Mollie B + Little Maud Campgrounds

Ruedi Reservoir is a popular recreation area near Basalt and Aspen. The complex of campgrounds near the west end of the lake can make a great base camp for exploring the area or just taking advantage of the world-class fishing on the Fryingpan River and in Ruedi Reservoir itself. 

There are four campgrounds collectively called the Ruedi Creek Campgrounds: Little Maud, Mollie B, Little Mattie, and the Ruedi Marina. Little Maud and Mollie B are adjacent to each other and share a sequential site numbering scheme (1 through 48); for all intents and purposes they can be considered a single campground with two loops. For most campers, they will be the first and best choice since they are reservable, have drinking water, and are generally the nicest campgrounds. The campsite photos in this adventure are all from Little Maud and Mollie B. Many of the sites have lake views, and it is just a short walk to the lake itself or to the boat ramp and boat parking area. The views of the surrounding hills are quite nice from these campgrounds, and the lake, particularly early in the summer when it is full, adds a very scenic element to the surroundings. The two main campgrounds are suitable for tents, small campers and RVs up to 32 feet, though there are a few sites where a larger RV might fit.

Less than a mile west of the campgrounds and below the dam begins the Gold Medal fishery of the Fryingpan River. Before the dam flooded some of the river in the early 1960s, this was known as one of the very best fly fishing rivers in the world. It is still excellent, and there is a large day use area below the dam that draws fishermen every day during the season. For lake shore fishing as well as fly fishing, the inlet to the lake, about 7 miles east, provides another excellent spot that is popular and also has the small Dearhamer Campground as an alternate place to set up camp.

Little Mattie Campground has 18 sites up Pond Creek and can accommodate RVs up to 22 feet. It has no drinking water and is further from the lake than the others. The sites are first-come, first-served, and this provides an option if the other campgrounds are not available. The Marina Campground is just a section of the large boat ramp parking lot marked off into eight gravel campsites with drinking water, tables, fire rings and bear boxes. It is very close to the lake, but otherwise it is no-frills and also first-come, first-served.