Saddlehorn Campground, near Fruita, Colorado, is a fantastic spot for those looking to soak in the stunning views of the Colorado National Monument. With spacious sites and clean facilities, it’s a great place to set up camp and enjoy the natural beauty surrounding you.

Visitors rave about the breathtaking scenery, especially from Loop B, where the views are simply incredible. The campground is well-maintained, and many campers appreciate the friendly hosts who are always ready to help. As one reviewer noted, “Great views from B loop,” highlighting the picturesque landscape that makes this campground a must-visit.

For outdoor enthusiasts, there are plenty of trails nearby, allowing for easy access to hiking and exploring the monument. The canyon rim trail is particularly popular, offering beautiful vistas just a short walk from your campsite. While some campers mentioned that the sites can feel a bit close together, the overall atmosphere remains friendly and welcoming.

If you’re planning a trip, keep in mind that the campground operates from early March to the end of October, making it a prime location for spring and summer adventures. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Saddlehorn Campground is a great base for exploring the natural wonders of Colorado.

## Overview

 Saddlehorn Campground is located within Colorado National Monument which preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Much more than a monument, towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles.
## Recreation

 Colorado National Monument is famous in cycling communities for its majestic views and challenging climbs, but Historic Rim Rock Drive is also a popular motor tour. Hikers flock to the miles of maintained trails, photographers come year round to capture the spectacular views, and geologists study the unique landscape for its scientific value. Climbers come for the towering sandstone, and wildlife lovers may spot Desert Bighorn sheep, golden eagles, collared lizards, and many other special creatures.
## Natural Features

 The campground is nestled within large red rock formations, with pinyon and juniper trees providing adequate shade. There are spectacular views of the Grand Valley to the northwest, and some of the park's most scenic monoliths and canyons to the southeast 
## Nearby Attractions

 The cities of Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade boast many urban and agricultural attractions, but there are also abundant recreation areas surrounding the Monument. Among these are McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, James M. Robb Colorado River State Park, Highline Lake State Park, and many Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service areas. 
## Contact Info

 For facility specific information, please call (970) 858-2800.

Saddlehorn Campground — Colorado National Monument

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Fruita, CO has a lot to offer. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Fruita is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Discover great camping spots near Fruita, reviewed by campers like you.

Fruita

The Best Camping Near Fruita, Colorado

Colorado National Monument should be a national park

Saddlehorn cost $20 for a campsite, but make sure and leave your open flame and smores at home fires are prohibited. There was very little shade so plan your trip during the spring or late fall. The views were so beautiful from the campsite and the stars where out in full force. 

Stunning views. 

I really loved it here.   The people were so friendly and it was a really gorgeous view.   We loved exploring the mountain. 

Great experience

This is one of my favorite campgrounds, because Colorado National Monument is so stunning. It provides a great "base camp" set up, allowing you to set up camp for a night or several and go for day hikes around the park. Part of the campground is situated close to the canyon rim, so you don't need to go far for expansive views, but if you'd rather stay away from the heights, the majority of the sites are far enough away. Sites are well-screened & relatively secluded by short scrubby trees.

Great base camp 

This was one of the most miserable campgrounds we have ever stayed at. Our spot was so awkward we had to find somebody to show us where it was! We had to walk down a little path a ways until it opened into an area that looked like it had been roughly cleared by a tractor. There were little biting gnats that there was no way to repel short of hiding in the tent. And it was so hot all night long none of us slept. We were so desperate to get out in the morning we skipped our planned breakfast and grabbed something at the store.

The view was beautiful though!

Miserable 

We looked at the reserve sites in B but most of them were taken or had a one night only sign on it. Loop A it's first come first serve and it had a couple nice open spots with a view. We arrived little late on a Friday evening, we live about two hours away, it was raining on our way up but stopped when we got there and a rainbow appeared while we were unpacking and setting up. there are picnic and charcoal only cooking stations at every site, our picnic area was a tiny walk down the hill. and from that area if you keep waking for 20 minutes you get to the edge of the cliff and it is spectacular views of the bookcliffs, Grand valley and grand Mesa. The night stargazing was pretty good although there is a bit of light pollution coming from Grand Junction We have a three-year-old so major biking or hiking is not necessarily an option so we went into town for the day, it was really hot at the campsite during the day. we explored Fruita farmers market, the dinosaur museum and had a really yummy lunch at Camille's café. There are also a couple little hikes right off the campground in the visitor center is nearby for more education. Fellow campers were kind of close but quiet. The bathroom was really clean with running water.

