Looking to go glamping near Chimney Rock and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Camping has always been a favorite form of travel for many, but Chimney Rock, CO glamping is a new and unique way to do it. You're sure to find glamping for your Colorado camping adventure.
Pagosa Riverside Campground has RV pull-thrus, all 50 amp, river, lakeside, wooded & tent sites & 3 Cabins. Enjoy our hot showers, clean restrooms and laundromat open 24 hours. Our store is well stocked with groceries, snacks, gifts, fishing supplies and a large selection of RV parts. Firewood and ice available for sale. Cable TV for RV sites and Wi-fi throughout the campground.
Pagosa Riverside is a Rocky Mountain Campground along the San Juan River.
This people friendly campground is located at 7200′ elevation on the banks of the San Juan River with mountain views and 1200′ of private access to excellent trout fishing. Quiet, convenient off-highway location with cool evenings. The private pond has campsite’s snuggling its bank and free fishing for kids of all ages. Be sure to try the paddle boats for a fun time on the pond.
Free WI-FI throughout the park.
Large RV sites, grassy shaded tent sites in the trees and beside the small pond. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings and there are BBQ grills throughout the park. Park amenities include: Wifi, Laundry, Playground, Game Room, Paddle boats, Above Ground Pool.
The Camp-Store has groceries, marshmallows, snacks, ice cream, fishing supplies, firewood, ice, and the largest selection of RV supplies in the area.
Near hot springs, horse rides, Indian ruins (Chimney Rock), rafting, and championship quality 27-hole golf course. ATV, Mountain Bike, and Hiking Trails are only a short distance from the park.
Primitive Camper Cabins.
Tent Sites: Tent sites have their own fire ring or grill. These sites can accommodate one small tent and one vehicle. Individual settings for your tent w/Picnic Table and Fire Ring. Basic RV Sites and Deluxe Patio Sites: Nestled in the pinon pines and junipers, with a propane fire pit. These sites have a hard surface patio with furniture. Nicely landscaped big Patio Sites with Furniture! Propane fire ring and Charcoal Grill. One camping unit and one vehicle per site. Treed sites, near the Cafe, where we serve up the best pancakes in the west. Basic and Deluxe Cottages: Deluxe Cabin lodges have a separate bedroom with a queen bed, a set of bunks and a futon. Full Bath, Kitchenette, TV, A/C & a nice deck to sit out on. There is a propane grill and fire pit available for your use. Perfect for glamping. Studio Cabin-Lodges sleep up to four people (queen bed in main room and set of bunks in separate room). Has a small fridge, microwave, a/c, heat, TV and a bathroom! , everything you need for glamping. Camping Cabins have 1 double bed and one set of bunks. A/C and heat control.
$47 - $197 / night
This popular campground, 23 miles north of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, offers both shaded and sunny campsites with some located creek-side. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riding, and scenic opportunities.
The campground is one mile from Williams Reservoir, a popular fishing and kayaking spot. There are several ATV and hiking trails approximately one to five miles beyond the campground.
The campground is situated among cedar, aspen and ponderosa pines. Some sites are located on the banks of Williams Creek, which runs along the eastern edge of the campground; some have spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
There are many fishing opportunities in the creek and in the nearby reservoir. A popular hike nearby is Piedra Falls, located a short distance from the campground. ATV enthusiasts enjoy Poison Park Road which is several miles from the campground, or traveling to East Fork Road to enjoy this four-wheel drive-only road to Silver Falls. Just a few miles north of Williams Creek Campground, is the Cimarrona Trail which begins across the road from its campground namesake. The Williams Creek Trail begins at the end of the Williams Creek Road, at the Palisades Horse Camp. Both run through the Weminuche Wilderness to connect with the Continental Divide Trail. In addition, the town of Pagosa Springs offers many festivals on the weekends and the hottest, deepest hot springs in the country.
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.
$30 - $100 / night
United Campground has been a family owned and operated park for over 40 years. Located on the banks of the Animas River, Trolley Line and on the north edge of city limits, just 4 miles from Downtown Durango. Our campground offers over 100 level RV sites with water, electric and sewer, many shade trees and over 90 grassy and shaded tent sites. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad runs right through the park. As your hosts, we want to help make your trip to Durango a memorable one.
We are a family friendly park so bring your kids, grandkids and furry kids- we can't wait to see you!
$45 - $70 / night
Haviland Lake Campground is situated on its beautiful namesake within the San Juan National Forest, 18 miles north of Durango. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and hiking opportunities in a scenic, natural setting. The popular campground is beautiful any time of the year.
