Ranch camping in Colorado

Enjoy year-round recreation and a wild diversity of landscapes in this colorful state.

95% (6559 reviews)

United States
—
Colorado

95% (6559 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Colorado

Under $50

Rustic Creek Ranch

32 sites · RVs, Tents160 acres · Bailey, CO

The 160 acre ranch was homesteaded by my grandfather over 100 years ago. He was an engineer. The plan was to use this property as summer grazing for his cattle. The cattle were wintered at the other ranch about 10 miles away, which was homesteaded by my great grandfather. Because my grandfather could survey, he made sure the property lines zigzaged up the valley so the small creek was in the middle to provide water for the animals. He chose well. It is a beautiful, quiet place with elk, deer and wild turkeys. There are tons of wild flowers in the summer. Columbines, the Colorado state flower, wild roses, paintbrushes and lots of wild chokecherries. With nice views of nearby mountains, open pastures, evergreen forests and aspen groves, it looks like it did 100 years ago. Plus, there are a couple of ponds for your dogs to cool off in. Since the first cattle, the ranch has also been home to goats, chickens, horses, and now alpacas and llamas. And of course the Great Pyrenees ranch dogs. I had a house built a few years ago and live on the property full time. The ranch is surrounded by Pike National Forest with the Colorado Trail connecting the property in a number of places. Some of the highest ranked mountain bike trails are nearby. There are lots of places on and off the property to hike, mountain bike and ride your horse. On a clear night you can see thousands of stars and hear coyotes howl. For a drone video of the ranch check out: YouTube's Midsummer 2020 Flyover. Elevation 8,000 feet, Average Summer Temperatures: Days 60-80 f, Nights 45-60 f, Sunshine Average 73-80%, Colorado Trail Segment 3, USGS Maps: Windy Peak & Green Mountain quadrangles. This is the official info. Basically, the weather is usually similar to the Denver area - just 10 degrees cooler. About 8 miles away is the small town of Bailey. It has just about everything you might need: small grocery store, coffee shops, gas, laundry, art gallery, a dollar store, hardware store, camping and sports equipment, brew pub, winery, a few restaurants, potable water station and more.

Bright Star Campground

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Cortez, CO

We have COMPLIMENTARY Wifi, Drinking Water, Ice, Hot Showers, Bathrooms, Shade, and an equipped Camper's Kitchen for our guests to enjoy from April 15 - Oct 15! There are TIPIS, CAMPING CABINS, TENT and BOONDOCK SITES. WE ALSO HAVE A NAVAJO HOGAN (wood yurt) OPEN-YEAR ROUND. All of our sites are not listed here. We can also accommodate groups and small events but not public events. We have a private covered group site as well. Bright Star Campground: Once used as a church camp, it is now a Campground for all to enjoy! We are a perfectly located vacation campground on 40 acres with amenities and wide-open spaces. Amenities include hot showers, an equipped community kitchen, a pavilion with hammocks, tables, ping pong, etc. Enjoy complimentary coffee, eggs, filtered drinking water and more. Bright Star Campground is located in the Great Sage Plain in the shadow of Mesa Verde National Park with panoramic mountain/mesa views of the Four Corners region, all only 5 miles southeast of Cortez. We are in an arid desert climate. Water is scarce, stored in cisterns for use in camp. Because of this we ask that you be conservative with water use in camp. We are a cannabis-friendly destination but ask that Cannabis use stay at your campsite, cabin or tipi. There are many things to do/see nearby: Mesa Verde National Park, Canyons of the Ancients, Hovenweep National Monument and Phil's World Mountain Biking. Raft down the Dolores river, maybe rent a SUP or kayak and chill on a quiet reservoir. There are museums and cultural centers in the area as well. Durango is 45 min, Telluride is 1.5 hrs away, and Moab is about 2.5 hours away-including Arches and Canyonlands National parks. The best/nearest airport is in Durango. Cortez has Denver Air (Key Lime Air) with connections to Denver and Phoenix. The nearest large international airport is in Salt Lake City or Albuquerque.

Resort Vallley Ranch

7 sites · RVs, Tents3600 acres · Conifer, CO

Historic Ranch Resort Valley Ranch was homesteaded mainly by the Corbin family starting.in 1884 They had moved their cattle here from nearby Pleasent Park during a particularly hard winter, as a "last resort", leading to the creeks being named Last Resort and West Resort. Hard times in the 1930's and drought conditions, convinced the Corbin's to sell out and move to lusher climes. Tom’s father, Dr. O.J. Butterfield was another doctor that invested his spare money in cattle ranching. Purchased mainly before. 1945, Tom's older brother Rupert tried to make a living raising trout on the Resort Creek property in the late '40's. Otherwise, the place was occupied by various old-timers who caretook the place until 1955, when Barbara and Tom moved here to oversee the cattle business. The second slope of the driveway frequently had to be dug out by hand for access. The years of drought had left the place overgrazed and barren. Times were hard, and the horses needed to work the cattle ate plenty. The opportunity arose to lease them out in nearby Foxton--Foxton Stables was born. An old livery and other outbuildings provided the facilities needed. Mutual benefit was derived from the business as customers to the general store also would take advantage of the riding horses just across the bridge. Workers and helpers came from off-duty air force boys, as well as volunteer children from the local summer cabins. Guided rides were offered, as well as moonlight rides when appropriate and by appointment. There were also "Chuck Wagon" cookouts which included a horse-drawn hay ride to and from. Tom and Barbara also put on a Trail Horse Trials which was an annual competition over obstacles, judged, set up to simulate obstacles a horse might encounter while out riding. This became more widely attended the second year, coming to the notice of horse breeders like Mary Woolverton, who competed in it for the first time in 1963. (That's when Nan first fell in love with Prince of Pride, a golden palomino Morgan stallion who always looked like the perfect horse showing how to do it perfectly.) 1963 is the last year this event, and the stable business, was held in Foxton. From then on, the stable was run from the barn at the ranch, and the Trail Horse Trials was not put on again until 1966, when it was sponsored by the 4-H Trail Dusters and put on in conjunction with the first annual Top of the World Competitive Trail ride which was head-quartered on the west end of the property. As the stable became busier, more horses were purchased or leased to meet the need. Many of these horse were grade individuals from known breeds. The better mares did double duty by raising foals each year, that would be sold or auctioned off. Some of the mares were bred to our Shetland pony stallion, Tarzan, he was called a chocolate-dapple. Several years we had Appaloosa offspring from a friend's stallion. For a short time, a Moroccan Paint stallion was used, but he tended to throw the lethal white gene, as well as breaking Tom Butterfield's knee with his bad behavior. He soon found his way back to auction! A couple of the leased mares were Morgans. They proved to be easy to work with as well as hardy individuals that kept well, and the foals proved easier to halter break than the other horses. They made a good enough impression that a young gelding was purchased, and one nice mare was bred to the Morgan stallion Julio--descended from Juzan. The resulting colt, Julian, was kept as stallion until age eight, before being gelded and living out his years as a family favorite. Julian did a lovely running walk. Unfortunately, none of his offspring were kept, including the two from the half Shetland mares kept for the family. It may seem that the cattle operation got dropped by the wayside. In actuality, that's not far from the truth. The fact that the registered Herefords purchased by Tom and Barbara, turned out to carry dwarf genes, which soon became apparent each calving season. This rather limited the value and productivity of the herd. Financial concerns brought on by Dr. Butterfield's death in 1967, subsequently led to the dispersal of the cattle herd. It was fortunate that the Stable had become established enough to become one of the mainstays of the family fortunes. Diversification was always a necessity. Horses were leased to the Forest Service when they needed them. The entire string would be utilized for company picnics, with the horses being brought to the site. Churches were sent flyers promoting group rides and hayrides. Boy Scout troops were welcomed to camp, ride and work on both Horsemanship and Conservation Merit Badges--which benefited in valuable erosion control work. Many times, ranch hands were obtained from these sources, both for fencing and Christmas tree cutting. There were many winters that the place carried over a hundred head of horses, as several camps in the area would winter their horses here. Dad would haul them back and forth, pull their shoes, etc. Our pinto line originated with Barbara's mare Calico, a pinto mare of unknown breeding, though Tennessee Walker was suspected due to her gaits. Having been diagnosed with Navicular disease, she was bred to the Shetland, Tarzan, a chocolate-dapple--producing the mare Feather (Nan's pony). This line has been bred only to Morgans since '66, when Feather was bred to General James, producing the mare Calico Doll, granddam to our stallion RV Eagle Feather. Doll was only 14.2, but she had heart, stamina and intelligence. Having learned much at the knee of the Shetland, Feather, Nan began training Doll in 1970. This mare was just four years old when she took the High Point Champion in the '71 Trail Horse Trials, over some tough competition, including Mary Woolverton's Prince of Pride. She could side-pass, two track, drag a log, pull a cart without blinders, open gates, work livestock and run all day. She also would gait occasionally, a trait that skipped a generation. Calico Doll was bred to Prince of Pride five different times, prior to his death in 1973(?). She would get in foal but never carried to term. Nan did some riding for Mary in exchange for these breedings, working Victory Vagabond. Finally the arrangement was settled by getting Calico Doll in foal to her stallion, Great Hills Richmond. Calico Doll's brown colt from this cross was sold on to the Tumbling River Ranch for cattle work. In the 1970's, a local breeder came to our attention with her stallion, Topside Midnight, when she competed him in the Top of the World Competitive Trail Ride. The crossing of Calico Doll with Midnight produced the black 3/4 Morgan stallion, Jaspar, in 1974. He was used for breeding four or five years, overlapping the transition to pureblooded Morgans in 1977. I always thought it unfortunate that he wasn't pure-blooded as he had wonderful manners, was very solid and typey and a generous sire. We sold his offspring until 1985 and still have a great-granddaughter. He was gelded in '81, and sold in '82. A few of the solid colored part-bloods come down from this line of the family. One of his daughters has competed as a grade horse in Competitive Trail riding for the past ten years. Three major land sales were required for operating expenses during the late '60's and early '70's. The Indian Park Ranch was decreased to 280 acres, Resort Valley Ranch decreased from 5,000 acres to its present 4,000. The Camp Fire Girls purchased the property adjacent to the driveway, leading to their utilizing horses from our string for their horse program. As the Camp increased its horse program, the public stables was gradually phased out. This freed up the Butterfield's lifestyle enough for them to focus on starting raising the pure-blooded Morgans, beginning with their purchase of SH Crescent in 1976.

