## Overview

 Are you planning to camp summer 2024? Moraine Park Campground is closed for a major construction project. The campground is anticipated to re-open summer 2024. Moraine Park Campground (8,160 feet/2400 m) is located in Colorado\'s awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain National Park, near the Beaver Meadows Entrance on Highway 36. It is situated on the north side of Moraine Park, offering beautiful views of the vast park and the surrounding mountains.From lush valleys to craggy peaks reaching elevations over 14,000 feet (4250 m), visitors are provided opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures. Scenic driving, hiking, backpacking, fishing, horseback riding and wildlife viewing are popular activities in the park.\_\_ 
## Recreation

 Rocky Mountain National Park has 355 miles (570 km) of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain peak climbs. Visitors enjoy the park\'s various lake trails (Bear Lake, Cub Lake, Mills Lake), waterfall trails (Adams Falls, Alberta Falls, Ouzel Falls) and summit trails (Deer Mountain, Twin Sisters Peaks, Flattop Mountain). The park also offers some unforgettable scenic driving routes, including Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. Trail Ridge Road reaches 12,183 feet (3700 m) above sea level and is America\'s highest continuous highway. It climbs above the park\'s evergreen forests to its windswept alpine tundra, where visitors enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. Driving along the historic Old Fall River Road is like motoring through an earlier era. Constructed in 1920, this steep, one-way, uphill, gravel road punctuated by switchbacks quietly leads travelers from Horseshoe Park through the park\'s wilderness to Fall River Pass, 11,796 feet (3595 m) above sea level. Several visitor centers are within the park, offering ranger-led activities, education and history about the park, and seasonal nighttime programs. 
## Facilities

 Moraine Park Campground contains single family tent-only sites, walk-to tent sites and RV sites without hookups. There is no group camping at Moraine Park Campground. If you are looking for a group site, please check [Glacier Basin Campground][1].\_\_ Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, fire ring with grate, sharable food storage lockers, and tent pads of various sizes. Roads are paved and parking spurs are gravel. Flush toilets, dish-washing stations, and drinking water are provided at designated comfort stations.\_\_ Water. Loops B and E have vault toilets only, and water is limited in the winter to one location near the Ranger Station. Two solar-shower stall facilities are located within Moraine Park Campground. Campers are encouraged to bring their own solar-shower bags as the campground does not provide them. There are no other types of shower facilities in the park, but hot showers are available in nearby communities. Portable showers are prohibited in individual campsites.\_\_ Summer (May to October). The Ranger Station is open during the peak season and a dump and fill station are open for use to all campers. This service is located by the yellow bear sign and green dumpsters near the campground entrance. Additional dumpsters and recycling areas are scattered throughout the campground for the camper\'s convenience.\_\_The campground contains three main buildings at its entrance. Reservation information and check-in should be completed at the kiosk. Across the way, the Ranger Station provides information and services pertaining to all of Rocky Mountain National Park. Rangers are able to answer questions, provide Junior Ranger program booklets and badges, as well as give insight on planning your hike(s). Additionally, firewood is for sale at the firewood hut during the evenings; it is located next to the yellow bear sign, near the campground entrance. Ranger-led programs take place at the campground amphitheater in the C-loop. These programs are only offered in the evenings during the summer. For more information contact the Information Office at (970) 586-1206. Rocky Mountain National Park\'s free shuttle bus stops at the campground and provides access to the Cub Lake Trail, Fern Lake Trail, Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge, Sprague Lake and many other trailheads located along the Bear Lake corridor, eliminating the hassle of finding available parking. Campers are encouraged to use the free shuttle bus, as parking fills quickly.\_\_ Winter (October to May) . The Ranger Station is closed during the winter. Water is limited in the winter to one location near the Ranger Station. The shuttle service does not operate in the winter nor are ranger programs offered. 
## Natural Features

 A pleasant mix of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine and the occasional Engelmann spruce forests the campground, offering partial shade in this open area. Grasses, shrubs and seasonal wildflowers fill the open meadows. Wildlife is plentiful in the park; mule deer and the majestic Rocky Mountain elk are the most commonly seen. Black bear, coyote, bighorn sheep and moose inhabit the region as well, but can be harder to stumble upon. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The town of Estes Park lies just outside the park\'s main east entrances, and is a short drive from Moraine Park Campground. Dining, shopping, rafting, fly fishing, horseback riding and golfing opportunities await. Lake Estes offers boating, sailboarding and fishing.
## Charges &amp; Cancellations

 Please refer to [Rules and Reservation Policies][2] for information on changes and/or cancellations. 

[1]: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232462
[2]: https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies

Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

I camped during the Elk Rut and watching the elk come out at dusk was amazing. Hundred of elk at the meadow below. Jawdropping.

