Chatfield State Park Littleton
Chatfield State Park is just 45 minutes from Denver and is one of the metro areas most popular destinations, thanks to the opportunity to play on the beach, take part in a wide range of water sports, hike barbecue, view wildlife and more. And, all can be enjoyed while soaking up views of the Rocky Mountain foothills. There are nearly 200 campsites, for both tents and RVs, and each one includes a picnic table, grill and is within walking distance of the water. On the 880-acre, surface of the water, you can kayak, fish, boat, paddleboard and canoe. If you dont have your own watercraft, boat rentals are available. While on land, there are scenic trails for horseback riding, biking and hiking throughout the area. Facilities also include a marina, a restaurant, and even a model airplane field with paved runways, frequency posts and field regulations for radio-controlled aircraft.
Camping Tips For Colorado
Even if camping is familiar to you, its a good idea to read up on some of the tips and guidelines to camping in Colorado before you go. Heres some information to keep in mind, so you know what to expect:
Theres one travel insurance provider The Broke Backpacker trusts for all his wildest shenanigans World Nomads!
Great Fall Camping Destinations In Colorado
As summer fades into autumn, billions of aspen will turn from green to gold. If youre brave enough to face the chill of the mountain air, get out there and pitch a tent this fall. Here are some of our favorite camping destinations to explore this fall in Colorado.
Editors Note: Fall colors typically peak in mid-September and run through early October, depending on weather and altitude. Please check weather conditions, current road conditions, and closures before planning your travels to any of these destinations listed below. High-elevation sites are often inaccessible due to snow, even in the early fall months.
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Angel Of Shavano Campgrounds
Those looking to truly get away from it all will want to add the Angel of Shavano campgrounds to their list of outdoor destinations. Located inside the San Isabel National Forest this campground has 20 individual campsites and is rarely ever crowded. This is due in part to its remote nature, which requires a three-hour drive from Denver just to get to the location. The upside is that this usually makes it extremely easy to reserve a spot, even during the busier summer months.
Situated along the 486-mile Colorado Trail, Angel of Shavano offers excellent hiking and mountain biking, as well as fishing in the North Fork Reservoir. The thickly-wooded national forest is also a beautiful retreat, offering plenty of solitude and tranquility for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. Lacking in accessible camp sites, Angel of Shavano is not the best option for wheelchair or mobility aid users.
Belle Of Colorado Campground
As a tent-only campground, Belle of Colorado tops our list as one of the best places to tent camp in Colorado, period.
If you can take your eyes off the Sugarloaf Mountains and the broad crystal waters of Turquoise Lake, then take a dip in the lake, camp a line, or maybe even just set up your hammock.
There are only a handful of campsites available and they fill up fast during the summer. Especially the very best campsites located on the lakeshore. No reservations are available.
Great Sand Dunes National Park boasts the tallest sand dunes in the country and, believe us, they are spectacular to witness.
For those looking to camp on their visit to this national park, Pinon Flats Campground is one of the best places to stay.
The seasonal campground has 86 total campsites. All of these are available to reserve in advance .
Perhaps the best time to visit with your family is in May when Medano Creeks melting waters create a natural water park.
Other activities include hiking in the dunes. You can even ski, snowboard, or sled your way back down!
Learn more about Pinon Flats Campground.
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Stylish Secluded Cabin Black Hawk
For a cultured camping experience, this beautiful VRBO in Colorado throws out the rulebook when it comes to glamping and offers up a luxe cabin moment. With warm wood-clad interiors and stylish furnishings, large windows, and high vaulted ceilings, its a sophisticated year-round option.
Located close to the town of Black Hawk and surrounded by national forest, it feels like a very private spot to enjoy nature all to yourself. There are hiking trails within feet of the cabin doorstep, for one thing. Back at the ranch, kick back round the fire pit with the outdoor sound system blasting your favorite tunesall just an hour or so from Denver.
Best Tent Camping In Southern Colorado
My son is visiting from NYC and I thought it would be fun to go tent camping for a couple of nights. We will be leaving from CO Springs and would prefer that the campground not be more than 2 hours from there. I am looking for beautiful scenery, wildlife, fishing and SERENITY! Any guidance is appreciated.
