San Luis Lakes Campground
Dept. Fish & Wildlife
Write a Review 16399 Lane 6 N Hooper, CO 81136 719-587-6900 Official WebsiteGPS: 37.6772, -105.7331
Overview of San Luis Lakes Campground
A valid Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) hunting or fishing license is required for everyone 18 or older accessing any State Wildlife Area effective July 1, 2020. An annual hunting or fishing license can be purchased through a CPW authorized sales agent, by phone 800-244-5613, or online at cpwshop.com. For more information check out What You Need to Know Before Camping on Trust Land in Colorado.
Last Price Paid: $32
Reported by camper-910786 on 3/18/2024
Longest RV Reported: 45 feet (Fifth Wheel)
Reported by Haznavy on 10/2/2021
Number of Sites 51
Pad Type asphalt
Elevation 7,513 ft / 2,289 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about San Luis Lakes Campground
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 719-587-6900
DaveKiwi asked on 6/12/2021
I'm considering going to this campground on Mon night for 1 night so we can be close to the Sanddunes. Wondering if I...
Hollie asked on 6/10/2021
Do you have to have a permit to camp at San Luis State Wildlife Area - if so how do you get one?
camper-769027 asked on 3/19/2023
Is the needed fishing license per person or per RV/vehicle?
jknox asked on 9/15/2022
Can we safely unhook and leave our 5th wheel at the CG to visit Great Sand Dune NP? Thank you
Haznavy asked on 9/28/2021
Is the dump station open? We drove through and it looked open but, with no water service, thought I'd better ask. TIA
John asked on 7/4/2021
Does anyone know where I can fill up my water tanks near San Luis State Wildlife Area Campground? Thank you!
Reviews of San Luis Lakes Campground 89 people have reviewed this location.
“Stayed April 18th, 2022 - 1st night out on a 17 day road trip”
Reviewed 5/11/2022
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | ? |
Interesting spot. Seems that the reason for the State Park dried up when the lake did - no lake in sight, just the lake bed. Big CG with some sites having electric, ramadas (shelters), picnic tables and fire pits. Views of the Sand Dunes and the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Lots of wind when we were there. Camp host stopped by about 3 ... more
Interesting spot. Seems that the reason for the State Park dried up when the lake did - no lake in sight, just the lake bed. Big CG with some sites having electric, ramadas (shelters), picnic tables and fire pits. Views of the Sand Dunes and the Sangre de Cristo mountains.
Lots of wind when we were there. Camp host stopped by about 3 minutes after we backed into a site to check that we (both of us) had Colorado fishing licenses. It is free if you have a Colorado fishing or hunting license.
No water, as others have mentioned and no trees. Dump station operational but without water.
HPD would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Hassle if not a hunter, not great for tents ”
Reviewed 3/21/2022
Requires a Colorado Parks & Wildlife annual license, which costs $50/year or $8/day if you're not already a licensed hunter, but you have to buy these passes offsite. The campground host did not check while I was there, but the money goes to support parks so please make sure to pay. There are 2-3 outhouses for the entire site, with... more
Requires a Colorado Parks & Wildlife annual license, which costs $50/year or $8/day if you're not already a licensed hunter, but you have to buy these passes offsite. The campground host did not check while I was there, but the money goes to support parks so please make sure to pay.
There are 2-3 outhouses for the entire site, with one loop not having any at all. This really needs to be improved. One of the pit toilets was so low it was like being in a kindergarten bathroom. There is handicap accessible campsite but NO accessible bathroom (the small building where it probably was was locked).
Sites are incredibly beautiful. All have decent views and some have amazing views...I could watch sunset/sunrise over the Sand Dunes or across the valley from my sleeping bag. All sites have fire grates, picnic table, little sun/wind shelter. Spacing is ok, grading is variable but mostly ok.
There's a sign recommending about 10 best sites for tents. Lots of sites would be quite awful for tents since there's no tent pad and fresh gravel.
Between the lack of bathrooms and the lack of tent pads, this is better suited to RVs. But the views and location are amazing so to me it was worth it.
First come first served, less than 10 sites in use in March 2022 (weekend during local spring break).
Gravel road is well maintained.