Great campsite and great view. Even with plenty of RV's and campers around it was extremely quiet. Each site had a picnic table and fire ring. Sites are pretty close together so just keep that in mind when setting up camp. Bear boxes are there for a reason so use them!

Pit toilet close to my site was fairly clean and stocked. Water was a little bit of a walk but not horrible.

I visited in Oct and during the day it was up in the 60's. The morning I woke up to snow. So again keep that in mind when camping during months that snow can happen.

Elk watchers paradise

Go in the fall, for the change of colors.  Elk are mating and the lakes are beautiful.  Campsite is amazing!!

Rocky Mountain NP

We really enjoyed this campground. Great place to take the family, as it's in the middle of RMNP. They do not take reservations, so go early or during the week! It fills up! Gorgeous views of the mountains. Lots of wildlife!

Good family spot

Beautiful location right in the middle of RMNP. Easy access to all of the hiking trails and good facilities. We went in the fall when the Aspens were changing color which was incredibly beautiful. We also were able to see plenty of wildlife in the meadows near the campsite.

RMNP - Moraine Park Campground

I had the great pleasure of visiting this campground last weekend. Moraine is on the east side of RMNP, near Estes Park. The campsite fee is $26/night, plus a $20/day or $70/vehicle per week entry fee. Be sure to book as far in advance as you can, as the campground can fill up months in advance during the summer.

Our site included a fire ring, a tent pad and a picnic table. There are communal bear lockers scattered about the campground. Bathrooms are a mix of vault and flush toilets, so if that's something you're picky about, you may wish to consult the campground map before making your reservation. There are no showers here, but they do have solar shower stalls (BYOBag!).

The campground is flush with birds, squirrels, chipmunks and other small wildlife. I also heard there's a herd of elk that is present many mornings in the field below the ampitheater, but I didn't have the good fortune of seeing them myself. 

RMNP has a great hiker shuttle system, and there's a stop by the entrance to the campground. 

From 5:30 - 8:30 pm every evening, there's a gentleman that sells soda, ice cream, firewood and kindling by the entrance to the park. 

If you're not sure what activities or hikes you want to do while you're visiting the area, consult the volunteers at the ranger station by the entrance! They gave us some wonderful suggestions, and I wish we had stopped by earlier in our visit. 

Great Experience in the Rockies!

We stopped at Morraine Park discovery center and took the shuttle to the fern lake shuttle stop.  You have to walk about .8 miles to get to the trailhead and then the real hike begins.  A beautiful hike through the woods takes you up to the "Pool" which is a nature made pool like area which has a bridge right in front of it so you can really get a great view.  From there you head up some pretty steep terrain to the fern falls.  There are numerous other falls to look at on the way.  Once you get to the falls you get a well deserved view and if you're lucky some mist from the falls to cool you down.  The hike is well worth it!

Hiking to Fern Falls

This campground is very busy in the summer but a great place to base camp while you are exploring RockyMountain National Park. The sites at the far end gives you a great view of Longs Peak. You are close to all the trails around Bear lake and views of some of the best sunsets around. 

The best at RMNP

This campground was unbelievably peaceful, and the views were amazing! We got to see some beautiful Elk very close by, which was definitely a highlight.

Views and Scenery

The air is so crisp here we stayed at moraine campground in June and it was perfect weather. it was a perfect location, close to all the attractios we wanted to see. The thing that stood out most to us was the amount of wild life that we saw. We felt like we were in Yellowstone but with out the tourist. 

Rocky mountain national park

Had a great stay at this campground. It was very crowded- but we saw at least twenty moose and hundreds of dear trapsing through our sites as if nobody was around. The ranger programs were actually very interesting- and there were a lot of hikes nearby to explore along with the shuttle system to get further into the park!

Nice place to sleep

We enjoyed our stay at Moraine Park. The only downside was a lack of privacy. The campgrounds were very close together with little shade. Aside from that, it was great! There is a shuttle within the campground. The rangers were very nice and helpful! This is the closest campground to the Estes Park entrance. I highly suggest making reservations, they were completely packed but there happened to be a cancellation so we lucked out! $26 per night (including a dog if you brought yours, be aware they are not allowed on any trail in the park)

Close to Estes Park entrance, dog friendly 

The moraine campground is beautiful with great views. We stayed in site 154 in the D loop. It was quite with lots of deer and chipmunks. Had a bear visit the site next to ours one evening. Some of the spots are right on top of each other. There are flush toilets, but not the cleanest bathrooms. The solar showers are a nice feature since there are no showers in the bathhouses.

Stay for the scenery not the amenities

Took the kids camping in Colorado for the first time and we had a blast. It rained on us a lot but it didn't stop us. Took a great hike up deer mountain....stunning views. Can't wait to go back.

