Lakeside camping in Colorado

Get your feet—or your whole self—wet at these lakeside settings close to Colorado campsites.

95% (4147 reviews)
95% (4147 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Colorado

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Available this weekend

12 top lakeside campgrounds in Colorado

93%
(67)

Uncle Charlie’s Ranch

13 sites · Tents5 acres · Black Hawk, CO
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch is an escape from the big city, we are only 45 minutes from Denver. Our property hosts the experience of Colorado’s nature and so much more; we offer therapeutic spring water soaks, warmed via our wood burning stove, fresh mountain spring drinking water and easy access to local trails and fun. Our lake is paddle board friendly, and while we do not offer fishing on the property, there are several locations nearby to fish. Message us for more information regarding camp sites and things to do!
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$60
 / night
92%
(171)

Arapaho Valley Ranch

68 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Granby, CO
Arapaho Valley Ranch is a gorgeous, family-owned guest ranch in Colorado’s beautiful Grand County. Our ranch is surrounded by the Arapaho National Forest and is nestled in one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. This area features hiking trails, waterfalls, and historic steam engines from the old town of Monarch. We have a private hiking trail that leads to our “kissing swing” overlooking the headwaters of the Colorado River Valley. Property Description Disclaimer: The amenities, features, and services displayed in photos on our website or promotional materials are for illustration purposes only. AVR does not guarantee the availability, condition, or quality of these amenities at the time of your visit, and they are subject to change. AVR reserves the right to change, modify, or discontinue any feature or service without notice at any time.
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$65
 / night
95%
(171)

Tater's Black Canyon Campground

4 sites · RVs, Tents35 acres · Crawford, CO
Hot showers and toilets are now available! Tater's was voted a 2024 top runner up as 'Best Hipcamp in Colorado'. 35 acres of bliss shared with 2 humans, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 horses and 4 chickens [Eggs may be available upon request]. Black Canyon National Park is a short drive to the west. Conveniently located to Crawford and the North Fork Valley to wineries, music fests and local eateries.  Incredible views and dark skies make the perfect respite for just hanging out, climbing in the Black, foodie time in the North Fork Valley or pretty much whatever you like to do. Hunters are welcome as this is a perfect base camp to Unit 63.
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$55
 / night
94%
(555)

Lakeside Camping, Water Time :)

7 sites · RVs, Tents22 acres · Clifton, CO
We moved here in 1997 The home has had major remodels done on it. The lake is an old gravel pit to make road base for local road construction. The buoys in the lake are scuba projects from the local college CMU, and hold lots of fish. Other nesting platforms are for our local Geese and they hatch out in April-June. We airbnb 2 rooms in our home as a shared facility and have airbnbs in Northern Ca and Baja. Our home is off limits for campers as we need to respect the space for our other airbnb guests. But in an emergence please call, cell service works fine. port-a potty is gone for the winter November-April. port-a potty is clean and works great, May- Oct. If you are here in the winter you may use the trees or Mavericks gas station in 1.5 miles away.
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$30
 / night
93%
(256)

Neverland/Camp Wilder

5 sites · Lodging, Tents7 acres · Nederland, CO
Welcome to Camp Wilder! We are an off-the-beaten-path camp offering peace and solitude. The cabin is very special to my family and me. It was passed down as a mining claim from my grandmother who founded it in the '60s. The vision for the land was simply perfect. A small 10 x 10 cabin with the whole mountain to explore and whoever they wished to bring with them. The town of Nederland is 10 minutes down the road where you can fish at Baker Reservoir. Lots of fun little stores in town to keep the family busy. Wildlife is everywhere up by the cabin/campsite, always remember don't leave food lying around with lots of great things to look for around the magical town of Nederland. The cabin sleeps up to 8 with the futon downstairs being very comfortable and 3" foam upstairs in the loft for more sleeping area. Bring your sleeping bags to stay cozy at night. There are lanterns inside to light up your night with a wood stove to keep you warm at night. The ground around it is sloped so you may have a hard time setting up any tents around the cabin. The grocery store is in Nederland where you can buy food, Coleman green propane bottles, gallon jugs of water and wood. There is a 3 burner Coleman, stove to cook on with limited pots & pans as well as silverware. Road disclaimer, the road to the cabin is one lane dirt road. The drive up to the cabin is pretty good but the turn onto the single dirt road to the cabin has a slight dip, if you have a low-clearance car it may bottom out when you are turning so be careful. No Trailers. They will not be able to turn around once there. Recommend vehicles with AWD. Go 3.4 miles up Caribou road. Turn right @ yellow stakes go .4 miles. Park on the left. Hike down to the cabin between yellow stakes. We are @ 10,000 feet and it is a slight hike to the cabin. Go 3.4 miles up Caribou road. Turn right @ yellow stakes go .4 miles When leaving please make sure both door locks are locked, put the key in the lock box and mix the code for the next camper.
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$55
 / night
100%
(7)

