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San Juan/South Mineral
Overview
Overview
The South Mineral Campground, situated in the San Juan National Forest near Silverton, Colorado, offers a quintessential high-altitude camping experience. This is a rustic national forest campground rather than a modern RV resort, providing travelers with a chance to unplug and immerse themselves in the rugged beauty of the San Juan Mountains. It serves as a peaceful gateway to the wilderness for those who prefer natural surroundings over manicured park amenities.
Location & Surroundings
Located along the South Mineral Creek, the campground is set in a stunning alpine basin surrounded by towering peaks. This area is famous for its dramatic scenery and is often visited by photographers and hikers looking to capture the essence of the Rocky Mountains. The setting is remote, requiring a drive up a Forest Service road, which rewards visitors with pristine mountain air and proximity to some of the most iconic landscapes in Colorado.
Amenities & Park Features
As a forest service site, the amenities are simple and functional. The campground offers vault toilets and drinking water, but visitors should not expect full utility hookups or electricity. Each site is equipped with a fire ring and a picnic table, making it an excellent choice for those with self-contained rigs who value privacy and space. The spacious pull-through sites are designed to accommodate a variety of setups while preserving the natural landscape.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw of this location is its proximity to world-class outdoor recreation. The trail to Ice Lakes Basin is a major highlight, known for its breathtaking turquoise waters and challenging terrain. Additionally, the area is popular for high-mountain fishing and 4x4 exploration along the Alpine Loop. Visitors can easily head into nearby Silverton to enjoy the historic charm of this former mining town and its famous steam train.
Who This Park Is Best For
South Mineral is perfect for off-grid adventurers and self-sufficient campers who enjoy boondocking-style experiences in a managed setting. It is not designed for travelers seeking resort amenities like pools or Wi-Fi. If you prefer quiet nights under the stars, waking up to the sound of a rushing creek, and having direct access to remote hiking trails, this is an ideal home base for your Colorado high-country expedition.
Features & Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
Reviews
Andrew C
Good location to the Ice lake and Island lake trails. We were there around late September so it's winter price $20/day (lower than their $40 regular charges but still pricey compared to other better maintained campgrounds). No host when we were there, meaning no management at all. No drinking water. Most of the restrooms were locked and only one opened. It was somewhat smelly but bearable overall.
Matthew Dong
As of 10/2, there’s no host onsite, not sure if it’s because of the gov shutdown or just being end of season. Plenty of open spots when I checked in at 2pm and remained so throughout the day. You can self serve and attach payment receipt to your spot to lock it, it’s $20 per night now and def recommend it if you wanna do the Ice lake trail that’s literally just across the road.
william creighton
Wonderful campground with wonderful hosts! Very private sites, great views and right next to Ice Lakes Trail. Randy and his wife were fabulous hosts, welcoming everyone and helping with all kinds of info on hikes and local amenities. They managed the campground very well so that it was a great experience for all. Thank you to you both.
Tyler Rogers
Beautiful campsite perfect if you’re looking for a place to camp that’s close to trails and has plenty of good drinking water, it also has bathrooms that are locked to all non campers so that is nice! My only complaint would be that the host was a bit over bearing, nothing against the guy it might just be his personality but none the less a great camp site but also a bit high if you’re trying camp on a budget at 40$ a night with no electricity hook up, or phone signal.. seemed a bit pricey for what you’re getting IMHO Would recommend but there’s also some great dispersed camping on the same road that are way better in my opinion. The campsite itself gets 5 stars for views and location but I give it a 4 star because the host was a bit overbearing.
Carina Basio
We had a really nice experience . We were lucky to secure a site last minute . We were welcomed by the host. She was super nice and very informative . If you are planning to hike the Ice lake and Island Lake , this is the closest and the best spot to camp. The trailhead is just infront on it. The restrooms were very clean, the site was quiet . There was a very beautiful waterfalls closeby that you can visit while camping there . Great camping spot !