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State Forest State Park and Rocky Mountain National Park dominate the camping landscape around Gould, Colorado, with numerous developed campgrounds scattered throughout the region. The area features several campground options including North Michigan Campground, Ranger Lakes Campground, and The Crags Campground, all offering various accommodation types from tent sites to RV hookups, cabins, and yurts. Most established campgrounds in the region provide basic amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, while some offer more developed facilities including electric hookups, showers, and laundry services.
Seasonal considerations drastically affect camping experiences in this high-elevation region. Winter brings significant snowfall, making many areas inaccessible except by snowshoe or ski. "We stayed in cabin #3 and it was an awesome experience! We had room enough for 4 people and 3 dogs and didn't feel like we were on top of each other. The gas stove kept us nice and toasty all night long," noted one winter visitor. Summer visitors should be prepared for variable weather conditions, with potential for snow even in June. The mosquito population can be significant during warmer months, and beetle kill has affected tree coverage in many campgrounds, reducing available shade. Cell service is extremely limited throughout the area, so advance reservations are recommended.
Waterfront camping represents a significant draw for visitors to the region. North Michigan Campground offers sites directly on the reservoir, allowing for fishing, paddleboarding, and kayaking right from campsites. The park is renowned for wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly moose sightings. According to visitors, the scenery is "unbelievable, truly exactly how Colorado is portrayed in movies and dreams." While some campgrounds may feel crowded during peak summer weekends, many primitive sites throughout State Forest State Park provide more solitude. The proximity to alpine lakes and numerous hiking trails makes the area particularly appealing to outdoor enthusiasts. Campers should note that services are limited, with the nearest substantial town being Walden, approximately 20 miles away, making advance preparation essential.
"The campground is adjacent to the Colorado River, close to the Kauwuneeche Visitor Center and Grand Lake! There are plenty of bathrooms, and they have running water with sinks and toilets."
"Very near for a really nice walk along the Colorado River."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Getting to the campground and visitors center is easy as they are both right off the highways 41 and 14, but it is quite a drive to get to, in general."
"There are campsites on both sides of the lake. On the southern side, a number are situated off the road, minimizing noise and dust."
from $28 - $120 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Very enjoyable spot, close access to trails and entrance and exit of the park."
from $35 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Small campground next to three lakes. One lake has dried up. Beautiful Gould, CO. We also boondock camp in this area as well. Don't miss Lake Agnes. It's at the top of a mountain."
"Ranger Lakes is located a couple miles East of the Visitor Center for State Forest State Park. It is right on highway 14 just west of the Continental Divide at Cameron Pass."
from $36 / night
Check Availability"You get to camp next to a nice running creek. Surrounded by the forest and mountains. Friendly staff, good shade and privacy. Highly recommend for a true getaway. Nice trails nearby as well."
"I love the opportunity to connect to the wild spaces that surround us. I love finding people who share that same passion."
from $28 / night
Check Availability"This is a beautiful campground located along hwy 14 near Fort Collins."
"We were tucked into the trees far from other sites with a partial view of the lake. Quiet with a little bit of water noise, which was perfect for sleeping."
from $30 - $59 / night
Check Availability"The campsite has two entrances - one from the west passing North Michigan Reservoir and one from the South East which is basically from Lake Agnes Trailhead."
"There are lots of great activities to participate in very close by - fishing, hiking, 4-wheeling and more!"
from $28 / night
Check Availability"Firewood sold next to the entrance by the same husband and wife that have been selling firewood there for 35 years. There is a shed full of firewood."
"The spaces are large, but quite close to one another with few trees for privacy. Each site here is variable, with some open with no trees and others nestled in some mature trees."
from $35 - $70 / night
Check Availability"They have direct access to the headwaters of the Colorado River. We visited a little late in the season (August) to catch many fish, but we still had fun. "
"A lovely wooded campground literally on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park - we even saw moose from the back window of our RV! "
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability"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."
"I especially enjoyed the American Lakes trail up to Michigan and Snowy Lakes. That amazing landscape will forever be a special place to me."
from $18 - $144 / night
Check Availability
ScoutStayed a couple of nights this August- wonderful campground! Woke the first morning with two bachelor moose running through our campsite! Then had the pleasure of viewing one eating “weeds” in the beaver pond right down the road. Quiet, clean, comfortable. Access to Rawab wilderness and some of the best hiking this country has to offer!
TravelerVery out in the middle of nowhere....peaceful...
Guide20 degrees cooler than Fort Collins. Beautiful meadows with mountain views 360.
Nice large picnic table, fire ring (burn ban) and tent site. Fairly level gravel site.