Little Scraggy Camp

20 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents95 acres · Pine, CO

Little Scraggy Camp is located on 95 acres of an historic 160-acre ranch that was homesteaded by our family in the 1890’s, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This totally off-grid ranch is surrounded by Pike National Forest, yet has easy access from a paved road. We offer several accommodations and glamping sites, as well as sites for moderate sized RVs, travel trailers, tents, and hammocks. Additionally, we have sites for small groups (up to 14 people) and large groups (35-200 people). Potable drinking water is available from onsite 270-gallon water tanks. Portable toilets are only a short walk away from sites. Friendly dogs are welcome to enjoy your campsite off leash, but please clean up after your dog. If your pet has any aggressive tendencies, it must be leashed. Recently added is a 4 hole disc golf putting course for you to practice your shots or try your hand, with 4 sets of discs provided. We also have a cornhole toss game at both the glamping/rv camp area and tent/rv area. We are an ideal basecamp for the casual or dedicated trail enthusiast. The ranch itself has several trails and easy trail loops to explore within and just outside of the ranch’s fence lines, with direct access to the 9.5-mile Little Scraggy Trail and Segment #3 of the Colorado Trail. Just 3.5 miles away is the Little Scraggy Trailhead, where you will find easy access for biking, hiking, or horseback riding on the many other trails of the Buffalo Creek area. Additionally, we have an extensive network of hiking and horse trails that avoid conflicts with mountain bikers. You might prefer rock climbing Little Scraggy or fishing the gold-medal waters of the South Platte River canyon below Cheesman Dam and the waters near Deckers. For a day trip, Wellington Lake is only 30 minutes away for no-wake water sports. Many people enjoy kayaking on the North Fork of the South Platte downstream from nearby Buffalo Creek. This is a working ranch where we raise and train horses and ponies. Our particular interest is in carriage driving, and we offer driving experiences upon request. Our site called Mountain Horse Camp, provides 3 individual porta-panel horse corrals. There is limited cell service.

Campe Diem!

54 sites · RVs, Tents72 acres · CO

Do you want a large, private, uniquely situated, pet friendly CampSpot™ to yourselves or family with a BATHHOUSE where it can be so quiet and some days there are stars for as deep as you can see? We have about 300 of those days and nights. Usually can stay longer on Sundays! We are 72 acres of piñon trees, some small animal life and crickets tucked against a mesa just a few minutes from town. Bring your shoe prints! We have sandboards! $15 per day! We are approximately a 35 minute beautiful drive from the National Sand Dunes around Mt. Blanca. (14'r). 5 minutes from the Mountain Home State Wildlife Park and reservoir where you can fish swim chill cookout etc. You can bike, hike, Swim, jet ski or fish at the newly stocked reservoir. Firewood must be purchased at the campsite. Pet friendly!

Dog-friendly getaways

Campe Diem!

54 sites · RVs, Tents72 acres · CO

Do you want a large, private, uniquely situated, pet friendly CampSpot™ to yourselves or family with a BATHHOUSE where it can be so quiet and some days there are stars for as deep as you can see? We have about 300 of those days and nights. Usually can stay longer on Sundays! We are 72 acres of piñon trees, some small animal life and crickets tucked against a mesa just a few minutes from town. Bring your shoe prints! We have sandboards! $15 per day! We are approximately a 35 minute beautiful drive from the National Sand Dunes around Mt. Blanca. (14'r). 5 minutes from the Mountain Home State Wildlife Park and reservoir where you can fish swim chill cookout etc. You can bike, hike, Swim, jet ski or fish at the newly stocked reservoir. Firewood must be purchased at the campsite. Pet friendly!

