Nice little campground tucked away back from the traffic noise that seems to define Ortega these days. There are pit toilets, running water, and even trash dumpsters for $20 a night. The road in is a little steep and winding but it’s a little easier if you take the eastern route from the main divide junction.
Great place to "get away" just make sure you bring enough beeresentials and ice, it's a pretty long drive to get to the campground from HWY 74.
This has to be one of my favorite campgrounds. Unfortunately it’s a pay campground $20. It’s becoming the norm, so clean up after yourself so the forest service doesn’t have more reasons to increase the fees. You do get generous campsites, some of which have some space between sites and bushes for privacy. There is also dispersed potable water spigots, vaulted toilets, and trash. Weirdly the trash is not animal resistant. Some sites are pretty big. My 40’ truck/trailer fit in several. Beware though, the final 1 mile road is steep, with tight curves, very narrow with only room for 1 vehicle, and only 2 turn outs. It’s paved, not easy, but doable. The area is pretty and green with trees and bushes. The trailhead for the San Juan trail is just outside the campgrounds with another trailhead in the way to sites 40-50. Great for a hike or for mountain biking. The trailhead within the campground actually has lots of parking. Section 40-50 is for tent camping and currently closed for not obvious reasons. There is also a group site nearby which you call to reserve. It was relatively quiet even on the weekend when all the sites filled up nearly empty during the week. There were lots of flies but not the kind that bite. Also, the cell service was spotty for Verizon. There was a decent connection at the trailhead just outside the campground.
Clean and comfortable campground that provided peace and a good night's sleep ... A good amount of the spots are closed right now 10/31/22 for renovation so be sure to make sure there's a space available before you submit your payment envelope at the gate!
There are entrances to the San Juan Trail behind a lot of the campsites. It was a lot of fun to run on, and beautiful! Some sites can be a bit close together, but there were very few people there when I went. There are two types of sites here, spurs and park/pitch a tent sites. I chose the spur because my car is my tent. To pay, you pull up to the main entrance, grab an envelope and then drive to your site. After filling out the relevant details and hanging the paper placard on your mirror, you walk the envelope with the fee in it to the deposit box at front.
It’s heaven being up there! so peaceful
Beautiful Campground. Great views, Nice sites, Clean, plenty of water sources, plenty of washrooms. Good for families.
We went on New Years but just for the day and left once it got dark. I've been here once before and enjoyed it. There is trash in the surrounding bushes. Mostly of toilet paper. My guess is people not wanting to walk to the not very far restrooms. The drive from the 5 fwy is nice and not too long. I'm planning an overnight stay very soon.
Beautiful area to hike but the general camping area is littered with scattered garbage and soiled toilet paper/wipes. Unfortunately, this campground has become a destination for reckless people to congregate in the evening, get intoxicated, and blast loud music until 2am. You won’t find a camp host here to ensure that quiet hours are acknowledged and respected.
It's a nice campground but stay away on the weekends. It gets crowded and everyone is loud until late in the evening I have heard drunk in idiots until 1 am on occasion. The campground is well maintained and the facilities are clean. Drinkable water throughout the campground along with trash bins and bathrooms.
