Rio Grande National Forest

Ever wanted to see if you could live off the land? Cathedral Campground may just be the place to try it out. Hunt for game such as deer, elk, and even antelope, or grab that trusty box of tackle and fish for brook trout all day long. Horseback riding, wildlife viewing, bike riding paths and ample hiking opportunities will make you want to stay for Read more...

Whether you're coming in the winter or summer, Cross Creek Campground hosts more activities than an over-involved PTA mom. Summer time boasts bike rides on the Cross Creek Trail, and offers lake, pond, river, and stream fishing for everything from rainbow trout to kokanee salmon. Trek the trails for a day hike, go horseback riding, or big game hun Read more...

Grab those binoculars, Highway Springs Campground is perfect for wildlife sighting and scenic drives around the bendy Wolf Creek Pass and Continental Divide. Seasonal river and stream fishing and group picnic areas make this a cozy little spot. Enjoy the newly remodeled campsite as you soak in the smell of Ponderosa pines and listen to the rush of Read more...

Lace up those muddy boots, Gaston, Lower Beaver Creek Campground is where you're claiming your next prize elk. With big game hunting as well as fishing in lakes, streams, rivers, and ponds, you might have to buy a double XXL freezer to store all of your winnings. Once you've caught your fill, hike up the Tewskberry trailhead for some spectacular v Read more...

Pack those old water shoes that have been sitting in your closet forever, because you've gotta enjoy all the waterfront activities at Palisade Campground. Ride the Rio Grande River on a tube, raft, or whatever else floats your boat. Use some lures or flies to catch rainbow and brown trout fresh from the river, then roast it up in the fire pit and Read more...

We all want a secluded area every once and a while, and gosh darnit Park Creek Campground has just the ticket. With light usage and spacious campgrounds, it won't be hard to get your hermit on. Take advantage of the fishing opportunities both in the south fork of the Rio Grande River a few miles off at the Big Meadows Reservoir. With winter sporti Read more...

There's something fishy about Upper Beaver Creek Campground, and we mean that in a good way. Boat around Bear Creek Reservoir and catch some kokanee salmon or rainbow trout, or head on over to Beaver Creek for some delicious brook and brown trout. Campsites close together make for little privacy, but maybe that just means you'll be able to share y Read more...

We hope you have an impressive bike rack on your car, because you'll want to pack as much gear as possible for all the adventure available at Big Meadows Campground. Float around Big Meadows Reservoir on a tube or canoe, fish for rainbow and brook trout in the area or nearby streams, or hike and bike around one of several trails. Did we mention yo Read more...

You’ll feel like a true wilderness homesteader when you crash at Carnero Guard Station Cabin. Tucked away in an expansive meadow surrounded by towering green forest, this hidden haven is perfect for couples, groups of up to 12, or those just looking to escape for a while. Seriously, you can’t even grasp the epic beauty of this place. Volcanic rock Read more...

Ivy Creek Campground has large, well-equipped campsites that offer picnic tables, fire rings, etc. . However, these heavily wooded sites aren’t meant for enormous vehicles; the roads leading to the campsites are quite narrow. Pack light, pack effiently―and bring egg salad.

North Clear Campground is yet another well-hidden gem in the conifes of Rio Grande National Park's conifers. Here, you’ll be within a river’s whisper from North Clear Creek, a fantastic angling outlet for the rod-’n’-reel inclined.

The well-given moniker to one of Rio Grande State Park’s best kept secrets is none other than Rio Grande Campground. Tucked away in the highly elevated green meadows of adjacent Rio Grande River, these campsites offer tent and camper traileriffic camping experiences!

Stone Cellar Campground offers spectacular viewing angles of the nearby La Garita Mountains―no filters needed. And, after a long-day’s hike, hugging the cool creek beds of Sasquatch Creek, feel free to kick back and open a bottle of sparkling water. . . because there’s no drinking water available at the campsites. Save the red wine for when you re Read more...

“Climb on!” This should be a well-echoed dialogue while camping at Penitente Canyon Campground. Populated with over three-hundred “sporty” rock climbing faces, your adrenal glands will thank you!

Swaying with aspens and spruce trees, Poso Campground is both an anglers and mountain bikers recreational paradise. Here, you’ll be able to take full advantage of the area’s walk-in style campsite by fishing in the nearby Cave Creek and trudging along Coolbroth Canyon.