Haviland Lake is an 80-acre, no-wake lake with excellent boating, canoeing and fishing opportunities. An accessible fishing dock is located on the lakeshore. Anglers cast for rainbow and brown trout. A Colorado Division of Wildlife fishing license is required to fish. Several trailheads are in the vicinity. The Forebay Lake Trail begins in the campground and leads to small Forebay Lake, just over a mile east of the campground. The historic Rico-to-Rockwood Wagon Road passes through Haviland and Chris Park. Built in the late 1800s, the road was used for six years until the railway opened.
The campground is situated on the shore of Haviland Lake, among shady, towering ponderosa pines, at an elevation of 8,705 feet. Many sites have lake views and easy shoreline access. Campers are awarded spectacular views of the Hermosa Cliffs across the lake.
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.
$32 - $98 / night
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to__first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival__as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
$32 / night
Pine Point Campground is situated next to Vallecito Reservoir in southwestern Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its beautiful scenery and wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing and hiking.
Vallecito Reservoir is a very popular fishing lake, with anglers casting for German brown trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike. Boating, water skiing and canoeing are popular activities. A sheltered area for boats and an open play area are just south of the campground. A variety of hiking and horseback riding trails are found in the area. The North Canyon Trail climbs through ponderosa pine and aspen forests. A short side trail leads to a scenic overlook of the lake. East Creek Trail provides access to a lightly used, scenic drainage where fly-fisherman can be seen casting for brook trout.
The Vallecito lake, which is Spanish for "little valley," sits at an elevation of 7,900 feet. A scenic forest of ponderosa pine covers the campground, which offers many shaded, lakefront sites with easy access to the shore. High peaks of the San Juan Mountains are visible to the northwest of the campground.
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.
$31 - $39 / night
Nestled in a protected box canyon surrounded by high cliffs of Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine and just minutes to downtown Durango, the 27-acre HTR Durango (formerly Lightner Creek Campground) is located on a seasonal mountain stream, making it an ideal setting for nature lovers of all ages.
Legend
Jake from the Dyrt here! Navajo Dam has an awesome glamping setup on top of some cliffs overlooking the area. Check them out and make sure to leave a review on the Dyrt!
Guide
This campground will always have a special place in my memories as my first camping trip in Colorado. Unfortunately being new to the state I was woefully unprepared for how cold and wet Memorial Day weekend camp trips in Colorado can be. However, the proximity to Durango meant that after a cold first night I could run into town and buy all the gear I should have thought to bring with me in the first place. The campground was relaxing and enjoyable and the lake was beautiful with the post rain fog rolling in off the surrounding hills. May was still too cold to go into the water but I am looking forward to going back this July.
Scout
I stayed at Haviland Lake near Durango, Colorado for three days, but could have stayed for a week or more! Very beautiful area and nice campsites next to a pristine mountain lake filled with trout and in a serene mountain setting. Hosts were very friendly and helpful and there were opportunities for paddleboarding, canoeing, and kayaking (no motorized watercraft). If you have time, go down into Durango and take the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Train ride through the majestic San Juan Mountains of Colorado, or drive to Silverton and spend the day back in the 19th Century!
Scout
Vallecito Resort, situated near Durango, Colorado, caters to both full-time RV enthusiasts and vacationers seeking a mountain retreat. Nestled in the San Juan National Forest, it provides a serene natural setting with comprehensive amenities. Upon arrival, guests can enjoy spacious sites, immerse themselves in the forest ambiance, and plan their outdoor activities.
Scout
We did 4 campgrounds during our trip in Colorado this summer. This one was the best: very clean, warm welcome, not that expensive… The Durango & Silverton train passes through the camp, it’s so fun. And you can the free trolley to go downtown Durango, very convenient. Thank you !
Guide
We had to overnight in Durango area for one night, on our way from Colorado to Arizona. The campground is clean, quiet, gorgeous, it is close to the highway though, we had a gorgeous spot with a view (so worth it). It has a pool, laundry, even a breakfast spot that is open on certain hours, times of the day. We did not get to experience it. You’re only 7 miles away (east) from Durango, which is a very amazing, cute small (walkable) city!
Ranger
This privately owned campground feels like Colorado-at peace-to me. Campgrounds, especially in the times of Covid are filled to the brim these days and that means a different type of experience complete with sometimes noisy neighbors, lots of vehicles and generators running at all hours.
This. Place. Is. Peaceful.
Your first look at the view on the way in to the camoground office should make you want to take a big breath of fresh CO air and leave the worries of the world behind.
The owners/workers were all as friendly as can be and seemed extremely genuine in providing everyone an enjoyable experience. There are 3 ponds on property for fishing and there are some whoppers in there! Do keep in mind, you need to get a permit at the office to partake in being an angler for the day.
The campsites themselves are well spaced, shady, pretty level and have full hookups. What more could you want? They have even separated the RV area from the tent camping area which I find to be the most enjoyable for all parties involved.
