Campsites at a premium

Front Range spots tough to reserve on summer weekends

Brian Metzler, Special To The Rocky

Published June 26, 2007 at midnight

Text size

More More Outdoors

"I'm sorry, it looks like the Pawnee Campground is all booked up for that weekend," the woman on the other end of the line says. "And it looks like it's sold out on the weekends for the rest of the summer, too. Sorry about that. Is there another campground you'd like to try?"

It's a frustrating reality, but finding a campsite on a weekend along the Front Range can be very difficult.

It's a trend that's been complicated in recent years because many people are camping closer to home because of higher gas prices.

The Boulder Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service oversees 243 campsites in six campgrounds within the Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests. Almost all the 128 sites that can be reserved in advance, including those in the Pawnee Campground in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, already have been claimed for Friday and Saturday nights through Labor Day weekend.

The other 115 sites at those six campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis through September, but on a recent weekend, 75 percent of those were booked by 9 a.m. Friday.

It doesn't mean you can't go camping this weekend or any time through Labor Day weekend, it just means you have to know where to look for open sites or start your weekend early.

"If people go up on a Thursday, they can pretty much guarantee they'll get a campsite for the weekend," says Maribeth Pecotte, visitor information specialist for the Boulder Ranger District of the Forest Service.

"If they wait until Friday, unless you're leaving home at 5 or 6 in the morning, then you'll probably wind up at the Meeker Park Overflow campground, which is our last-chance opportunity because it's a little bit less developed and has fewer facilities, compared to other of our campgrounds."

Here are some other hints to finding a Front Range camping spot this summer:

* Use the online search engines for state parks (colorado stateparks.reserveamerica.com)and federal campgrounds (recreation.gov) to find out which parks have first-come, first-served sites and which sites still can be reserved in advance. Reservations can be made online or by phone, but for trips within 72 hours, call the toll-free numbers listed on those sites.

* Consider narrowing your search to a one-night trip. Several of the most popular state and federal campgrounds have lone Friday night availability that can be reserved in advance.

* At Golden Gate Canyon State Park northwest of Golden, there almost always is availability in the park's two dozen backcountry camp spots. Those spots require a hike of about a mile and must be reserved directly through the park office by calling 303-582- 3707.

* Campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park have weekend availability at several campgrounds. Plus, the park has five campgrounds totaling more than 500 campsites filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

* Rocky Mountain National Park has weekend availability at some of its 120 backcountry campsites, partially because many require long hikes at high altitudes. But backcountry reservations are only taken in person or by mail.

* There is slightly more availability at Front Range campgrounds on weekends in late August when the new school year begins and the summer tourism surge slows.

* Though the probability of colder temperatures and early- season snow increases after Labor Day, most campsites are available on weekends after Sept. 3.

* Sites are available at almost every Front Range federal and state campground in the state from Sunday through Thursday nights.

Selected Front Range campgrounds

There are about 1,000 public campsites within a two-hour drive of Denver. Some are in the foothills and mountains, others are on the plains or near urban areas. There also are dozens of privately operated campgrounds and RV parks along the Front Range.

Boyd Lake State Park

* Location: Loveland.

* Features: 148 paved, pull-through campsites adjacent to a 1,700-acre lake.

* Highlights: Boating, fishing and swimming, plus a summer concert series Saturdays through Aug. 11.

* Daily fees: $8-$22.

* Info/reservations: 970-669-1739; coloradostateparks.reserveamerica.com.

Buffalo Creek Campground

* Location: Adjacent to the Colorado Trail near Buffalo Creek.

* Features: 36 campsites amid a stand of Ponderosa pine trees adjacent to Buffalo Creek in Pike National Forest.

* Highlights: About 50 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking.

* Daily fees: $14.

* Reservations: 877-444-6777; recreation.gov.

Cherry Creek State Park

* Location: Near Interstate 225 and Parker Road in Aurora.

* Features: 128 campsites, including three group sites, near Cherry Creek Reservoir.

* Highlights: 35 miles of multiple-use trails, plus a variety of water sports.

* Daily fees: $8-$50.

* Info/Reservations: 303-470-1144; coloradostateparks.reserveamerica.com.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park

* Location: 15 miles northwest of Golden.