Oasis @ Colorado national monument National Park 

The weather was incredible and we played a bunch of games, built a fire both nights, hiked and cooked good food.

Saddlehorn is seriously the best. We had so much fun!

This campground is near the visitor center just off the rim road, about a 25 mile road from one entrance to the other. There are several hiking trails for exploring the Colorado National Monument; you could keep busy for a couple days or more, depending on how much you enjoy hiking. There is also rock climbing.

The campground has 3 loops:

- A: no reservations, open year round

- B: reservations and walkup. If you have a reservation, your site will have a "Reserved" sign along with dates and your last name. No check in is required. Open sites have an "Open" sign.

- C: doesn't show up on recreation.gov so it looks like it is also walkup. I think groups can reserve it. There are tent pads which I didn't see in A and B (but you can pitch a tent in A and B). Only tents and truck campers are allowed, and no generators are allowed in loop C.

Bathrooms seem fairly new with auto flush toilets, motion sensor faucets and hand dryers. There is potable water at various locations clearly marked with a "water" sign. No electric, water or sewer at sites.

There are a few "driveway" styles in loops A and B: back in/pull in, pull alongside and pull through. Picnic tables and grills are back among juniper and pine trees, and you can pitch a tent. I would stay in loop C if I had a tent...very nice sites.

And the views are beautiful, especially at sunset.

Great base for exploring the Colorado Nat'l Monument

Leave time to explore the park! So many off the beaten track hiking spots. We were able to make a reservation but arrived past check in time. Rangers came by in the morning to confirm our details!

Bathrooms were decent...Water pump available- bring large containers air is sort of dry you'll want to stock up

Would stay here again!

Spectacular site- oasis in the mountains

It was quite hot at night in mid-July, but the campground was nice. It had great spots with room to be further away from people. Did not fill up. Ground is mostly a sandy red dirt.

Red sand

Great views, super underrated national monument and campground.

Great views!

It costs money. Some campsites have to be reserved in advance but not all of them. The bathroom was really clean. There are a lot of sites. The view is stunning.

Beautiful view and great campsite

My bf and I recently stayed at a tent site here, we arrived right at sunset and the view driving in was amazing. The bathrooms were close by and seemed well maintained. There are plenty of trails close by, so waking up early for a cool morning hike was simple and a great way to start the day. There were plenty of outlook points that allow you to overlook Grand Junction. After our hike in the morning we were able to take a short drive North East to Little Book Cliffs where we enjoyed a nice long hike to see some wild mustangs.

Overall, this site is well maintained, with plenty of activities in the area for everyone to have some fun.

Awesome Night

I thought I would grab a tent only site but after cruising around and checking them out, the views at the tent only sites are not that great.

I ended up choosing a site in the B loop. This loop seemed to have the best views. Even with RV's set up it was pin drop quiet. Picnic tables and a grill at all sites. NO fires were allowed while I was visiting. You sometimes have to search around to find a good site in this loop for a tent but it's not that difficult. Many sites have a short little walk to beautiful overlooks. Catch the sites at sunset and sunrise and you won't be disappointed.

Restrooms were clean and well maintained.

Stunning views & quiet

This campground was very easy to access. It is right off the main road in the Colorado national monument. Nice spot. Bathrooms were very clean. Very close to amazing views of the national monument. Very affordable as well. Discount for having the America the beauty parks pass.

Convenient campground surrounded by beauty

We stopped here for one night, we just needed to get off the from from driving for hours.
I figured this was a safe bet since it had a self pay station I guessed it didn’t have a gate that closed. 
The first thing you come to is the national monument entrance and since it was after hours no one was there but there was no gate so we kept driving. You twist and turn up to the top then get to Saddlehorn Campground, we pulled in around 10:00 on a Monday night thinking not many people would be there, wrong, there were lots of people! Luckily some sites were open they were reservable sites but the reservation didn’t start until Tuesday so we were able to pay for the site for one night. 
The self pay kiosk states that you can use cash, fill in credit card info but no personal checks.
Restrooms were very nice and clean, well maintained. No shower facilities. Water is available.

