Spectacle Lake Campground
- Memorial Day weekend
- season
- May–Jul, Sep
- best months
- At 8,700 ftHigh camp: expect cold nights, even in summer
- Conejos Peak Ranger DistrictRio Grande National Forest
Spectacle Lake Campground is a Forest Service site in the Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest in Colorado, about 0.3 miles from Conejos Campground. The land manager is the Forest Service, and the campground has 24 sites, 13 of which are pull-through, with tables and fireplaces. The lake is open year round, and winter brings ice fishing. Boating is not allowed on Spectacle Lake, but the Conejos River offers fishing access. Two sites have parking for two car groups, and both day and overnight use is permitted. Firewood is limited, and refuse containers are provided. For the most comfortable weather, aim for July or August, when typical averages from the Chama, NM weather station run near 80°F for highs and 46°F for lows. Those are typical averages from a nearby weather station, and temperatures on higher ground tend to run cooler. Nearby, The Spectacle Lake Trail #730 starts half a mile south on Forest Road 250, and Ruybalid and Notch are both within about 2 miles. The South Fork Conejos River is about 7 miles away for paddling.
Local outfitters
- Little Creel RV Park22 mi away
- Pagosa Riverside Campground31 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Conejos CampgroundCamping0.3 mi
- RuybalidHiking1.3 mi
NotchHikingPhoto: Michael C. Rael, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)1.7 mi- Valle VictoriaHiking2.1 mi
- Elk Creek Overflow CampgroundCamping4.9 mi
- Old Elk CreekCamping4.9 mi
- South Fork Conejos RiverCanoeing7.2 mi
- Trujillo Meadows Boating SiteLake fishing8.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Lake Fork(rio Grande Natl ForeCamping · ~16 min drive
- MogoteCamping · ~23 min drive
- Aspen Glade (Rio Grande National Forest, CO)Camping · ~19 min drive
- Conejos CampgroundCamping · Next door
- Elk Creek Campground (rio Grande NF)Camping · ~8 min drive
- Trail Creek Camping AreaCamping · ~12 min drive
- Lake Fork CampgroundCamping · ~17 min drive
- Dispersed Camping in Rio Grande National ForestCamping · ~19 min drive
- Aspen Glade CampgroundCamping · ~19 min drive
- Dispersed Camping near Dixie Creek Access (Carson National Forest)Camping · ~21 min drive
Best time to visit Spectacle Lake Campground
Best months: May–July and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
37° / 7°
8 wet
Feb
41° / 11°
8 wet
Mar
48° / 18°
7 wet
Apr
56° / 24°
7 wet
May
65° / 32°
7 wet
Jun
77° / 38°
6 wet
Jul
80° / 46°
11 wet
Aug
78° / 46°
13 wet
Sep
72° / 38°
9 wet
Oct
61° / 27°
7 wet
Nov
48° / 17°
6 wet
Dec
38° / 8°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Chama, NM, 18.9 mi away at 7,850 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
