- Blue Mesa Reservoir
The best family-friendly camping in Blue Mesa Reservoir
98% (430) • 6 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Blue Mesa Reservoir
Down at the Hop Yard Camping
1. Down at the Hop Yard Camping
99%
(137)
12 sites · Tents, RVs · Montrose, CO
Wake up to the fresh aroma of hops, enjoys beers made with the hops grown next to your sleeping bag, have a campfire with an incredible view of the San Juan Mountains and open night sky, take a tour and learn about the unique world of hops, walk around an 18-foot tall, 32-acre hop trellis, and adventure in all that the Western Slope of Colorado has to offer.
We also have 'Fridays on the Farm' every Friday until October 3rd from 4-9pm serving beer with our hops, a local food truck, live music, and yard games. Check our website for more details! We can open the beer barn on other nights, as well as offer tours, upon request!
This is a perfect basecamp for adventure! The attractions are endless: Exploring Black Canyon NP, Curecanti NRA, and Gunnison Gorge NCA; fly fishing in gold metal waters; hunting; hiking, climbing, and traversing the Via Ferrata in the San Juan Mountains; rafting, kayaking, or SUPing on three different rivers, including a wave park right in town, as well as on reservoirs and lakes; relaxing in mineral-rich hot springs; shopping for unique souvenirs and gifts; and enjoying the activities, restaurants, and shopping of nearby Ouray and Telluride!
If we're booked out, message us and we may have some backup spots! ; )
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
$25
/ night
Old Moon Acres Tipi Haven
2. Old Moon Acres Tipi Haven
97%
(487)
7 sites · Lodging · Hotchkiss, CO
Formerly known as the North Fork Tipi Haven, this 22 acres is now home to Old Moon Acres Tipi Haven. This property offers spectacular views, a large grass field for activities and games, a short hike up Mandala Mountain (behind the solar panels), and relaxion by Love Gulch in the many hammocks. Two mile drive from Big B's and even closer to the nearest winery (Storm Cellar). Tipi camping offers an authentic camping experience, complete with possible bugs and other critters one would expect to find in nature.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
$65
/ night
98% (430) • 6 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Blue Mesa Reservoir
Down at the Hop Yard Camping
1. Down at the Hop Yard Camping
99%
(137)
12 sites · Tents, RVs · Montrose, CO
Wake up to the fresh aroma of hops, enjoys beers made with the hops grown next to your sleeping bag, have a campfire with an incredible view of the San Juan Mountains and open night sky, take a tour and learn about the unique world of hops, walk around an 18-foot tall, 32-acre hop trellis, and adventure in all that the Western Slope of Colorado has to offer.
We also have 'Fridays on the Farm' every Friday until October 3rd from 4-9pm serving beer with our hops, a local food truck, live music, and yard games. Check our website for more details! We can open the beer barn on other nights, as well as offer tours, upon request!
This is a perfect basecamp for adventure! The attractions are endless: Exploring Black Canyon NP, Curecanti NRA, and Gunnison Gorge NCA; fly fishing in gold metal waters; hunting; hiking, climbing, and traversing the Via Ferrata in the San Juan Mountains; rafting, kayaking, or SUPing on three different rivers, including a wave park right in town, as well as on reservoirs and lakes; relaxing in mineral-rich hot springs; shopping for unique souvenirs and gifts; and enjoying the activities, restaurants, and shopping of nearby Ouray and Telluride!
If we're booked out, message us and we may have some backup spots! ; )
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from
$25
/ night
Old Moon Acres Tipi Haven
2. Old Moon Acres Tipi Haven
97%
(487)
7 sites · Lodging · Hotchkiss, CO
Formerly known as the North Fork Tipi Haven, this 22 acres is now home to Old Moon Acres Tipi Haven. This property offers spectacular views, a large grass field for activities and games, a short hike up Mandala Mountain (behind the solar panels), and relaxion by Love Gulch in the many hammocks. Two mile drive from Big B's and even closer to the nearest winery (Storm Cellar). Tipi camping offers an authentic camping experience, complete with possible bugs and other critters one would expect to find in nature.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from
$65
/ night
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
J
Jerry
October 2025
Tent
It was good. I needed a place last minute and it was easy to book and find. Left first thing.
