Mirror Lake Campground — Tincup Pass Road, Gunnison National Forest

Mirror Lake Campground sits on the Tincup side of the pass road, up in the spruce and fir above Tincup. It’s a small, no-frills Forest Service camp: pit toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, and a little lake just off the road. No hookups, no showers, no camp host to hold your hand. Bring your own water, or filter from the lake or a creek, and pack out your trash. It’s high enough that nights get cold even in July, so don’t plan on a thin summer bag.

This is a good staging camp for running Tincup Pass over to St. Elmo. You get an early start without burning daylight on the approach, and you can size up the weather before committing to the climb. Afternoon thunderstorms build fast up here. Sites are generally first-come, first-served, and they fill on summer weekends, so show up midweek or early in the day. Snow keeps the road and camp closed well into early summer. Verify season, fees, and current conditions with the Gunnison Ranger District before you go.

Last developed camp before Tincup Pass gets serious.