Resort Vallley Ranch

7 sites · RVs, Tents3600 acres · Conifer, CO

Historic Ranch Resort Valley Ranch was homesteaded mainly by the Corbin family starting.in 1884 They had moved their cattle here from nearby Pleasent Park during a particularly hard winter, as a "last resort", leading to the creeks being named Last Resort and West Resort. Hard times in the 1930's and drought conditions, convinced the Corbin's to sell out and move to lusher climes. Tom’s father, Dr. O.J. Butterfield was another doctor that invested his spare money in cattle ranching. Purchased mainly before. 1945, Tom's older brother Rupert tried to make a living raising trout on the Resort Creek property in the late '40's. Otherwise, the place was occupied by various old-timers who caretook the place until 1955, when Barbara and Tom moved here to oversee the cattle business. The second slope of the driveway frequently had to be dug out by hand for access. The years of drought had left the place overgrazed and barren. Times were hard, and the horses needed to work the cattle ate plenty. The opportunity arose to lease them out in nearby Foxton--Foxton Stables was born. An old livery and other outbuildings provided the facilities needed. Mutual benefit was derived from the business as customers to the general store also would take advantage of the riding horses just across the bridge. Workers and helpers came from off-duty air force boys, as well as volunteer children from the local summer cabins. Guided rides were offered, as well as moonlight rides when appropriate and by appointment. There were also "Chuck Wagon" cookouts which included a horse-drawn hay ride to and from. Tom and Barbara also put on a Trail Horse Trials which was an annual competition over obstacles, judged, set up to simulate obstacles a horse might encounter while out riding. This became more widely attended the second year, coming to the notice of horse breeders like Mary Woolverton, who competed in it for the first time in 1963. (That's when Nan first fell in love with Prince of Pride, a golden palomino Morgan stallion who always looked like the perfect horse showing how to do it perfectly.) 1963 is the last year this event, and the stable business, was held in Foxton. From then on, the stable was run from the barn at the ranch, and the Trail Horse Trials was not put on again until 1966, when it was sponsored by the 4-H Trail Dusters and put on in conjunction with the first annual Top of the World Competitive Trail ride which was head-quartered on the west end of the property. As the stable became busier, more horses were purchased or leased to meet the need. Many of these horse were grade individuals from known breeds. The better mares did double duty by raising foals each year, that would be sold or auctioned off. Some of the mares were bred to our Shetland pony stallion, Tarzan, he was called a chocolate-dapple. Several years we had Appaloosa offspring from a friend's stallion. For a short time, a Moroccan Paint stallion was used, but he tended to throw the lethal white gene, as well as breaking Tom Butterfield's knee with his bad behavior. He soon found his way back to auction! A couple of the leased mares were Morgans. They proved to be easy to work with as well as hardy individuals that kept well, and the foals proved easier to halter break than the other horses. They made a good enough impression that a young gelding was purchased, and one nice mare was bred to the Morgan stallion Julio--descended from Juzan. The resulting colt, Julian, was kept as stallion until age eight, before being gelded and living out his years as a family favorite. Julian did a lovely running walk. Unfortunately, none of his offspring were kept, including the two from the half Shetland mares kept for the family. It may seem that the cattle operation got dropped by the wayside. In actuality, that's not far from the truth. The fact that the registered Herefords purchased by Tom and Barbara, turned out to carry dwarf genes, which soon became apparent each calving season. This rather limited the value and productivity of the herd. Financial concerns brought on by Dr. Butterfield's death in 1967, subsequently led to the dispersal of the cattle herd. It was fortunate that the Stable had become established enough to become one of the mainstays of the family fortunes. Diversification was always a necessity. Horses were leased to the Forest Service when they needed them. The entire string would be utilized for company picnics, with the horses being brought to the site. Churches were sent flyers promoting group rides and hayrides. Boy Scout troops were welcomed to camp, ride and work on both Horsemanship and Conservation Merit Badges--which benefited in valuable erosion control work. Many times, ranch hands were obtained from these sources, both for fencing and Christmas tree cutting. There were many winters that the place carried over a hundred head of horses, as several camps in the area would winter their horses here. Dad would haul them back and forth, pull their shoes, etc. Our pinto line originated with Barbara's mare Calico, a pinto mare of unknown breeding, though Tennessee Walker was suspected due to her gaits. Having been diagnosed with Navicular disease, she was bred to the Shetland, Tarzan, a chocolate-dapple--producing the mare Feather (Nan's pony). This line has been bred only to Morgans since '66, when Feather was bred to General James, producing the mare Calico Doll, granddam to our stallion RV Eagle Feather. Doll was only 14.2, but she had heart, stamina and intelligence. Having learned much at the knee of the Shetland, Feather, Nan began training Doll in 1970. This mare was just four years old when she took the High Point Champion in the '71 Trail Horse Trials, over some tough competition, including Mary Woolverton's Prince of Pride. She could side-pass, two track, drag a log, pull a cart without blinders, open gates, work livestock and run all day. She also would gait occasionally, a trait that skipped a generation. Calico Doll was bred to Prince of Pride five different times, prior to his death in 1973(?). She would get in foal but never carried to term. Nan did some riding for Mary in exchange for these breedings, working Victory Vagabond. Finally the arrangement was settled by getting Calico Doll in foal to her stallion, Great Hills Richmond. Calico Doll's brown colt from this cross was sold on to the Tumbling River Ranch for cattle work. In the 1970's, a local breeder came to our attention with her stallion, Topside Midnight, when she competed him in the Top of the World Competitive Trail Ride. The crossing of Calico Doll with Midnight produced the black 3/4 Morgan stallion, Jaspar, in 1974. He was used for breeding four or five years, overlapping the transition to pureblooded Morgans in 1977. I always thought it unfortunate that he wasn't pure-blooded as he had wonderful manners, was very solid and typey and a generous sire. We sold his offspring until 1985 and still have a great-granddaughter. He was gelded in '81, and sold in '82. A few of the solid colored part-bloods come down from this line of the family. One of his daughters has competed as a grade horse in Competitive Trail riding for the past ten years. Three major land sales were required for operating expenses during the late '60's and early '70's. The Indian Park Ranch was decreased to 280 acres, Resort Valley Ranch decreased from 5,000 acres to its present 4,000. The Camp Fire Girls purchased the property adjacent to the driveway, leading to their utilizing horses from our string for their horse program. As the Camp increased its horse program, the public stables was gradually phased out. This freed up the Butterfield's lifestyle enough for them to focus on starting raising the pure-blooded Morgans, beginning with their purchase of SH Crescent in 1976.

Little Scraggy Camp

20 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents95 acres · Pine, CO

Little Scraggy Camp is located on 95 acres of an historic 160-acre ranch that was homesteaded by our family in the 1890’s, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This totally off-grid ranch is surrounded by Pike National Forest, yet has easy access from a paved road. We offer several accommodations and glamping sites, as well as sites for moderate sized RVs, travel trailers, tents, and hammocks. Additionally, we have sites for small groups (up to 14 people) and large groups (35-200 people). Potable drinking water is available from onsite 270-gallon water tanks. Portable toilets are only a short walk away from sites. Friendly dogs are welcome to enjoy your campsite off leash, but please clean up after your dog. If your pet has any aggressive tendencies, it must be leashed. Recently added is a 4 hole disc golf putting course for you to practice your shots or try your hand, with 4 sets of discs provided. We also have a cornhole toss game at both the glamping/rv camp area and tent/rv area. We are an ideal basecamp for the casual or dedicated trail enthusiast. The ranch itself has several trails and easy trail loops to explore within and just outside of the ranch’s fence lines, with direct access to the 9.5-mile Little Scraggy Trail and Segment #3 of the Colorado Trail. Just 3.5 miles away is the Little Scraggy Trailhead, where you will find easy access for biking, hiking, or horseback riding on the many other trails of the Buffalo Creek area. Additionally, we have an extensive network of hiking and horse trails that avoid conflicts with mountain bikers. You might prefer rock climbing Little Scraggy or fishing the gold-medal waters of the South Platte River canyon below Cheesman Dam and the waters near Deckers. For a day trip, Wellington Lake is only 30 minutes away for no-wake water sports. Many people enjoy kayaking on the North Fork of the South Platte downstream from nearby Buffalo Creek. This is a working ranch where we raise and train horses and ponies. Our particular interest is in carriage driving, and we offer driving experiences upon request. Our site called Mountain Horse Camp, provides 3 individual porta-panel horse corrals. There is limited cell service.

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.

