Father Dyer
FSU.S. Forest Service — LEADVILLE · Colorado · Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands |
| Location | LEADVILLE · Colorado · Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands · 39.27356, -106.34869 · Map |
| Sites | 23 public sites counted from the federal listing — 23 standard nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 23 sites Water hookups at 0 of 23 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 23 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 23 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 35 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 20 sites · 30 ft: 15 sites · 35 ft: 4 sites · 40 ft: 0 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Extra Vehicle Fee $10.00 |
| Check-in / out | In 2:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 23 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 719-486-0749 (INFORMATION ONLY, NO RESERVATIONS) |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
Overview Father Dyer Campground is situated on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in the shade of a lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forest. The family-friendly campground is a popular summer destination for boating, hiking and fishing.
The campground is named after Father John Lewis Dyer, one of the first Methodist ministers to tour Colorado's high country mining camps. For 20 years, beginning in 1862, he travelled the circuit encompassing Alma, Fairplay and Leadville, regularly skiing over the 13,186-foot Mosquito Pass on long, wooden skis. Recreation The 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail is a gentle loop trail through the forest and down to the shoreline of Turquoise Lake. This trail connects to the 6.4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail that parallels the shoreline from Sugar Loaf Dam to May Queen Campground. Trail guides are available at the trailhead located about a mile south, 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. Matchless Boat Ramp is located about two miles south of the campground. Facilities The campground offers 26 single-family sites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and trash collection are provided. Firewood is available for purchase from the Host. Parking spurs are gravel or dirt.
Natural Features Campsites are nestled in the forest near the scenic lakeshore. The Mount Massive Wilderness Area, a 30,540 acre stretch of primitive land encompassing Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet, is nearby. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420. Nearby Attractions 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. Charges & Cancellations Cancellations
Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite.
Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
No-Shows
A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.
No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.
Refunds
Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended.
Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.
For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.
In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
Directions, from the listing
From Leadville, Colorado, drive west on County Road 4 about 3 miles, turn right on County Road 9C and follow to Father Dyer Campground on the left.
Nearest federal campgrounds
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Trip Card — Father Dyer
LEADVILLE · Colorado · Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | LEADVILLE · Colorado · Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands |
| Fees | Extra Vehicle Fee $10.00 |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 35 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 23 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232044 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.