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  • Writer's pictureBear Tomlinson

Chris Park Campground and Haviland Lake Durango, Colorado Guide

Updated: Dec 23, 2021

Planning a wedding or special event at Chris Park Campground or Haviland Lake in Durango, Colorado? Look no further, we have you covered with our Chris Park Campground Guide!


Location: Chris Park Campground is roughly 18 miles north of Durango, Colorado off HWY 550 North. Nestled between the beautiful San Juan Mountains, Needles Mountains to the East and the Hermosa Cliffs to the West in Durango, visitors enjoy the area for its natural beauty, hiking, lake fishing and canoeing, and mountain-esqe setting. Also known for its great proximity to Durango, Silverton, Purgatory and Haviland Lake, a short 20 minute drive North from Downtown Durango. Situated at roughly 8,000ft, dress warm on summer and fall chilly nights.


Getting There:

Latitude 37° 30' 59.0000" N Longitude 107° 47' 60.0000" W From Durango, travel North on Highway 550 for about 18 miles to the campground. Look for the horse crossing and brown Chris Park and Haviland Lake sign arrows pointing right, merge right to the right turning lane at 51 Haviland Lake Road. Cross the cattle gaurd, you will pass Bears Ranch on the left (they offer horse rides, day trips in summer and sleigh rides in Winter), continue down the road for a half-mile, then turn right at the split intersection signage, left is to Haviland lake, right is to Chris Park Campground. Descend down the dirt gravel road for another half mile and you will enter the Chris Park Campground gate.



Facilities: The campground offers three group sites. Sites 1 and 2 can accommodate up to 75 people each. Site 3 can accommodate up to 150 people, and includes a nice picnic shelter/pavilion with electricity and outdoor grills. A volleyball court is located near this site as well, along with 2 horse-shoe pits. There are roughly 24- 8FT long Picnic tables provided and even a outdoor campfire ring with 4 bench seats around it. There is a set of vault toilets, one male / one female side, and fresh drinking water from a tap. The campground is situated in a mostly flat, open area, shaded by scattered ponderosa pine trees. Haviland Lake is a short 5 minute drive from the site.



Amenities:

  • Accessible Vault Toilets

  • Drinking Water

  • Large Fire Pit

  • Grills/Fire Ring

  • Picnic Tables

  • Platform

  • Accessibility

  • BBQ

  • Electricity Hookup



Haviland Lake: Beautiful Haviland Lake is less than two miles from the campground. The 80-acre, no-wake lake offers boating, canoeing and fishing. They do allow SUP boards and electric trolling motors on the lake for fishing. Accessible fishing docks are located on the lakeshore and the lake offers beautiful views of the Hermosa Cliffs and San Juan Mountains.



Recreation: Several trailheads are in the vicinity, including Forebay, Goulding, Elbert Creek and Purgatory Flats. The historic Rico-to-Rockwood Wagon Road passes through Chris Park. Built in the late 1800s, the road was used for six years until the railway opened

  • Hiking

  • Fishing

  • Camping

  • Boating


Need to Know:

Check in: 2 pm, Check out: 12 pm (noon) Additional fees for additional people will be collected at the campground For general information about the San Juan National Forest, please call (970) 884-2512. Campsite availability is not available at this phone number. Click here for more information on the San Juan National Forest Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.


Booking Windows:

Group sites at this campground operate on a 12-month rolling basis:

  • Availability is released from Fri, May 6th 2022 through Sun, September 25th 2022.

  • Select dates for availability.


Booking National Forest Link:


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