Yeti Sanctuary

4 sites · RVs, Tents4 acres · Florissant, CO
Situated on almost 4.5 acres of partially wooded acres, with a small lake, we have 3 beautiful campsites. One can be used by an RV, the other for tents. There are great hammocking spots amongst the trees and bolders.. Enjoy the rugged beauty in Florissant, CO, with seasonal Aspens and wildflowers, and a lot of birds, for the avid bird watchers. Florissant Fossil Beds Natl Monument is 7 miles away, with a Night Sky program, at every new moon. Florissant Mercantile is 5 miles away, for your needed supplies Come and enjoy the quiet beauty and peaceful atmosphere, of Colorado's beautiful mountains.|
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$30
 / night
96%
(59)

Twin Bridges Campground

14 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Coaldale, CO
Camp alongside the Arkansas River in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, April-November. We accommodate tents, vans, smaller Class C motor homes or camping trailers under 30 feet. Multiple campers and/or tents are provided for you based on your camping or glamping needs. Restrooms and showers are easily accessible. We also have camping by our lake with easy access to the river. We offer fly fishing on our 1,000 feet of riverfront property, (no lures, treble hook, or "bait" of any kind). Catch and release on property grounds. Colorado fishing licenses are required for anyone over the age of 16. No fishing is allowed on the small lake on the property. Fly fishing lessons and guided tours for fishing the Arkansas River from a raft or walk-wade, along with white water rafting, horseback riding, or zipline adventures which can be arranged by our staff. Adventure awaits with home to the highest mountain peaks in Colorado and the river and 102 miles of Trout Gold Medal Water. There are at least 5 hot springs within 60 miles of Twin Bridges Campground. Salida is considered the white-water rafting capitol of the US by some and has a whitewater park and surfing wave. Salida area is also home to a ton of hiking (14'ers anyone?) and mountain biking trails. The Royal Gorge is a quick 30 minute drive with restaurants and other fun near Canon City. The Sand Dunes are 90 minutes and Monarch Ski Area is 45, we have some of the best bird watching! Warbling Vireo, Western Wood-peewee, Cassin's Kingbird to name a few.
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$35
 / night
97%
(717)

High Peaks Campground

22 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Moffat, CO
Welcome to the San Luis Valley; the highest Alpine Valley in the world! This campground sits close to the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. You can also see the San Juan mountain range to the east in the distance. San Juans are part of the NW rim of the Continental Divide. Great Sand Dunes are visible from every site. With unlimited mountain views, beautiful starry night skies, come see the Milky Way, Eclipse, Meteor showers!!! Previously known as High Desert Ranch Campground, this land was originally part of a large ranch in the 1980s. The main ranch is still up and running but this parcel was used for many purposes over the years. In 2021, we were featured in USA Todays Ten Best for star gazing! My property has 360 degree mountains views with the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range as our back yard. Nearby you can find many different trail systems for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts. From hiking to jeeping, ATV or dirt biking and equestrians - you can find it all! You will be surrounded by ranch land and state land with Wildlife Refuge just two miles away. Accommodations for those with livestock, just make sure you chat in advance your initial message. Close to BLM, and National Forest as well as 3 hot springs within 20 miles and the Great Sand Dunes. We are still under construction and making changes often so bear with us while we continue to add and change things for the better!
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$38
 / night
93%
(461)

Rabbit Hole Ranch

108 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Alamosa East, CO
The Rabbit Hole Ranch offers beautiful unobstructed views of the majestic Blanca Massif and the Great Sand Dunes and is just a (gorgeous) 35 minute drive from both to include Zapata Falls. The Great Sand Dunes National Park is a must-see, and I am grateful for the opportunity to offer you a place nearby to set up camp and go exploring. Alamosa, the largest town in the SLV, is just 20 minutes away. With a population of around 9,800 Alamosa has that small town feel and has the goods and services you will need. Camping here at the Rabbit Hole Ranch is primitive and dispersed (no numbered sites) and there 30 acres available for you to use. Typically, you will experience a rare kind of solitude and silence that feels…. other-worldly, with incredible sunrises and sunsets filling the enormous skies. On holidays, however, expect it to be busy. Our two Great Pyrenees are here to help keep you and your pets (and our chickens) safe. Please help make their jobs easier by not leaving any food or trash in or around tents. Please keep your pets on leash or under control until you’re comfortably certain they get along with all three of our dogs. This year we have a new Great Pyrenees to greet you, his name is TheoVon and he is huge! Returning this season is KayLee also a GP and and Finn, who is a little Benji lookin rescue from Alaska who just LOVES everyone. :) Quiet time begins at 10:00 pm. Note: Holidays still offer the excellent location and spectacular views, but are likely to be less quiet and far more busy. We do not strictly enforce quiet time during holidays.
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$33
 / night
96%
(86)