Gorgeous views and tons of stars at night

Absolutely breathtaking views on your drive up to this site! It’s only a 15 minute drive from Fruita. Tucked away ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN! We camped on the side of the mountain, so when we woke up we were rewarded with the most beautiful overview of the city and mountains. Very clean and nice flushable bathrooms! I love that the gates stay open all night so we can check in whatever time we arrive even if it’s the middle of the night. 

The Views 

Nice clean sites.  Great views.  Friendly campground hosts

Excellent

I booked a night here without looking at any pictures first since I knew I’d need a place to sleep as I traveled through Grand Junction. Let me say: this is the best $7 I’ve ever spent!! The drive up was stunning (if not a bit terrifying at first for a native Floridian). The roads were new and smooth, so my E350 van had no trouble making the trek. Once on top of the plateau, my jaw dropping. I got in late so the sun was starting to set. You can see for miles and the brilliant gold and violet sky blanketed the land. Camp sites were clean and level. Each had a picnic bench and a bit of shrubby plants to give privacy (but not much shade). I stayed in summer so the temperatures the day was quite hot however it dropped into the high 50s at night, making sleep a dream. The stars were the brightest I’ve even seen and next time I’ll have my new Camera and tripod in tow for some incredible night sky photography. Can’t recommend this spot enough!!

Absolutely Breathtaking 

Starting out my adventures in Park City Utah was nice but was nothing like my experience once I hit Saddlehorn!  From the moment I entered the monument, until parking by my campsite my jaw was in a permanent state of drop.  From the breathtaking views to the surreal scenery and everything else in between, it was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.  The campsite was very nice/clean and I was at a site next to the bathrooms (which were also very clean) and it was never really a bother.  The hosts/rangers were kind and friendly.  Some even went as far as helping me with setting up my canopy since I was by myself, others offered amazing points of interest!

There were only 2 issues I encountered during my 9 day stay.  1. Being on top of a “mountain” it was hard to find appropriate places to stake my tent in so I used larger rocks in those corners to secure my tent.  2. The weather was 100+ all week but took a nice break and visited Grand Mesa Mountain where it was much, much cooler.  With neither one of these two issues having any connection to the campground, I will be making this place a routine regular for sure!  I even hope to be bringing my nieces and nephews with me some day!!  

So much more than I ever expected 

Stayed on a Thursday night and reserved one of the last spots online. I wish I had picked a spot on the other side of the road to have a better view into the canyon and of the sunset. Beautiful site, but very busy. Could hear the bathrooms flush and others conversations all night. Also no fires, CHARCOAL only in the grills they have provided. No issues overall.

Wonderful Site, Very Full, Great Views, No Fires

This campground is beautiful and in a great location. The view is great and the sunsets are even better. It’s also conveniently located close to town if you need supplies. 
The bathrooms have been very clean every time I’ve stayed here and it’s usually pretty quiet and easy to get a reservation or FCFS spot.

Beautiful campground 

Absolutely gorgeous spot. Grabbed a FCFS spot with an amazing view, particularly of the sunrise. No fires, which was sad for my 7 year old, but the stars were out and the weather was perfect. Only drawback was the rocky ground which made tent camping uncomfortable no matter how much air I got in my sleeping pad. 

Stunning 

Located inside of Colorado National Monument, Saddle horn is a great spot for a base camp. The spots are not bad, We got lucky and chose one towards the canyon. We had a great view for sunset and a quiet night with no one around us. The parking was a bit small for us, car was pretty much on the road. 

  

Each spot had a fire ring and picnic table. Restrooms located around the campground and cost was 22 a night. Overall we would stay here again, its very minimal but perfect if you want to explore the monument. 

