Other Campgrounds
"The most incompletely named music festival west of the Mississippi."
We setup the official Planet Bluegrass campgrounds to cater to Festivarians. They are close to town; they offer free shuttle buses to/from the Festival from morning thru late-night; they support our "sustainable festivation" initiatives; and they are filled with members of the Festivarian family eager to welcome newcomers with open arms.
Spaces are still available in some of the Planet Bluegrass-managed campgrounds. Should these campgrounds sell-out, here are other options in the Telluride area. Please note: since no shuttles are offered from these campgrounds to the Festival, you will need to drive yourself to Telluride each day (and park in Mountain Village). Of course if sleeping under the stars isn't your thing, we also offer various lodging options in the Telluride area.
Alternative Campgrounds
The following alternative campgrounds are not affiliated with Planet Bluegrass or Telluride Bluegrass.
Matterhorn Campground
- Directions: from Telluride travel west 3 miles to Highway 145. Turn left and travel south for 8 miles. The campground is on the left side of the highway.
- Facilities & Services: 28 campsites, 4 RV sites with full hookups (max 45'), picnic tables, fire grates, potable water, flush toilets and showers, and trash pickup.
- Maximum People Per Site: 8
- Fees: $20.00/night; $28.00/night extra for RV full hookup
- Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777, TDD 1-877-833-6777.
Sunshine Campground
- Directions: from Telluride travel west 3 miles to Highway 145. Turn left and travel south for 5 miles. The campground is on the right side of road.
- Facilities & Services: 15 campsites (no RV sites), potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, composting toilets, and trash pickup.
- Maximum People Per Site: 8
- Fees: $16.00/night
- No Reservations available for this Campground. Contact U.S.F.S. 970-327-4261
Woods Lake Campground
- Directions: from Telluride travel west 12 miles on Highway 145 through Sawpit. Turn left on Falls Creek Road (Forest Road 618) for 7.4 miles. Turn left on Forest Road 621 for about 2 miles.
- Facilities & Services: 41 campsites (no RV sites), potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, composting toilets, trash pickup, horse corral/trough, and large day use parking lot with trail access to Lizard Head Wilderness.
- Maximum People Per Site: 8
- Fees: $14.00/night
- No Reservations available for this Campground.
Cayton
- Location: 6 miles northeast of Rico on Colo. Highway 145 (the San Juan Skyway) and 43 miles from Dolores. The entrance is 1/2 mile east of the highway on the Barlow Creek Road (Forest Rd. 578). Burro Bridge Campground is 8 miles west, on Forest Road 535.
- Facilities & Services: A total of 27 campsites, 18 of which offer 50 amp RV electric plug ins. 16 of the sites are reservable (11 with electricity) and 11 are non-reservable (5 with electricity).
- Fees: $8
- Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777, TDD 1-877-833-6777
Ridgway Reservoir
- Location: 46 mi. NE of Telluride between Ridgway and Montrose.
- Fees: $7-$12
- Facilities: 268 sites, hookups, showers, restrooms, dump station, laundry, marina, food.
- Contact: Colorado State Parks, 800-678-2267
McPhee Reservoir
- Location: 65 mi. SW of Telluride near Dolores.
- Fees: $12-$16
- Facilities: 72 sites, hookups, restrooms, showers, dump station, boat ramp.
- Contact: 800-500-CAMP
Miramonte Reservoir - No Fee
- Location: 40 mi. NW of Telluride near Norwood.
- Facilities: Picnic sites, boat ramp, pit toilets.
- Contact: 970-297-1192
Other Telluride-Area Campgrounds
- Search for area campgrounds at: www.reserveamerica.com/
- Also, search for regional campgrounds at: www.reserveamerica.com/
National Forest camping in the Telluride Area
There is no camping allowed in the Ilium Valley, outside of the Mary E campground. However, people are encouraged to camp in the following no-fee areas. Please note that a 7-day camping limit applies in all areas.
Alta Lakes Campground - No Fee
- Directions: From Telluride, travel west on Hwy 145 for 4 miles; turn south at Society Turn intersection (towards Rico and Dolores) and continue on Hwy 145 for 6 miles, turn east (left) onto Alta Lakes Road (Forest Road #632). Stay on this road through the ghost town of Alta (approx 5 miles) to campground. Road is rough -- for high clearance vehicles only.
- Facilities & Services: approximately 16 primitive camping spots that are completely undeveloped (no RVs), picnic tables, fire grates, one vault toilet.
- Pack in/pack out trash.
Priest Lake - No Fee
- Directions: From Telluride, travel west on Hwy 145 for 4 miles; turn south at Society Turn intersection (towards Rico and Dolores) and continue on Hwy 145 for 14 miles, turn east (left) into Trout Lake subdivision. Proceed down road for 1/4 mile, take first left onto unmarked forest road, continue north on this road for 1 mile. Undeveloped camping area near Priest Lake is on the west side of the road.
- Facilities & Services: Enough room for approximately 5 - 7 groups. The terrain limits the number of campsites, but small pop-up campers and tents are commonly used here. One vault toilet. No other facilities.
- Pack in/pack out trash.
Lizard Head Pass - No Fee
- Directions: From Telluride, travel west on Hwy 145 for 4 miles; turn south
at Society Turn intersection (towards Rico and Dolores) and continue on Hwy
145 for 14 miles Lizard Head Pass. See restroom/overlook on right and sheep
corrals on left side of highway. After passing restroom/overlook, turn left (east) onto small dirt road on left, follow right fork of road that goes past sheep corrals. Camping is allowed only along the short segment of road that passes alongside the sheep corrals. There is room only for approximately 3-4 groups in this area. Please respect all road closure
signs. Road is rough ---- this is for high clearance vehicles only. - No other facilities.
- Pack in/pack out trash.