Camping in Colorado with wildlife watching
Enjoy year-round recreation and a wild diversity of landscapes in this colorful state.
94% (13700 reviews)
- Colorado
94% (13700 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Colorado
Available this weekend
Dog-friendly getaways
12 top campgrounds in Colorado with wildlife watching
93%
(236)
Campe Diem!
49 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!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$35
/ night
92%
(106)
Prospector’s Rush
7 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Central City, CO
Welcome to Prospector’s Rush campground located on a 5-acre old mining claim near Idaho Springs, Colorado. This unique rustic campground offers visitors a chance to reconnect with nature while experiencing the rich history of the area. 4WD is necessary to access our property!!!
As you arrive, you'll be greeted by the untouched beauty of the Rocky Mountains and the sound of a nearby stream. The campground is surrounded by towering pine trees and a variety of wildlife (moose, deer, elk, turkeys and black bear), providing a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Prospector’s Rush campground offers tent sites and RV sites, each with plenty of space for campers to spread out and enjoy the natural surroundings. While we do not have running water on site, we do have a pit toilet. This is a true camping experience, allowing you to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life and immerse yourself in the simplicity of nature.
As you explore the area, you'll discover remnants of the old mining operation, including abandoned mineshafts. You can also hike the nearby trails, or simply relax and enjoy the beauty of the starry night sky.
At Prospector’s Rush campground, we pride ourselves on offering a true wilderness experience, with limited amenities to ensure that you can fully appreciate the natural beauty of the area. Come visit Prospector’s Rush campground and discover a piece of Colorado's rich history while immersing yourself in the peace and tranquility of pure nature.
4WD is mandatory!!
Pets
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from
$49
/ night
98%
(767)
Clear Creek Getaway
15 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents20 acres · CO
Welcome to Clear Creek Getaway!
NOTE: Absolutely no smoking in the A-frames
Bedding:
A-Frame-3 and 7 provide a bed and bedding only all others you will need to bring your own
For the glam dome:
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Roads :
This is a mountain getaway so the roads are dirt.
If you have Awd and keep your speed up you will make it fine. The road is a loop the backside can have rocks so please drive up in high clearance vehicles no need for crazy lifted just SUV-Trucks type
We are available all year round.
No power in units.
All A-Frames come with a grill and propane (see photos), and there is also a solar motion light on the deck. All A-frames have heat for the winter months (propane heaters).
Located 10 minutes by car from historic gold town Idaho Springs.
River rafting when in season. We also have some of Colorado’s best fly fishing.
Awesome hikes nearby (Gray's Peak). We are also close to st Mary’s Glacier, gold mine tours, great small-town restaurants (Marion’s pizza, Beau Joe’s)
Hot springs within miles.
We have portable toilets located close to the units
Great views and there is an old mining cabin at the top if you find it please post your pictures!
Georgetown lake 5 miles west I 70
Paddle boarding , train ride through the hills
Grays Peak Fourteener 7 miles west I 70
St. Mary’s glacier 2 miles east I70
Hot Springs 2 miles east I70
All mining roads can be used for off-road purposes at your own risk. Be careful, very steep and rocky.
( Please note ) after tremendous amounts of work on the road, it seems 2wd cars cannot make it and this place is not suitable for those campers. Please do not block the road going up or the residence in the mobile home park on the front of the road.
When coming from east exit 234 Dumont go left over I 70 to Stanley and then left behind the mobile home. Come from the west 235 go left under I70 at Starbucks turn right go 1/2 mile first right go back over I 70 to Stanley and harvest moon trail go left up behind mobile homes NOTE THIS IS LOOP DONT TAKE STEEP ROAD (GO TO THE LEFT).
Pets
Toilets
from
$40
/ night
94%
(239)
Creekside Paradise
5 sites · Lodging, Tents42 acres · CO
Located perfectly between Boulder, Nederland, and Rocky Mountain National Park, and very close to other stunning hikes, this spot is a great landing pad to have easy access to some of the most beautiful places in the Rockies as well as offering it's own breathtaking scenery. This land is the sacred land of the Arapaho tribe. Chief Niwot and his tribe spent winters here. It is a very special place. The property is a mile long so there is plenty of space with the tent sites being 1/2 mile from the yurt and separate entries for each. There are currently 2 tents sites available, a bell tent, and a yurt.
Pets
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Toilets
Campfires
Trash
from
$36
/ night
92%
(101)
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.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$65
/ night
98%
(767)
Glen Isle Resort
20 sites · RVs, Tents101 acres · Bailey, CO
(If you book with us, please don’t follow your GPS if it tries to make you turn at the Coney Island hot dog stand. Glen Isle is .5 miles past the hot dog stand.)
Due to the ongoing issues with forest fires in our area and insurance issues at this time, we will no longer have open wood-burning fires. Propane fires are permitted if you have a portable campfire ring, please feel free to bring your own. We do have a couple available for rent onsite.
For your safety and ours: absolutely no check in/arrival after dark sets in; Around 5:15pm during winter months. 7:30pm summer
There are many reasons why you would want to camp at Glen Isle Resort!
Glen Isle is located in Bailey, Colorado which is the perfect vacation spot for friends, family, reunions, or a private get away.