  

Reserve spots through Recreation.gov

Decent base camp 

Good sites, not too close to each other.  Clean bathrooms, and flush toilets!  No showers.  Drive up was great and we explored other places to camp outside the park but were concerned of bears.  Highly recommend this site!

Impressed!

Colorado National Monument is one of the treasures of the National Parks system. It is worth purchasing an annual pass just to visit the park and traverse the miles of great hiking and biking trails.

  

Camping at Saddlehorn can be challenging depending on your setup. Loop C is the largest loop and is only open to tent campers and those with a vehicle or small Class C camper. Loops A &amp; B have gravel and a few paved camping sites that can accommodate travel trailers up to 25'. For those thinking about pulling that new travel trailer you just bought up to the monument to camp for a few nights, here are some things to consider:

  

1\. Learn to love driving switchbacks with little to no shoulder and the occasional guard rail. You shouldn't be going any faster than 25mph up to the campground or back down to the entrance, but you will get impatient drivers who think they are driving LeMans. Ignore them, but watch out for cyclists!

2\. There are no hookups at these sites. Water spigots are available in a few locations on each loop, but you'll be walking (or driving) your 5 gallon container back to your site. You may want to consider packing in the water you'll need during your stay.

3\. Only a few of the sites are level. Be prepared to orient your camper in tight spaces where there may already be another travel trailer or camper parked directly across the road from you, making navigation difficult.

4\. To that point, consider getting a site on the outer part of the loop rather than the inner! The sites on the outside of the loop are larger and you will not be nearly as close to your neighbors. For those using solar panels, you'll also have more room to orient and rotate your panels during the day without shadows being cast by the landscape (and your neighbors!)

  

Site reservations are $22/night and only $11 if you have a National Parks annual pass. Well worth the price of admission for some of the best views you'll find in Colorado.

Incredible views situated between tight spaces

This campground is beautiful! Great setup and clean bathrooms with running water. We got an inside site but did check out the view along the edge around sunset, so pretty! Sites are on the closer side but I never felt too close to my neighbors. Would 100% stay here again! 

Wish we could’ve stayed longer!

October 15, 2020

I am not a fan of campsites .... would prefer wild camping and boondocking.  We decided to stay at Saddlehorn for a night and we were very impressed.  The sites are close to each other, however, there is enough natural landscape and trees to allow for privacy.  Each site had a place for 1 car to park, a picnic table and a grill for charcoal.  No fire rings.  The views are spectacular and we did a few hikes that were breathtaking.

  

The bathrooms are very clean and although we didn't need ADA accommodations, I was very happy to see a couple of sites dedicated to those who may need it.  

  

Loved this place enough to want to come back!  If you don't need RV hook up, its first come first serve.  We arrived on a Thursday, early afternoon and there were only a few sites to choose from, so plan accordingly!

  

Enjoy!

Beautiful views and flat campsites.

For a campground with close spaces this was as nice as it gets. We usually camp primitively but decided to try the National Monument campground because someone told us the spots were big, which we needed for our tent. They also told us they were spread out. 
They were neither. 
There were a couple larger spots of which we were able to secure one. As another review said they have good vegetation between them that make them seem more private. 
One of the better national park campgrounds. It filled up quick in the afternoon on a Tuesday so be ready to get out early and secure a spot. First come, first serve is limited to loop C only. 

Beautiful

Loops B and C are closed this time of year and we had the campground to ourselves, with the exception of a late arriver. We normally look for dispersed, free camping, but this was good as far as paid sites go. And, Colorado Natl. Monument is gorgeous. 

We had the place to ourselves 

This was our second time staying at Saddlehorn. We learned our lesson the first time: don’t stay on the inside of the loop with a trailer! The sites on the outside of the loop are much bigger and easier to navigate even with a smaller rig like ours.

We stayed in Site 30. Plenty of room to spread out a rug, screen house, chairs, and enjoy our fire bowl at night. The bathroom facilities were clean and there is a water spigot right outside. Definitely worth the $22 to stay here and enjoy the amazing hiking that Colorado National Monument has to offer!

Incredible views! One of our favorite places to camp.

Many campsite have amazing views of the valley or the monument. 
Many sites had really unlevel spaces. Creative leveling required. 
Not designed for big rigs or 5th wheels. 
Nice canyon rim hikes right from the campsite. 

