New Crusher Hole Campground opens June 25 at Navajo Lake State Park

By EMNRD

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), State Parks Division announces that the new Crusher Hole Campground is slated to open Friday, June 25^th at Navajo Lake State Park. The new campground is adjacent to the Crusher Hole day-use area along the San Juan River.

The new campground was constructed on the state-owned Johnson Tract property at Navajo Lake State Park. The sites include: 17 standard sites, 3 accessible sites, and one host site, all furnished with a concrete pad, shelter, grill, fire ring, and tent pad. The three accessible sites and the one host site received accessible furnishings. Two double vault toilets were installed that have accessible concrete parking and access pads.

“Navajo Lake State Park is one of our department’s most popular camping destinations,” said EMNRD Cabinet Secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst. “The new Crusher Hole campground will provide additional opportunities for visitors to enjoy the outdoors and access the San Juan River and Navajo Lake.”

A new entrance from the Crusher Hole Day Use Area and a basecourse driveway loop was constructed to provide access to the campsites. This project also included construction of a pump house, irrigation infrastructure, and planting of native shrubs in an approximately 15-acre area within the campground. State Parks has surface water rights and will use water drawn from the San Juan River to irrigate the newly planted native trees, shrubs, and grasses. The native vegetation will provide a buffer for the campground and improve habitat for wildlife.

This new campground facility was developed in partnership with the Land Water and Conservation Fund (LWCF). The cost of the project was $1.85 million. In addition, State Parks received a second grant award from LWCF to develop other camp sites and day use facilities and provide additional recreational opportunities at Navajo Lake State Park. The estimated cost of the planned project is $954,000.