Spot bighorn sheep, hike for miles, or ski snowy slopes while camping near Eldorado Springs.
Just south of Boulder on the edge of the Rocky Mountains, Eldorado Springs is a gateway to outdoor escapes in the Colorado wilderness. Score a cozy yurt in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, pull the campervan into a RV park with full hookups at St. Vrain State Park, or pitch a tent in White Ranch Park. Expansive hiking trails in any of these parks make it easy to take in the alpine beauty, while quiet ponds offer plenty of fishing excitement for anglers. Nearby ski slopes and ice fishing also make winter camping around Eldorado Springs a popular adventure.
Mountain views, aspen forests, and 35 miles of trails make Golden Gate Canyon State Park a stunning outdoor escape. Hiking trails are open year-round, giving campers a chance to catch sight of the park’s wild residents, including moose, bighorn sheep, and black bears. In summer, reserve early to score on-site tent campsites, yurts, or cabins, as this popular getaway fills up quickly. In winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing make for an exciting trip, with ice fishing available on Slough Pond and Kriley Pond as well.
Camp beside small ponds and admire the local nuthatches, wrens, and warblers while staying in St. Vrain. Electric hookups, water hydrants, and a dump station make St. Vrain’s campground a popular spot for RV camping as well as tent camping. Stroll through hiking trails, float on the water, or bring a Colorado fishing license to catch rainbow trout, channel catfish, and black crappie. In winter, St. Vrain offers waterways that are popular for family fishing excursions—even in winter. There are also wheelchair-accessible piers at Pelican, Sandpiper, and Mallard ponds.
Twenty miles of trails cover this section of the Jefferson County Open Space system—hiking, cycling, and horseback riding opportunities give campers plenty of ways to explore them. Reservations are required to camp inside the park, where a limited number of walk-in tent campsites with picnic tables deliver quiet escapes in rugged mountain terrain. The semi-primitive tent campgrounds include restrooms, wildlife-proof storage bins, and horse corrals for equine campers.
June to September is the most popular time for camping near Eldorado Springs, when warmer weather averages 85–90°F. It even makes its way up to the higher elevation areas for warmer mountain hikes. September and October offer colorful displays of fall leaves, while winter excursions are popular for those seeking skiing, snowboarding, and ice fishing. Alpine regions often stay snowy well into May, so check up on road conditions when planning drives through the mountains.