Great stay

Gotta love the Rockies, but I can't say the same for Morraine.

They've packed campsites in like sardines, so there is no privacy and not even a semblance of quiet and calmness. Our site, A116, was within 30 feet of another site and 50' of 3 others. Pretty lame.

And of course they decided to shut down the bathroom closest to us for upgrades, and didn't bother even to put in porta-pottys. So everyone around us was either peeing outside their tent (a very pleasant sound to wake up to), or starting their cars and waking everyone up to drive to the other end of the loop for a bathroom.

Couple all of that with my having to get up and scold a bunch of drunk old ladies about being quiet at 10:45 because a ranger never showed up to do it, I can't recommend this campground.

On the plus side, there are nice views all over the campground and the wildlife is fun.

I love the mountains and RMNP is still nice, but Morraine leaves a lot to be desired.

Cramed like sardines

For those who are new-ish to camping and prefer car camping, Moraine is an easy-to-get-to campground, at just inside the park from the south entrance in Estes Park. This is a popular site, so prepare for neighbors. I highly recommend selecting a site in one of the loops. If you're on the stretch right after entering the campground, you'll have to deal with cars coming and going during your stay. We were in B loop, site 206.

Something else to pay attention to: tent sites and recreation travel trailer sites are mixed. If you prefer to be around tents only, make sure to check out the site map via [https://www.recreation.gov/](https://www.recreation.gov/) to book your primo spot. It's not fun when you're trying to enjoy your campfire with a 25-footer bearing it's headlights down on you while trying to back up in the dark, beeping all the way. If you're bringing multiples cars, you'll also want to pay attention to the parking allotments. A lot of sites only allow one car. The map also shows where water, restrooms, and bear lockers are located.

The campground is equipped with bear lockers for your food, and wood ($5 p/bundle) and kindling ($1.50 p/bundle) is for sale from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Bring cash. If you don't, you'll get this spiel: "This is the boonies. This isn't the big city." (Never mind you can pay with your card to get into the park not three miles away.)

Moraine campground is a mile or so walking distance (depending on your site) from Cub Lake and Fern Lake trailheads, and a short drive to many others. Make note: in peak seasons, you'll want to get to Bear Lake, and Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lake trailheads early, or else you'll have to shuttle it in.

The campgrounds are well maintained, bathrooms clean, and the views relaxing. We went last week in the midst of elk rutting season. If you haven't spent your nights listening to the sex calls of mammals, you aren't truly living. Oddly enough, it didn't bother any of us, and it was even peaceful. A couple gangs of elk made their way through the grounds. We were also visited by a couple of owls, and a pack of coyotes made their way through. We had the luck of a full moon. Coming over the mountaintops and peeking through the ponderosas is hauntingly beautiful.

Sounds of Nature (and Reverse Beeping)

The view of the Rocky Mountains is amazing; however, the campgrounds are right on top of each other so all you hear is other people talking and partying.

Beautiful outlook, but overcrowded.

Great accessible campsites with very clean amenities.

Nestled in the Beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park 

We grabbed a one night reservation here after a space popped up on recreation.gov and thankfully ended up on loop D. I always check recreation.gov for openings within a week of when we'll be someplace. Openings are difficult to find in national parks, but people do cancel. And if you don't find a space, there are plenty of Forest Service campgrounds in Colorado.

Campsite observations:

- This looks like paradise for tenters as you can pitch your tent pretty far back from the road at many sites. I was a bit obsessed with great tent sites, so there are photos attached. (Note: Nearby Longs Peak Campground is tents only.)

- Although generators are not allowed on loop D, there is still room for RVs. Our teardrop and Honda Pilot fit well on D159.

- Of the 3 campgrounds we stayed in within Rocky Mountain NP (Glacier Basin, Timber Creek and here), the checkin attendant here strongly emphasized bear safety. This park had 350 incidents in 2017\. I suspect the tents in the woodsy areas might have something to do with that. In any case, there are plenty of storage lockers. The attendant said to be sure to lock the car because bears look for evidence of food (coolers, etc) and have mastered door handles and occasionally smash windows.

- The bathrooms have flush toilets but were the worst smelling bathrooms we've had in quite a while. Given that most of our stays have been at Forest Service campgrounds with vault toilets, that's bad.

- The bathrooms also have faucets that you have to hold in the on position with one hand while you wash the other hand, i.e. instant off faucets. I understand the need to conserve water, but there are other types that ensure people can't leave a faucet on.

- Rangers patrol the park looking for unattended sites with smoldering fires or food left out. They can issue tickets.

