About South Mineral Campground
South Mineral Campground, located along South Mineral Creek, is one of the most popular campgrounds in the San Juan National Forest. The campground has 26 sites, all of which are first-come, first-serve. Most campsites are shaded and well-spaced thanks to spruce and fir trees. Some sites are handicapped accessible. Some sites have large parking areas. Services include water, trash pickup, fire grates, picnic tables, and pit toilets. Bear-safe food storage is recommended. No electricity. Between September and May, this campground has no services (water, electric, trash pick up or rest rooms). Please keep them clean and pack it out. Nearby peaks have cliffs of brilliant color-contrasting reds and grays. A waterfall on the creek just upstream from the campground adds to the attraction of the area. But the main attraction is the trail adjacent to the campground, Ice Lake Trail, a strenuous…
- Fees: $34
- Season: Mid-May – September
- Managed by: FS
- Where: 6 mi west of Silverton, CO · 37.8056, -107.7751
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Oct–May.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Mineral | ATV road | 0.1 mi | 6.9 mi |
| Ice Lake Th | ATV road | 0.1 mi | 0.1 mi |
| Ice Lake | Horse | 0.1 mi | 3.7 mi |
| Swamp Canyon | Horse | 1.8 mi | 3.4 mi |
| Rico-Silverton - Co.Trail | Horse | 2.3 mi | 11.9 mi |
| Twin Sisters - Co.Trail | Horse | 2.7 mi | 10.0 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
No signal at camp
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way casts shadows and the sky is crowded with stars.
Class 1 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Dump station: 6.4 mi
Water fill-up: 19.3 mi