Lake Camping Near Nucla, Colorado, US: 12 Best Lake Campsites 2026

Nucla's lake camping scene packs over 290 options where swimming, fishing, and hiking are right outside your tent flap. Average rates run $195 per night, but you’ll find campsites for as little as $35. Most sites offer showers, toilets, and welcome pets, so you won’t be roughing it unless you want to. Locals swear by Stephens Ranch (37 reviews) for its open skies and easy water access. CampV Colorado (33 reviews) mixes lake views with art installations and trails, while Mountain View Cabin (4 reviews) keeps things quiet and scenic. You’ll find sites tucked along the water, some with walk-in fishing and others with private docks. Bring a rod, good shoes, and don’t forget your towel—these lakes are worth the plunge.

95% (78)

Top-rated campgrounds near Nucla

Nucla's lake camping scene packs over 290 options where swimming, fishing, and hiking are right outside your tent flap. Average rates run $195 per night, but you’ll find campsites for as little as $35. Most sites offer showers, toilets, and welcome pets, so you won’t be roughing it unless you want to. Locals swear by Stephens Ranch (37 reviews) for its open skies and easy water access. CampV Colorado (33 reviews) mixes lake views with art installations and trails, while Mountain View Cabin (4 reviews) keeps things quiet and scenic. You’ll find sites tucked along the water, some with walk-in fishing and others with private docks. Bring a rod, good shoes, and don’t forget your towel—these lakes are worth the plunge.

95% (78)

Top-rated campgrounds near Nucla

1. Stephens Ranch

96%

(47)

49mi from Nucla · 1 site · Lodging

Jake Stephens Performance Horses is a working horse ranch. It's located in Glade Park, Colorado, which you have to travel through the Colorado National Monument and a Red Rock Tunnel to get to. The 70-acre ranch is located in the middle of the funnest and most beautiful places on the planet. Activities include horseback riding through the mountains, canoeing on one of the reservoirs, mountain biking one of the numerous trails, hiking to see some of the most awesome wildlife anywhere, or just camping in one of the cabins or tent camping on the side of a beautiful Red Rock canyon. There's not a cooler place to stay. Learn more about this land:Come stay in one of our two Colorado cozy cabins. They both have wood burning stoves, cable TV and microwaves, and are very unique. The larger cabin now has a  finished bathroom complete with a very unique all rock shower,  and kitchen,  We offer a sunset horseback ride in the mountains or a private horse riding lesson in our arena or round pen, or you can go on a mountain bike ride on Red Rock to Rattlesnake Arches (which is the largest collection of arches in the world, besides the Utah delicate arches), above the ranch on a beautiful aspen-covered alpine trail by the reservoirs, or go on a hike anywhere! Or just sleep in! In a very private cabin or a tent on the lower property that you can pitch by a beautiful 100 ft Red Rock canyon and seasonal waterfall!  

2. CampV Colorado

97%

(45)

3.5mi from Nucla · 7 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

Inspired Shelter for the Spirited Wanderer CampV was established in 1942 by the Vanadium Corporation to house the engineers who worked in the uranium mines outside of Naturita, Colorado. In 2020, this historic gem was restored by StudioVille Crew to welcome wanderers to a remote and scenic corner of SW Colorado. Discover your Wild without the crowds. Beautiful with a tiny bit of dirt under the fingernails and 120 acres to explore, travelers can sleep well in one of the newly reimagined historic cabins, glamping tents, Jupes, airstreams or river front camping. Through our arts non-profit WEarts, explorers can experience our curated art and support art and creative programming in a rural community. When you’re ready for a mission, check out Planet V, our annual arts and music gathering over Memorial Day and prepare to lift off.

3. Basecamp 550

93%

(7)

46mi from Nucla · 2 sites

This little campground was originally developed in the 1970s but the Weber Ranchers.  It was built with small sites and big views in mind. We're giving this old campground a facelift little by little and adding unique lodging options for our guests. Hope you enjoy!