You're in a good place to get to Sprague Lake and Bear Lake via car or shuttle bus, but don't forget Fern Lake and Fern Falls. Fern Falls is definitely worth the climb. If you don't want to come back the same way, stop at Cub Lake. (Photo of a moose in Cub Lake and video of Fern Falls are attached.) You can see Fern Falls and Cub Lake on an 8 mile hike leaving from the Cub Lake trailhead, but you can add on Fern Lake to make it 10. Your total distance depends on where you end up parking.

Good location for exploring east side of Rocky Mountain NP

We camped in Moraine Park Campground last summer &amp; absolutely loved it! One side (Loop C) of the campground has gorgeous views of the mountains &amp; on the other side (Loop A) is an area for elk crossing at night. Right outside the campground is a popular elk viewing area at dusk - which can be congested with cars.  The campground is also super accessible! It’s a short drive from the major hikes, the famous Trail Ridge Road, as well as the city of Estes Park. The RV sites offer no hook ups however, there are several water spoutd, bathrooms, bear boxes, &amp; large garbage bins. Some spots are challenging to back into, but not impossible. You are unable to bring in your own firewood.

loved our stay here!

This campground is beautifully designed. The spaces are slightly spread out and staggered to offer more privacy than others in the area. Lots of trees and big rocks to add to the privacy. Very clean facility, with easy access to bathrooms, water and bear boxes. We were very pleased with the quality of the tent space and table. (Technically we tent camped at a site for an RV, but it still has a level tent spot). It was one of the best in the area we have camped at. Also walking distance to a shuttle that will take you to nearby touristy trailheads (like Bear Lake). Only disappointing thing is the full fire ban currently in effect- so no campfire.

Spacious and shaded

Flew all the way from South Carolina with my two children and are camping equin our bags. Truly magical place and the views from anywhere are stunning. We stayed in the Moraine side and it was a good choice .

Just beautiful 

We camped in Moraine Park Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2017, and had a lovely experience! Whenever I camp, I try to find a more secluded site on the outskirts of the campground - we chose site 154 in loop D, and it was perfect! The site was in the very back of the campground, had a large distance between the two neighboring sites, and faced the mountains.

**WARNING:** You ARE in bear country - be bear smart and safe and use your bear box! We had our own bear box in our campsite - I believe each site has its own food locker. Try to lock all of your food and toiletries inside the food locker - they are large, and we have always been able to fit our big cooler into locker. If you do have to leave a cooler in the car, I was once told by a ranger in Yosemite NP that bears can recognize coolers when peering into car windows - he suggested putting put a towel and gear over your coolers when keeping them in the car overnight in bear territory.

The site also had a leveled tent pad - it’s nice not having to try to level your tent site on your own so you don’t have to dig rocks out of your back in the middle of the night. The site had lots of trees, where we set up a hammock. The fire pit had a very nice cooking grate - we always bring a small collapsable grate in case the fire ring doesn’t have one, but no need to use it this time!

The only downside to the more secluded site was that we had to pack our gear about 60 yards from the car to the site - not far at all, but when we car-camp we pack heavily, but that’s our own fault. Having the bear box to store everything in made it so we didn’t have to make trips back and forth from the car for the entire stay.

As we were in the back of the campground, we were facing the mountains. There were horse trails and game trails - we some horseback riders and some deer wandered through our campsite.

The bathrooms in Moraine park were clean, but if you require showers, there are no showers in the campground; there are, however, shower stalls where you can hang up your own solar shower.

We camped in Moraine Park shortly after Labor Day, and since it was nearing fall, there were large herds of elk down in the Moraine Park Valley - we could hear them in the evenings and early morning hours. The noise is eerie if you are not familiar with elk calls, but we thought it was very neat to hear.

**Beware of elk** (especially in the fall -mating season). Just so you are aware - you will see large fences throughout the park, some of which have gates that visitors can enter. The gates are designed to keep the wildlife contained and off the roads, or to keep them out of certain little ecosystems. When we first got into RMNP, we parked by the Colorado River that is flowing through Moraine Park, and came across one of the gates to the fenced in area. The only signs we saw read to not climb on the gates, and to please close the gate behind you. We entered the gate, and followed a game trail through some tall grasses.

When we got farther into the field, we realized that the things that appeared to be small dead tree branches were not branches at all, but the antlers of a bull elk who was laying down in the grass. He became aware of us and stood up, followed by dozens of female elk that had been completely hidden from the tall grasses. We slowly retreated back towards a small patch of trees, and stood there to watch the elk. The bull elk spotted a a younger male across the meadow, and began to bugle at him - it was mating season, so our bull did not want the younger, smaller bull near his hareem. The bull elk was traveling away from us, so we felt like we would wait by the trees until he was farther away.

