South Mineral

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37.8056,-107.7751
South Mineral Campground Road Durango Colorado 81301 US

Campgrounds still open between September and May have no services (water, electric, trash pick up or rest rooms). Please keep them clean and pack it out. Thanks!

South Mineral Campground is accessed by turning off U.S. Highway 550, about 3 miles west of Silverton, onto Forest Rd. 585, which heads west along South Mineral Creek. The campground is 4 miles off the highway and has 26 mostly level sites. Several camping loops and well-spaced sites are mostly shaded, but some are sunny. A few are next to the creek, and some have large parking areas. The Ice Lake Basin Trail, a strenuous, steep, and popular hike, begins across the road from the campground. It leads up above timberline to high alpine lakes surrounded by meadows of wildflowers and rocky peaks. Please stay on the trail to avoid steep, dangerous dropoffs. Dispersed camping along Forest Rd. 585 is allowed only in designated camping areas. Follow posted directions and instructions. The road to the campground is drivable by 2WD, but not far after the campground, it becomes 4WD. Driving off- road is prohibited, but many other 4WD roads in the Silverton area are open to motorized use.

Reservation Information

No Reservations, This is a first come first serve campground

Campground Information

South Mineral Campground does not take reservations.  All sites are first come first served.  There are an assortment of designated areas along South Mineral Road where dispersed camping is allowed so there is plenty of camping in the canyon on all but the busiest days.

Picnic tables, composting vault toilets, fire grates, trash disposal, potable water. No electricity. Operated by concessionaire.

Camping & Recreation

Dispersed camping along Forest Rd. 585 is allowed only in designated camping areas. Please follow posted directions and instructions.

Nearby peaks have cliffs of brilliant color-contrasting reds and grays. A waterfall on the creek just upstream from the campground adds to the attraction of the area.

There are a number of recreational activities in this area. For those in search of fishing, Clear Lake is a 3-mile hike north of the campground, and Ice Lake is a strenuous, steep, and popular 3-mile hike west. Mineral Creek is another option.

Four-wheel-drive roads lead in all directions from Silverton. North of South Mineral Creek, near Red Mountain Pass, routes lead west off U.S. Highway 550 to Ophir Pass and Black Bear Pass. These roads are also suitable for mountain biking and landscape photography.

Services & Facilities

The campground has 26 sites that are mostly level, at 9,800 feet. Some sites are handicapped accessible. Several camping loops and well-spaced sites offer plenty of privacy. Spruce and fir give lots of shade, but there are some sunny sites. A few sites are along the creek, and some have large parking areas.

Picnic tables, composting vault toilets, fire grates, trash disposal, potable water. No electricity. Operated by concessionaire.

Directions

South Mineral Campground is the last developed camping area along U.S. Highway 550 on the San Juan National Forest. Two miles west of Silverton, Forest Road 585 heads west along the creek, four miles to the campground entrance. The road to the campground is driveable by 2WD, but not far after the campground, it becomes 4WD. Driving off-road is prohibited, but many other 4WD roads in the Silverton and Red Mountain Pass areas are open to motorized use.

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