As for the general area-you can't go wrong no matter which direction you go. Pagosa Springs is a lovely town with everything you could need. There are too many fishing opportunities to name in the area, and a MUST see-Treasure Falls-it's quite literally .5 miles from the campground entrance.
Traveler
This was the first stop of 3 - 2 night stays on this search to find great camping with easy access to water and preferably within a days drive of my house. I recreational kayak so access to water is at the top of my list of must haves if paddling is on the list of must do’s. This was a survey trip to see what’s out there for folks like me.
I booked two nights going to quite a bit of trouble of obtain them. I booked all three stays on the same day in March. Two weeks before my trip I receive an email from the Parks department cancelling my reservation, issuing a refund but offering no explanation or offer to assist in finding another spot. Getting to speak to an actual person… could not be done. I left voice mails at the dam, at the. State office and even the Governor’s office but apparently no one was at work. Two weeks later a really helpful gal called to say she had just started two days prior and discovered a full voice mail box. She was absolutely amazing at facilitating a solution within two days. Clarissa, you are a Goddess! Reserve America is a pain to navigate and I will leave it at that.
Now about the campground. It is exactly what one should expect in a desert landscape. Very few trees and very dusty and rocky. It was 100 degrees when I left for my trip deciding to wait until late afternoon to avoid setting up in the blazing heat. I arrived at 10:00pm or so. It was 73 degrees. I came in from the east side 64 to 527 and there were deer and elk EVERYWHERE!!!! Which is why I arrived so late, you just have to slow down. Mostly cedar and pine and natural gas oil wells EVERYWHERE!!!! I got to my appointed site and I simply could not navigate from where one parks to where the actual site was and which, by the way, while lakeside it was convenient to water it was not. If you have a few people to help haul everything down to where the actual water is great, but alone in 100 degrees. Also, I travel with two small dogs and shade is paramount. Well shade they do have such as it is. The showers were not available due to, you guessed, a water shortage! I just put up the tent and went to sleep which wasn’t too uncomfortable. Next morning at 5:30 the sun was out and the heat was building. I packed up and moved on up to Colorado where it would surely be much cooler.
I might like to visit Sims Mesa Marina at Navajo Lake again, if it ever fills again and perhaps in the spring or fall but NOT in summer. So many of our fine bodies of water boaters and anglers have come to rely on for recreation are in serious jeopardy due to a 10 year what is termed “Exceptional” drought conditions. It’s really such a shame.
Side note: be sure to take the Navajo Dam shortcut when leaving Sims. It’s a well maintained, but very dusty road. The views are spectacular and driving across the dam is a bit nerve racking. The drive down from the dam all along the San Juan drainage below the dam is well worth checking out for day use only but there are several “holes” they call them where the fishing is said to be amazing and the parking lot reflected it’s popularity.
So it’s on to Vallecito Lake outside Bayfield, Colorado. Specifically Pine Point USFS Campground. The search for paddling opportunities continues.
TravelerLast time I saw Vallecito Lake was in April of 2019. It was virtually empty of any water and that is not an exaggeration. Every bit had been drawn down and it being April the Spring melt had not yet started. However, the area around the lake had captured my soul and I had been hankering to return in early summer to it witness the lovely lady in all her glory. She did not disappoint.
I kayak and this trip was the second of 3 consecutive two day stays in search of the perfect padding spot. I recreational kayak and my area has one body of water close to me but it’s 65 miles away. I was seeking a place water play vacation.
There are two sides to Vallecito Lake. The public side and the private side. The public side is USFS managed the other is a free for all of vacation rentals, RV Parks and homes ranging from little woodsy to magnificent “cabins”. With a sprinkling of homes on the public side with outstanding water access and views for miles obviously been there for quite some time. All around is old forest with huge stands of ponderosa pine and Colorado blue spruce, wild roses and raspberry’s. Along with huge stands of burn scars from more than one, must have been terrifying, forest fires. The place is SPECTACULAR, not too “resorty” but busy. Even during the week while I was there.
There are several USFS campgrounds on Road 501A North Canyon, Graham, Pine Point and Middle Mountain. All of them offer the same shady, wooded campsites some of which are lakeside. Which would be great when the lake is at capacity. There are plenty of vault toilets and drinking water. No showers. There are picnic tables and fire pits at every site. We were able to have fires at the time of my visit but the fire restrictions were just going into affect the day after I left. In fact there was a wild land fire just a few miles away but was quickly dispatched. The camp hosts were very responsive and they take very good care of the property.
Not all sites are reserved at these campgrounds. About half are first come first served and many were vacant at my visit. But it was Monday - Thursday. I noticed it begin to fill up the night before my departure day and things got a bit more active but once darkness fell it was silent.
