Old Lime Creek Road Dispersed Camping

I arrived around 3:30 Tuesday 10/18/22, there were two other RV’s and several places to park. I found one a little removed from the others and the view…😲
The road in has a few spots that have some pretty decent pot holes so take your time! I didn’t see one in the shadows and it made sure I remembered to slow down! A little whiplash never really hurt anyone!? If you’re going to be near Durango and points north I would definitely consider this spot!

We initially were planning on staying closer to Durango, but after planning our visit determined we would be spending a lot of time around Silverton and Ouray so chose this spot.

It’s about 20 min to Silverton and around 35 min to Durango. We stayed 5 days in late September 2021.

First let’s talk about the entrance. If you are coming up from Durango, you will see your first hairpin turn which also is a bridge that crosses Cascade Creek. As you exit this turn the dirt road is directly to your right. It is a parking lot, but just drive through and past the horse farm. There is also a second entrance about 40 yards further but it is a steep tricky driveway. I would highly recommend entering through the parking lot if towing a camper or in a larger RV. If you are coming from the north the same applies. ENTER THROUGH THE PARKING LOT! From the north the first steep driveway is very hard to see!

The gravel road between the horse barn and the meadow is well maintained with a few pit holes and some washboard. But it’s only a few hundred yards.

As it opens up to the meadow, you will have the first section on your right which is a large flat area with spots around the perimeter. 30 or so yards further there is a second dirt road to the right. These spots are better but some of them you will have to go up or down some small hills. We were towing a 20 ft travel trailer (with a lift kit) and chose to drop down into the “bowl”. To get into this lower section there are two choices. The left side is a much steeper hill. The right side is not bad. There are 3 or 4 good spots at the bottom. We ended up in the biggest spot, one of the best out there. We did need 4 wheel drive to pull the trailer out (Chevy 2500 Z71).

Not the most private BLM site but pretty awesome none the less. Beautiful views and we had no issues with noise or neighbors. It was relatively clean. Some road noise mostly due to trucks exhaust brakes coming down the mountain.

There are several hiking trails in the area and that go through this camp ground. There is also tons of dead-fall firewood in the surrounding woods. Don’t miss walking back down the road towards the entrance and checking out the cliff-top view of Cascade Creek!

DO NOT TOW AN RV PAST THIS AREA. If you do end up going to far, no big deal, there are a couple nice cabins about a half mile in and if not a huge rig can probably turn around in one of the driveways. But I certainly wouldn’t deliberately go past this area. The road is decent to the cabins the gets progressively worse. If you are tent camping and in a high clearance vehicle I would definitely say go up because there are some really cool tent camping spots up there.

Cell service was spotty and we were not able to get even one TV channel. We also did not have any of the bug or mosquito issues mentioned by others.

Overall I would recommend and return!

If mountains bring peace to your soul this is the place. Scattered campers in the meadow as others described. Horseback trail ride at entrance to Lime creek road entrance- 220# limit. Oops, if I’d only known. Lol.

I believed others who said beyond the meadow is treacherous as I’m driving a crew cab dually. So if you’re in a truck that is suited with no trailer, go for it.

We were here on a Monday. 5 campers were here when we arrived. 1 left and two more showed up. Spacious. 1 camper in the trees below who nearly couldn’t get out. Stay in the meadow and you will be ok. Why leave the meadow? Sooo beautiful. It’s the wild so expect bugs. If bugs bother you perhaps you should be at a traditional campground. Just saying. Until we meet again! Please pick up after yourself and others. This is too precious to lose.