Overview
Vallecito Campground is a very popular site and one of the largest within the San Juan National Forest. It sits on Vallecito Creek, adjacent to the Weminuche Wilderness. Visitors enjoy the area for its trail and fishing opportunities, which are part of a very scenic, natural setting.
Recreation
Vallecito Creek offers fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout. Anglers must use artificial flies and lures due to the creek's location within the wilderness area.
The Vallecito Creek Trail begins at the campground entrance. This popular trail is open to hiking and horseback riding only and is a main access point to the Weminuche Wilderness.
Parking is available at the trailhead. Hitching racks and a horse staging area with a loading ramp for livestock is on-site, but no overnight horse camping is allowed.
Facilities
The campground offers 80 single-family sites, a few of which have electric hookups. Sites are equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Day-use picnic sites are located along the creek at the campground entrance and are available for a fee.
Natural Features
Vallecito, which is Spanish for "little valley," sits at an elevation of 8,000 feet, high in the beautiful San Juan Mountains. A forest of ponderosa pine, aspen and gambel oak trees covers the campground. Most sites are large and fairly level.
Nearby Attractions
Vallecito Lake is located four miles from the campground and offers boating, water skiing, fishing and hiking opportunities, as well as beautiful scenery.
The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.
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
Road
Primitive Road
Road
Primitive Road
Trail
Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong
Roads open to all Vehicles, Seasonal
Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Yearlong
Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Seasonal
Special Designation, Yearlong
Special Designation, Seasonal
Trails open to all vehicles, Yearlong
Trails open to all vehicles, Seasonal
Trails open to vehicles 50" or less in width, Yearlong
Trails open to vehicles 50" or less in width, Seasonal
Trails open to motorcycles, Yearlong
Trails open to motorcycles, Seasonal
Special Designation, Seasonal
Trails Open to Wheeled Vehicles Only < 50" in Width, Yearlong
Trails Open to Wheeled Vehicles Only < 50" or Less in Width, Seasonal
Wilderness Area
Wilderness Study Area