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A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Forest Service group campground

Printer Boy

Forest Service group campground in Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, Lake County, Colorado. 9,929 feet. 3.2 miles from Leadville.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Forest Service Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands
Elevation
9,929 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
4 4 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
40 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Lake County

Overview

Printer Boy Group Campground is located near Turquoise Lake, in an area with plenty of recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing and hiking.

Recreation

Hikers enjoy the 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail. The gentle path meanders through the forest and down to the shoreline of Turquoise Lake where it connects with the 6.4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail. Trail guides are available at the Turquoise Lake Trail trailhead, located at the entrance to Molly Brown Campground.

On the lake, boating, sailing, canoeing and fishing are favorite activities. Anglers fish for stocked cutthroat, rainbow, brown and lake trout. A boat ramp is located nearby.

The campground offers a playground, ball fields, horseshoe pits and a volleyball court. Campers must bring their own sports equipment.

Facilities

Printer Boy offers four group sites: 1 can accommodate up to 50 people; 2 and 3 can accommodate up to 30 people; 4 can accommodate up to 75 people. Sites 3 and 4 are accessible. Each site is equipped with picnic tables, a campfire circle and grill. A centrally-located cooking shelter is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Vault toilets and trash collection are provided. A dump station located just outside the campground is CLOSED (2024).

Natural Features

The campground is situated within walking distance of the lakeshore in a forest of lodgepole pine and subalpine fir.

The Mount Massive Wilderness area, a 30,540 acre stretch of primitive land is nearby. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.

Nearby Attractions

The nearby town of Leadville, a historic gold and silver mining town, is worth visiting for its small town charm.

Venture to Independence Pass for a scenic drive with breathtaking views of the Rockies and surrounding alpine tundra habitat. At 12,095 feet, it is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the country and marks where the Top of the Rockies National Scenic and Historic Byway crosses the Continental Divide.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hiking

The land around Printer Boy

The ringed pin is this group campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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