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Colossal Cave Campground

Hosted by Staff · Vail, Arizona

29 sites · RV, Tent · 2200 acres

First Hipcamper Club

Earn this patch by being the first to spend a night outside at a new Hipcamp.

Near Saguaro National Park

Within a 30-minute drive from the Rincon Mountain Visitor Center.

Please call the gift shop to reserve your campsite! We have a cool, shaded retreat for your picnic in the park. This wooded area, nestled in a narrow, steep-walled riparian canyon, was originally developed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of its larger park-building initiative. Located below Colossal Cave, there are picnic areas to accommodate both large and small groups. The El Bosquecito and La Selvilla areas can host up to 72 and 96 people, respectively. The Cowboy Campground and Cowboy Ramada can accommodate up to 80 and 100 people. All sites feature picnic tables, fire pits, and grills, with restrooms and water available nearby. Didn't bring your lunch? No problem! The Terrace Café offers delicious grab-and-go Tucson specialties and other favorites, so pick your spot, relax, and listen to the birds serenade your meal. If you'd like to stay longer than a day, why not camp under the magnificent Sonoran skies? Campsites are tucked among towering saguaro cacti and mesquite trees in Posta Quemada Canyon, an area developed in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The campground includes four large areas—El Bosquecito, La Selvilla, Cowboy Campground, and Cowboy Ramada—plus 15 additional individual campsites. Camping Rates: • Tent Camping: $15 per tent, per night • Group Site Reservations: $150 per night (groups of more than 10 guests save money compared to individual rates!) • RV, Car, and Horse Trailer Camping: $15 per vehicle, per night Please note: • Park entrance and exit gates lock at 4 p.m. and reopen at 8 a.m. Special accommodations for opening and closing times may be available for large groups. • Group sites may also accommodate individual campers at the base rate of $15 per night, provided there are no existing reservations. Please check with the cave staff first. • At this time, we do not accept payments through Hipcamp.

Select a site

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Tent-only sites (dispersed)

3 sites

Group Tent Site, Cowboy Campground

Tent site · Sleeps 50

For group sites, please call [xxxxxxxx] to reserve.* The Cowboy Campground (~36,440 sqft) is a campground frequently booked by scouting groups, cyclist groups, and trail running groups. It's ease of access, cellular signal, modernized bathrooms and running water makes it an ideal area for the easy-going explorer and camper. Underneath a thick mesquite canopy there is plenty of space for activities, a community fire pit, a horseshoe pit, a long "lawn" for football or soccer, and the bathrooms are located on the edge of all this. Amenities include: • Clean and modern bathrooms (shares with Cowboy Ramada) • Potable water • 7 picnic tables, 7 fire pits, 1 community fire pit and 6 charcoal grills • Electricity at bathroom • Cell Signal • Room for 40-50 tents, 50-55 vehicles (shares parking lot with Cowboy Ramada ~19,614 sqft) • Close to horseback rides, Ranch and Stables just right around the corner! • Close to the Arizona Trail *If there are no group reservations scheduled, this site may also be used for individual campers. Please check in at the Cave before camping here.

Short walk to site

Campfires allowed

Toilet

Potable water

Pets allowed

No showers

Group Tent Site, El Bosquecito

Tent site · Sleeps 40

For group sites, please call [xxxxxxxx] to reserve.* El Bosquecito (~35,288 sqft) is a campground frequently booked by scouting groups, church groups, university groups, etc. This site lays underneath a thick canopy of Mesquite trees at the very tip of an absolutely gorgeous Cottonwood grove. Amenities include: • Clean pit-bathrooms • Potable water • 12 picnic tables, 8 fire pits, 4 charcoal grills • Room for 30-40 tents, 15 vehicles (25 vehicles if double-parking) (~3,670 sqft) • Close to the Arizona Trail *If there are no group reservations scheduled, this site may also be used for individual campers. Please check in at the Cave before camping here.

Campfires allowed

Toilet

Potable water

Pets allowed

No showers

Picnic table

Tent Sites

Tent site · Sleeps 6

There are many beautiful tent sites to choose from in the park. 15 individual sites are located along the way to La Selvilla while you may also choose to camp at any of our group sites (please check in with the Gift Shop to ensure there is no reservations for the group site). Nearly all sites comes with a full picnic table barbecue pit, and charcoal grill. All tent sites have a space allocated for tents that are leveled serenely with the landscape and given as much shade from the surrounding landscape as possible. Water and bathrooms can be found within a quarter mile of whichever site you choose (water and bathrooms are located at La Selvilla, El Bosquecito, and The Cowboy). Please check with the retail office for specific site availability. The gates to the entire park closes at 4pm every day and reopen at 8am.