Amazing views, good amenities 

Campground is clean, has great views, and easy access. Sites are close together but that didn’t matter.

Excellent campground 

This is one of the greatest campgrounds I have ever stayed at. The B loop site we stayed at was less than 100 ft from amazing sandstone cliffs. Super quiet. Excellent hiking close by. Sites available by reservation, but also C loop is first come first serve. If you haven’t stayed here you are seriously missing out. 

Favorite Campground

After the thunderstorm passed through we had a great time here. The campground was clean, sites are well spaced.  Easy access to trails from the campground with stunning views and a beautiful sunset.  Site 37B was a few steps from great overlooks.

Great views, easy access

Great campground with an amazing view. $22/$11 senior.  Loops A-B (sites 2-51) are all reserved and more designed for RVs and TTs.  Loop C  (sites 52-80) are all first come and cannot be reserved but are limited to tenters, truck campers, van campers...no travel trailers, RVs or schoolies in loop C.   Water, trash, recycling and great cell signal on ATT, Verizon and TMobile. Campground host onsite. No wood fires, only charcoal. . 

Great campground with amazing views

The best campsite I have ever been in. Spectacular views. Clean  toilets and lots of water points. We showed up mid-week end of Aug and it was nearly empty. 

Fabulous 

We loved our one night stay here! The bathrooms were nice and clean. The site was level and there is a lot of variety in each site. Picnic table, charcoal grill provided. The best part, of course, is the nearby scenery. Impressive views and trails are within walking distance, as is the visitor center. 

Great spot! 

Wow awesome spot! The views are incredibles!!!!!

Wordless!!!

We were able to stay in the C loop for four nights and were blown away by the scenery not only in the park, but also from our campsite.  The sites were spacious with plenty of privacy, the stars were fantastic at night, the volunteer camp host was extremely friendly, and the bathrooms were impeccably clean.  This stop has been one of the highlights of our trip across the U.S. so far.

An amazing campsite in a stunning park.

This park is way less crowded than other areas of Colorado, so you have more of a dispersed feel at the campsites. It was a truly incredible stay - our favorite campground we’ve ever been to. The sites are very clean and have a bit of shade. The views are breathtaking from all around. And at night, the stargazing is insane! We camped in early October and it didn’t get too cold (42 degrees or so). 

Hidden gem of Colorado

Great price and beautiful views. Some sites are not level -so bring lots of leveling blocks- the game of Tetris.
Lots and lots of big horn sheep. Even on in the campground.
Most spectacular views in this NM
Host was super friendly and helpful

Inside Colorado National Monument 

This place is a must. There are some size limitations based on what we saw, so be mindful of that and check ahead of time, but if you can fit absolutely check this place out. Within 5 minutes from the campground are breath-taking views of the monument and less than an hour drive will take you around the rim with dozens of pull-offs to check out the history of the area. 

  

This national monument has a spectacular history with this relentless individual (Otto) who fought to make this place a protected location because of how beautiful he found it. You will not be disappointed to stop here and check it out. 

  

On your way down from the monument, check out the dinosaur museum and some of what else Grand Junction has to offer. Great stop!

Exceptional dry camping in Colorado National Monument

This is an occasional quick hit for us, close to where we live. NO OPEN WOOD FIRES due to natural tinder-box ecosystem. Excellent plumbed restrooms. Very quiet, great variety of high desert wildlife, including deer, bighorn sheep, and small critters. This is an easy stop for I-70 travelers, so reservations are advisable. Be aware of gate fees, and steep grades into and out of the CNM. For an extra thrill, leave "the back way" and see the rest of the park. Visitor's Center is excellent. And please watch your kids and pets! Massive drop-offs are literally everywhere.

Tight quarters, but great views of Colo Nat'l Monument!

Campsites are way too close together. Dirty bathrooms they do have hypodermic needle disposal though. Loud music blasting late into the night. Entire family set up their tents as close as possible to our spot. No privacy on this campsite. Great views but not worth putting up with the sites. 

