Discover the best campgrounds near South Fork, Colorado with horseback riding

United States
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Colorado
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South Fork

89% (435 reviews)

Popular camping styles for South Fork

Under $50

12 top campgrounds near South Fork with horseback riding

Booked 2 times

Spruce Lodge at Sawmill Meadow

8 sites · RVs2 acres · South Fork, CO

Spruce Lodge located in South Fork..."Basecamp for Adventure" HISTORIC SPRUCE LODGE A rich history that goes back to the 1920's and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Spruce Lodge, originally built in 1927 in South Fork, CO, is located near the Rio Grande River at the foot of the San Juan Mountains and provides an environment of warm hospitality in a relaxed atmosphere. Historically accommodating workers for the Sawmill in the 1920's, The Spruce Lodge was purchased in May of 2022 with a primary purpose of housing adults who are participating in a Gap Year program designed to mentor new adults and serve the South Fork community. The property continues to operate as a hotel and has undergone extensive updates to all of the rooms. We have 8, 30 amp RV spots available to rent from April to October. Our small RV lot allows for a less crowded RV experience with all the same, beautiful views and access to all the area has to offer. And we have the most affordable rates in South Fork! Most of our RV guests end up extending their stay to take advantage of all the outdoor activities South Fork and the San Luis Valley have to offer. If you have stayed here before, you will notice some of the changes. And if this is your first time, welcome to South Fork. We hope you enjoy southern Colorado! The South Fork area has PLENTY TO DO AND SEE •ATV TRAILS Come and enjoy over 500 miles of ATV and Jeep Trails while staying with us. If you are looking for one of the most picturesque areas of Colorado, look no further. •RIVER RAFTING Enjoy whitewater rafting for those both looking for a casual float or an adventure. Enjoy a relaxing ride or even the rapids. •SKIING & SNOWBOARDING Known for "the most snow in Colorado," come and enjoy skiing or boarding at Wolf Creek - while staying in the closest town with accommodations to the slopes. •HIKING SCENIC TRAILS There are miles and miles of trails that offer fun and adventure for the whole family. Enjoy the heart of Colorado by hiking many of your soon-to-be favorite scenic trails. •WORLD CLASS FISHING Gold Medal waters on the river and an abundance of creeks, lakes, and reservoirs provide year-round opportunities for the avid fisherman! •NATIONAL PARKS Enjoy National parks near The Spruce Lodge such as the Great Sand Dunes and Mesa Verde. You wont regret the drive when you see these unique attractions.

Wilderness Bud and Breakfast

5 sites · Tents12 acres · Pagosa Springs, CO

Located on a historic ranch in the spectacular Blanco Basin valley, nestled up against the Continental Divide and South San Juan Wilderness Area. This B&B offers a campground with tent sites along the pristine headwaters of the Rio Blanco. A group fire pit, community kitchen and food prep area, composting toilet facility and on-demand gas heated shower facilities. Feel free to explore the river and surrounding San Juan National Forest, with plenty of hiking trails to accommodate all fitness levels. A 420 Happy Hour is available for all campers age 21 and up, and breakfast is served for all!!!

96%

(25)

Creede Mountain Huts

2 sites · Lodging1 acre · City Of Creede, CO

Creede Mountain Huts is a rare U.S. Forest Service cooperative. The Hut is isolated. Located In the high country surrounded by Rio Grande national forest and Winminuche Wilderness.

Desert Frog Ranch

3 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Alamosa East, CO

40 acres of seclusion near the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Fresh air, wide open sky, no light pollution. Nearby activities include sand boarding at the Sand Dunes, hiking to Zapata Falls, gator-viewing at Colorado Gators, bird-watching at the Blanca Wetlands, canoeing in Mountain Home Reservoir, dirt-bike/ATV riding, fishing, biking, or just walk around looking for desert frogs, horny toads, arrowheads, and meteorites. This property abuts 800 acres of BLM land to the west. There is another 3000+ acres of BLM land to the NE of this property.