Now about the water. The lake was at 67% capacity and was not expected to exceed that this 2021 season. There was no snow on the surrounding peaks which should still have had observable snow pack on them in early June. McPhee Reservoir on the other side of Durango was at 47%. El Vado in New Mexico was at 17%!!! All of the bodies of water in the west are severely challenged. Lake Mead/Hoover Dam is being repeated all over the western states. It’s a real shame to see the changes that are occurring at all of our favorite spots. While water was accessible it was a good hike with a 48lb kayak and most of it was very rocky. But the water was magnificent and well worth the hike.
Did I mention it was in the high 90’s while I was there. Which is unheard of. It was brutally hot and chasing ice was a challenge. Most places close by ran out requiring a trip to Bayfield. Also, amazingly, while my cell phone was worthless my iPad rocked and I could send and receive texts and even water my lawn via the b-hyve app.
Be sure to check out Lemon Lake and the campgrounds above. The Lake looked to be at about 50% which was very sad. The campgrounds were not as heavily used and were offering all of the same as other USFS campgrounds.
I will be back again but I will make my stay much longer. I give it five stars just for the pure ambience.
Scout
Great place lots of ruins and s nights to see.
Traveler
This site is amazing. It’s free of charge if you can get there. The road leading to the campsite is dirt on the side of a cliff. No rail guards, so you have to be brave to make it up there. The drive is worth it once you get to the river-side sites this campground has to offer. There are tagged cattle that roam through the grounds. No potable water, though there is a vault toilet. It seemed like the fly fishers caught a lot of fish! Strict throw back policy though. I spent 5 days here and didn’t want to leave. Great little place to get away from civilization.
TravelerGreat site! It's about 12 miles down usfs22. Takes about 35-40 minutes to get back there. Road is very well maintained. Follow signs for parking once to get to end of road. There is a bathroom and multiple sites right on the river! Heard some coyotes in the distance! And hunters will frequent there!
GuideGreat camp spots at end of the road. No signals= heaven!
Scout
Clean sites, large enough for big rigs, full hookups, and great staff! Thanks for the fun!
GuideWe grow tired on boondocking and enjoy a nice RV Park sometimes. This RV Park is nicely designed to give you privacy from your neighbors with bushes and trees planted between sites. No grass at the sites, but lots of grass all around. The laundry is located beside the pool - you can swim while waiting for our laundry. However, there is no way to drive to the laundry door; it’s quite a walk carrying your clothes. There are picnic tables and small grills at each site. There’s a small dog park; and, of course the casino nearby for entertainment and dinner out. All sites are asphalt with concrete pads for the tables. The sites are level
Guide
We only stayed one night but would definitely come back. We had a nice large tent site right by the river. No trees on this site but the view and the river made up for that. Scenery was great and we had a number of great conversations with some of the other campers. Camp hosts were very friendly and the facilities were pretty nice. There were porta-potty’s half way to the wash house but they were clean and didn’t smell too bad and they saved us from having to walk another few minutes. We had some noisy neighbors but they quieted down once we asked. We paid $27 for the one night.
GuideWe stayed here one night and they were super packed but managed to get us in. The sites are close together, but for one night it was fine. We were able to do all of our laundry and the people running the campground are super helpful and friendly.
ScoutThe staff at the Pagosa Riverside Campground is very friendly and helpful. The campgrounds are beautiful, scenic, and peaceful. The restrooms and showers are clean and well kept. The campgrounds are located on the San Juan River with good access for fishing.
GuideBathrooms and SHOWERS AND LAUNDRY were all appreciated and good. There is a river you can get in a swim , camp sites are close together , limited views but better than nothing. If you want water views get a site in the site number of 80s not 50s
ScoutGreat people running the place with everything you’d need on site.
GuideOn a small lake (pond) and right on the San Jose River. All the amenities you need. My tent set up was 1 foot from the water. Great fishing for trout and bass. Highly recommend!!
ScoutTry to nab a site on the river. The beautiful San Juan River will be just a few steps outside your door. Nice walking paths, a small pond for paddle boating or fishing, clean restrooms, and 24 hr. laundry make this an above average park.
ScoutArrived late. Still had a friendly escort and walked around the beautiful park before sunset.
ScoutFun little spot. Paddle boats and nice camp spots with nice shade. River access is a nice perk.
ScoutBeautiful location along the San Juan. Well maintained park close to Pagosa Springs
GuideRight outside of Pagosa Springs. This place is great. Awesome staff, clean and friendly. All hookups and fun surroundings. On the San Juan River. Quiet and I would def stay here again.
GuideWe stayed only 1 night in June. The amount of hummingbirds was crazy. Well stocked next to the river and has a pond.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Chimney Rock, CO is Pagosa Riverside Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 27 reviews.
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