Picnic sites along the lake. Didn't see any wildlife.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Reviewed 1/29/2022
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
As other reviews have mentioned, this was intended to be a state park but there was an issue with the water supply so it was turned over to the Wildlife Department. The campground is huge, comprised of three separate loops, and each site has 15, 30, and 50 amp plugs. There is no water, but there is a dump station and dumpsters at the e... more
As other reviews have mentioned, this was intended to be a state park but there was an issue with the water supply so it was turned over to the Wildlife Department. The campground is huge, comprised of three separate loops, and each site has 15, 30, and 50 amp plugs. There is no water, but there is a dump station and dumpsters at the entrance. There is an official-looking entry booth, but it is not manned. The road to the campground is well-marked. There are plenty of pull-throughs for larger rigs and tons of long back-ins. Each campsite has a sun shelter, picnic table, electricity, and fire ring with grill-top. If you need wood, both City Market and Safeway in Alamosa sell it, but Safeway is cheaper (3 bundles for $15, versus City Market 3 bundles for $18.)
There seems to be some confusion regarding the pass you need (and I was confused too). Basically, you go to the CPW (Colorado Parks and Wildlife) website and buy a Colorado State Wildlife annual pass. As of this writing in January 2022, it's $36.08 for an annual pass or $8.00 for a day pass, per person over the age of 16. Each person over 16 needs one. When you get to the checkout screen, you can have them mail the pass to your residence or you can choose to pick it up at an authorized location. I chose to pick mine up at Walmart in Alamosa. Whatever you choose to do, you have 90 days to pick it up and in the meantime, they send you a temporary pass over email that's good for those 90 days. I have stayed here twice (roughly 7 days total) and only once was my pass checked (and that's because my nosy (and very noisy) neighbors squealed on me to the camp host. I'm not sure what their problem was...) Anyways, I showed him my email pass and all was well. The pass is good at many other locations throughout Colorado, so if you're staying for more than a few nights or plan on visiting other Fish and Wildlife areas, spring for the annual pass.
This campground is close to the Sand Dunes and has excellent views of them. The sunsets are fantastic. There is also a fishing lake that I didn't really check out. There are not many hiking opportunities within walking distance, but if you're feeling adventurous, head up to Zapata Falls on the way to the Sand Dunes--the road has just been re-graded and is quite nice to drive.
Finally, I would like to mention that while trying to back into a spot, I got my van stuck in deep, soft sand. How embarrassing! Don't be like me--stay on the gravel pad! And a big shoutout to a gentleman named Tim (and his dog Casey) who noticed I was stuck and not only let me borrow his shovel but also helped rock the van out of the sand. I'm glad there are still good people in the world; thanks Tim!
Sara-No-H would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice Clean Campground”
Reviewed 1/17/2022
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
RV Length: | 25' (Travel Trailer) |
No water. Has dump station. Free if you have a CO fishing license. Close to the great sand dunes. Clean and nice campsites. Electricity is available but please use sparingly so it stays free.
Adventures with C.A.K.E. would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Amazing views with wide open spaces”
Reviewed 10/2/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
Site Number: | 47 |
RV Length: | 45' (Fifth Wheel) |
Arrival - Super easy drive either from Alamosa or via the Sand Dunes NP. Camp host was there to meet us to ensure we had the proper documentation (CO State Fishing License or State Wildlife Area pass). Tips - If coming from the Sand Dunes, be aware of the damaged third (3rd) cattle guard across the road and, take it slow. As state... more
Arrival - Super easy drive either from Alamosa or via the Sand Dunes NP. Camp host was there to meet us to ensure we had the proper documentation (CO State Fishing License or State Wildlife Area pass).
Tips - If coming from the Sand Dunes, be aware of the damaged third (3rd) cattle guard across the road and, take it slow. As stated in the website and multiple Q&A, no water out there but, there is a dump station with trash, and open vault toilets in loops B and C. The lake is so low that fishing isn't really an option. Bring your own firewood.
Favorites - Views of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, Mosca Pass, Zapata Falls, the Sand Dunes, west towards Alamosa and southern views; sunsets are pretty amazing, not to mention the dark sky at night.
Negatives - No water, spigots everywhere but, haven't been in service for years. The drought has rendered the lake non-usable for fishing. It's obvious there is very little upkeep to the infrastructure. The camp host does a pretty good job of keeping up with the trash and site maintenance.
Haznavy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice campground with free electricity. ”
Reviewed 9/30/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
RV Length: | 28' (Class C) |
Nice spot to stay close to the great sand dunes national Park. Free electricity, dump and trash. No water here. Plenty of sites that are easy pull Throughs and fairly level. Colorado state fishing or hunting license required to stay here. Although no one checked us.
glasgows_onthego would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Views!”
