Weekend availability at Dowdy Lake
Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 19, 9:05 AM PTSold out 4 of the next 5 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.
- Fri, Sep 25Sold out
- Fri, Oct 2Sold out
- Fri, Oct 9Sold out
- Fri, Oct 16Sold out
- Fri, Oct 23Limited1/20 sites
Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.
How booked is Dowdy Lake?
as of September 20Weekends book out well ahead here — 1 of the 4 Saturdays we sampled, as far out as Nov, are already sold out. When a site frees up it's gone again within minutes, so people watch Dowdy Lake and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Even midweek is filling — 1 of the 3 weekdays we checked are gone.
Weekends (Saturday night)
Weekdays (Wednesday night)
Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.
Campsites & amenities
Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.
- Campsites
- 62
- Electric sites
- 52
- Pull-through
- 1
About this campground
Overview Dowdy Lake Campground is located 48 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., near the village of Red Feather Lakes. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and trail opportunities.Recreation Canoeing and fishing are popular activities on the 115-acre, no-wake Dowdy Lake. Motorized boats are allowed on the lake, but a 10 mph speed limit is enforced. Anglers cast for brown, brook, cutthroat and lake trout. Several additional lakes are in the vicinity. Many hiking, biking and horseback riding trails are in the surrounding area, including the 4-mile Mount Margaret Trail. Several off-road vehicle trails are located within five miles of the campground. Other popular activities include viewing wildlife and visiting the nearby Redfeather Visitor Center.Facilities The campground offers 60 accessible single and double family campsites with electric hookups. Ten sites are designated for tent camping only and do not have hookups. Each site contains a tent pad, picnic table and campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided. Dead and downed firewood may be gathered in the forest or purchased in bundles from the campground host.Natural Features The campground is situated in a ponderosa pine forest on the shore of Dowdy Lake, at an elevation of 8,200 feet. Afternoon thunderstorms can be expected during spring and summer months. Due to the mountain pine beetle infestation and removal of hazardous trees, some sites have reduced shade. Nearby Attractions The small village of Red Feather Lakes is nearby, offering limited dining options, gift shops, general stores, a library, post office and a golf course. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.Charges & Cancellations Modifications for this campground must be made through Recreation.gov or by calling the call center at 1-877-444-6777 PRIOR to your reservation start date. Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.
Getting there
From Fort Collins, take Highway 287 north for approximately 24 miles to Livermore. Turn west on County Road 74 and continue about 23 miles to Dowdy Lake Road. Turn right, then another right onto Dowdy Drive and continue to the campground.
Activities
- HIKING
- FISHING
- CAMPING
- BOATING
- MOUNTAIN BIKING
- WILDLIFE VIEWING
- BIKING
- BIRDING
- CANOEING
- KAYAKING
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Redfeather Ranger StationArapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG0 mi
- Redfeather Visitor CenterArapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG0 mi
- West LakeArapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG1 mi
- West Lake Day Use AreaArapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG1 mi
- Bald Mountain Road (#517)Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG3 mi
- Bellaire Lake CampgroundArapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG3 mi
Never miss an opening at Dowdy Lake
Popular Colorado campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Dowdy Lake around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.
Not ready to subscribe? Get a free weekend heads-up.
We'll email you if Dowdy Lake opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.
Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.