Lake Irwin in CO -- Campground & RV Camping
Lake Irwin in CO
CampgroundUSFS
7.0 mi from Crested Butte
Official campground & reservations ↗
Road Access
- Road difficulty 3 of 5: a rough drive in.
- Recorded as maintained for high-clearance vehicles, dirt, pitching to 10%, 10% of it on a shelf.
Rig fit
- Maximum published vehicle length: 45 ft.
- Longest published RV site: 45 ft.
- Longest published trailer site: 45 ft.
- 3 pull-through sites.
Campground details
Setting
Lake Irwin Campground sits at 10,200 feet in the Gunnison National Forest, nine miles from Crested Butte. Nestled between Lake Irwin to the east and the Ruby Mountain Range to the west, the loop is shaded by mature Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir. Sites feature picnic tables and campfire rings, with accessible options available; campers must bring their own drinking water. The location provides direct access to high-altitude mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, and lake fishing. The historic town of Crested Butte is a short drive away.
Getting there: From Gunnison, take Colorado Highway 135 north 28 miles to Crested Butte. Turn left on Gunnison County Road 12. Proceed 7 miles. Turn right on Forest Road 826 and follow signs to the campground.
- Little separation from through roads or other sites here, a 45-site campground with the nearest through road 0.1 miles off.
- Ruby Peak stands 2,243 ft above the map pin, 1.6 miles northwest.
- The Lake Irwin shoreline is 0.1 mi off.
Climate averages
October normals 25–50°F, 2.7″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.
Starlink Radar
Open sky · Terrain & buildings · Tree canopy
Estimated horizon in eight compass directions, using 10 m USGS elevation. Sky clearance 96 of 100.