Spillway Campground

Spot 22 is great for tent camping! Nice flat ground to set up, and you’re right next to the stream...lovely to listen to the water flowing as you drift off to sleep! Several breaks in the brush at and near the site, so you can wet your line if you’re into fishing. (Recommend waders if you have them, though you *can* fish from shore. Short walk to the trailhead where you can hike up for a beautiful view of the dam and eleven mile reservoir on the other side of the dam.

Spot 22 is great for tent camping! Nice flat ground to set up, and you’re right next to the stream...lovely to listen to the water flowing as you drift off to sleep! Several breaks in the brush at and near the site, so you can wet your line if you’re into fishing. (Recommend waders if you have them, though you *can* fish from shore. Short walk to the trailhead where you can hike up for a beautiful view of the dam and eleven mile reservoir on the other side of the dam.

The tiny town of Lake George (where you turn off Hwy 24 to enter the canyon) has a nice little convenience/liquor store, a small restaurant, and a fly shop. There is a toll station at the bottom of the gravel canyon road (just after the pavement ends) where you pay a $7 daily fee (only once if staying in a campsite). Spillway is a clean and well-maintained campground with both RV and "tent only" campsites. The camp hosts have always been very friendly and helpful. There is plenty of potable water available from an old-fashioned hand pump. No electricity is available on-site. There are two latrine type toilet structures. Most, if not all, sites have a sturdy steel picnic table and fire ring. The camp host usually has bundles of wood for sale, assuming of course that current burn restrictions permit a campfire. Winds can be very strong in the canyon, especially in the afternoon, so also make sure your tent or tarp is securely tied down and up to the challenge. Regardless of your service provider, a cellphone signal in the canyon is extremely rare. You must drive approximately 9 miles out of the canyon for a viable signal. The area is beautiful with plenty of wildlife, forests, flowers, and rose-colored granite peaks. DOW fishing regulations are strictly enforced with “flies and lures only” (no bait of any kind) and all fish caught must be returned to the water immediately. Would-be poachers and “conveniently ignorant" meat fishermen are routinely reported to the local Game Warden by the throngs of zealous "catch and release" fly fishers that flock to the area daily. People have been known to drive all the way out of the canyon just to report violators (I am one of them). If you leave food or trash out and accessible it will be raided by chipmunks at the first available opportunity. Bears are rare but be smart and keep a clean camp. Lastly, watch small children closely. Kids love to climb the many boulders and falls are a serious hazard.

The tiny town of Lake George (where you turn off Hwy 24 to enter the canyon) has a nice little convenience/liquor store, a small restaurant, and a fly shop. There is a toll station at the bottom of the gravel canyon road (just after the pavement ends) where you pay a $7 daily fee (only once if staying in a campsite). Spillway is a clean and well-maintained campground with both RV and "tent only" campsites. The camp hosts have always been very friendly and helpful. There is plenty of potable water available from an old-fashioned hand pump. No electricity is available on-site. There are two latrine type toilet structures. Most, if not all, sites have a sturdy steel picnic table and fire ring. The camp host usually has bundles of wood for sale, assuming of course that current burn restrictions permit a campfire. Winds can be very strong in the canyon, especially in the afternoon, so also make sure your tent or tarp is securely tied down and up to the challenge. Regardless of your service provider, a cellphone signal in the canyon is extremely rare. You must drive approximately 9 miles out of the canyon for a viable signal. The area is beautiful with plenty of wildlife, forests, flowers, and rose-colored granite peaks. DOW fishing regulations are strictly enforced with “flies and lures only” (no bait of any kind) and all fish caught must be returned to the water immediately. Would-be poachers and “conveniently ignorant" meat fishermen are routinely reported to the local Game Warden by the throngs of zealous "catch and release" fly fishers that flock to the area daily. People have been known to drive all the way out of the canyon just to report violators (I am one of them). If you leave food or trash out and accessible it will be raided by chipmunks at the first available opportunity. Bears are rare but be smart and keep a clean camp. Lastly, watch small children closely. Kids love to climb the many boulders and falls are a serious hazard.

We had a great experience, but just a warning on site 2. It is TINY and unless you have a small 2 person tent there is not a level area where you can set your tent. Its also about 20 yards uphill to get to your site so don’t bring anything heavy unless you’re quite strong. The camp host was wonderful. The bathrooms were very clean and did not smell even though it was very hot when we were there.... mid-90s! Another note, it’s catch and release only until you’re 2 miles from the dam.

We had a great experience, but just a warning on site 2. It is TINY and unless you have a small 2 person tent there is not a level area where you can set your tent. Its also about 20 yards uphill to get to your site so don’t bring anything heavy unless you’re quite strong. The camp host was wonderful. The bathrooms were very clean and did not smell even though it was very hot when we were there.... mid-90s! Another note, it’s catch and release only until you’re 2 miles from the dam.

Nice campground at end of road. Scenic. Pit toilets are standard. Most tent areas level but be careful on hill sites. Water pumped from ground available. All sites seem to have level picnic tables and good fire rings with grill you can fold over fire. Lots of fly fishermen. We were in 20. Nice site by river. River view blocked by bushes but you can hear water.

Nice campground at end of road. Scenic. Pit toilets are standard. Most tent areas level but be careful on hill sites. Water pumped from ground available. All sites seem to have level picnic tables and good fire rings with grill you can fold over fire. Lots of fly fishermen. We were in 20. Nice site by river. River view blocked by bushes but you can hear water.

We got no sleep the first night because of the group in the site next to us. They were so loud, singing and yelling for hours. There were way more then 8 people and 2 cars at the nextdoor campsite.

We got no sleep the first night because of the group in the site next to us. They were so loud, singing and yelling for hours. There were way more then 8 people and 2 cars at the nextdoor campsite.