Rustic Creek Ranch

32 sites · RVs, Tents160 acres · Bailey, CO

The 160 acre ranch was homesteaded by my grandfather over 100 years ago. He was an engineer. The plan was to use this property as summer grazing for his cattle. The cattle were wintered at the other ranch about 10 miles away, which was homesteaded by my great grandfather. Because my grandfather could survey, he made sure the property lines zigzaged up the valley so the small creek was in the middle to provide water for the animals. He chose well. It is a beautiful, quiet place with elk, deer and wild turkeys. There are tons of wild flowers in the summer. Columbines, the Colorado state flower, wild roses, paintbrushes and lots of wild chokecherries. With nice views of nearby mountains, open pastures, evergreen forests and aspen groves, it looks like it did 100 years ago. Plus, there are a couple of ponds for your dogs to cool off in. Since the first cattle, the ranch has also been home to goats, chickens, horses, and now alpacas and llamas. And of course the Great Pyrenees ranch dogs. I had a house built a few years ago and live on the property full time. The ranch is surrounded by Pike National Forest with the Colorado Trail connecting the property in a number of places. Some of the highest ranked mountain bike trails are nearby. There are lots of places on and off the property to hike, mountain bike and ride your horse. On a clear night you can see thousands of stars and hear coyotes howl. For a drone video of the ranch check out: YouTube's Midsummer 2020 Flyover. Elevation 8,000 feet, Average Summer Temperatures: Days 60-80 f, Nights 45-60 f, Sunshine Average 73-80%, Colorado Trail Segment 3, USGS Maps: Windy Peak & Green Mountain quadrangles. This is the official info. Basically, the weather is usually similar to the Denver area - just 10 degrees cooler. About 8 miles away is the small town of Bailey. It has just about everything you might need: small grocery store, coffee shops, gas, laundry, art gallery, a dollar store, hardware store, camping and sports equipment, brew pub, winery, a few restaurants, potable water station and more.

12 top ranch campgrounds in Colorado

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.

Campe Diem!

54 sites · RVs, Tents72 acres · CO

Do you want a large, private, uniquely situated, pet friendly CampSpot™ to yourselves or family with a BATHHOUSE where it can be so quiet and some days there are stars for as deep as you can see? We have about 300 of those days and nights. Usually can stay longer on Sundays! We are 72 acres of piñon trees, some small animal life and crickets tucked against a mesa just a few minutes from town. Bring your shoe prints! We have sandboards! $15 per day! We are approximately a 35 minute beautiful drive from the National Sand Dunes around Mt. Blanca. (14'r). 5 minutes from the Mountain Home State Wildlife Park and reservoir where you can fish swim chill cookout etc. You can bike, hike, Swim, jet ski or fish at the newly stocked reservoir. Firewood must be purchased at the campsite. Pet friendly!

Rustic Creek Ranch

32 sites · RVs, Tents160 acres · Bailey, CO

The 160 acre ranch was homesteaded by my grandfather over 100 years ago. He was an engineer. The plan was to use this property as summer grazing for his cattle. The cattle were wintered at the other ranch about 10 miles away, which was homesteaded by my great grandfather. Because my grandfather could survey, he made sure the property lines zigzaged up the valley so the small creek was in the middle to provide water for the animals. He chose well. It is a beautiful, quiet place with elk, deer and wild turkeys. There are tons of wild flowers in the summer. Columbines, the Colorado state flower, wild roses, paintbrushes and lots of wild chokecherries. With nice views of nearby mountains, open pastures, evergreen forests and aspen groves, it looks like it did 100 years ago. Plus, there are a couple of ponds for your dogs to cool off in. Since the first cattle, the ranch has also been home to goats, chickens, horses, and now alpacas and llamas. And of course the Great Pyrenees ranch dogs. I had a house built a few years ago and live on the property full time. The ranch is surrounded by Pike National Forest with the Colorado Trail connecting the property in a number of places. Some of the highest ranked mountain bike trails are nearby. There are lots of places on and off the property to hike, mountain bike and ride your horse. On a clear night you can see thousands of stars and hear coyotes howl. For a drone video of the ranch check out: YouTube's Midsummer 2020 Flyover. Elevation 8,000 feet, Average Summer Temperatures: Days 60-80 f, Nights 45-60 f, Sunshine Average 73-80%, Colorado Trail Segment 3, USGS Maps: Windy Peak & Green Mountain quadrangles. This is the official info. Basically, the weather is usually similar to the Denver area - just 10 degrees cooler. About 8 miles away is the small town of Bailey. It has just about everything you might need: small grocery store, coffee shops, gas, laundry, art gallery, a dollar store, hardware store, camping and sports equipment, brew pub, winery, a few restaurants, potable water station and more.

Little Scraggy Camp

20 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents95 acres · Pine, CO

Little Scraggy Camp is located on 95 acres of an historic 160-acre ranch that was homesteaded by our family in the 1890’s, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This totally off-grid ranch is surrounded by Pike National Forest, yet has easy access from a paved road. We offer several accommodations and glamping sites, as well as sites for moderate sized RVs, travel trailers, tents, and hammocks. Additionally, we have sites for small groups (up to 14 people) and large groups (35-200 people). Potable drinking water is available from onsite 270-gallon water tanks. Portable toilets are only a short walk away from sites. Friendly dogs are welcome to enjoy your campsite off leash, but please clean up after your dog. If your pet has any aggressive tendencies, it must be leashed. Recently added is a 4 hole disc golf putting course for you to practice your shots or try your hand, with 4 sets of discs provided. We also have a cornhole toss game at both the glamping/rv camp area and tent/rv area. We are an ideal basecamp for the casual or dedicated trail enthusiast. The ranch itself has several trails and easy trail loops to explore within and just outside of the ranch’s fence lines, with direct access to the 9.5-mile Little Scraggy Trail and Segment #3 of the Colorado Trail. Just 3.5 miles away is the Little Scraggy Trailhead, where you will find easy access for biking, hiking, or horseback riding on the many other trails of the Buffalo Creek area. Additionally, we have an extensive network of hiking and horse trails that avoid conflicts with mountain bikers. You might prefer rock climbing Little Scraggy or fishing the gold-medal waters of the South Platte River canyon below Cheesman Dam and the waters near Deckers. For a day trip, Wellington Lake is only 30 minutes away for no-wake water sports. Many people enjoy kayaking on the North Fork of the South Platte downstream from nearby Buffalo Creek. This is a working ranch where we raise and train horses and ponies. Our particular interest is in carriage driving, and we offer driving experiences upon request. Our site called Mountain Horse Camp, provides 3 individual porta-panel horse corrals. There is limited cell service.

