spur, picnic table, and fire ring, with a vault toilet serving the campground. The well water system is permanently closed due to safety concerns, so all drinking water must be packed in. There is no trash service or firewood provided. The campground operates first-come-first-served with no reservations. The access road above Rio Grande Reservoir is narrow and rough in places. Most sites have short spurs that cannot accommodate large RVs or trailers, and maneuvering space is limited. Three sites offer pull-through access. The area is bear country with mandatory food storage requirements from April through December.
Directions
From Creede, Colorado, travel 19 miles southwest on Colorado Highway 149 to Forest Road 520 (Rio Grande Reservoir Road). Take FR 520 west for 18.1 miles. The campground is on the south side of the road.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $10 - $30 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | Yes |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (719) 657-3321 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Photos
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