4. Grand Mesa National Forest

87%

(23)

316 sites · Cedaredge, Colorado

Escape to a high elevation forest brimming with lakes, trails, and scenic views.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

5. Uncompahgre National Forest

85%

(23)

228 sites · Ophir, Colorado

Head to wild western Colorado to truly get away from it all.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

6. San Juan National Forest

97%

(41)

696 sites · Rico, Colorado

Hike through the rugged wilderness or take a scenic drive in this expansive national forest.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

7. Manti-La Sal National Forest

100%

(16)

328 sites · Ferron, Utah

Trivia time! Which part of Utah contains the densest black bear and largest elk population? The Manti-La Sal National Forest, of course! How about this one: where does most of the coal mined in Utah come from? Well, 85% of it is mined right here in the Manti-La Sal. This special forest is full of natural surprises, like lofty mountaintops, lush meadows, cavernous sandstone canyons, plus plenty of water. If it sounds like there’s a ton of diversity here, that’s because there truly is! All of this diversity means that there’s a lot to do out here. Near Moab, the forest is home to the La Sal Mountains with their tall peaks and narrow canyons. To the north, on the Wasatch Plateau, you’ll be yearning for your next road trip along the Huntington and Eccles Canyons National Scenic Byways (also called the Energy Loop). And when it comes time to hit the hay at night? You guessed it—there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

8. Moab Field Office

93%

(166)

572 sites · Moab, Utah

There’s a pretty solid chance that you’ve heard about Moab, one of Utah’s most happening recreation spots. This gorgeous place gets packed, so do your homework beforehand so you know where to go! The Moab Field Office, administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), takes up 1.8 million acres of gorgeous canyon-riddled lands. Spend your days hunting for natural arches and bridges, exploring mesas, and contemplating how the heck rocks can look so crazy. BLM lands are also fantastic base camps for forays into nearby Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. There are 26 campgrounds, and you can usually find something even on the busiest of weekends (but, if you can swing it, it’s always best to arrive early). River recreation on the Colorado and Green Rivers is another major draw. However you spend your time in Moab, you’ll fall in love with the impressive red rock formations, the deep canyons, and surprising amount of plant life.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Public campgrounds near Nucla

Columbine Campground

14mi from Nucla · 1 site · in Grand Mesa National Forest

Iron Springs Campground

21mi from Nucla · 8 sites · Tents, RVs · in Grand Mesa National Forest

Silesca Cabin

23mi from Nucla · 1 site · in Uncompahgre National Forest

Aspen Leaf Campground

27mi from Nucla · 1 site · in Uncompahgre National Forest

Oak Cabin

27mi from Nucla · 1 site · in Uncompahgre National Forest

Divide Forks Campground

30mi from Nucla · 11 sites · Tents, RVs · in Grand Mesa National Forest

Lone Cone Cabin

33mi from Nucla · 1 site · in Uncompahgre National Forest

Bradfield Campground

34mi from Nucla · 22 sites · Tents, RVs · in San Juan National Forest

100%

(2)

Woods Lake Campground - Norwood

38mi from Nucla · 46 sites · Tents, RVs · in Uncompahgre National Forest

100%

(3)

Oowah Campground

43mi from Nucla · 11 sites · in Manti-La Sal National Forest

100%

(2)

Warner Lake Campground

43mi from Nucla · 12 sites · Tents, RVs · in Manti-La Sal National Forest

EarthRoamers descending Last Dollar Road towards Telluride, CO

Sunshine Campground - Norwood

44mi from Nucla · 15 sites · Tents, RVs · in Uncompahgre National Forest

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

J

JJ

October 2025

12 ft campervan

1 night at CampV Colorado

Awesome spot beneath the golden cottonwoods! Loved checking out the installations and spaces.

D

Dorothy

September 2025

Tent

1 night at CampV Colorado

I found this camp at the last minute, while pulled over on the side of the road. It was awesome! The owner came and showed me around and advised me on working the hot shower. There.was a pond, total privacy, with everything I needed. It was lovely and I would definitely recommend staying at CampV!

Amy

May 2025

1 night at Stephens Ranch

Jenny and Jake were so very welcoming to my two children and me. Jenny took us on a trail ride we all loved! My children enjoyed visiting with the animals and helping with some ranch chores. The cabin Jake built is magical - so very unique with all the added touches. There’s room for a couple families to sleep in it so we will be back with our friends! Thank you, Jenny and Jake.

Jaclyn

January 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Stephens Ranch

The warmest welcome I’ve ever gotten at a Hipcamp! My son and I were on night 9 of a 10 day trip and exhausted, and it was so great to have such a comfortable and warm place to stay. The cabin itself is so unique, and you can see how much love went into building it. It My kiddo loved playing with and meeting the animals. Only wish we could’ve stayed longer!