Campground Recon, Estes Park, CO (2026)

01/26/2026

Timber Creek Campground - The quieter side of RMNP.

🏔️ Elevation: 8,947 ft
📍 Location: Rocky Mountain National Park (GPS:40.37928, -105.85079)
🏕️ Total Sites: ~100 💵 Fee: $35
📅 Season: Late May to Early October
⛺ Reservations: Yes, 6 months in advance (Highly Competitive)
Book Your Site on Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/260552
💧 Water: Potable water spigots available. Water in restrooms
🗑️ Trash: Yes
♻️ Recycling: Yes
💡 Electric: No
🚿 Showers: No
📶 Cell Service:
Verizon: None
AT&T: None to 1-bar. Unusable from our arrival to the next morning. Texts & Calls were ok in the morning.
🚗 Access: Paved road, accessible for all vehicles (Max RV length 30ft)
💩 Nearest Dump Station: On-site near the campground exit
🥾 Hikes: Timber Lake Trail, Colorado River Trail (Lulu City), Holzwarth Historic Site
⭐ Attractions: Trail Ridge Road, Elk viewing (in campground), Colorado River

01/10/2026

Located in the Estes Valley Recreation District at 8,050 ft, this campground offers 117 sites (tent & RV) ranging from $45 to $65+ per night. It features full hookups, potable water, and strong cell service on major carriers. Paved access for all vehicles. Reservations required.

🏔️ Elevation: 8,050 ft
📍 Location: Estes Valley Recreation and Park District (GPS: 40.34724, -105.53220)
🏕️ Total Sites: 117 (89 RV / 28 Tent) | 💵 Fee: $45 (No Hookup) - $65 (Full Hookup) + Fees
📅 Season: Late May to Late September
⛺ Reservations: Yes, Required. Up to a 180-day rolling window.
🔗 Book Your Site: https://www.reserveamerica.com/explore/estes-park-campground-at-marys-lake/ESTS/300100/overview
💧 Water: Yes (Potable spigots & W/E hookups available)
🚿 Showers: Yes ($2 for 6 mins, coins required)
🗑️ Trash: Yes, Dumpsters on site
♻️ Recycle: Yes
💡 Electric: Yes (Full hookups available)
📶 Cell Service: Good (AT&T and Verizon)
🚗 Access: Paved to the entrance; Big Rig Friendly.
💩 Dump Station: On-site (Included for campers)
⭐ Attractions: Fishing in Mary’s Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

01/10/2026

Last September, we camped in site 39 at the newly renovated Moraine Park Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park.

🏔️ Elevation: 8,160 ft
📍 Location: Rocky Mountain National Park (GPS: 40.364, -105.602)
🏕️ Total Sites: 244 (approx.) | 💵 Fee: $30-$35 (Standard), $55 (Electric)
📅 Season: Year-round (Limited loops in winter)
⛺ Reservations: Yes, 6 months in advance (Highly Competitive)
Book Your Site on Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232463
💧 Water: Potable water spigots available
🗑️ Trash: Yes
♻️ Recycling: Yes
💡 Electric: Yes (49 sites in Loops B & C)
🚿 Showers: Yes (2 new solar shower facilities)
📶 Cell Service: Good
AT&T: Reliable / Good Signal
Verizon: Reliable / Good Signal
🚗 Access: Paved road, accessible for all vehicles (Max RV length 40ft)
💩 Nearest Dump Station: On-site (Seasonal)
🥾 Hikes: Cub Lake, Fern Lake, Sprague Lake
⭐ Attractions: Elk herds in the campground, Trail Ridge Road nearby

12/24/2025

Planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in 2026? 🌲 Glacier Basin Campground is our favorite basecamp for exploring the Bear Lake corridor in RMNP.
150 campsites spread across 4 loops. A & B Loops have plenty of shade, while C & D Loops are more open with amazing views.

11/16/2025

Located in a Cañon City Park less than 2 miles from the Royal Gorge, East Ridge Campground offers 23 reservable sites ($20/night) open year-round. Access is a good dirt road, and cell service is strong.