As we stayed in the trees and watched the elk, we became aware of somebody coming down the hill towards us. Once he got our attention, he slowly beckoned us to come towards him, so we did. The man was a park ranger, and come to get us away from the elk. He said that nobody should be inside the fence past 5pm, as that is around the time when the elk return from the shady protection of the trees and back out into the open meadow. The ranger told us that the particular elk we were watching had been aggressive towards humans in the last week, having chased a cyclist and a photographer who had gotten too close. The moral of this story is that you need to be hyper aware of the wildlife around you, and try to research where you can and cannot go inside a National Park.

**CAMPSITE SPECS**

**Fees:** $26/night

**Plumbed Toilets**: Yes

**Water**: Yes

**Showers**: NO - there are stalls for personal solar showers

**Picnic Table:** Yes

**Firepit**: Yes

**Cooking Grates:** Yes

**Shade**: Yes

**Cell Service**: NO

**Animal Bins/Food Lockers**: Yes

**Trash**: Yes

Wonderful Campground in RMNP

We camped here in the winter when several loops of the campground were closed. Although it was the middle of the week and there were only about 10 other groups, the close spacing of the sites and lack of undergrowth still made it feel like we were right next to people (especially when RV generators start early in the morning).

Even in the winter, the toilets were open. The website listed potable water as being available year-round, but none of the wells or spigots were running when we were there.

In the morning the view from Moraine Park is outstanding, it's an easy place to start for a day hike in Rocky Mountain National Park to beat the crowds, and we had a herd of deer walk right through our site, which was cool.

Convenient location, not much privacy

Still some snow on the ground in late May.

Sweet Snow!

the views from this campsite really are quite beautiful. when I was there, it was reasonably quiet. adequate trees for hammocks. there were more RVs than I would have liked, but quiet hours were observed. it is a car campground, so you can’t expect to much peace and solitude, but it was very nice. I suggest C or D loops, specifically along the outer most road along the moraine. 

Very Nice, well utilized

Excellent campground right in the middle of Rocky Mountain NP. We stayed in the fall when leaves were beautiful and the Elk were in rut. No hookups but nice big sites each with a tent spot, picnic table and fire pit.

Love Moraine Park Campground 

This campground is always full. Right inside the border of RMNP out of Estes Park, it’s accessible but removed enough from traffic and noise. Some of the sites are close together but each has a generous tent pad, bear proof storage (most, not all) and a fire pit. Also available are reasonably clean toilets and sun shower stations. Nice views (Longs Peak), trees for hammock-hanging, and great camp hosts. Definitely recommend, if you can snag a site. Reserve in advance if possible. 

Early season but only way to find a vacancy

**Campground Review:**

I love staying in National Park Campgrounds and this one is no exception. Sure, there are no hookups or showers (solar shower stall only) here, but it is totally worth it to be in the park! We had an incredible view from our site and enjoyed sitting outside listening to the nearby elk. You can also walk to the shuttle from the campground which will be crucial once the crowds really start to arrive. Our site had incredible views and we couldn’t be happier with it! There are many many trails to explore in the park. We did our best(loved the hike to Emerald Lake even though it was busy!), but couldn’t do as much as planned due to all of the snow on the first day of summer!! Luckily Trail Ridge Road was open so we could drive that. I highly recommend it! 

  

**Product Review: **

As a ranger for The Dyrt, I sometimes get the opportunity to try products. I tried the Wenzel Micro Chair (https://wenzelco.com/micro-chair/) on this trip. My hope was that it will serve multiple purposes– easy to store guest seating as well as overnight camping seating options for kayaking and backpacking trips. It works great for most of these options!  It served as guest seating when we had friends in town visiting us at Moraine Park Campground. We even pulled it inside the RV when it started raining and it wasn’t in the way - it's a great size. It is very nice to have the extra seating! While this chair isn’t one we will take on overnight backpacking trips, we are happy to have it for times we need extra seating! It is relatively easy to store and it packs up nicely to be out of the way when you don't need it. It is a little heavy to be a backpacking chair, but it will be great for an overnight kayak trip! Way better than sitting on the ground!! All in all I am happy with this purchase! It has worked great for guests!

Ranger Review:  Wenzel Micro Chair at Moraine Park Campground

This campground is in the middle of Rocky Mountain NP.  Our site was in loop D.  The sites are a little packed but give you enough space to spread out.  Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring with a shared bear box.  The tent pads are level as d have plenty of shade.  The bath rooms have no showers and are a little dated but adequate for a national park.  It is centrally locates to bear lake and Estes Park. We will be back.  

Great campground

We usually end up going to RMNP around the 4th of July. There are a lot of people and the scenic spots are busy. But that being said, the park is so clean, people are generally very courteous and happy to be there. My daughter met a pen-pal that camped next to us for a few days. They played in the dirt and we sat with our new friends around a campfire at night, while her dad played guitar.

