Thistledown
Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), and camping costs Single Site: $10 per night. Thistledown is a National Forest campground near Ouray, Colorado.
First-come, first-served
- National Forest
- Managed by
Thistledown sits inside Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.
Getting a site
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Reservations
- None, first-come
- Fee
- Single Site: $10 per night
Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
What's there
- ✓ Toilets
- ✕ Potable water
On site: Toilets. No potable water.
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 8,746 ft
37.9937, -107.7004 in Ouray. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Thistledown?
No. Thistledown is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
How much does it cost to camp at Thistledown?
Camping at Thistledown costs Single Site: $10 per night.
Is there drinking water at Thistledown?
No. Thistledown has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.
Who manages Thistledown?
Thistledown is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around Thistledown
Ridgway Reservoir's mapped center point is 17 miles from Thistledown in a straight line. Current water level: Ridgway Reservoir water level on reservoirfinder.com.
Hot springs and waterfalls nearby
Nearest to Thistledown, in straight-line miles: Box Canyon Hot Springs (hot spring, 2.2 miles), Ouray Hot Springs (hot spring, 2.4 miles), Bridal Veil Falls (waterfall, 6.4 miles), and Orvis Hot Springs (hot spring, 9.8 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.
- Sites
- 16
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $10 per night
- Sites
- 35
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $28 per night
- Sites
- 20
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $20 per night
- Sites
- 15
- Season
- late Spring to early Fall
- Fee
- Single Site: $28 per night
More campgrounds: camping near Ouray and campgrounds in Ouray.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-30
- epqs.nationalmap.gov (elevationFt), accessed 2026-10-01