Rio Grande Reservoir (FR 520) in CO

Road corridorRio Grande NF, Divide Ranger District

25 mi from Ouray

6.7 mi off US 550 (straight line)

Maps 9,608 ft

Camping permission not confirmed

Miles 21.5–22.2 and 34.9–36.7 cross land the Forest Service doesn't manage; camping there needs the landowner's permission.

Motor-vehicle season 5/16–3/14Stay limit: 14 days · within 30 days

VerizonNONE

AT&TNONE

T-MobileNONE

StarlinkGOOD

Difficult

14 of this road’s 36.4 miles are maintained for high-clearance vehicles, mostly graded dirt with 16.5 miles of dirt.
Estimated climb: 5,800 ft over 36.4 miles through 18 switchbacks, with sustained grades near 12% and pitches to 34%.
Terrain estimates show roadside drops of up to ~150 ft on the downhill side.
Dead-end road; turnaround space is not mapped.
Water crossings 8.6 miles along the road.

Limited privacy

Limited separation from through roads or other sites here, with the nearest through road 0.1 miles off.
Finger Mesa stands 2,686 ft above the map pin, 1.8 miles northeast.
Lost Trail Creek runs 0.1 mi off.

Dispersed camping is camping outside of developed campgrounds on the Rio Grande National Forest. There is no fee to dispersed camp.
Camping rules

October normals 24–54°F, 2.5″ precipitation. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.

Rio Grande Reservoir (FR 520) in CO -- Camping Rules & Access