Denver Campgrounds: Your Home Away From Home
Denver is a beautiful and busy city, so you may want to escape and enjoy the scenery in the surrounding areas. Here are some of the best camping spots near Denver!
Sitting in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains, Denver, the largest city in Colorado, and the capital of the state is a gateway to some of the best camping localities in the U.S. What makes these places more special is the fact they are within an easy drive of the capital. If you are ready to pitch your tent and prepare your campfire, be sure to check out these campgrounds.
When you head north out of Denver and travel for 71.3 miles, via US-36, you will come to the Moraine Park Campground. Located at 8,160 feet, you will find yourself in the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain National Park. You will be stunned with the beautiful views of this enormous park along with the remarkable mountains. Before you leave home, you will first need to make reservations at this developed campground. RVs are allowed up to 40 feet, as are trailers. Campers should look for D loop: the spaces are not only private, but they are also attractive. There are plenty of campsites and campers have reported seeing a herd of elk meander through the area on several occasions.
If you’d like another option, take US-36 W, drive about 56 miles, and you will be at Rainbow Lakes Campground. This is a tent campground which is open during the summer months. It offers a variety of sites which is popular with mountain bikers, hikers, and fishermen. This location puts you near proximity to hiking trails as well as many fishing ponds. One of the popular trails, which is a 1.9-mile hike, is the Rainbow Lakes Trail. The campground also accommodates small trailers.
Camping Near Denver Offers Many Different Options
If you enjoy hiking, fishing, and swimming, then Guanella Pass Campground will fill your bill. The facility is located just 54 miles from Denver. You drive west from the capital on US-285 to Grand, take a right turn, then head north on to Park County Road 62. Drive another 14.5 miles to enter the campground. The site is split into two loops, with 18 sites available. Eleven of these are great for RV camping; seven are best for tents. You will find restrooms and water readily available. Each site has a tent pad, fire grate, and a picnic table. Open your tent flap and head out to find your favorite activities. You might also be interested in visiting the nearby historic Georgetown and some of the ghost towns in the area.
You will not find a campground much closer to Denver than Bear Lake Campground. A short 31- mile drive via US-6 W will get you there in about a half-hour. Located in the beautiful San Isabel National Forest, this campground sits at an elevation of 10,480 feet. Campers are thrilled to be offered a genuine Colorado experience with views of the nearby Culebra Mountain Range viewing the magnificent aspen and spruce forests. Campers will find a table and fire ring at each of the 14 campsites. Some of these sites are shaded, while others offer full sunlight. Excellent fishing can be found here at Blue Lake and Bear Lake. They are both stocked several times during the summer. There is also a 23-mile multi-use trail system. This is an opportunity to bring your all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, or bike. If you prefer a quieter location, there is a well-marked trail system between Bear Lake and Blue Lake. It is open to both foot and horse traffic.
Other Campground Options in the Denver Area
About an hour and a half drive from Denver will take you to Camp Dick Campground. Take US-36 for the 51-mile trip. You will find the access roads and campsites wide, flat, and easily accessible for trailers and RVs. However, there is no dump station or hook-ups of any kind. The campground is very scenic and tucked away from the wind and foul weather. Situated in a glacial valley, this offers some of the most stunning scenery at the Rocky Mountain National Park. Nearby is St. Vrain Creek. You will be able to fly fish for cutthroat, brown and rainbow trout and return to your campsite, with your catch, to prepare your evening meal. Campers are always satisfied by the hiking and biking trails available around the campground.
Travel the 87-miles to Ansel Watrous Campground, located to the north and west of Fort Collins, and you will find two camping loops. These provide for RV spurs and walk-in tents sites. One loop is open throughout the year, providing for winter camping. You will be able to enjoy some fantastic hiking as well as rock-climbing. Ansel Watrous Campground also has provisions for biking, horseback riding, and some tremendous whitewater rafting. You can find world-class trout fishing at the Cache La Poudre. The location is on the banks of the vast rushing river that will most likely lull you to sleep each night.
Getting away to a campground is a great way to connect with nature. Some of the best campsites in the U.S. are in Colorado, with the beautiful Rocky Mountains just 12 miles away from Denver. The entire area is a natural spectacle offering you trails to explore, rivers in which you can swim or fish, gorges, canyons, and cliffs. It is truly a wonderland provided by nature.
Hope you enjoyed this list of the best camping spots near Denver!