Campground Recon

29/08/2025

HAHNS PEAK LAKE CAMPGROUND
🏔️ Elevation: 8,400 ft
📍 Location: Routt National Forest (40.83967, -106.99790)
🏕️ Total Sites: 26 (Includes 3 Double Sites)
💵 Fee: $26 per night. $52 per night for Double Sites
📅 Season: Mid June through mid September
⛺ Reservations: Yes
Book Your Site on Recreation.gov: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/231863
💧 Water: Non-potable water
🗑️ Trash: Yes, trash service available
💡 Electric: No
📶 Cell Service:
AT&T: Weak to no service
Verizon: Weak to no service
🚗 Access:
About 2.5 miles from pavement (CO-129)
Smooth Dirt Road.
💩 Nearest Dump Station: 6.0 Miles at Steamboat Lake State Park
🥾 Hikes: West Side Lake Trail (about 1 mile)

17/08/2025

Catamount Campground Recon:
📍 Location: BLM, Colorado River Valley (near Burns, CO)
GPS: 39.89047, -106.83205
⛰️ Elevation: 6,570 ft
🚗 Access: Well-maintained dirt road (Colorado River Road).
🏕️ Campsites: 8
💲 Fees: $20 / night
📅 Season: Year-Round (Weather Permitting)
💧 Water: NO
🗑️ Trash: NO - Pack it in, pack it out.
📶 Cell Service: NO (AT&T/Verizon)
❤️ Our Pick: Site #6

Most websites, including the BLM's, say there are only 5 campsites here. We went to scout it out and can confirm there are actually 8 sites!

17/08/2025

Is this the most exclusive first-come, first-served campsite in Colorado? We might have found it at Pinball Recreation Area (also known as Pinball Point Campground). With only ONE site available, getting this spot requires a bit of luck and perfect timing!

// KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: PINBALL RECREATION AREA //
📍 Location: Bureau of Land Management, Colorado River Valley
GPS: 39.8417473, -106.9409649
⛰️ Elevation: 6,450 ft
🚗 Access: Located on the Colorado River Road, which is a well-maintained dirt road.
🏕️ Campsites: 1 (First-Come, First-Served). It appears camping is allowed in the parking lot, too
💲 Fees: $20 / night
📅 Season: Stay limits: From April to August, the stay limit is 7 days.
From September to March, the stay limit is 14 days.
💧 Water: NO
🗑️ Trash: NO - Pack it in, pack it out.
📶 Cell Service: NO service for AT&T or Verizon.

31/07/2025

A battle is brewing for the soul of Sweetwater Lake. Is this rustic, off-grid campground a pristine escape that should be preserved, or the perfect site for Colorado's next State Park? Our video tour releases this afternoon.

// KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: SWEETWATER LAKE CAMPGROUND //
📍 Location: White River National Forest, Colorado
GPS: 39.797426,−107.160757
⛰️ Elevation: 7,700 ft
🚗 Access: 10 miles on a maintained dirt road with a short paved portion near the county line.
🏕️ Campsites: 9 (First-Come, First-Served)
💲 Fees: $8 / night
📅 Season: Late May - Mid October
💧 Water: NO
🗑️ Trash: NO - Pack it in, pack it out.
📶 Cell Service: NO service for AT&T or Verizon.

What do you think should happen to this Colorado gem? Let us know in the comments! 👇

23/07/2025

COLUMBINE CAMPGROUND - Central City, Colorado
🏔️ Elevation: 9,000 ft
📍 Location: Arapaho National Forest (39.8150062, -105.5512273)
🚗 Access: Paved road about two miles from the entrance
🏕️ Total Sites: 47
💵 Fee: $26 per night
📅 Season: Mid-May through mid-September
💧 Water: Yes, potable water available
🗑️ Trash: Yes
📶 Cell Service:
AT&T: 5g (1 bar)
Verizon: No signal

Reservations: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232381

17/07/2025

👀 Our 319th Colorado campground tour is live on YouTube today. West Chicago Creek Campground is located in the
Arapaho National Forest near Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Elevation: 9625
Miles from pavement: ~3 Miles.
The last mile is a bit narrow with a couple of switchbacks

# Campsites: 15
Reservations: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/231859
Fees: $25
Season: Open mid-May to mid-September

Water: Faucets missing
AT&T: No Service
Verizon: No Service
Trash: Yes

Hell's Hole Trailhead is just past the campground. 8-9 miles round trip, the trail follows West Chicago Creek up to a glacial cirque within Mt Evans (Mt Blue Sky) Wilderness. About 1900 ft of elevation gain.

13/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/19EaW5DgbD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Moraine Park Campground, the largest in Rocky Mountain National Park, has reopened after a two-year closure for major infrastructure upgrades.

The renovation included improvements to the water, wastewater, and electrical systems, many of which are now underground.

The campground now offers 49 sites with electrical hookups out of its 244 total sites, serving around 30,000 campers annually.

Reservations are available at recreation.gov.

20/06/2025

🚨In last night's new video, we went to The Bank.
With scenic views in every direction, The Bank Campground can get busy in spring and fall. It's a nice BLM campground with 33 sites located north of Cañon City, Colorado. The road getting in is a bit rough (and steep in 1 spot), but the views are worth it. $20/night.

17/06/2025

https://www.aspentimes.com/news/bear-encounter-near-aspen-drives-campground-tent-ban

A close encounter between a black bear and two children has prompted the U.S. Forest Service to prohibit tents at a campsite near Aspen.

15/06/2025

Oil Well Flats. 20 free BLM campsites near Cañon City, Colorado.

05/06/2025

Free camping for up to 72 hours in a 2-week timeframe. 640-acre Red Canyon Park is located about 10 miles north of Cañon City. There were a few other campers spread out around the park when we visited in April. The full video will be up on the Campground Recon YouTube channel this evening.

31/05/2025

Five Points Campground:
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
38.452786, -105.493381
Elevation: 6000
Miles from pavement: 0

# Campsites: 20
Reservations: Required by CPW
Fees: $28 + CPW Pass
Season: Open Year Round

Water: No Potable Water
AT&T: SOS / 1-Bar
Verizon: SOS
No Trash - Pack it out