Despite its otherwise imposing name, Storm King is a tranquil string of walk-in style campsites, located in the cloud-touching foothills of Storm King Mountain. And, at an elevation of nearly eleven-thousand feet, be prepared to take a few deep breaths before ascending; high allitigue sickness is all too possible at such great heights.

An area worth any National Geographic filmmakers’ time, Bristol Head Campground offers serene and tranquil confines in which to view the areas ever-eccentric wildlife. Just take note: all fifteen campsites are limited to a fourteen-day stay. However, like they say, “a great picture is timeless. ” Go ahead, fill your high-resolution camera to it’s Read more...

Get away from it all at Upper Crossing Guard Station, set in a remote section of the Rio Grande National Forest about 140 miles from Pueblo. As you approach the cabin on a short section of dirt road, you’ll be following in the tracks of the stagecoaches that traversed this route at the turn of the 20th century. Originally the headquarters of the o Read more...

With hunting, four-wheeling, biking, and fishing, Luders Creek Campground has got all your outdoor dreams served on a silver platter. Shine that shotgun and hunt for elk and deer, or catch some grub in a nearby stream. Horse camping, complete with a watering site, is also available. And hey, if you happen to have a llama, donkey, or mule, they're Read more...

Tied together with a common, lustrous thread, Silver Thread Campground offers tent campsites, consisting of pull-in style and walk-in style sites. And, by all means, once you’ve situated yourself, feel free to trek on up to the nearby waterfall that’s bathed in golden rays of natural light.

Yo Katniss, we know you're ready to put those fancy bows and arrows to good use. Hunt for big game like deer or elk near the Buffalo Pass Campground or channel that inner fisherman at Sheep Creek, just four miles southeast of the camp site. Gorgeous scenery for hiking are also just a few miles off, and you're more than welcome to bring your RV. Ma Read more...

The helmet-end of the Road Canyon Reservoir, Road Canyon Campground is a frugal, yet enamoring string of campsites, all within access to the reservoir's pristine fishing outlets. Did we mention that it’s free―that's $0. 00/night!

It’s too hard not to get swept up in the charismatic confines of Rock Creek Campground. Here, you’ll be delighted by the area’s campsites, all located within the creek's roaring, turbulent waters. But really, be careful on the creek’s beds. Mother Nature’s charisma can get the best of ya.

Stunner Campground is just that―stunning. Sitting 10,000 feet on top of the Alamosa River, the area's tent-only campground offers a minimalistic approach to the otherwise well-equipped campgrounds found throughout Rio Grande National Park. And bring water―because you won’t find a Dasani for miles.

While you won't find any yellow brick roads here, Comstock Campground was remodeled in 2010 and now boasts some well-manicured campsites! Like other campgrounds in the area, you’ll be hard pressed to find a drop of drinking water―so prepare to supply your own. When your thirst thoroughly quenches, feel free to take-up the fishing at Rock Creek.

A melting pot of recreational activities, Mix Lake Campground is located within an earshot of numerous freshwater bodies like the Conejos River and Platoro Reservoir. And, with ample parking and twenty-two sites, you’ll surely find a campsite that overlooks the San Juan wilderness.

Gold and silver may have put Platoro on the map, but today the town’s precious stock in trade is peace, quiet, and unspoiled wilderness. Set high in the San Juan Mountains, at 10,000 feet above sea level, this former mining town in southern Colorado is hard to get to and even harder to leave. In the heart of it all is the rustic Platoro Cabin 2. B Read more...

Alamosa Campground is located in the hydrophilic vicinity of both the Terrace Reservoir Dam and Alamosa river. But, with so much surrounding you, make sure to ppepare for your own water supply; there’s no drinking water available at any of the campground's walk-in style campsites.

A near-as much insular campground, Lost Trail Campground is tucked away in the solitude of Rio Grande National Forest. Here, all seven sites are within earshot of gorgeous, silent trails that offer an aura of tranquility hard to match amongst the busier campgrounds―just bring a compass and sense of direction.

Snag this two bedroom cabin for an epic escape in this wooded aspen grove. At Brewery Creek Guard Station, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the majestic scenery, with the nearby creek trickling soft in the background. Used by a forest ranger back in the day, this sweet little gem is now your perfect getaway spot amidst wilderness beauty. Catch stunn Read more...

Spectacle Lake Campground is just that―a sight to hold! Here, you’ll find “spectacular” fishing between both the appropriately named lake sitting within the campground and the adjacent Conejos River.