Booked 1 time

Schinzel Flats Hideaway-Summer/Fall

1 site · Lodging10 acres · South Fork, CO

Escape to the backcountry and enjoy peace, solitude and modern amenities! Waking up and walking out to the patio opens up panoramic views of the surrounding 13,000'+ mountains and adjoining vallies. This cabin is NOT for the faint of heart - it's 30+ miles from the nearest paved road and REQUIRES a high clearance 4x4 vehicle (a Subaru will NOT make it) or side-by-side in order to access the property safely. Please inquire to ensure your vehicle will be sufficient BEFORE booking :)

Lower Blanco Camping Hideaway

1 site · RV, Tent5 acres · Pagosa Springs, CO

Learn more about this land:While Camping on our site you will enjoy the privacy of being one of the last property's on the road with little to no traffic whatsoever. Surrounded by Huge Ponderosa Pines and National Forest you will enjoy the serene peace that comes from being tucked away behind a mountain side. Just 30 minutes from town where you can dine and visit the famous Hot Springs. With the national forest so close by you will have many opportunities as far as hiking trails and mountain biking. There is also fishing nearby on ECHO Lake as well as the San Juan river where you can park downtown Pagosa Springs and fish there. In the Winter you are only about 45 minutes from Wolf Creek Ski Area. There is no service or wifi available here so you will be very remote and off the grid.

Schinzel Flats Hideaway - Winter

1 site · Lodging10 acres · South Fork, CO

THIS PROPERTY CAN ONLY BE ACCESSED BY SNOW MACHINE!!! Full renovations including full power and bathroom (toilet only) kitchen (bring your own water) and everything you would expect in a "normal" home, is completely off-the-grid! Surrounded by thousands of acres of National Forest and Public Lands. You will be responsible for getting to and from the lodge safely and with your own (or rented - we have suppliers if needed) This is a VERY remote location!

100%

(7)

Sombrilla Springs

6 sites · Lodging450 acres · Pagosa Springs, CO

One of the most unique and stunning glamping experiences in Colorado; we welcome couples, families, big and small groups, weddings and more. Featuring… FURNISHED walk-in tents with luxury bedding and towels in an aspen grove (our 6 tents sleep 5-6 each, 33 total) … AWE-INSPIRING views of the continental divide and surrounding San Juan Mountains … BEAUTIFUL HIKES on and off the ranch (we're bordered by San Juan National Forest and Wilderness areas, one trail is near tentyard, others nearby) … 450-ACRE cattle ranch blanketed by beautiful trees including aspen and cherished Ponderosa Pines (you gotta smell one!) where wild elk pass through and a myriad of wildlife make their home … JAW-DROPPING night skies blanketed with stars … 1930S RESTORED BARN packed with amenities for glampers and gatherings, including full kitchen, billiards, shuffleboard, giant jenga, multiple lounge areas, flatscreen tv, satellite cable, movie screen w/ projector and wifi. OUTDOOR GAMES, dining tables and giant firepit with s'mores sticks and blankets on the barn grounds. Bathrooms: tentyard features walled hot-water shower with sky view of aspens, plus adjacent/enclosed half bath; barn features two half baths and private shower.

Chimney Rock Chi Camps

4 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Pagosa Springs, CO

We call this property Chimney Rock Chi Camps because Dean and Amanda are licensed alternative health care professionals that also teach Chi Gong. If you would like Craniosacral, Hotspring water work or Qi Gong classes group or private, let us know! Campers get 10% discount for all health care services. We also do adventures; motor boat, paddle boards, kayaks. Chimney Rock Camps offers private and/or group classes and even treatments: Craniosacral/massage/hot springs treatments. Hot springs are in both directions east and west from Chi Camps! Biking and hiking available. We have bikes for rent. Paddle board, kayak, and or motor boat adventures also available to book. Please excuse the construction. Pack it in pack it out!

100%

(7)

Beautiful Mountain Views

6 sites · RVs, Tents75 acres · Saguache, CO

Once a part of a larger ranch called Red Rocks, this is a completely off-grid, rustic living area now. We appreciate and acknowledge the Southern Ute Nation as the original caretakers of this Valley. Once owned by a man who flew UltraLite aircraft, this is a peaceful, quiet, rustic, and spacious land treasured by the current family who owns it. The family is working toward self-sustainability and creating a Metaphysics Center on the land beginning with a Labyrinth.Learn more about this land:High winds in the spring or fall necessitate using a camper or RV. During the summer, tents will work out well with little wind to blow them away. This land is peaceful and off the grid. It's close enough to town for eating out or grabbing gas and groceries, but it’s far enough away to let the world fall away as you relax and enjoy the stars. Perfect for family camping and seniors who love to camp. For everyone's safety, we wear masks and social distance for check-ins and any interactions with campers. We also ask campers to practice social distancing if there are other campers on-site as well. We thank all campers for being patient and respectful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saved 1 time