Reviewed 8/24/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | A19 |
RV Length: | 20' (Travel Trailer) |
This is a rather unique CG. Owned by the State of Colorado, you need a CO hunting or fishing license and that is the cost of admission. My wife and I both have resident fishing licenses, which we showed to the camp host and he said "Pick a site and enjoy yourself" We picked a drive-thru site with an unobstructed view of the Sand Du... more
This is a rather unique CG. Owned by the State of Colorado, you need a CO hunting or fishing license and that is the cost of admission. My wife and I both have resident fishing licenses, which we showed to the camp host and he said "Pick a site and enjoy yourself" We picked a drive-thru site with an unobstructed view of the Sand Dunes, 10 miles to the East. Each site has electric, a picnic table a fire pit and a metal canopy for shade and wind. There is no water anywhere on the property. There is a trash dump and a dry sewer dump. We were told there were rest rooms but did not use them. I think this would be challenging site for tent campers. Sites are spaced pretty far apart. Only two issues we had. When we first sat outside we got bitten up by little bugs that we suspected were no-seeums. We put bug spray on our legs and arms and were fine for the rest of the trip. The other issue was just bad timing. On the first night at about 2 am we work up hearing loud base type music. It did not seem to be very close but we heard it go on until 4 am. The next day another camper told us he called the Sherif twice, who came out and warned the campers twice but each time he left they started up the music again. The offenders left early the that morning. The next night was very quiet. What we liked most were the views of the dunes and mountains, beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
Jim would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Campsite”
Reviewed 8/2/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 41 |
-Expansive campsite with three loops. There didn’t seem to be a difference in the loops. -This might be the quietest campground in which I’ve ever stayed. -Free stay up to 14 days with a fishing or hunting license. My in-state Colorado annual fishing license was $42. -Each campsite has an electrical hook up, picnic table, campfire... more
-Expansive campsite with three loops. There didn’t seem to be a difference in the loops.
-This might be the quietest campground in which I’ve ever stayed.
-Free stay up to 14 days with a fishing or hunting license. My in-state Colorado annual fishing license was $42.
-Each campsite has an electrical hook up, picnic table, campfire ring, and shade structure over the picnic table.
-Don’t plan on fishing the lake. It was very low & too muddy to reach fishable water.
-The road leading in is fine for any size rig. A bit washboarded, but only for a short distance.
-AT&T cell service was in and out. I was able to stream video a couple times, but it was unreliable. If you have AT&T, simply drive around the different loops until you have decent service. Even though the entire campsite spans only a few hundred yards, there is a big difference in signal. A booster delivered better results.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Quiet and beautiful scenery”
Reviewed 7/29/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Can’t go wrong here. No water or sewer but 50 amp electric service. Make sure you have either a state wildlife area pass or a hunting or fishing license. They do check! Close to Great Sand Dunes NP. Had a large area all to ourselves. Does have a funky smell when the wind blows from the wrong direction. Washboard road so take your time.
Lillwoolley would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Campsite”
Reviewed 7/28/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 41 |
-Expansive campsite with three loops. There didn’t seem to be a difference in the loops. -This might be the quietest campground I’ve ever stayed in. -Free stay up to 14 days with a fishing or hunting license. My in-state Colorado annual fishing license was $42. -Each campsite has an electrical hook up, picnic table, campfire ring, ... more
-Expansive campsite with three loops. There didn’t seem to be a difference in the loops.
-This might be the quietest campground I’ve ever stayed in.
-Free stay up to 14 days with a fishing or hunting license. My in-state Colorado annual fishing license was $42.
-Each campsite has an electrical hook up, picnic table, campfire ring, and shade structure over the picnic table.
-Don’t plan on fishing the lake. It was very low & too muddy to reach fishable water.
-The road leading in it is fine for any size rig.
-AT&T cell service was in and out, but I was able to stream video at times. If you have AT&T, simply drive around the different loops until you have good service. Even though the entire campsite spans only a few hundred yards, there is a big difference in signal.
Ron would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“NOT ACTUALLY FREE”
Reviewed 8/3/2019
Nightly rate: | $36 |
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Days stayed: | 0 |
Listed as a free Campendium site. However, any adults 18-64 require a $36 annual CWP pass in order to camp. Don’t get into town after hours or you’re not getting this, as they’re only available at local agent’s offices, and you’re not staying here without it, as Camp host is checking passes and does not sell them on site. Should have... more
Listed as a free Campendium site. However, any adults 18-64 require a $36 annual CWP pass in order to camp. Don’t get into town after hours or you’re not getting this, as they’re only available at local agent’s offices, and you’re not staying here without it, as Camp host is checking passes and does not sell them on site. Should have read more than the first reviews, otherwise we would have figured this out before we got here
Karen would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- 50 Amp
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- Partial Hookups
Recreation
- picnic area
- recreation trail
Site Amenities
- big rig
- fire ring
- picnic table
- pull thru
Facilities
- dump station
- laundry
- restrooms: flush
- showers
- trash
Pets
- pets
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