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Michael
October 2025
16 ft car
With pets
Quiet, peaceful and a perfect spot for a quick overnighter. Super clean restrooms with a hot shower! Would definitely recommend this place!
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K
Katie
October 2025
Tent
I thoroughly enjoyed camping on this land!! Very quiet, the two farm dogs are beautiful and friendly. I also greatly appreciated the clean bathroom facilities. Lovely space, I’d love to return!!
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Brian
October 2025
Tent
It was pretty close to perfect experience. The bathrooms and showers were clean, heated and private. The tent sites were flat. The location was about a 30 minute drive to Ouray, CO and Black Canyon Gunnison. The location was also 8 minutes to downtown Montrose which had every store you would want. The host Audrey was friendly. The cost was reasonable.
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Ashley
October 2025
22 ft campervan
With pets
Great little spot to stop for the night. Would definitely stay again.
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R
Richard
October 2025
28 ft Class C
With pets
Great hospitality, great vibe, great beer, great music, can’t wait to go back.
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Colleen
September 2025
13 ft travel trailer
With pets
Great place ! Great people! Nice clean restrooms!
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T
Tamzen
September 2025
With pets
If you need recharging, a reset, peace, quiet, Magik, grounding and to be in nature, feel the basics of living minimally with mother Earth, the trees, the mountains, this is a must. Second time here in the same year
The Hawk TiPi comfortably fits 4 adults and 4 dogs.
Pure Bliss. Cannot believe I have to wait until next year to come back. 🙏🪶🙏
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J
Jane
September 2025
With kids
This is one of our favorite places to glamp. It’s nice to not have to pack dishes, cookware, etc. There’s a great setup to cook. Sway in the hammocks after breakfast. The beds inside the teepees are so comfy. The host is incredibly kind.
See moreM
Mary
September 2025
Tent
Lovely spot to tent camp. Bathrooms are clean and the shower was fantastic. Great views. The owners pups are adorable and SO friendly. Hosts are amazing and friendly. Got a tour of the hop fields which was so cool. Definitely recommend.
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E
Eric
September 2025
Tent
Audrey and her partner are awesome hosts and we had a great time here. Grits and Faya were excellent pups and greeted us when we drove up, a good sign! Billy Goat is the only commercial hop farm in CO, so it was great to take a tour of the farm and see the operations. This is the first year they’ve opened the farm up to camping and 12 sites are available. They open up their “beer barn” to the public on Thur and Fri, and pour local beer on draft and in cans/bottles made with their hops. On Friday,
a BBQ truck was slinging food and a bluegrass band was slinging tunes until 9:00pm. It’s obviously popular as it was packed, along with a ton of doggos. Great vibes, excellent beers, and lawn games available to play. They even had a bottle list of various Primitive and other sour beers for purchase…a VERY nice surprise for the spontaneous/sour beers lovers out there. There are a few bathrooms and HOT showers available. Sure, the farm is off the highway so you get some road noise, but it’s not terrible. This is good for them logistically, and gets the farm great visibility, but does sacrifice some quietude. The only thing I’d love to see in the future is a fire pit…if not for each tent site, then a communal fire pit (which I didn’t see). I get that it’s a working farm but having a campfire is one of the joys of camping….only qualm, really. In the end, this is a beautiful, unique campsite in full view of the San Juan mountains. The owners/hosts are lovely people and responsive. Rec!
See moreB
Brian
September 2025
Tent
Great experience. Good location for launching adventures to Ouray, Telluride, Jeep trails, fly-fishing, and the Black Canyon. Very clean bathrooms and showers. Groceries and gas and supplies up the road in Montrose. Host friendly and helpful. All for a great price. Thank you!!
