Dowdy Lake

Colorado Rockies

DOWDY LAKE in Colorado Rockies — photo 4

Dowdy Lake

Colorado Rockies

About this campsite

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.

Location

DOWDY LAKE•CO

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

THU☁️

16° / 5°

💧 1%

FRI☁️

22° / 4°

💧 1%

SAT☁️

22° / 9°

💧 1%

SUN☁️

22° / 5°

—

TODAY☁️

23° / 10°

💧 2%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

600m away

Redfeather Ranger Station

Overview The Redfeather Ranger Station has two cabins, and an office with a visitor's center. The Ranger Cabin and the Assistant Ranger Cabin are available for lodging. Guests must provide linens, bedding, pillows, towels and toiletries. The Ranger Station is situated in a ponderosa pine forest at an elevation of 8,200 feet. Afternoon thunderstorms can be expected during spring and summer months. This site is located off the east side of Dowdy Lake Road in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. The Forest Service access road into the station is approximately 1/4 mile north of the intersection of Dowdy Lake Road and West County Road 74E/Red Feather Lakes Road. The Red Feather Lakes community, located about 46 miles northwest of Fort Collins, is known for its recreational opportunities and remote scenic beauty. The Ranger Cabin is a spacious (1,660 square foot), three-room log cabin, that can accommodate six to eight people. It has one queen bed and four twin beds. The fully-equipped kitchen includes two stoves, two refrigerators, microwave, toaster, coffee pot, pots, pans, dishes and utensils. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937 from adapted architectural plans from the Sunlight Ranger Cabin near Cody, Wyoming. The Assistant Ranger Cabin is a two-bedroom log cabin that can accommodate four to six people. There is a small fully-equipped kitchen with a small table. There is a log bed frame with a queen size bed in one bedroom and two twin beds in the second bedroom. Recreation Canoeing, paddle boarding and fishing are popular activities on the 115-acre, Dowdy Lake nearby and 25-acre, West Lake. Motorized boats are allowed on the lakes, but a 10 mph speed limit is enforced with no wake. Anglers cast for brown, brook, cutthroat and lake trout. Several additional lakes are in the vicinity. Many hiking, biking and horseback riding trails are nearby, including the Mount Margaret Trail, Lady Moon Trail, Elkhorn, Dowdy Lake Trail and others. Several off-road vehicle trails are located within five miles of the cabins. Other popular activities include viewing wildlife and visiting the Redfeather Visitor Center. The Poudre River is located 10 miles to the south (about a 30-minute drive) and offers whitewater rafting and kayaking, fishing, hiking trails, and other recreation opportunities. Facilities The Redfeather Ranger Station has two cabins and an office with a visitor's center. The cabins include propane grills, picnic tables, a campfire ring, and horseshoe game outside the Ranger Cabin. The Ranger Cabin is a spacious (1,660 square foot), three-room log cabin, that can accommodate six to eight people. It has eight twin beds. The fully-equipped kitchen includes two stoves, two refrigerators, microwave, toaster, coffee pot, pots, pans, dishes and utensils. The dining room has seating for eight. A fireplace is located in the living room; firwood is not provided. An indoor bathroom is available. The Assistant Ranger Cabin is a two-bedroom log cabin that can accommodate four to six people. There is a small fully-equipped kitchen with a small table and an indoor bathroom. There is a log bed frame with a queen size bed in one bedroom and two twin beds in the second bedroom. Natural Features The Ranger Station is located in a small meadow between West Lake and Dowdy Lake and ten miles north of the Poudre River. Bald Mountain is located to the southwest and Deadman Mountain is located to the west. Nearby Attractions The small village of Re

900m away

WEST LAKE

Overview West Lake Campground is located 48 miles northwest of Fort Collins, in north central Colorado, 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 25-acre, no-wake West Lake. Anglers cast for rainbow and lake trout. Several additional lakes are in the vicinity. Many hiking, biking and horseback riding trails are in the surrounding area, including the 1.5-mile West Lake Trail and 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 nearby Redfeather Visitor Center. Facilities The campground offers 31 accessible single- and double-family campsites, with electric hookups. Five additional 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 and drinking water are provided. Firewood may be gathered in the forest or purchased from the campground host. Natural Features The campground is situated in a ponderosa pine forest, on the shore of West 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. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578. Nearby Attractions The small village of Red Feather Lakes is nearby, offering limited dining options, gift shops, general stores, a library, post office and golf course. 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.