Lower Hermosa Campground

Not sure when they started charging for this campsite, but like Junction Creek (closer to town), it now costs $18 / night to camp here. For that price you get access to a vault toilet and of course your own dedicated spot with a picnic table and fire pit.

I don’t see the value in that, not when there is free camping even closer to town (check Durfield) or about as far away in a similarly beautiful setting.

Maybe if there was at least a dumpster, the fee would make sense.

The bonus here is that cell service works well, there aren’t many other campers (lots of hikers though), and the first three miles or so of the trail is old-growth, a true rarity in Colorado.

I stayed here for one night on July 14, 2019 with a Class C RV.

The price is now $18 ($9 with Senior Pass). The road to the campground is paved except for the last 1.5 miles, and the following dirt road was in very good shape. The sites are large, but almost none is level. The campground has one (brand new) vault toilet and no other services - no trash, no water, no electricity. Good cell phone reception with Verizon and T-Mobile.

The place was almost empty when I arrived on a Sunday afternoon. Site #12 is great for RVs and tents. According to the very friendly campsite host it is especially from this site sometimes possible to watch a - supposedly harmless - bear (I did not see it).

The vault toilet had been newly installed just a couple of days before, was clean, but had an unpleasant smell. I don't know whether this is do to the fact that it is so new and the biological system has not yet fully kicked in, or because it has - because there is no electricity - no exhaust fan that removes fumes and gases from the tank. This is the only thing that I did not find perfect here.

Directly at the campground is a trailhead - if you are into hiking or mountain biking you can do this here very well. I think this is a great campground if you are OK with having no services except for the toilet.

Passing thru Durango on my way to Telluride. Not to far off 550 and road up is decent. Paved about 1/2 way back and dirt the rest. But fairly smooth. Area was saved for the most part from last years fires but campground in great shape. In a fee area but quite minimal for such a great, peaceful location with the sounds of nature for the most part in the background. Sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Big rigs can easily access this place. Only a few big “fairly level” sites. Plus good cell service too. I’d come back again and stay longer should I get back to the Durango area for a few days.