* Features: 136 campsites, five cabins, two yurts and several guesthouses.

* Highlights: 12,000 acres of forest, rocky peaks, aspen groves and lakes.

* Fees: $8-$50/night.

* Reservations: 303-470-1144; coloradostateparks.reserveamerica.com.

Jackson Lake State Park

* Location: About 15 miles northwest of Fort Morgan.

* Features: 260 campsites around a 2,700 acre, warm-water reservoir.

* Highlights: Water-skiing, fishing, shoreline camping and several beaches.

* Fees: $8-$50/night.

* Info/Reservations: 303-470-1144; coloradostateparks.reserveamerica.com.

Kelly Dahl Campground

* Location: Between Nederland and Rollinsville on Peak to Peak Highway.

* Features: 46 campsites in a flat, forested area situated at 8,600 feet.

* Highlights: Near many trails, four-wheel-drive roads and historic mining towns.

* Fees: $16/night.

* Reservations: 877-444-6777; recreation.gov.

Rocky Mountain National Park

* Location: Between Estes Park and Grand Lake.

* Features: More than 500 campsites spread in five campgrounds and 120 backcountry sites scattered across 265,000 acres.

* Highlights: More than 350 trails, 150 lakes and dozens of high mountain peaks, plus the opportunity to see elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, coyotes, cougars, eagles and hawks.

* Fees: $20 entry fee (good for seven days) plus a one-time $20 administrative fee.

* Reservations: 877-444-6777; recreation.gov.

Gearing up

Camping gear has gotten lighter and more technologically advanced in recent years. Here are three unique items new to outdoor stores this summer:

WindPro stove

This compact, remote-canister stove tips the scales at a mere 7 ounces, but its sturdy base still supports large cook pans or a large coffeepot. A windscreen and heat reflector help maximize the stove's heat output in all types of weather conditions. $80; msrgear.com.

Therm-a-Rest ToughSkin sleeping pad

This innovative sleeping pad weds a supportive bottom layer of durable closed-cell foam with a soft, open-cell foam on top. The combination offers all the comfort of standard camp mattresses with puncture-resistant toughness and extra insulation for rocky or snowy surfaces common to spontaneous backcountry campsites. $100; cascadedesigns.com.

Eureka N!ergy tents

Ever want to plug in your laptop or a portable DVD player on a camping trip? The new line of N!ergy tents has a rechargeable battery pack that can provide up to nine hours of electricity via three DC outlets prewired into the fabric of the tent walls. $159-$289 (depending on size); eurekatent.com.

Modern look

While pop-up campers and oversize RVs still are commonly seen at Colorado campsites, a new breed of stylish and ultrafunctional camping vehicles have popped up on the market in recent years. With built-in sound systems, flat-screen televisions, air conditioners, showers and stylish accessories, it's obvious these aren't your grandfather's campers.

EarthRoamer XV-JP

If you have the cash, Broomfield-based EarthRoamer will build you a tricked-out camper on the back of a new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited, with a pop-up dome tent large enough for a queen-size sleeping area. Other features include a toilet, sink, propane-fired cooking area, a small refrigerator, 25-gallon water tank, indoor/outdoor shower and an iPod/Bluetooth-ready 600-watt Kenwood sound system.

* Price: $110,000 (includes the cost of the vehicle).

* Info: earthroamer.com.

Design Within Reach Airstream

Trendy furniture retailer Design Within Reach teamed up with architect-designer Chris Deam to create a contemporary version of the iconic, aluminum-shell Airstream trailer, complete with a compact kitchenette and designer dinnerware.

* Price: $49,066.

* Info: dwr.com//airstream. cfm?category=166.

Sundance Teardrop Trailer

This retro-inspired, aluminum trailer has a maple-finished interior with room for a full-size mattress, plus a hatchback galley with a two-burner stove, hand-pump faucet, built-in cooler and stainless steel sink.

* Price: $24,000.

* Info: sundancecatalog.com.

T@B camping trailers

Known for bright colors and aerodynamic shape, ultralightweight T@B trailers are made from an aluminum-Fiberglas laminate and foam insulation and are among the easiest trailers to tow. A refrigerator, air conditioner and a TV with a DVD player are among the options.

* Price: $12,000-$15,000.

* Info: tab-rv.com.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News