We’ve done the walk-up sites and the ones closer to the bathrooms and parking. Either way is fantastic. There are plenty of clean restrooms and wash/water stations, the bear boxes and camp sites are clean and spacious, and there’s a lot of shaded and open spots. It’s just a few minutes to trail ridge road or down to Estes. You can buy bundles of firewood for a few bucks, ice, and even ice cream and popsicles at the entrance. The rangers are very nice and there are several learning activities they do on-site. We have so much fun here. 

This place is magic to my family. We are making it a place that we return to again and again. 

Go, you won’t regret it!

One of my favorite places

It was late October when I stayed here, so there were plenty of sites to choose from even though only a few loops were open. This campground is managed by NPS and open year-round, but do note that if you visit in the summer, all of the sites are reservable and fill up nearly every night. During the winter there are 64 first-come, first-served sites. Plan accordingly! Overall it was clean, quiet and affordable. The official park website is always the best place to check for the most up to date information on campground fees, closures, etc. Compared to campgrounds outside the park, it’s a no-brainer - cheaper and you’re closer to all the good stuff! 

Awesome!

This was a great base camp while staying inside RMNP. It’s crowded with lots of visitors of course! I noticed that most of the sites had a nice separation even with the amount of campsites the park had. And staying within the park gives you the opportunity to hit the trails early or later before or after the daily visitors. They have done some improvements on the facilities adding or upgrading restrooms and adding bear boxes to some of the campsites.

Camping on a National Park

Just got back from an AMAZING camping trip here. We have stayed at two different campsites within Rocky Mountain National Park over the past year and this one was probably my favorite site. It provided so much privacy, a great view, clean restroom facilities, perfect hammocking trees and a rad nighttime panoramic view of the stars. There are great walking trails, but it’s also a very short drive from the hiking trails to different lakes and falls. My wife and I would certainly would recommend! 

Probably my favorite site so far 

We were on site B191. This was a great site on the edge of the park. We saw the whole Milky Way one night with clear skies. Great access to park and ride as well as other parts of the park. We only had pit toilets but they did not smell bad. Would definitely go back. 

Great location in RMNP

This was on my camping bucket list for years! I was so excited to go, but, it wasn’t as amazing as I hoped.....

First you’re in RMNP which is, unbelievable to begin with... BUT Moraine campground is so small all the campers are right on top of each other, it’s not even peaceful. 

We had an RV site, not hook ups, which isn’t a problem, but the site was so small and the road was heavily trafficked. 

The rangers were on top of it, which, is their job, but when you’re there three days, and are approached by rangers three times when there’s absolutely nothing you’re doing wrong, it’s excessive. They job pop by to “check in” ... ugh. Thanks mom! 

The ups are the unbelievable scenery! We saw elk, and marmots, and Turkey and big horn sheep. The scenery is unmatched. 

If I was to do it again, I’d stay in a fancy hotel in Estes. 

I wanted this to be FIVE stars, but it just wasn’t 

I visited RMNP during early Sept when COVID precautions were still in effect. They were limiting camping and park entry to 40% capacity. The campground was still very noisy due to lots of families making the trip from Denver. Perfect place for kids as the bathrooms are centrally located and the campground gets frequent furry visitors. My review includes a video of a few deer that made their way through my campsite one morning. 

The showers are SOLAR SHOWER areas, which means you need to bring a solar shower bag if you want to shower. They are available at most sporting goods/outdoor places in the area. There was a dish washing station available and Bear boxes (make sure you store food/cooking equipment properly). The bathrooms were clean but you may have to wait in line as they tend to be a busy place between 7am-9am as well as 6pm-9pm.

Morraine is a good location and I would strongly recommend waking up early one morning to get some photos of sunrise at Sprague Lake. My review also includes a photo and video of some Elk that caused a minor traffic jam near the parking lot of Sprague Lake. I also included a photo of the sunrise from Sprague Lake. This area is known for beautiful reflection photography but the wind made that difficult for me during my stay. 

Overall I think RMNP is underrated due to it’s size. It offers some amazing wildlife viewing opportunities and absolutely stunning mountain views. 

Excellent spot for families but a bit loud 

We only stayed here one night but wished that it could have been more. The sites are varied in desirability, some seem right close to each other while others seem to have more space, so do some research before choosing a site. Our site was fine, but the tent pad for the site next to us was right behind our drive, so if someone in a tent was in that site (189) there would have only been a few feet between us and them. It’s a nice quiet place for tenters and smaller rvs and trailers. Close to great hiking, wildlife, and the beauty of the Rockies. No hookups, just pit toilets. The shuttle bus comes by here on a regular basis, which is a great thing to help relieve the crowded parking at the popular trailheads.

