Recreation area

East Lake Creek #1880

Colorado — managed by USDA Forest Service

Open recreation area — no reservation needed

About this campground

The East Lake Creek trail begins at West Lake Creek Road and ends at Upper Camp Lake. This popular trail begins as a well-defined, moderately uphill dirt path through lodge pole pine and aspen with the first 2 miles traveling through damp lush aspen forest with abundant wildflowers down to East Lake Creek. This first 2 miles makes a popular short hike to the wooden bridge over East Lake Creek. After crossing the bridge, the trail is a continuous moderate climb up the east side of East Lake Creek becoming rocky and wet in areas, and can be difficult to follow in spots. * There is a printable Recreation Quicksheet for this trail which is complete with directions, a map, details, and other information about this trail. Or to see quicksheets for other recreation areas across the Forest, click on the "Recreation Quicksheets" link in the right column and select the appropriate Ranger District.

Getting there

Travel 16.5 miles east from Eagle on I-70 to the Edwards exit and head south towards the town and Hwy. 6.At Hwy. 6 turn right, heading west, for 0.7 miles to Lake Creek Rd., turning left, south, at the National Forest Access sign. Travel on this road for 1.8 miles and turn right onto West Lake Creek Rd., look for the sign at the turn for the East Lake Creek trailhead. Follow this road for approximately 4 miles to the trailhead, staying to the right at the “Y” after the bridge, parking only in the designated area because of the surrounding private land.

Activities

  • HIKING
  • HORSEBACK RIDING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Explore more Colorado camping

East Lake Creek #1880 doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Colorado campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.

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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.