Elk Creek Campground is nestled within the more private confines of Rio Grande National Park; where you'll find quite a few campsites nestled in secluded, well-hidden nooks of the wilderness. And, composed of miles-upon-miles of gravel-laden trails, you must take-up the―albeit lengthy sixty-four-mile in total length―trek through the dilapidated mi Read more...

Elk Creek Overflow Campground is located adjacent to the heavily frequented Elk Creek Campground. Here, you’ll find just a few mere campsites, all located within the similar attractions presented by its like-named ilk.

Located within a water-licked breeze from the Trujillo Reservoir, the like-named campground offers campsites with all “tent camping” experiences. And, located within campsite forty and forty-one, you’ll find a multi-angled observatory, just waiting to be filtered by any-said Instagram filter.

High on top of the hill, Zapata Falls campground is located 9,000 feet in Sangre de Cristo Mountains, painted with chromatically cohesive sunsets and sunrises. Because of it’s elevation, be sure to be aware of the possibility of altitude sickness―and bring plenty of H20!

So, you like the look of the Amazon but not that sweaty, sticky air? Tucker Ponds Campground has the look of the tropics with the feel of that fresh mountain cool. Fish in creeks, ponds, lakes or streams for some delicious trout, then enjoy it under a lushly shaded picnic table. Snowmobile trails and cross-country skiing opportunities also make it Read more...

Snaking through the Rio Grande National Park’s wildlife-laden forest, Aspen Glade Campground is home to numerous pull-through style campsites, all with provided toilets and drinking water--a bit of glamping never hurt anyone! The fly fishing in the Conejos River is on-point―and award-winning, don't forget that gone fishin' sign.

Toss that 'pine' tree hanging from your rearview mirror into the garbage and be gone with it! Mogote Campground is perfumed by the area’s endemic Cottonwoods, junipers, aspen, ponderosa, and spruce trees, satisfying even the most stagnated olfactory senses. But make sure you reserve your leaf littered campsite at least four-days in advance; to mak Read more...

Eight-thousand-feet above sea-level, Marshal Park Campground is home to campsites all hugging the Rio Grande River. No nicotine fix could satisfy the abiotic euphoria that this river-swept breeze can provide.

Located atop of the spruce-littered banks of the Rio Grande River, River Hill Campground is a string of campsites, all elevated 9,000 feet above sea level. A popular campground amongst park visitors, it’s well-reccomended that you book your river-hugging campsite days (if not weeks) in advance.

The campground with a moniker that’d raise an eyebrow to even the most seasoned marathoner, Thirty Mile Campground isn’t just partial to long-distance runners; it has multi-demographical appeal. So, feel free to pick-up your backpack and go on a Homerian-like odyssey.

Lake Fork Campground is teeming with fantastic fishing in the Conejos river, often described as a "Gold Medal River" (angling jargon for a river that's known to produce trophy-winning catches) for rainbow trout. And, odds are, you'll be Instagramming double-rainbows through-out your tip―both in the kneck straining, "in the clouds" and trout sense. Read more...

The Four Seasons of Rio Grande National Park, Alder Guard Station is just as well-equipped as it is historically charming. Built in 1910, Alder Guard Station offered both temporary housing and and in-field office for the local rangers. Fast-forward a century-’n’-change later, the guard station is still an integral part of the national park, provid Read more...

Enjoy the perfect rustic escape at Elwood cabin. Not only do you get to kick back in your own private log cabin, but adventures are awaiting just outside your doorstep. Throw a line in Iron or Treasure Creek and try your charm on the trout or hit up the scenic trail to Crater Lake for epic views and a lakeside lunch. With the breathtaking San Juan Read more...

Let your inner homesteader shine with full pride at this historical abode. Recently made available to the public after renovations, Fitton Guard Station Cabin is a true gem. You’ll enjoy beautiful meadow views and the trickling sound of Burro Creek just outside your window when you bunk here. Surrounded by groves of aspens and forests of firs, thi Read more...

Gold and silver may have put Platoro on the map, but today the town’s precious stock in trade is peace, quiet, and unspoiled wilderness. Set high in the San Juan Mountains, at 10,000 feet above sea level, this former mining town in southern Colorado is hard to get to and even harder to leave. In the heart of it all is the rustic Platoro Cabin 1. B Read more...

North Creston Creek Campgroundan arid oasis―"arid" alluding to the fact that there's no avaliable drinking water. Aside from water bottle conundrum, you’ll be treated by the green-hued backdrop populated by the area’s endemic firs.