Painted Rocks, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a charming campground that offers a rustic escape with a focus on natural beauty and outdoor activities. With spacious sites featuring picnic tables and fire pits, it’s an ideal spot for gathering around the campfire after a day of adventure.

The campground is known for its clean facilities, including well-maintained pit toilets and a centralized water source. Campers appreciate the friendly host who keeps the area tidy and even sells firewood on-site. As one visitor noted, “The campground was pretty nice, especially spot #2 which had a ton of space to itself.”

For those eager to explore, Painted Rocks is conveniently located near stunning attractions like Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods, offering a plethora of hiking and biking trails. The surrounding area is perfect for fishing, scrambling, and enjoying the great outdoors, making it a fantastic base for your adventures.

While some campers mentioned that the sites can be a bit angled and uneven, the overall atmosphere is peaceful, with minimal road noise and a pleasant vibe. Whether you’re tent camping or bringing an RV, Painted Rocks provides a welcoming environment for a memorable outdoor experience.

## Overview

 Painted Rocks Campground is located a short distance from Manitou Lake Picnic Area and the Centennial Bike Trail in central Colorado. The rustic campground is named for the sandstone outcroppings in the area that resemble colorful streaks from an artist's paintbrush.
## Recreation

 The paved, accessible Centennial Bike Trail is a half-mile from the campground. It connects to nearby Colorado and South Meadows Campgrounds, and leads to 5-acre Manitou Lake. Visitors enjoy riding bicycles on this trail to Manitou Lake for fishing and bird watching. Waterfowl and songbirds are often seen in the area. The nearby Rainbow Falls OHV Trail System and North Divide OHV Trail System are recommended for off-road vehicle enthusiasts.
## Natural Features

 The campground is nestled on the edge of a grassy meadow at an elevation of 7,800 feet. Most sites on the west loop are shaded by ponderosa pines, while sites on the east loop are more open and less shady. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The town of Woodland Park is located approximately 7 1/2 miles south of Painted Rocks Campground, where campers can find gas, groceries, dining and shopping. Colorado Springs is about 30 miles southeast of the campground and offers many services. Garden of the Gods is a popular attraction just outside of town. This free City of Colorado Springs park offers hiking trails, rock climbing routes, a visitor center and cafe. Pikes Peak lies west of Manitou Springs, which is about 25 miles from the campground. Visitors can hike, bike, or drive to the summit of this beautiful mountain.
## Charges & Cancellations

 Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.

Painted Rocks

Woodland Park is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Woodland Park is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Woodland Park, CO. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Woodland Park

The Best Camping Near Woodland Park, Colorado

**RANGER REVIEW: The New Gregory Endo 15 Mtn Bike Hydration Pack** at **Painted Rocks Campground**, Woodland Park, Colorado.

**CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Painted Rocks Campground**

[https://www.recreation.gov/camping/painted-rocks/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&amp;parkId=70685](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/painted-rocks/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&amp;parkId=70685)

Painted Rocks Campground is located roughly six miles from Woodland Park off Route 67 on County Road 78 at 7800 feet elevation. Painted Rocks is considered rustic, in that it only offers centralized water and pit latrines (no electric, modern restrooms nor showers).

Painted Rocks Campground has two small grassy meadow loops…an upper (to the right) and a lower (to the left) as you enter the small campground proper. Each loop has one water spigot, one trash dumpster and one male/female pit latrine.

The upper loop to the right has eleven (11) sites and the lower loop to the left has seven (7) sites. Each site has one picnic table (buried and unmovable), and one metal fire pit. All sites have gravel/dirt parking spurs of varying length. The upper loop appeared to have shorter parking spurs and some were tent only. Site 9 has a 30’+ parking and very spacious for multiple tents. Most sites have Ponderosa pines, but some more than others. Site 9 had great hammocking trees. Picnic tables are large and in good shape. Pit latrines were very clean and stocked.

BrIef campground vIdeo revIew: [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EjjNdSZg868](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EjjNdSZg868)

All sites are visible, line of site but are spread out enough to feel spacious and not “on top of each other.” County road 78 is not heavily traveled but you can both see and hear vehicles traveling by. It should also be noted that County road 78 is also dirt, so vehicles kick up dust…depending on wind direction…roadside sites will be coated with a fine layer.