TravelerHaving a 36ft class makes it hard to fit in most dispersed areas in the rocky mountains.
ScoutGot a nice little 2 bed cabin at a decent rate. Also right across from the river and owner was nice.
GuideElevation is high enough to escape the heat in Denver for the weekend. We stayed in Site 12 which is a double so two tent pads and two picnic benches, and we got 4 cars in the designated space easily. The creek ran right behind the spot which was great at night but pretty annoying during the day because people decided this was the best spot to get into the creek, which made our site quite busy and loud. Bathroom smell only wafted over twice that I noticed and it was brief; the bathrooms themselves were clean and smelled decent. Lots of shade for site 12 also. One tent pad is under some trees and only gets sun in the late afternoon and the other doesn’t get sun until about 10:30am.
ScoutIt’s what you would expect of a no utilities campsite. I would have given a 5 star review if it was more accessible to sedans, but otherwise a nice spot. The road “332” gets dicey .8 miles in and I personally would not and did not go past 1.3 miles in. Make sure to bring some warm clothes as it can get cold at night. It was a 100f during the day and then 60f at night.
GuideGreat location that feels out of the way but is close to lots of trails and the towns of Granby and Grand Lake. It’s also right on the water, but levels were so low this year there wasn’t much water activity happening. Not much shade as most trees were lost to pine beetle kill. Definitely bring an extra shade if you can.
Scout**Site#98 is NOT Safe for Large RVs**
We stayed at Jellystone Park Estes Park for three nights in site#98 with our 36-foot fifth wheel. We paid$325.50 for our stay and left with expensive damage to our truck because, in my opinion, this site should never be assigned to an RV of this size.
Site#98 is located on a hill and requires a very tight left turn from a one-way road, with a drop-off on one side and a large boulder retaining wall on the other. When an employee escorted us to the site, he immediately told us it was a difficult site for big fifth wheels and even said another camper had ripped off his fender trying to back into it.
My husband is very experienced backing our fifth wheel, and after several attempts with direction from the campground employee, he was able to get us into the site. Unfortunately, getting OUT was even worse.
When we left, my husband had to swing the truck as far to the right as possible to keep the fifth wheel tires from going off the drop-off on the left. At one point, half of our left-side tires were hanging off the edge. While I was outside watching the tires and trying to help navigate this extremely precarious situation, the truck caught one of the boulders from the retaining wall on the right, which became wedged underneath our running board.
We then had to JACK UP OUR TRUCK—with our 36-foot fifth wheel still attached and sitting dangerously close to the edge of a hill—just to get the truck off the boulder.
What makes this situation especially frustrating is what happened afterward. A very kind campground employee who came to help us expressed his own frustration that they continue putting large RVs in this site. He explained that after the cabins across the road were installed, along with the retaining wall, there was no longer enough room for big RVs to safely pull out of site#98.
While I waited to speak with the manager, a THIRD employee also acknowledged to me that they have had issues with this site.
Yet when the manager finally came to speak with us, she claimed she had NO knowledge of site#98 being a problem and told us they allow RVs up to 38 feet in it. When I told her they should not be putting RVs that large in this site, her response was,**“It’s 2026 and they can’t tell people what they can put in a site.”**
That response was unbelievable to me. A campground absolutely can—and should—determine what size RV can safely fit into and maneuver through a particular site.
Three separate employees either warned us about this site or acknowledged problems with it, including one who specifically said there is no longer enough room for large RVs to pull out after the cabins and retaining wall were added. Yet management continues allowing RVs up to 38 feet in the site.
We were offered no solution for the damage to our truck, and management took no accountability for continuing to place large RVs in a site their own employees acknowledge has had problems.
We paid$325.50 for three nights and walked away with a damaged truck and an incredibly stressful—and potentially dangerous—experience.
We will NEVER stay at this campground again. If you have a fifth wheel or RV over 30 feet, I would strongly recommend staying elsewhere and specifically avoiding**site#98**.
Campgrounds have a responsibility to assign rigs to sites they can safely enter AND exit. Based on our experience, Jellystone Estes Park failed to do that.
Rocky Mountain National Park and State Forest State Park define the camping landscape around Gould, Colorado. The area sits at elevations between 8,500-10,000 feet, creating a high alpine environment where temperatures can drop below freezing even in summer months. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though winter access often requires snowshoes or cross-country skis to reach remote sites.
Wildlife viewing at dusk: Timber Creek Campground offers exceptional opportunities for wildlife sightings. "We saw a smallish bull moose and lots of bucks!" reports Lauren P. who stayed at The Crags Campground.
