Cabins near Chimney Rock, Colorado provide a strategic base for exploring the ancestral Puebloan heritage and surrounding San Juan National Forest. Located at elevations ranging from 7,000 to 11,000 feet, these accommodations experience temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night, even in summer months. Mountain cabin rentals in this area typically require advance planning, with many properties booking 3-6 months ahead for peak summer season.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Blue Spruce RV Park & Cabins, visitors can access excellent fishing nearby. "We stayed at blue spruce for a week while working remotely which required good cell coverage. We have Verizon and despite having no service on the drive to blue spruce, once we arrived the bars lit up! This campground was great, nice clean grounds, shaded pines every where, a playground, horses, and a short drive down to valicito lake," notes one camper.
River activities: The Last Resort RV Park & Campground offers riverside cabin accommodations with water recreation. "The Last Resort is a lovely RV Park and campground on the Blanco River off Highway 84 between Chama, New Mexico and Pagosa Springs, Colorado. There is a nice Bathhouse with a full kitchen, bathrooms with showers and a coin operated washer/dryer," explains a visitor.
Lake exploration: Navajo State Park provides cabin options with lake access. "A beautiful lake any time of year... Though summer can be quite hot with little shade so bring pop ups or shade cover! There's a marina to rent boats. Bring kayaks, SUPs, and tubes to spend the day in the water - easily accessed from every camp sight I've been to there," shares one regular visitor.
What campers like
Accessible bathing facilities: Visitors appreciate the clean shower facilities at cabins and campgrounds. At Last Resort RV Park, campers note, "I have got to say their showers are so nice and powerful after having camped over 4 days in New Mexico and Colorado." These facilities provide a welcome respite for travelers staying in more basic cabin accommodations.
Cell service and connectivity: For those needing to stay connected, Pagosa Riverside Campground offers reliable connectivity with their cabins. "Wifi throughout park and I have two bars of cell service with Verizon," mentions one visitor, while another notes the campground is "only a 5-minute drive from downtown Pagosa Springs, so nice and convenient!"
Wildlife viewing: Many cabin areas provide opportunities for wildlife observation. "I loved waking up in the morning to see 6 deer grazing outside my window," reports a visitor at Pagosa Pines RV Park, highlighting the natural setting many cabin rentals offer in the Chimney Rock region.
What you should know
Seasonal operation: Most cabin facilities near Chimney Rock operate on limited schedules. Sportsman's Campground & Mountain Cabins maintains "32 sites with cabin options available from May 20 to November 15," requiring advance planning for off-season visitors.
Variable amenities: Cabin accommodations range from rustic to modern. "We stayed in the primitive sites and showed up with no reservations but there were several open sites, which allowed us to find one with privacy. The views from the site to the lake were breath taking! Our site had a fire ring and a picnic table, the surface was pretty rough and rocky so make sure you have very good padding," explains a visitor at Navajo State Park.
Bathroom access: Some cabins have limited bathroom facilities. At Blue Spruce RV Park, "The bathrooms had two shower stalls and showers for each sex—nothing for non-binary folks. This did not meet the needs of the entire camp ground—and they were closed as the office was closed (all night into the morning). Bathrooms are not ADA accessible nor for anyone who struggles with stairs."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several cabin properties offer dedicated children's areas. Blue Spruce RV Park provides "a playground, horses, and a short drive down to valicito lake. They have full hookups, a country store, a short hiking trail, games center, and a group pavilion," making it suitable for family stays.
Water recreation: Oasis RV Resort offers family-friendly cabin accommodations with activities. "They have a swimming pool, laundry facilities, a small dog park, and a very basic playground. They also have a little Caboose from which they serve simple breakfast items, and a little store with a couple of Essentials," notes one family visitor.
Budget considerations: Family cabin stays have varying price points. "We paid $27 for the one night," mentions a visitor at Pagosa Riverside Campground, noting their "nice large tent site right by the river" as an alternative to cabin lodging for budget-conscious families.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When booking cabin accommodations, consider location within the property. "Love the 'S' curved pull thru sites. We had an 'S' shaped site with nice privacy and ease of arriving and leaving because of design. The sites all seemed to be nicely spaced from one another and private even though you are nearby," mentions an RVer at Oasis RV Resort.
Winter preparedness: For cabins available in colder months, verify heating systems. "Heated water so didn't have to worry about pipes freezing during stay," notes a visitor at Oasis RV Resort, highlighting an important consideration for off-season cabin rentals near Chimney Rock.
Privacy considerations: Some cabin properties have limited separation between units. "Many sites were too close to each other... We like our space and are used to state parks," observes a visitor at Blue Spruce RV Park, suggesting those seeking solitude should request specific cabin locations when booking.