Resort Vallley Ranch

7 sites · RVs, Tents3600 acres · Conifer, CO

Historic Ranch Resort Valley Ranch was homesteaded mainly by the Corbin family starting.in 1884 They had moved their cattle here from nearby Pleasent Park during a particularly hard winter, as a "last resort", leading to the creeks being named Last Resort and West Resort. Hard times in the 1930's and drought conditions, convinced the Corbin's to sell out and move to lusher climes. Tom’s father, Dr. O.J. Butterfield was another doctor that invested his spare money in cattle ranching. Purchased mainly before. 1945, Tom's older brother Rupert tried to make a living raising trout on the Resort Creek property in the late '40's. Otherwise, the place was occupied by various old-timers who caretook the place until 1955, when Barbara and Tom moved here to oversee the cattle business. The second slope of the driveway frequently had to be dug out by hand for access. The years of drought had left the place overgrazed and barren. Times were hard, and the horses needed to work the cattle ate plenty. The opportunity arose to lease them out in nearby Foxton--Foxton Stables was born. An old livery and other outbuildings provided the facilities needed. Mutual benefit was derived from the business as customers to the general store also would take advantage of the riding horses just across the bridge. Workers and helpers came from off-duty air force boys, as well as volunteer children from the local summer cabins. Guided rides were offered, as well as moonlight rides when appropriate and by appointment. There were also "Chuck Wagon" cookouts which included a horse-drawn hay ride to and from. Tom and Barbara also put on a Trail Horse Trials which was an annual competition over obstacles, judged, set up to simulate obstacles a horse might encounter while out riding. This became more widely attended the second year, coming to the notice of horse breeders like Mary Woolverton, who competed in it for the first time in 1963. (That's when Nan first fell in love with Prince of Pride, a golden palomino Morgan stallion who always looked like the perfect horse showing how to do it perfectly.) 1963 is the last year this event, and the stable business, was held in Foxton. From then on, the stable was run from the barn at the ranch, and the Trail Horse Trials was not put on again until 1966, when it was sponsored by the 4-H Trail Dusters and put on in conjunction with the first annual Top of the World Competitive Trail ride which was head-quartered on the west end of the property. As the stable became busier, more horses were purchased or leased to meet the need. Many of these horse were grade individuals from known breeds. The better mares did double duty by raising foals each year, that would be sold or auctioned off. Some of the mares were bred to our Shetland pony stallion, Tarzan, he was called a chocolate-dapple. Several years we had Appaloosa offspring from a friend's stallion. For a short time, a Moroccan Paint stallion was used, but he tended to throw the lethal white gene, as well as breaking Tom Butterfield's knee with his bad behavior. He soon found his way back to auction! A couple of the leased mares were Morgans. They proved to be easy to work with as well as hardy individuals that kept well, and the foals proved easier to halter break than the other horses. They made a good enough impression that a young gelding was purchased, and one nice mare was bred to the Morgan stallion Julio--descended from Juzan. The resulting colt, Julian, was kept as stallion until age eight, before being gelded and living out his years as a family favorite. Julian did a lovely running walk. Unfortunately, none of his offspring were kept, including the two from the half Shetland mares kept for the family. It may seem that the cattle operation got dropped by the wayside. In actuality, that's not far from the truth. The fact that the registered Herefords purchased by Tom and Barbara, turned out to carry dwarf genes, which soon became apparent each calving season. This rather limited the value and productivity of the herd. Financial concerns brought on by Dr. Butterfield's death in 1967, subsequently led to the dispersal of the cattle herd. It was fortunate that the Stable had become established enough to become one of the mainstays of the family fortunes. Diversification was always a necessity. Horses were leased to the Forest Service when they needed them. The entire string would be utilized for company picnics, with the horses being brought to the site. Churches were sent flyers promoting group rides and hayrides. Boy Scout troops were welcomed to camp, ride and work on both Horsemanship and Conservation Merit Badges--which benefited in valuable erosion control work. Many times, ranch hands were obtained from these sources, both for fencing and Christmas tree cutting. There were many winters that the place carried over a hundred head of horses, as several camps in the area would winter their horses here. Dad would haul them back and forth, pull their shoes, etc. Our pinto line originated with Barbara's mare Calico, a pinto mare of unknown breeding, though Tennessee Walker was suspected due to her gaits. Having been diagnosed with Navicular disease, she was bred to the Shetland, Tarzan, a chocolate-dapple--producing the mare Feather (Nan's pony). This line has been bred only to Morgans since '66, when Feather was bred to General James, producing the mare Calico Doll, granddam to our stallion RV Eagle Feather. Doll was only 14.2, but she had heart, stamina and intelligence. Having learned much at the knee of the Shetland, Feather, Nan began training Doll in 1970. This mare was just four years old when she took the High Point Champion in the '71 Trail Horse Trials, over some tough competition, including Mary Woolverton's Prince of Pride. She could side-pass, two track, drag a log, pull a cart without blinders, open gates, work livestock and run all day. She also would gait occasionally, a trait that skipped a generation. Calico Doll was bred to Prince of Pride five different times, prior to his death in 1973(?). She would get in foal but never carried to term. Nan did some riding for Mary in exchange for these breedings, working Victory Vagabond. Finally the arrangement was settled by getting Calico Doll in foal to her stallion, Great Hills Richmond. Calico Doll's brown colt from this cross was sold on to the Tumbling River Ranch for cattle work. In the 1970's, a local breeder came to our attention with her stallion, Topside Midnight, when she competed him in the Top of the World Competitive Trail Ride. The crossing of Calico Doll with Midnight produced the black 3/4 Morgan stallion, Jaspar, in 1974. He was used for breeding four or five years, overlapping the transition to pureblooded Morgans in 1977. I always thought it unfortunate that he wasn't pure-blooded as he had wonderful manners, was very solid and typey and a generous sire. We sold his offspring until 1985 and still have a great-granddaughter. He was gelded in '81, and sold in '82. A few of the solid colored part-bloods come down from this line of the family. One of his daughters has competed as a grade horse in Competitive Trail riding for the past ten years. Three major land sales were required for operating expenses during the late '60's and early '70's. The Indian Park Ranch was decreased to 280 acres, Resort Valley Ranch decreased from 5,000 acres to its present 4,000. The Camp Fire Girls purchased the property adjacent to the driveway, leading to their utilizing horses from our string for their horse program. As the Camp increased its horse program, the public stables was gradually phased out. This freed up the Butterfield's lifestyle enough for them to focus on starting raising the pure-blooded Morgans, beginning with their purchase of SH Crescent in 1976.

Bright Star Campground

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Cortez, CO

We have COMPLIMENTARY Wifi, Drinking Water, Ice, Hot Showers, Bathrooms, Shade, and an equipped Camper's Kitchen for our guests to enjoy from April 15 - Oct 15! There are TIPIS, CAMPING CABINS, TENT and BOONDOCK SITES. WE ALSO HAVE A NAVAJO HOGAN (wood yurt) OPEN-YEAR ROUND. All of our sites are not listed here. We can also accommodate groups and small events but not public events. We have a private covered group site as well. Bright Star Campground: Once used as a church camp, it is now a Campground for all to enjoy! We are a perfectly located vacation campground on 40 acres with amenities and wide-open spaces. Amenities include hot showers, an equipped community kitchen, a pavilion with hammocks, tables, ping pong, etc. Enjoy complimentary coffee, eggs, filtered drinking water and more. Bright Star Campground is located in the Great Sage Plain in the shadow of Mesa Verde National Park with panoramic mountain/mesa views of the Four Corners region, all only 5 miles southeast of Cortez. We are in an arid desert climate. Water is scarce, stored in cisterns for use in camp. Because of this we ask that you be conservative with water use in camp. We are a cannabis-friendly destination but ask that Cannabis use stay at your campsite, cabin or tipi. There are many things to do/see nearby: Mesa Verde National Park, Canyons of the Ancients, Hovenweep National Monument and Phil's World Mountain Biking. Raft down the Dolores river, maybe rent a SUP or kayak and chill on a quiet reservoir. There are museums and cultural centers in the area as well. Durango is 45 min, Telluride is 1.5 hrs away, and Moab is about 2.5 hours away-including Arches and Canyonlands National parks. The best/nearest airport is in Durango. Cortez has Denver Air (Key Lime Air) with connections to Denver and Phoenix. The nearest large international airport is in Salt Lake City or Albuquerque.

Booked 17 times

Hillside Park

6 sites · RVs, Tents9 acres · New Castle, CO

Located 5 minutes from Highway 70. Hillside Park is near the river with public access only 2 minutes away. 3 minute hike to a beautiful sunset view. Borders public State Wildlife property. Within Colorado Unit 42 for hunting easily reached by OHV on county road 312. 15 minutes from Rifle and Glenwood Springs.

Frenchman's Creek Ranch

4 sites · Lodging, RVs100 acres · Buena Vista, CO

We have a 100+ acre working ranch with access to the Arkansas river for fishing, kayaking or just dipping your feet in. We have great views of the Collegiate Peaks 14ers and the Harvard trail is just up the hill. Frenchman's creek runs through the ranch which has hay fields, aspens, cottonwoods, pinons, cows, chickens, sheep and pigs. Deer, elk, coyotes and bobcats also wander through. We are 15 minutes from BV, 10 minutes from Clear Creek Reservoir, 20 minutes from Twin Lakes and 30 minutes from Leadville.

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!

