Best Cabin Camping near Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland

I ended up here on accident but loved my stay. Every staff member was so helpful and nice. Sites are close together and it is a bit pricy for an RV ($92 per night). This was my first time at a KOA, I enjoyed having all of the services right there. They fill propane tanls, air for tires, nice hot shower, laundry and a hot tub.

This park is located just outside of Estes Park, right along the river. The park is very clean and the staff is exceptionally helpful. The sites are level, but rather small and close together. There are no trees in most of the sites. The facilities were acceptable, although the pool and hot tub were closed during our visit. The trash pickup was a nice touch, just leave your trash at the front of your site and they collect it. No canopies are allowed, which is a downside without trees and also no campfires, which will keep our group from returning.

Let's be clear - this is not camping. This is renting a driveway with access to power, water, sewer, internet, and cable. It is EXPENSIVE. It's also the only place near Breckenridge that offers all of these amenities.

The clubhouse offers a heated pool and hot tub, arcade, business center, locker rooms, laundry ($2 per wash / $1.75 to dry), and owners lounge. There are tennis/pickleball courts and a community fire pit in the center of the resort that hosted movie night during our stay.

No complaints about this place other than the fact that no one answered the phone at the office during our stay. The good news is that they email the gate code and wifi password ahead of time, so we were able to find our way to the site on our own.

Let me preface this review by stating that is it weren’t for some regrettable encounters with one deplorable staff member(manager) this would have been a 4 star review. More on that later.... 

This campground is ideally located in my opinion, situated between Estes Park and Rocky Mtn NP, right next to a river, short walk to a grocery store (with shuttle to downtown) and alongside a road you can use to bypass the nasty summer traffic, I can’t think of a better place to be. My family and I stayed here for a week in a 34 ft travel trailer. The campground has a pool, hot tub, office with some supplies, full hookups, spacious sites, playground, fishing pond, laundromat, and a modest mini golf course. I was really impressed with the site width(in a busy destination such as Estes Park you would expect to be crammed in). Each site is bordered by log fencing to add to the feel of a large space. Sites are level and graveled. The pool is decently sized and the hot tub is fairly new. Mini golf is fun(clubs and balls and borrowed from the office) but is a little run down. 

So with all this good stuff, what are the cons? Well, the laundry machines are old and expensive. The activities center was never open, even on the 4th of July. No campfires at the sites and the community campfire is uninviting. The wifi is almost non-existent except at the pool/office. The game room is locked and empty. And the manager drives around the campground flying pirate flags and curses out his staff for insufficient reasons, in front of children. When my husband confronted him about this, he huffed off and never apologized, even though he walked by our site frequently. I am told that this is being brought to the attention of the owners, but since no action has been taken as of the time of this post, it is being included in this review. The other staff have been friendly. 

Overall, I would stay here again but would make sure the situation with the manager has been rectified.

The A-Lodge just outside of Boulder is the ultimate adventure home base. Developed in 2015 from an old motel property along a beautiful, babbling creek in the heart of Boulder Canyon, the current owners have added tent campsites, an RV parking area, a youth hostel, on-site cafe with tap room and canned wine, patio with communal fire pit, and an amazing hot tub in a little gazebo.

There are trails on site that connect to the larger Betasso Trail Network, a small slackline park, daily happy hour specials, bottle fill stations, and snacks, drinks, and a few basics available for sale on site. On top of all that, it's a cannabis-friendly campground (though you are asked to keep your puffing and passing to designated smoking areas outside). There's a beautiful bridge surrounded by twinkle lights coating the trees like vines and you fall asleep to the sound of the creek. You're just twenty minutes (if that) outside Boulder, and only an hour from Rocky Mountains National Park/Estes Park and two from Mt. Evans. 

Mountain biking and hiking are popular in the area, as well as angling. A-Lodge offers guided expeditions, yoga classes, campervan rentals, etc. and they are very sweet and accommodating hosts. Whatever you're hoping to get into in the area, they'll help you put it together. This place was just as accommodating and comfortable for a solo adventurer like myself as it was for the several families also staying there with small children. Eat up at the continental breakfast included in your stay— there's yogurt, coffee, oatmeal, tea, and a waffle maker.

I was looking for a quiet place to get away from Denver but I wasn't able to take off on a long drive to get there, then I found this place. A flower farm, with rows of beautiful blooming flowers, a natural pool, a Jacuzzi, and a beautiful view of the Rocky Mtns? Sounds perfect for a midweek getaway to me!

When I pulled up, Terry came out to meet me and give me a tour. He took me to the tent spot and I quickly realized that they didn't get many tent campers, they mostly received RV and AirB&B guests. The tent site was big enough to fit a couple tents (or a large family tent) but there wasn't a bathroom or even many places you could nature pee around the area. Terry informed me that they don't have bathrooms yet, but they are in the process of turning the old silo's into bathrooms and potentially another bedroom to rent out. That should be done by the end of the Summer. 

Then he gave me a tour of the pool and the flower shop. The land here is just incredible! They only bought this property 9 years ago and only started growing flowers on it 6 years ago and it has obviously transformed into a stunning landscape. The flower storage was filled with stunning colors and smells of all the assorted flowers they grow on the farm. Meg came out later to say hi and tell me a little about the events they host on the property. 

The natural pool was beautiful! I was the only camper there so I had free reign of the place. I lounged for a bit on a float in the water until I had a friendly visitor in the water with me, A small king snake (the good kind of snake) was cooling down in the water and when we saw each other we both ran the other way. See my video of an alternative use for the morsel spork...:-) I didn't see him again the rest of the time out there. Terry laughed at my tomfoolery and said they normally don't come near in the water, but he likes knowing they are out there since they eat rattlesnakes.

