Overview
Graham Creek Campground is situated above Vallecito Lake, in the scenic San Juan National Forest of southwestern Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its beautiful scenery and wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing and hiking.
Recreation
Vallecito Lake is a very popular fishing destination, where anglers cast for German brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike.
The lake offers great boating, water skiing and canoeing opportunities. Boat rentals and fishing licenses are available at various locations around the lake.
A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are found in the area. The North Canyon Trail begins across the road from the campground and leads through ponderosa pine and aspen forests on its way through the canyon. A shorter trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake.
East Creek Trail begins a quarter-mile up Forest Road 852, just northeast of the campground. The trail provides access to a lightly used, scenic drainage where fly-fisherman cast for brook trout. Both trails are popular with horseback riders, however, horses are not allowed in the campground.
Facilities
Vallecito Lake is a very popular fishing destination, where anglers cast for German brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike.
The lake offers great boating, water skiing and canoeing opportunities. Boat rentals and fishing licenses are available at various locations around the lake.
A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are found in the area. The North Canyon Trail begins across the road from the campground and leads through ponderosa pine and aspen forests on its way through the canyon. A shorter trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake.
East Creek Trail begins a quarter-mile up Forest Road 852, just northeast of the campground. The trail provides access to a lightly used, scenic drainage where fly-fisherman cast for brook trout. Both trails are popular with horseback riders, however, horses are not allowed in the campground.
Natural Features
Vallecito Lake, Spanish for "little valley," sits at an elevation of 7,900 feet. Scattered ponderosa pine trees tower over the open campground, offering limited shade. Hillside sites are about 100 yards from the high-water line and offer nice lake views.
A thick understory provides privacy between sites. Thickets of willow separate the camping area from the lakeshore. Several short trails lead to the lake from the campground. High peaks of the San Juans are visible to the northwest of the campground.
Charges & Cancellations
Cancellations
Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite.
Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
No-Shows
A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.
No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.
Refunds
Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended.
Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.
For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.
In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
Directions:
From Bayfield, travel 14 miles north on County Road 501. Turn right on County Road 501A at the fire station; travel over the dam and continue just over 3 miles to the campground.
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