Silver Dollar Campground is a stunning lakeside camping destination high in the mountains of central Colorado near Leadville. The campground, named for Rosemary “Silver Dollar” Tabor, second daughter of prominent Leadville residents Horace and Baby Doe Tabor, is located near the eastern edge of 9,900-foot Turquoise Lake. To reach the campground, take County Road 4 from Leadville, following signs for Turquoise Lake Recreation Area. The 39-site campground, one of eight camping areas at the 780-acre lake, is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day annually. The sites each include a picnic table and fire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided, and firewood is available through the host. RVs are welcome, but hookups and water connections are not offered. Reservations are available; otherwise, sites are first-come first-served.
Pro Tips:
You need to reserve a site for both Friday and Saturday nights when you book a weekend reservation, while a three-day minimum is required for holiday weekends; walk-ups are exempt.Enjoy water-based recreation on Turquoise Lake. Motor-powered and paddled craft alike are at home on the lake, which is well stocked with lake, brown, cutthroat, and rainbow trout.Take a hike on the Turquoise Lake Nature Trail, which runs along the lakeshore from the Molly Brown Campground to Silver Dollar Campground, to learn about the wildlife and plants in the lodgepole pine forest. You can also hike the 6.4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail, a moderate loop that encircles the lake and offers dramatic mountain views. Trail guides for both hikes are available from the campground host.The area offers great day trips. Explore historic Leadville’s charming downtown by visiting the Tabor Opera House or eating at the famed Golden Burro restaurant. Lots of scenic drives explore the area, including breathtaking 12,095-foot Independence Pass, one of the highest paved roads in the country, and the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway over Tennessee and Fremont passes. Drive over 13,185-foot Mosquito Pass on its rough track if you want a 4×4 adventure.Recommended season(s): Summer.
—Brett Green & Stewart M. Green
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