EAST RIDGE CAMPGROUND STATS
🏔️ Elevation: 6830 ft
📍 Location: Cañon City Park (38.4668995, -105.293711)
🏕️ Total Sites: 23
💵 Fee: $20 per night.
📅 Season: Open year-round
⛺ Reservations: Yes. Required April - October
How far in advance? 90 Days
Book Your Site: https://secure.rec1.com/CO/canon-city-co/catalog

💧 Water: No, according to the reservation site. Water spigot by site 14.
🗑️ Trash: Yes
💡 Electric: No
📶 Cell Service:
AT&T: Yes
Verizon: Yes
🚗 Access: About 1 mile of good dirt road from pavement (3.5 miles to US-50)
💩 Nearest Dump Station: Several options in Cañon City (4-8 miles away)
🥾 Hikes: 22+ miles of hiking and biking trails accessible from the campground
⭐ Attractions: Royal Gorge Bridge, Royal Gorge Railroad, helicopter tours, hiking, biking
📽️ Recording Date: 7/6/2025

11/09/2025

Looking for FREE camping with a nice view? 🏔️ This week's recon takes us into Gunnison National Forest!

We've got the details on Needle Creek Reservoir Dispersed Camping. This is true boondocking at 8,800 ft—no fee, no cell service, and incredible trout fishing.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Access: It's about 12 miles on a dirt road, and to reach the best sites overlooking the reservoir (like the one pictured!), you'll need to navigate a creek crossing.

Amenities: None! Pack it in, pack it out, and come prepared with your own water.

Watch the full video tour to learn more.

What's the sketchiest road you've taken your rig down for a free campsite? Tell us in the comments! 👇

10/31/2025

Located in Roosevelt National Forest at 6,600 ft, Mountain Park Campground offers 55 sites ($30-$81/night) with potable water, pay showers, and trash service. Sites 1-32 are reservable electric, while 33-55 are first-come, first-served non-electric. Access is fully paved (right off CO-14), but there is no cell service.

MOUNTAIN PARK CAMPGROUND STATS
🏔️ Elevation: 6600ft
📍 Location: Roosevelt National Forest (40.68269, -105.46312)
🏕️ Total Sites: 55
💵 Fees:
Single Site: $30 per night ($41 Electric)
Double Site: $60 per night ($81 Electric)
📅 Season: Mid-May to mid-September
⛺ Reservations: Yes
How far in advance? 6-month rolling
Book Your Site on Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/231852

💧 Water: Yes
🚿 Showers: Yes. Near sites 4 & 5
🗑️ Trash: Yes
💡 Electric: Yes. Sites 1-32
📶 Cell Service:
AT&T: No
Verizon: No
🚗 Access:
Pavement to the campsites (Located off CO-14)
💩 Nearest Dump Station: Ft Collins
📽️ Recording Date: 5/28/2025
🥾 Hikes: Mt. McConnel Trail, William R. Kreutzer National Recreation Trail, and Young Gulch Trail
⭐ Attractions: Hiking, fishing, and whitewater rafting on the Cache la Poudre River

Find Your Perfect Campsite!
➢ Interactive Map of all our videos:
https://bit.ly/CampgroundRecon

10/16/2025

Located in Roosevelt National Forest at 8,600 ft, Bellaire Lake Campground offers 27 reservable sites (starting at $30/night) with potable water, trash service, and electric hookups. Access is via a smooth dirt road, and good cell service is available for both AT&T and Verizon.

BELLAIRE LAKE CAMPGROUND STATS
🏔️ Elevation: 8600 ft
📍 Location: Roosevelt National Forest (40.7682565, -105.622206)
🏕️ Total Sites: 27
💵 Fees:
**Single Site:
$30/night (non-electric) Sites 23, 24, 25, 27
$41/night (electric) Sites 1-3, 5-13, 15-17, 19, 21
**Double Site:
$60 per night (non-electric) Site 26
$81 per night (electric) Sites 14, 18, 20
**Triple Site:
$121 per night (electric) Site 4

📅 Season: Mid-May to Mid-September
⛺ Reservations: Yes, on a 6-month rolling window
Book Your Site on Recreation.gov:
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233137

💧 Water: Yes
🗑️ Trash: Yes
💡 Electric: Yes, all sites except 23-27
📶 Cell Service:
AT&T: Yes
Verizon: Yes
🚗 Access:
About 3 miles from pavement (Red Feather Lakes Road)
💩 Nearest Dump Station: 45+ Miles to Ft Collins.
📽️ Recording Date: 5/28/2025
⭐ Attractions: Red Feather Lakes, Dowdy Lake, fishing, kayaking, scenic drives.