I am not sure about best but we had a nice time camping outside of Salida. Great views, trails nearby and of course the river is right there. Note that this is dispersed camping, meaning no services, pack it in pack it out.
So many wonderful places to camp. Look at the San Isabel NFS campgrounds up Chalk Creek west of Nathrop , near Cottonwood Pass near Buena Vista and Twin Lakes area near Leadville, all wonderful places.
Also there are some nice campgrounds just over Monarch Pass before you get to Gunnison near the town of Pitkin.
If you can skip a campground, I would say the Tarryall area.
Off route 77 which is near Lake George.
Depends what you are driving. So many spots and lots of privacy if you know where to go.
I would say near Tarryall Reservoir so you can fish and head back before there on some of the forest roads.
Can’t give you my “special” spots but there are plenty back there.
If you don’t mind hiking in about 1/4 mi, then Skaguay near Cripple creek.
Don’t ruin my spots!
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Colorado Springs Koa Co
When you decide to base your vacation at Colorado Springs KOA, you can appreciate majestic views of Pikes Peak and its forested slopes every morning. This RV park is located in El Paso County, just minutes away from superstores, restaurants, and city attractions in Colorado Springs. Its easily accessible too, as the campground sits alongside Interstate 25 between Pueblo. Colorado Springs KOA is a convenient launch pad for a plethora of recreational activities.
However, you dont need to leave the campgrounds to get active. Colorado Springs KOA offers guests an on-site water park, complete with swimming pool and slides which is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Colorado Springs KOA hasnt forgotten about your
Upper Slate Lake White River National Forest
If youre into true, out-of-reach, wilderness camping, youll love Upper Slate Lake in the White River National Forest and in our opinion offers the best tent camping in Colorado.
Located at an elevation of 10,800 feet, Upper Slate Lake is a quiet, crystal clear loch in one of the most beautiful settings you can imagine. Nestling among the peaks of the Gores, the jagged, imposing skyline that frames the lake is truly something to take your breath away. Although youre in Summit County here, this setting couldnt feel farther away from the ski resorts and jet-set lifestyle that youll find there.
You reach this location on foot via a strenuous hike along the Rock Creek Trail and Gore Range Trail. The hike will take you up and down the Boulder Creek drainage, over another ridge, and then down a steep, long stretch of trail. Eventually, youll wind up in a vast, open meadow, which makes a good campsite option unless you got an early start, in which case you might want to carry on walking up the steep trail that takes you past Slate Lake. One thousand feet of climbing later, youll get to Upper Slate Lake. The whole hike is around 9.3 miles and 2,700 feet of elevation gain, but it does get you a few nights in absolute paradise.
While youre here, take a days hike out to see the incredible waterfalls to the west of the lake.
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The 8 Best Rv Campgrounds In Colorado
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Colorado is a beautiful state to go RV camping. Youre sure to find some peace and quiet and the campsites seem to be less crowded. In Colorado, we have enchanting mountain views, breathtaking overlooks, beautiful sunrises, and gorgeous sunsets! Be sure to bring your s mores ingredients, because youll want to be sure you are out enjoying the beautiful, cool evening air without all the light and noise pollution that you get from being so close to the big cities. If you are up for an adventure this summer be sure to check out all of these campsites that Im going to share with you!
Where are the Best RV Campgrounds in Colorado? Here are our top picks in no particular order.
- This pet-friendly site allows 1 large or 2 small/med non-aggressive dog for an additional fee.
What Youll Love About Glenwood Canyon Resort
What Do Other RVers Have to Say About Glenwood Canyon Resort?
AwesomeBeautiful place cant express how awesome the people are here make you feel like home every nite they have everything you would want plus some management and owners are super nice!!!!! do yourself a favor and see for yourself. Jason H, TripAdvisor
Glenwood Canyon Resort Information
1308 Co Rd 129, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
958-6737
We Have Selected What We Think Are The 10 Best Campgrounds In Colorado For Rvers Just In Time For Your Fall Camping Getaway Colorado Is Awesome During The Fall
With such incredible destinations as Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, the Colorado National Monument, and Mesa Verde, Colorado has a surprising variety of landscapes that will take your breath away! It is tailor-made for RV exploring
Colorado is a spectacular, wide-open state. You will no doubt clock in a lot of traveling time, both in getting here and traveling around the area. If you havent already heard, we like to tout our 330 Rule. This is when you are traveling, always stop for the day when you have either, 1) driven 330 miles, or it is 3:30 in the afternoon. That way, you have time to relax for the evening and do some exploring, and you will be less exhausted from driving.