Camp Red Moon at the Red Moon Ranch

1 site · Lodging40 acres · Villa Grove, CO

Welcome to the Red Moon Ranch! 40 acres just 35 minutes from Salida, Colorado nestled in the Rio Grande National Forest. Enjoy easy access to endless hiking and OHV trails, nearby alpine lakes, a 20 minute drive to Joyful Journey hot springs, 30 minute drive to Valley View hot springs, an hour to the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Make the Red Moon your perfect home base for exploring the San Luis Valley.

Thompson's landing

1 site · RV, Tent2 acres · Capulin, CO

We are at the base of the rio grande national forest. At 8100 ft elavation in the beautiful San Luis Valley. There is antelope running with in site of the camp. Alamosa river is in walking distance. Hunting, fishing, hiking horse back riding. You Can ride your toys right from camp. Peacefull and beautiful!

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

84%

(25)

Rio Grande National Forest

Alpine, Colorado

97%

(35)

San Juan National Forest

Rico, Colorado

94%

(16)

Grand Mesa National Forest

Cedaredge, Colorado

San Luis State Wildlife Area

Hooper, Colorado

97%

(33)

Gunnison National Forest

Crested Butte, Colorado

Camping near South Fork with horseback riding guide

Overview

Set at the confluence of the South Fork River and the Rio Grande River, the town of South Fork is a popular destination for fishing and outdoor adventures. Surrounded by millions of acres of national forest and wilderness, there’s plenty to do on land as well, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, golfing, and wildlife spotting in the Rio Grande and San Juan national forests. Winter activities are also abundant, and include ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling, while nearby Wolf Creek Ski Area draws visitors with the “most snow in Colorado.” An abundance of campgrounds in the region make it easy to stay a while.

Where to go

San Luis Valley

South Fork is located at the western end of the San Luis Valley, an expansive high desert valley home to towns such as Del Norte, Alamosa, San Luis, and Mineral Hot Springs. Drive along scenic byways, go wildlife spotting in designated wildernesses, climb rugged mountain peaks, chase waterfalls, soak in the hot springs, or explore the massive sand dunes of Great Sand Dunes National Park. Plenty of options let campers stay overnight, including developed campgrounds on public land, dispersed camping in the backcountry and wilderness areas, cabins, and private RV parks and glamping sites.

West

Head along the scenic Silver Thread Byway to the historic towns of Creede and Lake City. Nearly Rio Grande National Forest offers 1.8 million acres of diverse terrain, spanning woodlands, high desert, towering mountains, river canyons, geologic wonders, and more than 30 campgrounds, cabins, and dispersed camping options. Further west, San Juan National Forest offers another 1.8 million acres of forest for camping and recreation. Head southwest to the towns of Pagosa Springs, Bayfield, and Durango for culture, hot springs, and adventures. For water activities, head to Navajo State Park, just north of the New Mexico border.

North

Head north to Poncha Springs for hot springs and history or get artsy at neighboring Salida. The Sawatch Range and the San Isabel National Forest are home to Colorado’s largest concentration of 14ers, so peak baggers can take their pick or try the state’s highest peak. Explore ghost towns or fish and raft the Arkansas River. The area is home to plenty of forested, riverside, lakeside, and backcountry campgrounds. To the west, Gunnison National Forest offers more than 30 developed campgrounds, with tent sites, RV sites, and cabins.

When to go

Summers are popular times for camping and outdoor recreation near South Fork. June to October tends to be peak fishing season, though ice fishing is also popular in the winter. Leaf peeping and hunting are popular in the fall. The area also offers a wide range of winter activities, including skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Know before you go

South Fork sits above 8,000 feet. Some recreation areas and campsites are at even higher elevations. Be aware of potential altitude issues.
Campsites in national forests are often first-come first-serve, while campsites in Colorado state parks require advanced reservations.
Permits are required to cut firewood in certain national forests.
Be bear aware, especially when camping. Store food and other attractants in a bear proof container, away from your tent.
Fishing licenses are required in Colorado for anyone over age 16. There are bait and other requirements for fishing in some waters near South Fork.