See moreL
Leah
September 2025
Tent
With kids
I loved the spot on Audrey’s land, bathrooms and we’re clean and well kept, and we enjoyed the sweet dog who swung by to hang out!
See moreL
Laura
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Flushing toilets, showers, camp sink, and friendly dogs. Easy late-night access. Convenient to Uncompahgre River, Black Canyon, hot springs, and hiking. Come prepared for skeeters and expect a bit of road noise. Excellent spot for car campers & those with kids.
See moreS
Simon
August 2025
Weekend Trip to Old Moon Acres Tipi Haven
Absolutely great experience, great host with one of the cutest little towns to go in and have dinner as well.
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C
Callie
August 2025
With kids
Absolutely beautiful. Stacy was so nice. Everything was perfect- will definitely be back!
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L
Leslie
August 2025
15 ft travel trailer
So happy Molly and I stayed here. The sky is incredible.
See moreD
Dana
August 2025
Tent
Group trip
The site was exactly as advertised. The information on how to camp without harming the plants was really helpful. Appreciated the lighted, heated, bathrooms and the trash receptacle. Wish we could have stayed longer and enjoyed a tour and a beer.
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MD
August 2025
22 ft Class B
Great level sites. Learned a bit about the hop farm. Bathrooms were nice
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Leslie
August 2025
31 ft travel trailer
With pets
My dog Molly and I enjoyed about a week at the hops farm. This is a very pleasant place to be. It's a nice long row of campsites with a lot of space in each site. Plenty of room for tents, vans, or travel trailers. Nice warm bathrooms and showers are available, and they are wheelchair accessible, though the road itself is a bit rough. There are no amenities at the sites, but I have a Jackery so I do not have to worry about plugging in. There is minor road noise, and it's been rainy so there have been mosquitos, but that is not unique to this camp. I bought a screen tent and set it up over the picnic table, and that has been lovely. The stars at night are absolutely spectacular.
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The best family-friendly camping in Blue Mesa Reservoir guide
Where to go
Sapinero Basin
At the western end of the reservoir is the Sapinero Basin, with three arms branching off north and south, and four campgrounds. The largest campground in the area, Lake Fork, offers 90 tent and RV sites, along with a marina and an information center. The Ponderosa campground can be found along the Soap Creek Arm while the West Elk Creek boat-in campground can be found along the West Elk arm.
Cebolla Basin
Centrally located, the Cebolla Basin is home to the Dillon Pinnacles and Elk Creek Campground, offering 160 sites for tents and large RVs, with fire rings and picnic tables. It’s also the only campground with electric hookups. Near the Elk Creek Visitor Center are a boat ramp, fish cleaning station, and a seasonal marina and restaurant. The basin is also home to the Red Creek, Dry Creek, and East Elk Creek Group Campground, plus the Cebolla Creek boat-in campground.
Iola Basin
On the eastern end of the reservoir, the Iola Basin is home to the Stevens Creek Campground, with 53 tent and RV sites. The Turtle Rock boat-in campground can also be found in this area, along with several picnic areas, two boat launches, and the Lake City Bridge.
Curecanti National Recreation Area
To the west of Blue Mesa are two other lakes that form part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area—Morrow Point Lake and Crystal Lake. Just west of Blue Mesa, Morrow Point offers two boat-in campgrounds at Curecanti Creek and Hermits Rest. Further west, Crystal Lake offers one boat-in campground and two developed campgrounds for tents and RVs, including East Portal, at the far western end of Curecanti National Recreation Area and just below Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Gunnison National Forest
To the northwest of Blue Mesa River is the Gunnison National Forest, spanning more than 1.6 million acres. In addition to plenty of space for dispersed backcountry camping, there are more than 30 developed backgrounds that offer tent sites, RV sites, and cabins. The closest developed campgrounds to Blue Mesa Reservoir include Soap Creek Campground, with 21 campsites, Lake Irwin Campground, with 25 campsites, and the Lost Lake Campground-Paionia, with 18 campsites.