There is a host immediately to your left upon entering the campground…who also sells firewood. A ban was in effect upon my visit. When the host is “off duty” you can self register or register online (recreation.gov). Cost is $23 nightly.

Note that the sole Campground sign on route 67 is small, thin and easily missed. Coming from Woodland Park you’ll pass Red Rocks Group Campground (more on that later), South Meadows Campground on your left and Colorado Campground on your right. The second left after Colorado Campground is County road 78.

There is not much offered at the campground itself other than relaxation. What is close by is the draw. Within a half hour drive: On a grand scale, you have two hiking routes up Pikes Peak (Barr trail and the Crags), drive up or take the Cog Railway. The Manitou Incline. Red Rock Canyon open space, Cheyenne Canyon, Garden of the Gods and a myriad of incredible hiking trails. Nearby is the Centennial Bike Trail offering 15 miles of out and back to Woodland Park and innumerable offroad traIls…and my favorite, Red Rocks Trail only a few miles away. All things outdoors are nearby: paddling, biking, hiking, scrambling, climbing, off-roading..

Check online or call before planning your stay as Painted Rocks Campground is only open during summer months…this year only til September 3rd. Mid-week (July 9-10) saw only four campsites filled, but weekends are ordinarily filled.

**FINAL THOUGHTS:** Pricey for no campground amenities, but what is close at hand makes up for it! I'll go again.

**PRODUCT REVIEW: Gregory Endo 15 Mountainbike Hydration Pack**

4.5 out of 5 Stars!

[https://www.gregorypacks.com/hydration/endo-15-3d-hydro/91650XXXX.html](https://www.gregorypacks.com/hydration/endo-15-3d-hydro/91650XXXX.html)

**PROS**

*   Superb Hydration Bladder
*   Multiple Storage Compartments
*   Padded zippered pocket
*   Dual zippered Hip-belt pouches
*   Magnetic sternum strap clip
*   Separate, removable Tool kit bag
*   Flasher attachment

**CONS**

*   Hydration hose tad short for sternum magnet
*   Hip belt pockets need to fit current smartphones in common protective cases

What a great Hydration Pack! I’m going to suggest it’s a perfect all-arounder for its capacity, comfort and secure fit. As a Review Ranger for TheDyrt.com, I received this pack for testing and evaluation.

[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UBVsAd69qhc&amp;t=10s](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UBVsAd69qhc&amp;t=10s)

At 15 liters, I fit an abundance of necessity and unnecessary items for a day hike or ride.

Gregory’s main objective was to make a superior mountain biking hydration pack…and they have. But the Endo 15 offers much more versatility. While I haven’t climbed with it yet, it’s sleek design and clutter free frontage prevents snagging or getting in one’s way. I’ve put over a couple hundred trail miles since receiving this pack…and I’m appreciating it more each mile.

Once you don the Endo 15 and adjust the straps, it molds to your back with no movement. Whether cranking out the miles in the saddle or hoofin’ on foot, the Gregory stays put! No side swaying and little upward bouncing. So no worries of losing concentration on the technicals due to annoying pack shifting.

The Gregory Endo 15 materials are as durable and robust as its larger kin.