Camp T.N.T [Rocky Mountains]

3 sites · Lodging, Tents8 acres · Bailey, CO
Incredible treetop views await anyone visiting our hanging tent or designated tent site perched atop a wooded plot overlooking Bailey Valley! The property is just outside downtown Bailey, Colorado and 5 miles from Wellington Lake and Guanella Pass. Some highlights are proximity to a plethora of local hiking trails and world-class mountain biking. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, hunting, kayaking / rafting, and wildlife viewing!
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$50
 / night
97%
(132)

Ute Lodge - At the End of the Road

11 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents300 acres · Meeker, CO
The Ute Lodge was homesteaded in the 1930’s by Joe Fox who after leaving the military came west to settle in the White River valley. Joe was known for his friendliness, hospitality and wild stories. Today you might find much of the same. From Joe’s day to today it is a place where families come together to get away. The Ute Lodge is now owned by Karl and Mona Maser who celebrated 20 years of ownership summer of 2019! All summer our cabins are filled with guests from all over the US as well as international travelers. One of our favorite things about the summer is our weekly potlucks where we all share an outdoor meal. All of our visitors have a standing invitation to join us around the community campfire at night. From our beautiful private lake (where you can paddle-board, kayak and fish), to immediate access to the Papoose and Crooks Park Trails on National Forest land, as well as the vast variety of wildlife that roams around, you can find what you need here to unplug and get away from it all.
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$25
 / night
90%
(165)

Vail Valley BackCounty Access

6 sites · RVs, Tents6 acres · Eagle, CO
This Gorgeous 6 acre property has DIRECT PRIVATE ACCESS to Hardscrabble Mountain, The Holy Cross Wilderness and The White River National Forest. There are 24,000 acres of BLM public land and also The White River National Forest with over 3,500 square miles, both with thousands of miles of recreation trails for mountain biking, hiking, ATVing, MOTO X Dirtbiking, SidebySide UTVing, backcountry skiing and snowboarding, 4x4 Jeeping/Mudding and snowmobiling. Walk out of your tent, your RV or my cabin and you are in of BLM and The White River National Forest. Plenty of flat, shaded ground with water and electiric available. The biggest shade trees in Eagle County, firepits, and a creek with pond and waterfall with sand beach await. Incredible views of Castle Peak, The Flat tops Wilderness, Red Canyon and Hardscrabble Mountain right from the Property. Vail and Beaver Creek Ski Resorts with the best skiing and powder in the world and Glenwood Springs with the world famous Hot Springs Pool and Glenwood Caverns Amusement Park ( amusement park on top of a mountain) and the Iron Mountain Hot Springs Each 25 minutes away. Aspen is a little over an hour away. Pets are welcome and can be off leash if they can respond to voice controls and owners are responsible for their pets at all times. Dogs love it here! All poop must be picked up, $25 per pet per night. GoPro Mountain Games June 6-9, 2024, Eagle County Rodeo July 24-27, 2024, Eagle is the county seat of Eagle County and is know for the Eagle and Colorado River and the amazing system of biking and hiking trails.
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$64
 / night

Star Hosts in Colorado

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Lakeside camping in Colorado guide

Overview

Every mountain has a valley—and in Colorado, that means glistening blue mountain lakeside getaways. And even at altitude, many lakes get warm enough to swim in during the summer months. The third-largest body of water in Colorado, Lake Granby is a popular spot with campers for fishing and swimming, as well as paddleboarding rentals. And while the water can be quite icy, you can’t beat the views in Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest at Brainard Lake and its Pawnee Campground in Ward near Boulder, where you’ll find (brave) paddleboarders, fishers, and canoers admiring the vistas, as well as a vast network of lakeside biking and hiking trails. If you’re looking for a fuller beach experience at a lower elevation, visit Chatfield State Park near Denver for day-use picnic tables, kayaks, and more. Nestle your feet in the sand, pack snacks and floaties, then rinse off at the coin-operated restroom showers before heading back to your camping spot.

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