Cramped 

The area around these campsites is gorgeous and the facilities were very nice. Had plenty of water stations, trash cans, and the bathrooms were clean! However, it is your typical campground. Spaces jammed together (15-30 ft apart) and $22/night for any site, even the FCFS sites in loop C. There is a spot to put your ticket stub on the site, so if you needed to leave for some reason your spot wouldn’t be taken.

Beautiful area

I planned to just drive through the Monument park, but once I got in, I just had to stay. Incredible views, great location in the park, the rangers are delightful, and the campground itself felt far enough from the lights &amp; the city to really enjoy the beauty of it all. 

Recommending to everyone I know

Beautiful views, prime location in one of Colorado's most beautiful areas. Bathrooms were clean, water was readily available.

The downsides are that the sites are pretty close together and not super clearly delineated. I'm sure it depends on the night, but I came on a night when my neighbors on all sides are especially loud, one with loud conversations, one with very unhappy small children.

Location is perfect

No hookups. But nice view of the valley below. Camp Host was very friendly and helped us pick a good campsite for truck camper in C-loop (where no generators allowed  C-loop only).

Nice minimally developed campground

Noisy and rude campers walking through my site same group up until 2AM drinking and being loud, I will never go back, camp sites are packed close together, expect generators all day long. 

Noisy

We stayed on a sunday night early May. while it was still over 70% full, we found Lot C really quiet. the host was friendly and helpful. the canyon rim trail is beautiful. bathrooms are very clean.  

Beautiful  Quiet, Clean and friendly 

Great campground, quiet at the right times, each spot is fairly private. We were in spot #20 and it was fantastic, I could see spots next to the bathrooms being fairly noisy most the night. 

Sunrise and Sunset dream

This campground is very well maintained.  We stayed in loops A.  The sites are spacious.  Loop B has incredible views!  I felt the sites were spaced fairly well.  Restrooms were very clean.  Recycle and garbage close by.  Visitor center is within walking distance, as well as several trails.  

Beautiful Views

It was extremely windy when I went so I wasn’t able to fully enjoy. But I will return. 

Gorgeous place!!! 

Yay! 
Hosts were great, scenery beyond belief, location, clean facilities, access to the park. 
Bummer! Campground loudness: very loud neighbors in all directions, including the NPS employee loudly giving his volunteers his opinions on everything first thing Monday morning. Very campground-y. 
FYI: Cannot use trees for shade/hammocks, dog friendly but don’t plan on taking them off pavement for hiking. Stakes are pointless. 

Go for the views

Great views from B loop. Online registration only. Tim and Lily are very friendly campground hosts in site A1

New modern dispersed campground with Online registration

We arrived just before dark and easily pulled into our site. It was mostly level and we easily leveled our van. We found the restrooms (flush toilets) to be spotless. The campground was very quiet and we could see city lights below. In the morning we enjoyed a peel sunrise view through the junipers. Sadly, we were on a schedule and couldn’t spend much time at the campground, leaving 12 hours after we arrived. Even though the campground is at 5700 feet, it was warm mid September. We kept our side screened door open all night. Would love to come back sometime as the monument looks beautiful!

Large private campsite

Came to Grand Junction to get my new Timberleaf Teardrop camper and stayed here three nights.  Was so thankful that there was still running water and working toilets!  Site was slightly sloped but not bad.  Super quiet at night.  Saw the Milky Way last night!  The park is amazing and offers great views and hikes.

Great Campground

Stayed for 2 night in Sept 24 while traveling with my mother. The bit of AT&amp;T was my mom's favorite part of the site other than the views which it had and a lovely trailhead out of the campground. 

Pros: The trailhead/views, flush toilets, WiFi(At least at our site faceing towards Fruita), trash cans, tables

Cons: Sites were real close together so it really depends on who your next to, for someone like myself with a roof top tent wished the parking spot had been a little flatter, Rec.gov reservations, sandy

  

The big con of this campground was we had so much difficulty with the Rec.gov app getting a site, but the very helpful folk at the visitor center helped us get a site.

  

Would definately go there again, just beautiful and jawdropping views, and easy access to the rest of the monument early in the morning

Photos of Saddlehorn Campground — Colorado National Monument

Real photos from real campers