Lake Irwin Campground
Lake Irwin sits at roughly 10,000 feet in the Gunnison National Forest, below the Ruby Range and the Raggeds. It’s a developed USFS campground on the lakeshore, with numbered sites and the usual vault toilets. Spruce and fir give you shade, and the air is cold even in August. Expect good fishing, a loop trail around the water, and wildflowers in July. Weekends fill fast, so don’t count on rolling in late on a Friday.
Access is via Irwin Road (FR 826) out of the Kebler Pass corridor west of Crested Butte. It’s a maintained dirt road that most vehicles can handle in dry weather, though washboard is common. The season is short. Snow holds on into early summer, and the campground is generally open only from late spring or early summer into early fall. Verify dates, fees, and reservation requirements with the Forest Service or Recreation.gov before you go. Pearl Pass staging is a short run back into Crested Butte for fuel and groceries.
Have a dirty day.
High alpine lakeshore camp west of Crested Butte.
Place Details
| Type | Established Campground |
|---|---|
| Elevation (ft) | 10200 ft |
| Nearest town | Crested Butte, Colorado |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle |
| Access road surface | Dirt |
| Cell service | None |
| Reservation required | Yes |
| Best season | June-September |
| Land manager | USFS |
| Permit required | No |
| Amenities | Fire ring, Picnic table, Shade, Toilets |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Approximate Location
Exact location unavailable. This map shows the nearest town (Crested Butte, Colorado) as an approximation. For exact directions, photos, and current details, use the "Search on Google" link in the place details above.