Alpine lake hiking: Access multiple high-elevation lakes via trails from campgrounds. "There are several good hikes off the road through the park, several lead to alpine lakes, anywhere from 6-10 miles round trip," notes Donella L., who visited Ranger Lakes Campground.
Fishing in clear mountain lakes: Many campgrounds offer direct fishing access. "Had so much fun! Camp site was very clean, level, and well kept. The highlight was fishing. BEAUTIFUL clear waters, PLENTY of trout, and great trails through the woods to explore," writes Gary E. about his experience at Ranger Lakes.
Mountain views without crowds: Less-visited campgrounds provide solitude. "This is one of two campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park that does not take reservations. There are more moose here than at the other campgrounds in the park," explains Amber A. about Timber Creek Campground.
Lake access for water activities: Several campgrounds offer direct water access. "We were able to paddle board and fish right from our campsite, and had a wonderful fresh trout dinner," shares B B. about their stay at North Michigan Campground.
Night sky viewing: Limited light pollution creates remarkable stargazing. "When the sun goes down you can see millions of stars. Everything about this site is perfect," writes Kelsey W. about Timber Creek Campground.
Winter access limitations: Many remote campgrounds require special preparation. "We stayed in cabin #3 and it was an awesome experience! The gas stove kept us nice and toasty all night long!" explains Haley K. about winter camping at North Michigan.
Bear safety requirements: Most campgrounds lack individual bear boxes. "There were no bear bins in the campground - be bear safe and bear smart, lock all of your food and toiletries inside your car at night," warns Amanda M. about camping at Timber Creek.
Limited facilities: Remote camping spots often have basic amenities. "Fire grills and picnic tables provided, but no designated tent pads, no bear boxes, no electricity, and only a tough to use hand pump for water in the center of the campground," notes Lisa K. about The Crags Campground.
Choose campgrounds with protected swimming areas: "The lake is perfect for canoe, paddle board, kayak, we tried swimming but the water is super cold. It's also very clear and clean," advises Donella L. about Primitive Loop Campground.
Look for sites with distance from neighbors: "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," recommends Amanda M. from her experience at Moraine Park Campground.
Select campsites with activities for various ages: "Amazing views and something for everyone. My 4 year olds threw rocks in the reservoir, they bikes on nearby trails. The bathrooms were clean too. My dog was able to cool off in the reservoir on a hike," shares Meghan H. about North Michigan Campground.
Reserve full hookup sites early: "Full hookups and lots of space at the lower numbered full hookup sites. Nice and quiet," reports Christopher W. about Winding River Resort.
Expect primitive access roads: "No trailers, RVs allowed as tiny, winding dirt road to get there," warns Zann R. about access to The Crags Campground.
Winter RV camping options: Several campgrounds offer year-round access with heat sources. "We stayed in cabin #3...We had room enough for 4 people and 3 dogs and didn't feel like we were on top of each other. The gas stove kept us nice and toasty all night long!" explains Hayley K. about North Michigan Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in Gould, Colorado?
Gould offers several exceptional camping options within State Forest State Park. Ranger Lakes Campground is highly recommended, featuring sites next to three lakes in beautiful Gould with easy access to Lake Agnes and Teller City ghost town. For those seeking a more rustic experience, Primitive Sites — State Forest State Park provides fantastic hiking opportunities with abundant wildlife viewing, especially moose. The area also offers excellent backcountry camping options for those willing to venture further from established campgrounds. While reaching Gould requires a bit of a drive (about 4 hours from Denver), the pristine natural setting and recreational opportunities make it well worth the journey.
What amenities are available at Gould campgrounds?
Campgrounds around Gould typically offer a range of basic to moderate amenities. North Michigan Campground provides reservable sites with toilet facilities and can accommodate larger RVs. Similarly, Bockman Campground offers drive-in access with toilet facilities and is big-rig friendly. Most established campgrounds in the area feature fire pits, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Water availability varies by location, with some campgrounds requiring you to bring your own. Many sites throughout State Forest State Park are reservable online, which is recommended during peak season. The park also offers access to hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and wildlife viewing areas regardless of which campground you choose.
Is Long Draw campground near Gould, Colorado open year-round?
Long Draw campground near Gould is not open year-round. Like many high-elevation campgrounds in northern Colorado, it typically operates seasonally from late June/early July through September, depending on snow conditions. Winter access is severely limited due to heavy snowfall and road closures. For year-round camping alternatives in the region, consider Chambers Lake Campground, which has a longer operating season, though still closes during winter months. The access roads to these high-country campgrounds become impassable once snow accumulates. If you're planning a trip outside summer months, contact the local ranger district for current conditions and closures, as opening dates can vary significantly based on snowpack and spring melt timing.
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