Overview
At just under 10,500 feet Silver Lake Campground is the highest elevation campground on the Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District. It opens in late June or early July depending on snow depth. The campground is beside the Snowy Range Scenic Byway on Silver Lake. This facility provides easy access to exploring the trails, lakes, streams, and glacial landscapes of the area. Facilities include 17 campsites with 3 RV pull-throughs (trailers under 32'), picnic tables, toilets, water, fire grates, and trash receptacles with a 14 day stay limit. There are two trailheads at the campground. Popular attractions near this campground include Silver Lake, Lake Marie Falls, Mirror Lake, Medicine Bow Peak Trail, French Creek CanyonTrail and Miners Cabin Trail.
Recreation
The Snowy Range offers endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. Specifically, the Snowy Range contains a network of hiking trails suitable for day hiking and for extended, backcountry trips. Additionally, Streams and over 100 lakes in the area provide a variety of challenging recreational-fishing opportunities in the area. Popular attractions near this campground include Silver Lake, Lake Marie Falls, Mirror Lake, Medicine Bow Peak Trail, French Creek Canyon Trail and Miners Cabin Trail. Winter activities in the area include snowshoeing and skiing.
Mountain Biking
Areas for Mountain Biking at Snowy Range Area
Bow River Campground
Deep Creek Campground
French Creek Campground
French Creek Canyon Trail
Keystone Cabins
Lake Owen Trailhead
Little Brooklyn Guard Station
Little Laramie Trailhead
North Fork Campground
Pinkham Mountain Trailhead
Rock Creek Trailhead
Sheep Lake Trailhead
Snow Survey Cabin
Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout
Tie Hack Lower Trailhead
Tie Hack Upper Trailhead
Tipple Trail Trailhead
Mountain Climbing
Areas for Mountain Climbing at Snowy Range Area
Lewis Lake Picnic Site
Libby Lake Picnic Site
Day Hiking
Areas for Day Hiking at Snowy Range Area
Brooklyn Lake Campground
Brush Creek Trails
Chimney Park Trailhead
Corner Mountain Trailhead
Crater Lake Trailhead
Deep Creek Campground
Deep Lake Trail
Dipper Lake Trail
French Creek Campground
French Creek Canyon Trail
Green Rock Parking Lot
Green Rock Picnic Site
Keystone Cabins
Lake Owen Trailhead
Lakes Trailhead
Lewis Lake Picnic Site
Libby Lake Picnic Site
Little Brooklyn Guard Station
Little Laramie Trailhead
Meadow Falls Trailhead
Miner's Cabin Trailhead
North Fork Campground
Platte River Wilderness
Quealy Lake Trailhead
Rock Creek Trailhead
Routt Access Trailhead
Ryan Park Campground
Savage Run Wilderness
Sheep Lake Trailhead
Silver Lake Campground
Silver Lake Trailhead
Six Mile Trailhead
Snow Survey Cabin
South Brush Creek Campground
Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout
Sugarloaf Campground
Tie Hack Lower Trailhead
Tie Hack Upper Trailhead
Tipple Trail Trailhead
West Lake Marie
Backpacking
Areas for Backpacking at Snowy Range Area
Crater Lake Trailhead
Deep Lake Trail
Dipper Lake Trail
Lakes Trailhead
Lewis Lake Picnic Site
Libby Lake Picnic Site
Platte River Wilderness
Quealy Lake Trailhead
Rock Creek Trailhead
Savage Run Wilderness
Sheep Lake Trailhead
Six Mile Trailhead
Viewing Wildlife
Areas for Viewing Wildlife at Snowy Range Area
Brooklyn Lake Campground
Keystone Cabins
Libby Flats Observation Site
Little Brooklyn Guard Station
Snow Survey Cabin
Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout
Tipple Trail Trailhead
Facilities
Silver Lake Campground has sites able to accommodate tents, trailers and RVs. Sites are equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings. The campground also offers vault toilets, trash receptacles, and potable water.
Natural Features
The Snowy Range rises from sagebrush and lodgepole pine forests in lower elevations to spruce-fir forests and alpine areas in the high country. The area offers views of rugged peaks over 12,000 feet, gorgeous snow-melt lakes and stunning displays of native wildflowers.
Nearby Attractions
Popular attractions near this campground include Silver Lake, Lake Marie Falls, Mirror Lake, Medicine Bow Peak Trail, French Creek Canyon Trail and Miners Cabin Trail. Silver Lake can be acessed using the Silver Lake Trail that surrounds the lake. The lake is 17 acres in size with a maximum water depth of 25 feet. Brook trout reside in the lake.
The Snowy Range Scenic Byway is a 29-mile stretch of paved road crosses through spectacular alpine habitats.
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