Serenity in the Foothills

12 sites · RVs, Tents3600 acres · Conifer, CO

***NO BOOKINGS ACCEPTED UNTIL YOUR CAR INFORMATION IS PROVIDED*** Basic car information will help us ensure you and your party have no issues driving on our forest roads. YEAR LONG FIRE BAN- propane fire rings are allowed Welcome to Serenity in the Foothills. Located an hour west of Denver, this 3600 acre ranch features 12 spaced out campsites that offer quite a bit of privacy. There are tons of trails/ roads to hike and bike around on, as well as many amazing views. Resort Valley Ranch was combined from around 15 homesteads by the Corbin family. You will see lots of relics and evidence related to those homesteads across our property! Please do not disturb any artifacts or relics on our property, we are very conservation minded with the history as well as the natural beauty of the area. Come enjoy this hidden private jewel in the pines of Jefferson County, Colorado! We want to ensure your vehicle and trailer won't get damaged while commuting to your campsite. Please read about our campsites and make sure the one you pick works for your car/trailer. -NO fifth wheels (ALL sites). -Maximum length of trailers is 22ft(Select campsites) -Trailers must have adequate clearance: 8 inches or higher with no low hanging plumbing. -Sites 1, 2 : 4WD/ SUV- Short camper trailers only (12 foot max) -Site 3 : 4WD/SUV vehicles only -Sites 4-12(excluding site 11): 4WD/SUV with good clearance are recommended as well as trailers (22 foot max) -Site 11 : 4WD vehicles only. If your trailer is bigger than 22 feet, our sister camp-site Resort Valley Ranch may be able to accommodate you. (Also located on Hipcamp) **When booking, please include basic information about your car/ trailer clearance to ensure that your campsite you've selected will accommodate it!**

Hummingbird Ranch

12 sites · RVs, Tents360 acres · Rye, CO

Learn more about this land: Hummingbird Ranch is a gorgeous sprawling ranch in Colorado's Spanish Peaks Country with panoramic views of the Wet Mountains and across the plains to the Spanish Peaks. Location is only 12 easy driving minutes from I25. Come experience the dark Colorado skies and quiet secluded campsites with scenery all around...

The Rapids at Cache La Poudre

2 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents190 acres · Laporte, CO

Come explore the Cache La Poudre River near the "Mad Dog Rapids" area! Enjoy over 1/4 mile of private access to the Cache La Poudre River along with access to 190 acres total of hiking with river pull outs along Castaway Beach. Fishing on the property is allowed so bring your fly rod and cast away! Whether you're pitching a tent under the stars or parking your RV for a cozy retreat, our campground offers the perfect escape for nature enthusiasts and adventurers alike. Watch as the rafters come down the rapids on the property and spend beautiful starry nights in the canyon! Float in to the campsite after rafting or fishing down the Poudre or just come for a nice relaxing time along the river! There are three options for this site. There is an RV/Camper site and a tent site only one may be booked per day. A camper is available with propane and generator. A strict two-vehicle policy on the property at a given time. Cell service is limited in this area and please note that you will not have service at the campsite! But, a landline is available nearby in case of emergencies.

Star Hosts in Colorado

Bright Star Campground

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Cortez, CO

We have COMPLIMENTARY Wifi, Drinking Water, Ice, Hot Showers, Bathrooms, Shade, and an equipped Camper's Kitchen for our guests to enjoy from April 15 - Oct 15! There are TIPIS, CAMPING CABINS, TENT and BOONDOCK SITES. WE ALSO HAVE A NAVAJO HOGAN (wood yurt) OPEN-YEAR ROUND. All of our sites are not listed here. We can also accommodate groups and small events but not public events. We have a private covered group site as well. Bright Star Campground: Once used as a church camp, it is now a Campground for all to enjoy! We are a perfectly located vacation campground on 40 acres with amenities and wide-open spaces. Amenities include hot showers, an equipped community kitchen, a pavilion with hammocks, tables, ping pong, etc. Enjoy complimentary coffee, eggs, filtered drinking water and more. Bright Star Campground is located in the Great Sage Plain in the shadow of Mesa Verde National Park with panoramic mountain/mesa views of the Four Corners region, all only 5 miles southeast of Cortez. We are in an arid desert climate. Water is scarce, stored in cisterns for use in camp. Because of this we ask that you be conservative with water use in camp. We are a cannabis-friendly destination but ask that Cannabis use stay at your campsite, cabin or tipi. There are many things to do/see nearby: Mesa Verde National Park, Canyons of the Ancients, Hovenweep National Monument and Phil's World Mountain Biking. Raft down the Dolores river, maybe rent a SUP or kayak and chill on a quiet reservoir. There are museums and cultural centers in the area as well. Durango is 45 min, Telluride is 1.5 hrs away, and Moab is about 2.5 hours away-including Arches and Canyonlands National parks. The best/nearest airport is in Durango. Cortez has Denver Air (Key Lime Air) with connections to Denver and Phoenix. The nearest large international airport is in Salt Lake City or Albuquerque.

Rustic Creek Ranch

32 sites · RVs, Tents160 acres · Bailey, CO

The 160 acre ranch was homesteaded by my grandfather over 100 years ago. He was an engineer. The plan was to use this property as summer grazing for his cattle. The cattle were wintered at the other ranch about 10 miles away, which was homesteaded by my great grandfather. Because my grandfather could survey, he made sure the property lines zigzaged up the valley so the small creek was in the middle to provide water for the animals. He chose well. It is a beautiful, quiet place with elk, deer and wild turkeys. There are tons of wild flowers in the summer. Columbines, the Colorado state flower, wild roses, paintbrushes and lots of wild chokecherries. With nice views of nearby mountains, open pastures, evergreen forests and aspen groves, it looks like it did 100 years ago. Plus, there are a couple of ponds for your dogs to cool off in. Since the first cattle, the ranch has also been home to goats, chickens, horses, and now alpacas and llamas. And of course the Great Pyrenees ranch dogs. I had a house built a few years ago and live on the property full time. The ranch is surrounded by Pike National Forest with the Colorado Trail connecting the property in a number of places. Some of the highest ranked mountain bike trails are nearby. There are lots of places on and off the property to hike, mountain bike and ride your horse. On a clear night you can see thousands of stars and hear coyotes howl. For a drone video of the ranch check out: YouTube's Midsummer 2020 Flyover. Elevation 8,000 feet, Average Summer Temperatures: Days 60-80 f, Nights 45-60 f, Sunshine Average 73-80%, Colorado Trail Segment 3, USGS Maps: Windy Peak & Green Mountain quadrangles. This is the official info. Basically, the weather is usually similar to the Denver area - just 10 degrees cooler. About 8 miles away is the small town of Bailey. It has just about everything you might need: small grocery store, coffee shops, gas, laundry, art gallery, a dollar store, hardware store, camping and sports equipment, brew pub, winery, a few restaurants, potable water station and more.

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!

