About Spectacle Lake Campground
There is fishing access to the Conejos River and Spectacle Lake. The lake is year round, with winter ice-fishing. Two sites have parking for two car groups. Both day and overnight use is permitted. The facility has 24 sites (13 sites are pull-through) with tables and fireplaces. Firewood is limited. Two vault type toilets, refuse containers and pickup. There is a developed water system with 2 hand pumps. Most sites have a panoramic view of towering cliff walls. No boating is allowed on Spectacle Lake. The Spectacle Lake Trail 730 begins 1/2 mile south on Forest Road 250. Ruybalid Trail 855 and Notch Trail 729 are also accessible.
- Fees: Single Site - $26 to $30. $12 for day use (picnicking). Fee envelopes and a collection box are provided near the entrance.
- Season: Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend
- Managed by: USFS - Rio Grande National Forest
- Where: 20 mi southwest of Capulin, CO · 37.16837, -106.43919
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–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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectacle Lake Cg | ATV road | at camp | 0.3 mi |
| Spectacle Lake 2Nd Cg Loop | ATV road | 0.1 mi | 0.2 mi |
| Notch | Horse | 0.6 mi | 3.6 mi |
| Ruybalid | Horse | 1.2 mi | 5.2 mi |
| Valle Victoria | Horse | 1.3 mi | 11.5 mi |
| Elk Creek | Horse | 2.1 mi | 14.7 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: 20.1 mi
Nearest of each within 25 miles, straight-line.Camps nearby
- Conejos Campground 0.3 mi
- Campsite · 20 mi W of Capulin 1.3 mi
- Alverjones Cutoff Trailhead - No # 2.6 mi
- Alverjones Trailhead 4.2 mi
- Elk Creek Overflow Campground 4.8 mi
- Elk Creek Campground (Rio Grande Nf) 4.8 mi