Great for wildlife viewing

This is a good campground; clean, easy access, but the sites are pretty close together. It's essentially split into 3 sections (Arapaho Bay Big Rock, Morraine, and Roaring Fork). They're all essentially the same campground but they are run by different hosts. Roaring Fork and Morraine are right on the lake but have NO shade. Arapaho Bay- Big Rock is fully shaded and still only minute drive (probably a 20 minute walk) to the water. Morraine and Roaring Fork are the best if all you're wanting to do is be on the lake or if you're bringing a boat. Morraine is really nice if you don't have a boat but want lots of lake time as there's a big sandbar strip that acts as a beach that's within a minute's walking distance of any campsite in that portion of the campgorund.

  

Please be aware that CO weather(especially in the mountains) is very prone to quick changes. Come prepared with lots of layers, weather-proof clothing, and tents that can withstand a storm.

Beautiful campsite but without shade

Took a last minute road trip to RMNP with no lodging pre-planned Oct 17. Found first come first serve sites at the remaining open campground in the park. There were a few sites available mid day in the two open loops of the campground. I decided on site 1, with views on all sides! There was a wind advisory and fire ban (understandably). Bear lockers provided, found it ample, clean, and latched well. There's a small walk from car to site, but not at all sites. I found most sites to be nicely spaced out. Only downside of site 1 was a bright light at the office/Ranger area. Lots of great hiking a short drive away and wonderful wildlife viewing within walking distance. Pit toilets available mid October but not shower or running water toilets. Found one faucet near entrance of campground to fill my water jugs. 

Mid-Oct camping 

Rocky Mountain National Park is just spectacular. Elk, moose, bighorn sheep, eagles, fox, coyotes, black bears, and other wildlife abound. I was a Ranger one summer in Rocky - please respect the wildlife and keep a very long distance to not affect their behavior. Drive slow - there are accidents resulting in death of wildlife every year. That being said, about this campsite in particular - it is my favorite in the Park. I stayed there twice when not yet a Ranger...gorgeous views - meadow, mountains, etc. Lots of people in summer and just be prepared for that. The hikes and views and wildlife you will experience make this so worthwhile. The sites are good, of course they are not huge. If you backpack I would probably recommend getting a back-country license. But car camping is excellent here!! Dogs are allowed camping - we stayed when we weren't going on hikes. National Parks do not allow dogs on trails - they are only allowed in parking lots &amp; campgrounds to protect the wildlife and dogs. Of course, there is a massive amount of National Forest surrounding the area that you could take dogs on trails. Our dogs loved this site.

Views are amazing. Facilities good. It's crowded in summer...reserve.

Vault toilets. 64 spots were open before the summer season begins. You’re not right on top of each other but pretty close. They have potable water fillups however they didn’t work. 20$ a night. 

Hard to beat the views

Loved this campground. Was there in September and the Elk were in their rutting season. Campsite was plenty big enough with a nice tent pad. Very enjoyable spot, close access to trails and entrance and exit of the park.

Very close to the trails and easy access to park entrance and exit

Our tent campsite was clean &amp; private. It was large enough to easily accommodate 3 tents.  Every day we saw elk and deer close to our tents. The campground is centrally located to numerous hiking trails. The days we were there the temp dropped to the low 20’s and 14 inches of snow in 24 hours! All this at the end of May. 

An incredible campground! 

The park is in Rocky Mountain National Park and it is great.  There is tons of wildlife - Elk, Mule Deer, chipmunks, wild birds of all kinds.  

  

We stayed in a tent site but there are RV sites as well.

In RMNP - it was great.

I absolutely loved it here! Very quiet and lots of wildlife to watch. B213 has direct line of sight to Moraine Park so if you want to watch the rut, that's the site to reserve!

Beautiful, Peaceful Location

Absolutely amazing. Breathtaking views, spacious campsites, we could even have our dog stay with us. We stayed for four days in our tent. Lots of wildlife around, deer commonly walk through the campsite and we saw bighorn sheep and elk nearby. Restrooms are clean and water and trash readily available. They even sell firewood nearby.

Love this campground

We lucked out and scored a last-minute two night reservation at this campsite.  It was our first time at RMNP and the park, and the campground, was stunning.  People were very respectful of quiet hours, the bathrooms were clean, and the scenery was jaw-dropping.  It's rut season for the Elk so we could hear them calling during the night, and one of them walked right through the campsite right next to us.  We will definitely come back - hopefully for much more than two nights next time!