10/09/2025

WEST LAKE CAMPGROUND:
🏔️ Elevation: 8200 ft
📍 Location: Roosevelt National Forest (40.7896891, -105.5674665)
🏕️ Total Sites: 36
💵 Fee: $28 (Sites 1-5) / $41 (Electric Sites) / $81 (Double Sites w/Electric)
📅 Season: Mid-May to Mid-September
⛺ Reservations: Yes, on a 6-month rolling window
Book Your Site on Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/231855

💧 Water: Yes
🗑️ Trash: Yes
💡 Electric: Yes, all sites except 1-5
📶 Cell Service:
AT&T: Yes
Verizon: Yes
🚗 Access:
Less than 1/4 mile from pavement (Red Feather Lakes Road)
💩 Nearest Dump Station: 45+ Miles to Ft Collins.
📽️ Recording Date: 5/28/2025
⭐ Attractions: Red Feather Lakes, Dowdy Lake, fishing, kayaking, scenic drives.
❤️ Team Recon Favorite Sites: 25, 26, 27

10/03/2025

New video tonight!
Check out our tour of Sleeping Elephant Campground, a first-come, first-served campground located right off the Cache la Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway in Colorado. This campground reopened after the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire, and while the campground itself was saved, you can see the impact of the fire on the surrounding mountains.

This is an older Forest Service campground with smaller sites, making it ideal for tents, vans, and RVs under 30 feet.

SLEEPING ELEPHANT CAMPGROUND STATS
🏔️ Elevation: 7800 ft
📍 Location: Roosevelt National Forest (40.682649, -105.772938)
🏕️ Total Sites: 15
💵 Fee: $23 per night.
📅 Season: Late May to mid Sept
⛺ Reservations: No. FCFS
💧 Water: Yes, potable water is available from a hand pump near the entrance.
🗑️ Trash: Yes. Dumpsters by Site 6
💡 Electric: No
📶 Cell Service:
AT&T: No
Verizon: No
🚗 Access:
Located right off CO-14 in the Poudre River Canyon

09/19/2025

Who likes camping by a river? 🙋🏻
Be sure to check out this week's campground tour of Pines Campground!

This small, 11-site campground offers large, open sites with limited shade due to beetle kill mitigation. We'll take you on a tour of the entire campground, including a close-up look at sites 8 and 10, which are situated right on the scenic South Fork of the Michigan River. Stick around for some drone footage at the end to get a full sense of the landscape!

🏔️ Elevation: 9200ft
📍 Location: Routt National Forest (40.4915731, -106.0079522)
🏕️ Total Sites: 11
💵 Fee: $20 per night.
📅 Season: June to late October
⛺ Reservations: Yes. June - August. (Looks like only sites 4, 6, & 9)
How far in advance? Rolling 6 months
Book Your Site on Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10361324
💧 Water: No - Drinking water is available 2 miles away at Aspen Campground
🗑️ Trash: Yes
💡 Electric: No
📶 Cell Service:
AT&T: No Service to 1 Bar
Verizon: No
🚗 Access:
About 4 miles from pavement (CO-14)
Smooth Dirt Road.
💩 Nearest Dump Station: 5 miles. Ranger Lakes Campground (Private)
📽️ Recording Date: 5/27/2025
🥾 Hikes:
South Fork Trailhead - Might be the same as All Trails' “Michigan River Trail to Baker Pass”
Several other trails listed in the area require 4WD access.
⭐ Attractions:
Moose Visitor Center (CO-14)
Teller City Historic Site (Old Cabins)
Popular OHV Routes:
Owl Mountain - High clearance recommended
Forest Road 740
Silver Creek Rd (780)
Calamity Pass

09/16/2025

In case you missed our last video on the channel...
Know Before You Go: Hidden Lakes Campground
🏔️ Elevation: 8,900 ft
📍 Location: Routt National Forest (40.5049145, -106.6091437)
🏕️ Total Sites: 9
💵 Fee: $20 per night
📅 Season: Early June to October (Opened early in 2025 due to less snowfall)
⛺ Reservations: Yes, on a 6-month rolling basis. Book on Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10361305
💧 Water: Hand pump (Non-potable)
🗑️ Trash: Yes, trash service is available
💡 Electric: No
📶 Cell Service: None for AT&T or Verizon. Expect to be off-grid.
🚗 Access: About 17 miles from CO-14 on a mostly smooth dirt road.
💩 Nearest Dump Station: 30 miles away at a private RV park in Walden.
🥾 Nearby Hikes & Trails: Access to Mount Zirkle Wilderness and the CDT via Buffalo Pass (FR-60).
Nearby OHV trails include Percy Lake Trail and Grizzly-Helena Trail.

Campground Recon

01/26/2026

01/10/2026

01/10/2026

12/24/2025

11/16/2025

11/09/2025

10/31/2025

10/16/2025

10/09/2025

10/03/2025

09/19/2025

09/16/2025

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