Campfires allowed

Toilet

Potable water

Pets allowed

No showers

Picnic table

RV/tent sites

4 sites

Group Site, Cowboy Ramada

RV/tent site · Sleeps 50 · Vehicles under 50 ft

For group sites, please call [xxxxxxxx] to reserve.* The Cowboy Ramada (~28,373 sqft) is a campground frequently booked by scouting groups, trail running groups, and RV enthusiasts. It's ease of access, cellular signal, modernized bathrooms and running water makes it an ideal area for the easy-going explorer and camper. This site in particular is the most accessible for pull-in RV's with the most open space (other than the parking lot). Amenities include: • Clean and modern bathrooms (shares with Cowboy Campground) • Potable water • 8 picnic tables, 1 large community fire pit, 1 medium charcoal grill • Electricity under the large ramada structure • Overhead lighting under the large ramada structure • Cell Signal • Room for 50-60 tents or 10-15 mid-size RVs, 50-55 vehicles (shares parking lot with Cowboy Campground ~19,614 ft2) • Close to horseback rides, Ranch and Stables just around the corner! • Close to the Arizona Trail *If there are no group reservations scheduled, this site may also be used for individual campers. Please check in at the Cave before camping here.

Campfires allowed

Toilet

Potable water

Pets allowed

No electrical hookup

No water hookup

Group Site, La Selvilla

RV/tent site · Sleeps 60 · Vehicles under 15 ft

For group sites, please call [xxxxxxxx] to reserve.* La Selvilla (~55,810 sqft) is our largest, quietest, and most secluded campground. It frequently booked by scouting groups and other adventures that are looking for a more far-out camping experience. The site twists and turns mixing between both isolated tent pads and community areas all underneath Mesquite canopies. Amenities include: • Clean pit-bathrooms • Potable water • 14 picnic tables, 4 fire pits, 2 community fire pits, 7 charcoal grills • Ramada structure • Room for 50-60 tents, 20-30 vehicles (parking lot ~8,112 sqft) *If there are no group reservations scheduled, this site may also be used for individual campers. Please check in at the Cave before camping here.

Short walk to site

Campfires allowed

Toilet

Potable water

Pets allowed

No electrical hookup

Group Site, Little Selvilla

RV/tent site · Sleeps 20 · Vehicles under 15 ft

For group sites, please call [xxxxxxxx] to reserve.* On the way towards La Selvilla, there is a smaller and more intimate site we call Little Selvilla (13,098 sqft). With a dense Mesquite canopy and isolated tenting pads, it is a perfect area for smaller family get-togethers. Amenities include: • Bathrooms ~10-minute walk (to La Selvilla) • Water ~10-minute walk (to La Selvilla) • 4 picnic tables, 2 fire pits, 4 charcoal grills • Room for 7 tents (drive-in circular parking, ~10 vehicles) • Close to the Arizona Trail *If there are no group reservations scheduled, this site may also be used for individual campers. Please check in at the Cave before camping here.

Campfires allowed

No toilet

No potable water

Pets allowed

No electrical hookup

No water hookup

RV Site

RV/tent site · Sleeps 8 · Vehicles under 40 ft

We have 7 individual RV sites (vehicles over 25ft DO NOT pass spot number 4). to accommodate all types of campers and motor homes in the park. The sites are all dry camping with no access to hookups directly, but have no restrictions on generator use (except quiet hours begin at 10PM). The sites are situated on the right entering La Selvilla directly after passing the fork for the El Bosquecito group site. There are other sites specifically to accommodate larger RVs at "the Cowboy" statue near La Posta Quemada ranch. Check in and pay at the Cave Shop before setting up camp.* *If your RV or trailer is over 30ft and you have driven up into the cave parking lot, please inform the Gift Shop staff that you will need an escort out of the parking lot. The exit turn is very tight so we will send you down the incoming lane after we have blocked off the road below. Please wait for instruction.

Campfires allowed

Toilet

Potable water

Pets allowed

No electrical hookup

Water hookup

RV-only sites (dispersed)

1 site

RV Sites, The Cowboy (parking lot)

Vehicle site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 50 ft

This site specifically accommodates individual RV's and trailers over 25ft. It is a parking lot, however, this area stays relatively quiet. This area is also not a group site and cannot be reserved in total. However, if you wish to reserve a site for a handful of RV's, consider the Cowboy Ramada right next to it! Amenities include: • Clean and modern bathrooms (shares with Cowboy Ramada) • Potable water • Flat ground • Cell Signal • Close to horseback rides, Ranch and Stables just right around the corner! • Close to the Arizona Trail

Campfires allowed

Toilet

Potable water

Pets allowed

No electrical hookup

Water hookup

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Location

Vail, Pima County, Arizona, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Colossal Cave Campground

Select a site

Tent-only sites (dispersed)

Group Tent Site, Cowboy Campground

Group Tent Site, El Bosquecito

Tent Sites

RV/tent sites

Group Site, Cowboy Ramada

Group Site, La Selvilla

Group Site, Little Selvilla

RV Site

RV-only sites (dispersed)

RV Sites, The Cowboy (parking lot)

Location

Hosted by Staff C.

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