Lakeview Campground

This is a very well-kept campground with amazing views and excellent hosts. Even our friend from Denver who met us up here and does a lot of camping in the area (both boondocking and campgrounds) commented on how great the site was (they're the one that recommended the Twin Lakes area to us).

We had planned to boondock at nearby Twin Lakes Area North but didn't see anything really appealing there (no shade) so checked out Lakeview and were impressed. Since we had no reservation, we scoped out Loop G and H for FCFS. On a Tuesday (late June 2022) about 4pm it was maybe 1/3 full, and another 1/3 filled while we were there. Site H4 had an amazing view down to the lake. Gravel pad was wide enough for two cars side by side and nearly flat at the base, plenty of room for our Volvo wagon with 6.5' awning (no trailer).

We paid full rate of $24/night, bought a very generous wood bundle from host for $8. Hosts were very friendly, helpful, and attentive. Confirming earlier post that there's no water here, but that the pit toilets were amazingly clean. I have Google Fi phone service that was ok, occasionally spotty. My friend had better and more consistent service with Verizon. Sites are spread out enough (at least on the upper loops) that noise wasn't too much of an issue, though some sound from louder late arrivals carried up the hill. Would absolutely stay here again.

Great US Forest Service CG. We paid 1/2 price because of our InterAgency Access pass. Regular price is $21. Dan and Brenda the camp hosts are amazing and super helpful. Cleanest vault toilets in the US. Important update, especially since there is a post below from 2019 saying there is water. There is NO WATER in this CG and nearest water is in Leadville, 18 miles away. So fill up before arriving. Also, the dump station at WhiteStar CG is closed.
We are here to climb Mt Elbert. You can start right from the CG or drive up a 4x4 road to Lily Ponds and start from there, saving a total of 6 miles roundtrip. Great hiking on the Colorado trail which also passes right through the CG. Great views of mountains. Loops G & H are FCFS, all other loops are by reservation only.
I would say a majority of the sites are not big rig friendly, so if you have a big rig I'd definitely have a reservation for an appropriate sized site. Sites are very spacious and spread out. We will definitely be back here again.

Originally intended to stay in the dispersed area but those spots were not very 2wd van friendly so decided to try the campground right next door. All of the reserved pay spots were taken but there's a first come - first serve area adjacent. We actually feel these sites are better than the reserved sites for views and spaciousness. We drove through and there were plenty of sites to choose from so we picked this one and we were glad we did. It was VERY large with lots of room between us and the other sites. Views were spectacular of the peaks and lakes. Bathrooms (vault) were close and super clean. The camp host (Dan the Man) was super friendly and welcoming and directed us to the loop for the first come/first serve sites and said to just pick one and he'd be around later to check us in. The drive to get there is scenic. Cell signal isn't great but good enough to make/receive phone calls. Would definitely recommend if you're in the area.

Having no prior knowledge of whether or not AT&T had cell service up here, except for their unreliable online map, we took a chance and struck out. Our original reserved site Loop C-002 had one to two bars but was so painfully slow we packed up and moved to a walkup at Loop H at site #6. Now with a consistent three to four bars we can get online, but for some reason it is still very slow, but will have to do.

Eight days here at $13 per night with no hookups, no shower rooms, vault toilets, and scattered potable water spigots that are basically useless to me. I like threaded faucets. And luckily I found one, and one only, in Loop H. So as long as we have enough sun to recharge our solar batteries we’ll be fine. No dump station either so Beverly has been put on notice to refrain from unnecessary usage of water that goes down the drain and directly into our gray water tank. We have plenty of available water so she can use what she needs of it outside. Same rule goes for me and Bob the dog.

Beautiful country here. The mountains here are daunting. Plenty of white caps and snow melt still occurring. This is the last leg of our journey before heading back to the panhandle of Florida. We are here for the grueling Leadville 100 mountain bike race. Our thirty-eight year old son is riding this mountain trail for an organ-donor charity. He’s been in places like Park City lately getting used to the altitude.

Hwy 82 and driving over the Independence Pass to Aspen is a day trip destination. A little over forty miles and a few tight turns through three one-lane curves, the road is stunning and exhilarating. Aspen is definitely a tourist destination and expensive to visit. Street parking alone cost just under thirty dollars for four hours. The John Denver Sanctuary is beautiful and walkable from anywhere downtown.

Made a quick visit into Leadville, checking out intel for the Leadville 100. Later took a couple mile trip from the campsite to the little village of Twin Lakes. Charming place and the VW bus burrito stand met our lunch needs. The General Store had the proper marshmallows, graham crackers, and Hershey bars for the you-know-whats made over a fire. The Twin Lakes Lodge provided a decent meal on another occasion. Two other food trucks are also in the village.

Only twenty-five miles from the campsite, Cottonwood Hot Springs Spa beckoned us again for a mid-week soak to prepare for a busy weekend and the beginnings of our travel back home. Afterwards, another bite to eat at the Buena Viking downtown Buena Vista.

Either a short 100 yd. hike up to CR-24 from the campsite or a short drive on the camp road will take you to a small parking lot where a foot path leads to the Colorado Trail or the two-track hike up to the trailhead of Mt. Elbert. The two-track trail for us ended near the top where a small but rapid snow-melt waterfall crossed the road guaranteeing wet feet. All in all about a strenuous four mile round trip hike.

The scenery is fantastic up here. A bit too cold in the morning for me, however. The bicycles remained parked for over a week as old people who are crippled have no place to leisurely ride in this campground. But our site H-6 was great and we’d definitely do it again.

I arrived on a Saturday and the place was about 80% full. I found a great spot overlooking Twin Lakes. The pad consisted of crushed gravel and was relatively level. On Sunday the place emptied out. I had originally planned on camping at White Star CG but White Star had 0 vacancies and looks to be heavily reserved during the summer months. I had no idea Lakeview was such a great place to camp. Much better than White Star. Potable water is available here and if you have to dump, you can dump at White Star CG for $10. Even if you are camping at White Star, there is still a $10 charge to dump. Fantastic views. Weekends do get a little noisy.

I usually like to camp in dispersed areas, but I came here with my mom for an actual campground and I highly recommend this place. We didn't plan on being here at first (as our original spot was full and other areas were not great), but we came upon this site and drove in and saw a "Campground Full" sign, but the host was right there and told us that there were two sites open. The hosts were so helpful and friendly, and drove us to our site. They also sell firewood there.

They take very good care of this campground. The sites have a picnic table, a fire pit and a grill and plenty of space for tents. They clean the pits out for the next campers. The vault toilets were clean and actually smelled nice. The sites were fairly spaced out. You can still see your neighbors, but you aren't camped on top of each other.

You are up on a hill that overlooks the Twin Lakes. Some sites have absolutely gorgeous views of the lake, some are blocked by trees, but still wonderful.And it's nice to have shade. You have visibility to Mt. Elbert and other mountains. You do hear traffic occasionally. And I'd like to apologize for my barking dogs (they are not campers), but it was peaceful. Oh and no mosquitos!

The town of Twin Lakes has a small store with everything you'd need from food to hiking gear. The lakes are beautiful and serene. You can keep driving up over Independence Pass and go to Aspen, or go up north and hit Leadville. .

There were plenty of RVs that were able to park and drive around the campgrounds. Plenty of tent campers as well. Each site will hold a few tents.

I recommend this campground and area for anyone that wants a nice established campground experience. They do both reservations and luckily for us, some first come first serve.