Glen Isle was originally built for an escape from hectic Denver. Once you cross the bridge into the resort, you’ll understand why it has served as a peaceful getaway for over a century. The Platte River welcomes you and divides the property from Highway 285. If you love to fish, you have a mile of the river to use at your disposal. If hiking is your forte and you desire to explore nature, Glen Isle is surrounded by the National Forest,
Lost Creek Wilderness, Payne Gulch Trailhead, the Colorado Trail
and many private acres for you to explore.
You will find history narrates the Native American’s story where Glen Isle was once used as an Indian encampment, and numerous trees still stand today that were culturally modified to mark sacred treasures. If you seek tranquility, you will find hummingbirds and chipmunks always seeking an audience to entertain.
Starting June 1st, we will offer evening activities, and campers are welcome to come to the lodge, shop in our gift shop.
We also have snacks for purchase, and popcorn for our guests to enjoy.
(Glorious Glen Isle was unoccupied for six years.
We are in the process of renovating hundred year old
cabins, and the 8,000 square foot lodge.
Our camping areas have a river setting, glorious valley views, and a private setting surrounded by the National Forest.
However, there is renovation and construction going on around some areas of
the property.
Additionally, as you can see from the map and read in a few reviews, we are just on the other side of
the beautiful Platte River from Highway 285.
About 75% of our guests are not bothered by the busyness
of the this highway but others can be more sensitive to the noise.
We want Glen-Isle campers to enjoy their experience as much as possible, so if you would like
more information, please do not hesitate to ask.
Our goal is to share the property with others, and to
have the "happiest" campers in Colorado!)
Glen Isle Resort was opened in 1901, by five original investors.
In 1923, the property was bought by the Baldwin's and in the 1940's it was given to the Baldwin's granddaughter,
Barbara and her husband
Gordon Tripp.
The Tripp family owned and operated the resort until Barbara's death in November 2012.
Mary Ruth grew up coming to Glen Isle Resort as a child in the 1970's.
Her favorite memories are the chuckwagon dinners, horseback riding, evening dances, movie nights, and the endless activities that never grew old.
Mary Ruth grew up, married Greg, and they started bringing their five boys to Glen Isle Resort.
Mary Ruth and Greg were both professionals in education, and visited Glen Isle in the summer of 2016 after an Adele concert.
They found their beloved Glen
Isle was being sold.
After much consideration, they found the idea of not pursuing a dream to be more terrifying than looking back and wondering "why" they didn't...so they began the magical
journey to purchase, restore, and bring historical Glen Isle back to life.
Pets
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from
$40
/ night
75%
(4)
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.
Pets
from
$40
/ night
97%
(671)
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!
Pets
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Trash
from
$38
/ night
93%
(235)
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 main 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 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 cots 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 and wood. Don't forget to take some water with you. 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.
We are @ 10,000 feet and it is a slight hike to the cabin.
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.
Pets
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from
$55
/ night
94%
(517)
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 here in the winter you may use the trees or Mavericks gas station in 1.5 miles away.
Pets
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from
$30
/ night
98%
(852)
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 more goats, 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.
Pets
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from
$30
/ night
99%
(274)
Riverwalk Yurt, luxury on river
7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents35 acres · Hotchkiss, CO
The House where we live is the corner stone of the Bruce Property and is on the Colorado Register of Historic Houses.The residence was constructed between 1905 and 1912, using red bricks made on the site. John and Sophia Bruce, early pioneers in the North Fork Valley, were first involved in cattle raising. The family later became successful fruit growers. Located along the West Elk Loop, a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway, the large two-story residence features a steeply pitched hipped roof with prominent attic dormers.As a guest of Riverwalk you will have full access to the river during your stay. In addition, there is the Riverwalk Trail System that skirts the North Fork of the Gunnison River from the top of the property, by the Riverwalk Yurt, (available on this site) meandering downstream past the Riverwalk TIPI (available on the site) passing the Grove Yurt (available on this site) and terminating at the bottom of the property with the sandy Riverwalk Beach. There is a trial that zigs through the Cottonwood Grove and zags back along the gentle Monitor Ditch skirting a newly planted grove of young trees.For RV Campers we provide 2- 30amp,1-50 amp and 1- 110-amp electrical services and potable water. There is a dump station available. There is also access to our heated shower house with running water and bathroom amenities (<3 min. walk, may be shared with other guests). The property is perfectly geared to groups of friends gathering in a central location between the onset of the Rockies and the termination high desert to the west. Friends or family will reserve both Yurts and the RV Site for a perfect reunion setting!
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$35
/ night
Star Hosts in Colorado
Under $50
Nearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
Camping in Colorado with wildlife watching guide
Overview
Looking for a camping experience that combines the great outdoors with wildlife watching? Look no further than Hipcamp in Colorado. With over 3800 options specifically tailored to wildlife watching in Colorado, you'll have plenty of choices to find the perfect spot. Whether you're looking for a rustic retreat or something more luxurious, Hipcamp has you covered. And with campsites starting as low as $5 per night, you're sure to find something that fits your budget. Be sure to check out top campsites like Glen Isle Resort (461 reviews), Rustic Creek Ranch (363 reviews), and Serenity in the Foothills (295 reviews) for tried and true options. Plus, popular amenities like potable water, pet-friendly sites, and trash disposal make your stay even more convenient. And if you're looking to mix up your wildlife watching with some other activities, you'll find historic sites, paddling, and boating options nearby as well. Start planning your wildlife adventure today!
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