As the sun went down I took my book into the hot tub and relaxed for a bit. While Terry and Meg's kids rode around on the golf cart and jumped on the trampoline on the other side of the property, it was very soothing to hear the quiet laughter and fun being had by a beautiful family and yet still feel like I had my privacy. 

All in all it was a beautiful stay at a lovely location. I would recommend this place for a girl's day trip, bridal shower, or bachelorette location too! It is screaming to be filled with sundresses and mimosas. RV camping or even staying at the AirB&B would probably be ideal for your stay until they get the bathrooms built. 

I requested that Meg send me information in regards to events at the site and she sent me the following: 

Red Daisy Farm Event Space: We have a beautiful 4 acre property for you to host your special event at. We have fields full of flowers, a beautiful man-made natural swimming pond with a soothing waterfall. We have an antique barn full of vintage treasures for you and your guests to peruse. We have plenty of grassy areas and lots of room to roam around and enjoy! Set up your cornhole or volleyball net, badminton or croquet game! Let us know your ideas, and we’re happy to try and accommodate them!

***If you are planning on renting our Cottage House at the same time of your event, please take 30% OFF prices listed below.***.

 Two Night minimum stay to receive the party fee discount. Corporate Events, Birthdays, Anniversary’s, Bridal/Baby Showers, Graduations, Family Reunions, etc. This does NOT include weddings. 

We have special wedding packages, please let us know, and we’ll send you that info.

 A La Cart: Rental Fee:$200 per hour, with a 2 hour minimum. You may come up to two hours before the party to set-up for no additional fee. 

Tables- 6ft.X2.5ft:$10 per table 

White Table Cloths:$4 each 

White Folding Chairs:$2/chair 

White 10’X10’ Tent:$25each- 4 available 

Trash removal:$30 for 50 guests or less$45 for 51-100 guests$60 for 101-150 guests 

Fresh Flowers for tables/decor: 

Small table bouquets:$25ea 

Medium table Bouquets:$40ea

Large table Bouquets:$55ea 

A non-refundable,$200 deposit is due at time of booking to reserve your date. We encourage you to bring in your own food and drinks, as we do not provide catering at this time. If you will be having alcohol present, you will need to sign a waiver releasing RDF from any liability, and/or have a licensed and insured bartender. All parties/events need to be shut down no later than 10:30pm. Feel free to check out our website for more pictures of our special property: www.reddaisyfarm.com

This is one of my all-time favorite places to hike and camp in Colorado. I have not yet stayed in any of the campgrounds but have backpacked to the top of the American Lakes Trail. Not only is this hike fantasticly beautiful and full of wildlife (tons of moose especially) but there is great dispersed camping along the trails. You simply cannot find more scenic and free camping in Colorado. I would highly recommended camping anywhere in State Forest State Park!

Also, there are quite a few huts, cabins and yurts that can be rented year round in SFSP!

We have stayed here several times in our minivan and even got a cabin several years ago. Very clean, great power and you can even get 5G mobile service on T-Mobile most of the time in a lot of areas around the park. Especially in the RV parking area of Reverend's Ridge. Nice spacious shower house bathroom Keep in mind though that the smaller bathrooms around the RV parking loops are only.for when the electricity is out. So you'll need to head to the shower house if needed. My only real complaint is that the sites and cabins are very very close together and can be a bit uncomfortable if your trying to "get away" It's usually completely lights out and silent about 30min after the sun goes completely down.

We stayed here for 2 nights in one of the Cabins in December. There is no electricity, bedding, or running water, but there is a propane heater that looks like a wood burning stove that casts a great ambiance. Our cabin also had plenty of coat racks, a snow shovel, and a table. We stayed in Cabin 6, and walked though 2 feet of snow 300 ft down a hill (larger hill than expected) with all our stuff to get settled in. As we approached, the propane stove was already going and the cabin was warm and inviting. We used string lights (solar powered) to provide light (there is a dim solar powered light in the cabin as well). We brought 0 degree sleeping bags in case the heater was not enough, but it was toasty warm inside and we ended up hot. The cabins are right on the edge of the reservoir (which is drained as of Dec 2021 but still beautiful in the snow). Cabins 1-3 (cabins 1&2 hold 15ish ppl for large groups, cabin 3 is ADA) are closer to the road and look like they would not have such a long walk in the snow. During my search, it looks like they also allow primitive camping in the winter for $18, but I didn't see which area this would be in, the cabins are on the north side of the lake. Daily vehicle fee of $9. The experience was incredible, we were completely alone and enjoyed great stars and beautiful sunrises. Highly recommend for a unique winter camping experience (sure it would be great in the summer as well but likely way more crowded). Be sure to be prepared for cold temps!

Fee box at entrance with all current information.

"Reservation Only" 800-244-5613 or cpwshop.com or come to the Moose Visitor Center Campground is very open. Gravel sites with picnic table 

Electric $36.00 plus reservation fees Basic and tent $28.00 plus reservation fees Dispersed $18.00 plus reservation fees Small cabins $90.00 Large cabin $120.00 Yurts & Huts $80.00-$275.00 Backcountry no charge 

The park encompasses almost 71,000 acres. You will find a visitor center 187 campsites for RV and tent and over 60 dispersed sites, 15 cabins and yurts, boat ramps and 94 miles of hiking trails. There are all types or recreation throughout the year.  The park forest is being decimated by the Mountain pine beetle so the dead trees are being removed. This leaves a very stark deserted look. It is very difficult to observe the devastation that the state of Colorado is dealing with.

LNT 

Better than when you found it 

Stay safe and happy travels