Resort Vallley Ranch

7 sites · RVs, Tents3600 acres · Conifer, CO

Historic Ranch Resort Valley Ranch was homesteaded mainly by the Corbin family starting.in 1884 They had moved their cattle here from nearby Pleasent Park during a particularly hard winter, as a "last resort", leading to the creeks being named Last Resort and West Resort. Hard times in the 1930's and drought conditions, convinced the Corbin's to sell out and move to lusher climes. Tom’s father, Dr. O.J. Butterfield was another doctor that invested his spare money in cattle ranching. Purchased mainly before. 1945, Tom's older brother Rupert tried to make a living raising trout on the Resort Creek property in the late '40's. Otherwise, the place was occupied by various old-timers who caretook the place until 1955, when Barbara and Tom moved here to oversee the cattle business. The second slope of the driveway frequently had to be dug out by hand for access. The years of drought had left the place overgrazed and barren. Times were hard, and the horses needed to work the cattle ate plenty. The opportunity arose to lease them out in nearby Foxton--Foxton Stables was born. An old livery and other outbuildings provided the facilities needed. Mutual benefit was derived from the business as customers to the general store also would take advantage of the riding horses just across the bridge. Workers and helpers came from off-duty air force boys, as well as volunteer children from the local summer cabins. Guided rides were offered, as well as moonlight rides when appropriate and by appointment. There were also "Chuck Wagon" cookouts which included a horse-drawn hay ride to and from. Tom and Barbara also put on a Trail Horse Trials which was an annual competition over obstacles, judged, set up to simulate obstacles a horse might encounter while out riding. This became more widely attended the second year, coming to the notice of horse breeders like Mary Woolverton, who competed in it for the first time in 1963. (That's when Nan first fell in love with Prince of Pride, a golden palomino Morgan stallion who always looked like the perfect horse showing how to do it perfectly.) 1963 is the last year this event, and the stable business, was held in Foxton. From then on, the stable was run from the barn at the ranch, and the Trail Horse Trials was not put on again until 1966, when it was sponsored by the 4-H Trail Dusters and put on in conjunction with the first annual Top of the World Competitive Trail ride which was head-quartered on the west end of the property. As the stable became busier, more horses were purchased or leased to meet the need. Many of these horse were grade individuals from known breeds. The better mares did double duty by raising foals each year, that would be sold or auctioned off. Some of the mares were bred to our Shetland pony stallion, Tarzan, he was called a chocolate-dapple. Several years we had Appaloosa offspring from a friend's stallion. For a short time, a Moroccan Paint stallion was used, but he tended to throw the lethal white gene, as well as breaking Tom Butterfield's knee with his bad behavior. He soon found his way back to auction! A couple of the leased mares were Morgans. They proved to be easy to work with as well as hardy individuals that kept well, and the foals proved easier to halter break than the other horses. They made a good enough impression that a young gelding was purchased, and one nice mare was bred to the Morgan stallion Julio--descended from Juzan. The resulting colt, Julian, was kept as stallion until age eight, before being gelded and living out his years as a family favorite. Julian did a lovely running walk. Unfortunately, none of his offspring were kept, including the two from the half Shetland mares kept for the family. It may seem that the cattle operation got dropped by the wayside. In actuality, that's not far from the truth. The fact that the registered Herefords purchased by Tom and Barbara, turned out to carry dwarf genes, which soon became apparent each calving season. This rather limited the value and productivity of the herd. Financial concerns brought on by Dr. Butterfield's death in 1967, subsequently led to the dispersal of the cattle herd. It was fortunate that the Stable had become established enough to become one of the mainstays of the family fortunes. Diversification was always a necessity. Horses were leased to the Forest Service when they needed them. The entire string would be utilized for company picnics, with the horses being brought to the site. Churches were sent flyers promoting group rides and hayrides. Boy Scout troops were welcomed to camp, ride and work on both Horsemanship and Conservation Merit Badges--which benefited in valuable erosion control work. Many times, ranch hands were obtained from these sources, both for fencing and Christmas tree cutting. There were many winters that the place carried over a hundred head of horses, as several camps in the area would winter their horses here. Dad would haul them back and forth, pull their shoes, etc. Our pinto line originated with Barbara's mare Calico, a pinto mare of unknown breeding, though Tennessee Walker was suspected due to her gaits. Having been diagnosed with Navicular disease, she was bred to the Shetland, Tarzan, a chocolate-dapple--producing the mare Feather (Nan's pony). This line has been bred only to Morgans since '66, when Feather was bred to General James, producing the mare Calico Doll, granddam to our stallion RV Eagle Feather. Doll was only 14.2, but she had heart, stamina and intelligence. Having learned much at the knee of the Shetland, Feather, Nan began training Doll in 1970. This mare was just four years old when she took the High Point Champion in the '71 Trail Horse Trials, over some tough competition, including Mary Woolverton's Prince of Pride. She could side-pass, two track, drag a log, pull a cart without blinders, open gates, work livestock and run all day. She also would gait occasionally, a trait that skipped a generation. Calico Doll was bred to Prince of Pride five different times, prior to his death in 1973(?). She would get in foal but never carried to term. Nan did some riding for Mary in exchange for these breedings, working Victory Vagabond. Finally the arrangement was settled by getting Calico Doll in foal to her stallion, Great Hills Richmond. Calico Doll's brown colt from this cross was sold on to the Tumbling River Ranch for cattle work. In the 1970's, a local breeder came to our attention with her stallion, Topside Midnight, when she competed him in the Top of the World Competitive Trail Ride. The crossing of Calico Doll with Midnight produced the black 3/4 Morgan stallion, Jaspar, in 1974. He was used for breeding four or five years, overlapping the transition to pureblooded Morgans in 1977. I always thought it unfortunate that he wasn't pure-blooded as he had wonderful manners, was very solid and typey and a generous sire. We sold his offspring until 1985 and still have a great-granddaughter. He was gelded in '81, and sold in '82. A few of the solid colored part-bloods come down from this line of the family. One of his daughters has competed as a grade horse in Competitive Trail riding for the past ten years. Three major land sales were required for operating expenses during the late '60's and early '70's. The Indian Park Ranch was decreased to 280 acres, Resort Valley Ranch decreased from 5,000 acres to its present 4,000. The Camp Fire Girls purchased the property adjacent to the driveway, leading to their utilizing horses from our string for their horse program. As the Camp increased its horse program, the public stables was gradually phased out. This freed up the Butterfield's lifestyle enough for them to focus on starting raising the pure-blooded Morgans, beginning with their purchase of SH Crescent in 1976.

Frenchman's Creek Ranch

4 sites · Lodging, RVs100 acres · Buena Vista, CO

We have a 100+ acre working ranch with access to the Arkansas river for fishing, kayaking or just dipping your feet in. We have great views of the Collegiate Peaks 14ers and the Harvard trail is just up the hill. Frenchman's creek runs through the ranch which has hay fields, aspens, cottonwoods, pinons, cows, chickens, sheep and pigs. Deer, elk, coyotes and bobcats also wander through. We are 15 minutes from BV, 10 minutes from Clear Creek Reservoir, 20 minutes from Twin Lakes and 30 minutes from Leadville.

