Baby Doe

Baby Doe Campground is situated on the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake in the shade of a lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forest. This family-friendly campground is a popular summer destination for boating, hiking and fishing. It was named for Elizabeth McCourt, whose nickname was Baby Doe — she made a name for herself in the Colorado mining community in the 19th century when she took on the rugged work of a miner. The 1.2-mile Turquoise Lake Nature Trail is a gentle loop through the forest and down to the shoreline of Turquoise Lake. It connects to the 6.4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail, which parallels the shoreline from Sugar Loaf Dam to May Queen Campground. Trail guides are available at the trailhead located about a mile south, at the entrance to Molly Brown Campground. On the lake, boating, sailing, canoeing and fishing are favorite activities, and anglers fish for stocked cutthroat, rainbow, brown and lake trout. A boat ramp is located about a mile south of the campground. The campground offers single-family sites, some of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and trash collection are provided, firewood is available for purchase from the Host, and parking spurs are gravel or dirt. Campsites are perched along the scenic lakeshore. The Mount Massive Wilderness Area, a 30,540-acre stretch of primitive land boasting Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet, is nearby. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields. Venture to Independence Pass for a scenic drive with breathtaking views of the Rockies and surrounding alpine tundra habitat. At 12,095 feet, it is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the country, and marks where the Top of the Rockies National Scenic and Historic Byway crosses the Continental Divide.