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What People Are Saying About Peacock Meadows Riverside Rv Park
This is a very nice park. Its new so the trees are not big enough to shade yet. There is a catch & amp release pond and also a short walk to the Rio Grande river. The showers/laundry house is very nice and clean. There is also a small playground area. We would stay here again. Denise, TripAdvisor Review
Location
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Best Places To Camp In Colorado
Our research is editorially independent but we may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
With so much breathtaking mountain scenery, its no surprise that Colorado offers practically an endless number of amazing places to camp, but with so many great sites, how do you decide just where to go? This list features the best of the best, making that decision just a little bit easier.
YOU’RE ALL SET!
Located five miles southwest of downtown Aspen up Maroon Creek Road, the Maroon Bells are one of Colorados most iconic landscapes as a twin set of 14ers that mirror off Maroon Lake. There are three campgrounds set within the woods by West Maroon Creek: Silver Queen, Silver Bar and Silver Bell Silver Bell offers walk-in sites that are great for tent camping, which is available from about late May through late September. If you want to enjoy the most breathtaking scenery without the big crowds, try to come during the second half of September when you may be able to enjoy the brilliant golden leaves, set against the snow-dusted Bells. The campgrounds include water and trash facilities as well as vault toilets reservations are a must and can be made through recreation.gov.
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Check Out Private Campgrounds
If your heart is set on camping in a specific area, but the government-run campgrounds are full, dont forget to look into private campgrounds like Yogi Bears Jellystone Park outside of Estes Park and the numerous KOA Campgrounds scattered around the Centennial State. While these options are often more expensive , they also tend to have more amenities on-site, like pools, playgrounds, showers, and maybe even a mini-golf course.
Penitente Canyon Blm San Luis Valley
Lest you rock climbers think I forgot about you. This unique area in the San Luis Valley is home to steep canyons reminiscent of the desert Southwest, with more than 300 bolted climbing routes. The campground itself offers sites among the rocks and cliffs as well as sites with great views of the valley and the distant Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
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Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve
Why you should camp here
Piñon Flats Campground is a small, rustic campground that rests near the base of the Great Sand Dunes, the tallest dunes in North America. Since the campground is located inside Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, you’ll have access to all of the park’s events and activities during the day and one of the best spots in the state for stargazing at night.
Campground
Piñon Flats Campground is the only developed campground inside Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. This campground has non-electric campsites for tent, RV, and group camping and is best for vehicles under 30 feet long.
- 91 tent and RV sites.
- Picnic tables, fire rings, and grates.
- Bear-resistant food lockers.
- Vault toilet and dump station.
Things Nobody Tells You About Colorado
We always find that our appreciation of a place is greatly enhanced by understanding a little bit about its history and culture. Yes, even in our home country! So weve included a brief primer on what makes the state absolutely fascinating and what you need to know before you go camping in Colorado.
Colorados history is fierce and fascinating. The beloved mountains that we know and love today are the result of tectonic plate collisions that happened 70 million years ago. Even back then, Colorado was lit: the state was home to so many dinosaurs that theres even a town in Colorado named Dinosaur!
In addition to dinosaurs, the area has been inhabited by humans for at least 14,000 years. Native American tribes inhabited and traveled through what is now Colorado, including Ute, Navajo, Comanche, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes with many of these tribes sacred origin and ceremonial sites found within the state.
And while there are still many Indigenous communities within Colorado today, there have been many tribes with a legacy of occupation in the area. After European colonizers arrived in Colorado, Native Americans were displaced from their ancestral lands, slaughtered en masse and finally forced onto reservations, some of which were far removed from their homelands.
These towns remain Colorados most-visited destinations to this day: after the silver rush faded to more of a dull gray, the states coffers relied instead on tourism, craft beer, and most recently weed.
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