Available this weekend

Resort Vallley Ranch

7 sites · RVs, Tents3600 acres · Conifer, CO

Historic Ranch Resort Valley Ranch was homesteaded mainly by the Corbin family starting.in 1884 They had moved their cattle here from nearby Pleasent Park during a particularly hard winter, as a "last resort", leading to the creeks being named Last Resort and West Resort. Hard times in the 1930's and drought conditions, convinced the Corbin's to sell out and move to lusher climes. Tom’s father, Dr. O.J. Butterfield was another doctor that invested his spare money in cattle ranching. Purchased mainly before. 1945, Tom's older brother Rupert tried to make a living raising trout on the Resort Creek property in the late '40's. Otherwise, the place was occupied by various old-timers who caretook the place until 1955, when Barbara and Tom moved here to oversee the cattle business. The second slope of the driveway frequently had to be dug out by hand for access. The years of drought had left the place overgrazed and barren. Times were hard, and the horses needed to work the cattle ate plenty. The opportunity arose to lease them out in nearby Foxton--Foxton Stables was born. An old livery and other outbuildings provided the facilities needed. Mutual benefit was derived from the business as customers to the general store also would take advantage of the riding horses just across the bridge. Workers and helpers came from off-duty air force boys, as well as volunteer children from the local summer cabins. Guided rides were offered, as well as moonlight rides when appropriate and by appointment. There were also "Chuck Wagon" cookouts which included a horse-drawn hay ride to and from. Tom and Barbara also put on a Trail Horse Trials which was an annual competition over obstacles, judged, set up to simulate obstacles a horse might encounter while out riding. This became more widely attended the second year, coming to the notice of horse breeders like Mary Woolverton, who competed in it for the first time in 1963. (That's when Nan first fell in love with Prince of Pride, a golden palomino Morgan stallion who always looked like the perfect horse showing how to do it perfectly.) 1963 is the last year this event, and the stable business, was held in Foxton. From then on, the stable was run from the barn at the ranch, and the Trail Horse Trials was not put on again until 1966, when it was sponsored by the 4-H Trail Dusters and put on in conjunction with the first annual Top of the World Competitive Trail ride which was head-quartered on the west end of the property. As the stable became busier, more horses were purchased or leased to meet the need. Many of these horse were grade individuals from known breeds. The better mares did double duty by raising foals each year, that would be sold or auctioned off. Some of the mares were bred to our Shetland pony stallion, Tarzan, he was called a chocolate-dapple. Several years we had Appaloosa offspring from a friend's stallion. For a short time, a Moroccan Paint stallion was used, but he tended to throw the lethal white gene, as well as breaking Tom Butterfield's knee with his bad behavior. He soon found his way back to auction! A couple of the leased mares were Morgans. They proved to be easy to work with as well as hardy individuals that kept well, and the foals proved easier to halter break than the other horses. They made a good enough impression that a young gelding was purchased, and one nice mare was bred to the Morgan stallion Julio--descended from Juzan. The resulting colt, Julian, was kept as stallion until age eight, before being gelded and living out his years as a family favorite. Julian did a lovely running walk. Unfortunately, none of his offspring were kept, including the two from the half Shetland mares kept for the family. It may seem that the cattle operation got dropped by the wayside. In actuality, that's not far from the truth. The fact that the registered Herefords purchased by Tom and Barbara, turned out to carry dwarf genes, which soon became apparent each calving season. This rather limited the value and productivity of the herd. Financial concerns brought on by Dr. Butterfield's death in 1967, subsequently led to the dispersal of the cattle herd. It was fortunate that the Stable had become established enough to become one of the mainstays of the family fortunes. Diversification was always a necessity. Horses were leased to the Forest Service when they needed them. The entire string would be utilized for company picnics, with the horses being brought to the site. Churches were sent flyers promoting group rides and hayrides. Boy Scout troops were welcomed to camp, ride and work on both Horsemanship and Conservation Merit Badges--which benefited in valuable erosion control work. Many times, ranch hands were obtained from these sources, both for fencing and Christmas tree cutting. There were many winters that the place carried over a hundred head of horses, as several camps in the area would winter their horses here. Dad would haul them back and forth, pull their shoes, etc. Our pinto line originated with Barbara's mare Calico, a pinto mare of unknown breeding, though Tennessee Walker was suspected due to her gaits. Having been diagnosed with Navicular disease, she was bred to the Shetland, Tarzan, a chocolate-dapple--producing the mare Feather (Nan's pony). This line has been bred only to Morgans since '66, when Feather was bred to General James, producing the mare Calico Doll, granddam to our stallion RV Eagle Feather. Doll was only 14.2, but she had heart, stamina and intelligence. Having learned much at the knee of the Shetland, Feather, Nan began training Doll in 1970. This mare was just four years old when she took the High Point Champion in the '71 Trail Horse Trials, over some tough competition, including Mary Woolverton's Prince of Pride. She could side-pass, two track, drag a log, pull a cart without blinders, open gates, work livestock and run all day. She also would gait occasionally, a trait that skipped a generation. Calico Doll was bred to Prince of Pride five different times, prior to his death in 1973(?). She would get in foal but never carried to term. Nan did some riding for Mary in exchange for these breedings, working Victory Vagabond. Finally the arrangement was settled by getting Calico Doll in foal to her stallion, Great Hills Richmond. Calico Doll's brown colt from this cross was sold on to the Tumbling River Ranch for cattle work. In the 1970's, a local breeder came to our attention with her stallion, Topside Midnight, when she competed him in the Top of the World Competitive Trail Ride. The crossing of Calico Doll with Midnight produced the black 3/4 Morgan stallion, Jaspar, in 1974. He was used for breeding four or five years, overlapping the transition to pureblooded Morgans in 1977. I always thought it unfortunate that he wasn't pure-blooded as he had wonderful manners, was very solid and typey and a generous sire. We sold his offspring until 1985 and still have a great-granddaughter. He was gelded in '81, and sold in '82. A few of the solid colored part-bloods come down from this line of the family. One of his daughters has competed as a grade horse in Competitive Trail riding for the past ten years. Three major land sales were required for operating expenses during the late '60's and early '70's. The Indian Park Ranch was decreased to 280 acres, Resort Valley Ranch decreased from 5,000 acres to its present 4,000. The Camp Fire Girls purchased the property adjacent to the driveway, leading to their utilizing horses from our string for their horse program. As the Camp increased its horse program, the public stables was gradually phased out. This freed up the Butterfield's lifestyle enough for them to focus on starting raising the pure-blooded Morgans, beginning with their purchase of SH Crescent in 1976.

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!

Campe Diem!

54 sites · RVs, Tents72 acres · CO

Do you want a large, private, uniquely situated, pet friendly CampSpot™ to yourselves or family with a BATHHOUSE where it can be so quiet and some days there are stars for as deep as you can see? We have about 300 of those days and nights. Usually can stay longer on Sundays! We are 72 acres of piñon trees, some small animal life and crickets tucked against a mesa just a few minutes from town. Bring your shoe prints! We have sandboards! $15 per day! We are approximately a 35 minute beautiful drive from the National Sand Dunes around Mt. Blanca. (14'r). 5 minutes from the Mountain Home State Wildlife Park and reservoir where you can fish swim chill cookout etc. You can bike, hike, Swim, jet ski or fish at the newly stocked reservoir. Firewood must be purchased at the campsite. Pet friendly!

Tater's Black Canyon Campground

2 sites · RVs, Tents35 acres · Crawford, CO

Hot showers and toilets are now available! (more details to follow). 35 acres of bliss shared with 2 humans, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses and 3 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.

Bright Star Campground

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Cortez, CO

We have COMPLIMENTARY Wifi, Drinking Water, Ice, Hot Showers, Bathrooms, Shade, and an equipped Camper's Kitchen for our guests to enjoy from April 15 - Oct 15! There are TIPIS, CAMPING CABINS, TENT and BOONDOCK SITES. WE ALSO HAVE A NAVAJO HOGAN (wood yurt) OPEN-YEAR ROUND. All of our sites are not listed here. We can also accommodate groups and small events but not public events. We have a private covered group site as well. Bright Star Campground: Once used as a church camp, it is now a Campground for all to enjoy! We are a perfectly located vacation campground on 40 acres with amenities and wide-open spaces. Amenities include hot showers, an equipped community kitchen, a pavilion with hammocks, tables, ping pong, etc. Enjoy complimentary coffee, eggs, filtered drinking water and more. Bright Star Campground is located in the Great Sage Plain in the shadow of Mesa Verde National Park with panoramic mountain/mesa views of the Four Corners region, all only 5 miles southeast of Cortez. We are in an arid desert climate. Water is scarce, stored in cisterns for use in camp. Because of this we ask that you be conservative with water use in camp. We are a cannabis-friendly destination but ask that Cannabis use stay at your campsite, cabin or tipi. There are many things to do/see nearby: Mesa Verde National Park, Canyons of the Ancients, Hovenweep National Monument and Phil's World Mountain Biking. Raft down the Dolores river, maybe rent a SUP or kayak and chill on a quiet reservoir. There are museums and cultural centers in the area as well. Durango is 45 min, Telluride is 1.5 hrs away, and Moab is about 2.5 hours away-including Arches and Canyonlands National parks. The best/nearest airport is in Durango. Cortez has Denver Air (Key Lime Air) with connections to Denver and Phoenix. The nearest large international airport is in Salt Lake City or Albuquerque.

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Ranch camping in Colorado guide

Overview

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to resource for camping in the United States. Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway or a longer adventure, we've got you covered. With over 1,300 options in Colorado that cater to ranch-style camping, you're sure to find the perfect spot. Check out our top campsites, like Rustic Creek Ranch (363 reviews), Serenity in the Foothills (295 reviews), and Resort Valley Ranch (263 reviews), all offering stunning views and top-notch amenities. And with prices starting as low as $7 per night and an average price of $35 per night, camping has never been more affordable. Enjoy popular amenities like trash service, showers, and potable water, and indulge in activities like wind sports, fishing, and surfing. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience in Colorado!

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