**_Feature-rich:_**

*   **_Molded Pull Tabs_**- no more frustration searching and fumbling for zipper pulls. The Endo 15 has convenient plastic molded zipper pulls attached to each zipper with durable cordage…permitting easy finger pass-through for a positive grip.
*   **_Belt Keepers_**-One often overlooked feature is the “strap keeper slides”. I don’t like dangling strap ends, so this feature cleans that all up and keeps them out of the way. It’s the small things in life.
*   **_RS Suspension_** - The Endo 15 with RS (Ride Stability) allows adjustments for near perfect fit and suspension for various torso lengths and users preference. Detachable hook and loop gives you the option to move the pack higher or lower on your back.
*   **_Eyewear Retention_** - The left shoulder strap has a loop to slide your eyewear stem through and a shockcord loop to pull over and secure around the nose bridge. Sunglasses don’t budge.
*   **_Crash Pad_**-Padded interior pocket. Printed symbol suggests eyewear or small electronics (such as smartphones) and is padded 360 degrees. Note: a second, small exterior zippered pocket is partially padded, as it shares the rear pad from the Crash Pad that separates the two pockets.
*   **_Dual Hip Belt zippered pockets_**- Both non-adjustable pockets are moved rearward toward the pack body, away from the gigline. This prevents impingement or discomfort when leaned over the handlebars.
*   **_Removable Tool Pouch_**-an excellent idea! A zippered bi-fold tool pouch that has two inner zippered pockets, one fabric covered and one see-thru mesh. This tool pouch slides neatly into it’s own center mesh pocket inside the pack, with two narrower mesh pockets on either side which I slide a mini pump in one and CO2 inflator in the other.
*   **_Exterior Breathable_** Stretch Pocket-a large stuff pocket allows for a windbreaker or rain jacket to be quickly stuffed. I learned to appreciate this same feature on my Gregory Paragon 58 while backpacking.
*   **_Bi-lateral Lashing Tabs_**- Dual web lashing points allow helmet straps to be run through and held securely…or whatever other item one would desire to lash securely to the outside of the pack. •Reflective Decals-cyclists of any kind can never have too much reflective material. Gregory’s use of reflective decals is stylish and subdued.
*   **_Flasher Tab_**-any cycling pack worth its salt will possess an attachment point for an illumination flasher. I tried several different brands and all fit effectively.
*   **_Compression Straps_**-two upper compression straps snug up contents tightly.
*   **_Magnetic Sternum Strap Button_**-a small magnet Integrated in the sternum strap attachment secures the hydration hose. Initially I was suspect how strong this magnetic union would be. It remained attached, even when motorcycling at 70 mph…impressive.
*   **_EVAP Back Panel_**-moisture wicking material, along with its tautness, keeps the pack body off your back and permits ample airflow.
*   **_3D Hydro-hydration reservoir_**-utilizes a proprietary QuickDry soft molded technology, has an integrated hanger located at the base of the hydration tube, is a full 3 liters and best of all…is included with the pack! The pack uses a speed-clip to attach the reservoir to the pack, rather than a hook-n-loop tab or hook. This prevents the reservoir from sliding down into its separate sleeve.

_Changes I’d like to see:_

1.  A longer hydration hose. I am a fairly average athletic build, but I found when hooked into the plastic clip on the shoulder strip, I really had to pull on the hose to get the hose and sternum magnets to mate.
2.  A little larger hipbelt pockets. Neither my iPhone 7 in a Pelican Marine case nor in an Otter case would not fit.

**Final Thoughts**: I endeavored to put Gregory’s Endo 15 through its paces over several hundred miles…while hiking, scrambling, cycling on road and trail, and motorcycling. I am extremely impressed with how breathable, yet form fitting the Endo is to the body…and how much I can bring along. It’s my everyday favorite and I highly recommend it. Thankfully, No Endo's were performed during testing.

Close to Everything Cool and Fascinating!

Saw many open spots within walking distance to the river, fish right off your campsite! 

Drove past

Great campground. Clean, orderly, away from town. But...there is dirt road leading to a subdivision about 100 ft behind sites 6, 7, 8.  Water is currently not working as they have repaired the source or found a new source. It has been tested, shocked, and currently awaiting final test results.  The host said it should be ready any day.  Otherwise a very nice campground. Site 8 is on a gradual slope. Enjoy.

Beautiful and relatively quiet. No water currently.

The campground is well maintained and well managed, with a friendly and efficient campground host. 

  

The campground is meant for campers (mostly tents, but can accommodate RVs). RVs are not supposed to run generators. 

  

Site 9 looked to be phenomenal. Our site, 8, was unfortunately too close to a family of four that felt no need to observe quiet hours. In addition, there is a road that runs behind sites on that side of the campground and traffic noise was very loud. 

  

The pit toilets were well-maintained and clean. There are dumpsters for trash and at this time, potable water. 

  

Some sites have very little level ground. Even our tent pad was uneven.

Great, but for neighbors and road noise

Overall was a good spot close to Manitou Lake and Cheesman Canyon areas. A lot of open spots on a mid-June weekend but glad we reserved as some were really small. The campground was pretty nice especially spot #2 which had a ton of space to itself: clean, close access to restrooms/trash, good fire pits, chopped wood for sale, and overall well maintained by Jerry the host. My only gripe about this campground is all the spots were really angled making it a bit awkward for a RTT'er. Sort of narrow parking and very angled lots - just need to bring leveling blocks or a way to prop yourself a bit which we had.

Bugs not bad at all and quiet from the main road down the way which was nice. Would highly recommend for tenters and RTT'ers.

Photos of Painted Rocks

Real photos from real campers