If you want the full hiking and camping experience in the Lizard Head
Wilderness Area, there are many great options. Along hwy.145 north of Dolores
are several nicely maintained and equipped campgrounds.
Cayton Campground is closest to the Lizard Head Trail and it sits on the
edge of the Dolores River.
It is about three miles south of the trailhead. The fee is $8.00 and it has 27
sites and includes water, pit toilets and a dump station. Phone: 970-882-7296.
Matterhorn Campground is about eight miles north of Cayton on hwy.145. The
fees are $12.00 to $16.00 and it features 28 sites, including some walk-in
sites and RV sites. It also has water, showers and toilets. Phone:
970-327-4261.
Alta Lakes Campground is a little off the beaten path, but is my favorite in
the area. If you want to get off the highway and feel like you are really
camping in the woods, this is your spot. The turn off to the Alta
Lakes is about three miles past the
Matterhorn Campground. The road is a bit rugged and narrow, so no trailers or
RV’s are recommended. Follow the road and signs and soon you’ll find yourself
in Alta, an abandoned mining town. Follow the sign to Alta
Lakes for a nice campground. It is
not a forest service campsite, so there are no fees, but it fills quickly, so
go early. It does have pit toilets but no water or electricity.
Priest Gulch RV Park, Cabins and Lodge is the place to go if you prefer
hotel type camping. It is south of Lizard Head Pass on hwy.145. Priest Gulch is
a large, popular RV and camp area that features a playground, laundry
facilities, TV, a store, dump station and fire rings. The fees range from
$18.00 - $23.00. Reservations are recommended. Phone: 970-562-3810.On the Dunton
Road that runs along the west fork of the Dolores
River there are several nice
campgrounds also.
Mavreeso Campground is about four miles up the Dunton road and most of its
fourteen sites are near the river. The fees are $12.00 and there are tent
spaces as well as RV spaces. A few of the campsites also have electricity and
there is water and toilets on site. Phone: 970-882-2294.
The West Dolores Campground is just a little further up the road. It is very
similar to Mavreeso. The fees are $12.00 and all eighteen campsites are near
the river. There are several spaces for large RV’s at the campground. There are
some sites that have electricity and there is access to water and compost
toilets. No phone available.
Burro Bridge
Campground, as mentioned before, is about a mile past the town of Dunton.
It is a nicely secluded area that features fifteen shady campsites near the
river. There are no RV sites, but there is water available and compost toilets.
This is a nice, quiet place that is off the path and is close to the Lizard
Head Wilderness Area trails. No phone available.