East Fork Campground

Located just eleven miles from the charming Colorado town of Pagosa Springs, East Fork Campground makes a furrific basecamp for you and pooch during your San Juan National Forest adventure! Facilities at East Fork, like most US Forest Service campgrounds in the area, are pretty basic. You won’t have access to electricity, RV hookups, or showers. But if you’re dying to get clean, you can pay $5 for a shower at the private campground down the road.

East Fork sits on a ridge above the east fork of the San Juan River, at a "Goldilocks" elevation -- at 7,700 feet, you and your buddy shouldn’t have any trouble keeping cool, but you won’t be too chilly at night. Like Goldilocks, you may see some bears, so keep your food sealed up tight! The campsites are well shaded by tall oaks and ponderosa pines, and some sites feature fabulous views of the river below. A series of short trails lead down to the water, but be careful -- those inclines can be "ruff"! Though the Forest Service has designated East Fork as a light usage campground, it’s still best to make your reservation early. Sites start at $22, and there’s no entrance fee to the area.

You and your buddy are sure to sniff out something to do in this part of the forest! As you might expect from the location, there are some pawesome trails not too far from camp. The majestic Treasure Falls is just five miles away, and there’s a trail leading up to the waterfall from East Fork. Keep your wits about you, though -- the route is popular with mountain bikers, so watch out for speeding cyclists! Hound-dog hikers looking for more of a challenge might want to venture a little fur-ther afield, though. The Coal Creek Trail, a six-mile out-and-back stretch, has some decent inclines and gorgeous wildflowers to boot. The trailhead is around four miles from East Fork. Avid anglers might want to try casting their line in the river itself, which is a decent place for fly-fishing.

Wifi isn’t available at East Fork, but all cellular networks should receive at least some coverage. Fires are permitted, and you’ll find drinking water available on-site. Remember to bring waste bags for your canine companion, and have a grrr-eat trip!