Colorado / Pitkin County / Colorado River Valley Field Office

Thompson Creek Campground

Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Access is not recommended during wet or snowy conditions due to road conditions.

About

Thompson Creek Campground is a primitive Bureau of Land Management campground located in the Thompson Creek Recreation Management Area, just a few miles southwest of Carbondale. The campground offers 4 shaded campsites positioned along Thompson Creek, each equipped with a metal fire ring. The setting provides access to the Thompson Creek trail, which winds along the creek to views of rare geologic fin formations. This is a truly primitive camping experience with no picnic tables, restrooms, or waste collection services. Campers must pack out all human waste to prevent creek contamination. The campground is accessed via North Thompson Creek Road and an unmarked turn onto South Thompson Creek Road, traveling approximately 9 miles total from Carbondale. The road conditions can be challenging, and access is not recommended during wet or snowy conditions. The Thompson Creek Recreation Management Area also includes the Lorax trail on its north end, a popular non-motorized route. This remote area offers beautiful recreational opportunities for those seeking a backcountry camping experience.

Directions

From Carbondale, go west on State Highway 133. At the roundabout take Main Street (County Road 108) which becomes North Thompson Creek Road. Parking for the Lorax trailhead is approximately 4 miles up on the left. Travel 3.2 additional miles and turn left onto South Thompson Creek Road (unmarked). The campsites are approximately 2.1 miles from the turn.

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