Absolutely stunning

Lots of sites! Elk are frequently spotted in the field coming into the campground. Beware; bears are common in the area and have gotten skilled at entering unlocked vehicles. You will be fined if a bear gets into your car. Leave your food in the provided bear box or your locked car when not needed. Bathrooms are basic and nice. There are stations for your own portable camping showers near bathrooms. 

Amazing 

stayed here in May during the “off-season” so everything was first come, first serve. Two loops were open, the bigger loop had amazing spots with views of the mountain range. Vault Bathrooms were clean, some spots share bear boxes. Definitely coming back! 

Great spot, beautiful views

We stayed 4 nights at A001. The tent pad is not even but the view made up for it. This is a walk up site. The walk to your car is less than 30 seconds. The sites next to our are both an uphill walk from your car.

There is nothing to break the wind and our tent took a beating. It’s very windy at different points in the day so keep that in mind. 

The flushing toilets are clean and the solar shower stalls were super nice. The closest vault toilet is the smelliest vault toilet I’ve ever experienced. My wife and I both gagged. 

Plenty of wildlife roam through the campsite. It’s also close to where they sell ice and wood. 



Great view 

We stayed in early summer in D141. It was still a bit chilly, and the wind at the campground made it chillier (and also blew things around a lot). I'm not sure if that was a single weather thing or if it's always windy there, though. The site is a walk-in site which my oldest thought was annoying, but I thought it was nice. Our tent wasn't right on top of other tents and our site was huge because of this.

  

We saw tons of wildlife right in our site, and the nearby trails are some of the best if you want to see moose (we did!). At dawn and dusk, you can hear the elk that hang out in the moraine singing. 

  

The bathrooms by our site were a comfort center, so flush toilets, running (cold) water, soap (usually), and even hand dryers (cold air). They were pretty clean and I'm SO glad that these were the bathrooms I had later in the visit when I got sick from the high elevation visitor center and spent the entire afternoon going back and forth to the bathroom. We didn't check out the solar shower stalls. We do bucket washing and they were a ways away from our tent so we just waited until our next stop where we could have a shelter tent to wash up. 

  

People at this campground were very quiet and respectful. One day we woke up to a dead car battery and a neighbor kindly came over to jump us. As the elevation of this site is above 8,000 ft, our solar panel charged our solar generator super fast in the afternoon. More info in the picture captions.

Beautiful!

Great campground. Unfortunately our visit was short lived due to a hole in the tent and it raining. The lady selling firewood prefers small bills which was fine since the bundle was only $6. Fire pits were nice and the tent pad was aim good condition.

Glacier Basin

Both morning I woke up to deer eating right outside my tent. You rise to mountains surrounding on all sides. Pure beauty! Further, the bathrooms are spotless. Keep in mind that you have to buy wood and it’s not sold every day.

Further, the staff were very kind. 

Ask for hiking, you can set off from the campground, and buses leave from there towards some other hiking points.

Oh my goodness!

Lucky to get same day reservations at this campground. If you have in park reservations you do not need timed entry reservations and can enter park anytime and just pay fee. This park also allows you access to Bear Lake Corridor with your campsite reservations, which is a must do. Fantastic hiking all along Bear Lake area. Make sure you are up at Bear lake before 0800….parking fills up fast but there is a park and ride shuttle as well, which may be a great option to ride up and hike down. Sprague lake had cutthroat trout visible in streams and a few fisherman were there.  
Campground was pretty full, of course we were there with change of leaves and elk rutting. The meadow next to campground had herd of elk and many bulls. We heard elk our entire visit and saw some pretty close to road. Also saw mule deer, turkey and moose in park. 
Facilities at campground were clean with soap. There was outside sink for dishes if needed and shower stall if you have a solar bag. Campsite was comfortable…we saw many tent sites that were semi private with off loop pads. 

Amazing view and Elk nearby

My time here was brief as I arrived just before dark and packed up fairly early, but overall it seemed like a pretty decent campground. I woke up to a lovely view and light snowfall. It was quite a peaceful place to stay. 

  

The campground: I stayed in the off-season, so only B-loop was open. While the loop wasn't full, there were plenty of other campers. My campsite looked out towards the valley and evergreen covered mountains. My site had a slightly elevated tent pad, a picnic table, and a fire pit with a grate. The campground was very clean, including the vault toilets, which were still open.

  

The area: This campground is only about ten minutes away from the Beaver Meadows Visitor's Center at the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. It's a great location for exploring the eastern side of RMNP. After I packed up in the morning, I took the road up to Bear Lake where the snow was a lot heavier. If you want to leave the Park for awhile, Estes Park is only about a twenty minute drive and has plenty of restaurants and shops. 

  

Booking: It was the off-season, so first come, first served. I stopped at the entrance to the campground put my payment in an envelope and into the drop box.

  

Cell Service: Verizon was spotty.