Father Dyer Campground

Leadville, CO

4.4(36 reviews)

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About this campground

Father Dyer Campground near Leadville, CO. Father Dyer Campground is situated on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in the shade of a lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forest. The family-friendly campground is a popular summer destination for boating, hiking and fishing. The campground is named after Father John Lewis Dyer, one of the first Methodist ministers to tour Colorado's high country mining camps. For 20 years, beginning in 1862, he travelled the circuit encompassing Alma, Fairplay and Leadville, regularly skiing over the 13,186-foot Mosquito Pass on long, wooden skis. Father Dyer Campground is located in a shaded lodgepole pine forest near the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake at an elevation of 9,900 feet. A foot trail to the lake is available between campsites 16 and 17. Facilities include picnic tables, fire rings, pedestal grills, potable water, and vault toilets. Firewood is available at the host site. During weekdays, usage is moderate, but heavy on weekends. Please click on the link to see maps of Turquoise Lake Campgrounds.

Facilities

The campground offers single-family sites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided. Firewood is available for purchase from the Host. Parking spurs are gravel or dirt.

Natural Features

Campsites are nestled in the forest near the scenic lakeshore. The Mount Massive Wilderness Area, a 30,540 acre stretch of primitive land encompassing Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet, is nearby. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.

Recreation

The 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail is a gentle loop trail through the forest and down to the shoreline of Turquoise Lake. This trail connects to the 6.4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail that parallels the shoreline from Sugar Loaf Dam to May Queen Campground. Trail guides are available at the trailhead located about a mile south, at the entrance to Molly Brown Campground. On the lake, boating, sailing, canoeing and fishing are favorite activities. Anglers fish for stocked cutthroat, rainbow, brown and lake trout. Matchless Boat Ramp is located about two miles south of the campground.

What campers say

Father Dyer Campground sits a short walk from the lake and is appreciated for its clean, well‑maintained vault toilets and sites with large picnic tables and fire rings. Sites are generally spread out with good tree coverage that cuts wind and allows hammocks (flat straps commonly required). The setting is quieter than lakeshore camping, though many sites don’t have direct water views and some are close to the entrance/road. Hosts receive mixed reports—often attentive but some guests found rules and enforcement strict. Expect basic water availability to vary and occasional seasonal snow; boats near shore can limit fishing.

Our summary of 36 traveler reviews.