Best Glamping near Crested Butte, CO

They have a great staff that is friendly and always accessible! We have a back-in site but they have pull throughs also. There is a playground for the kids, laundry, and bathrooms with showers. They allow fires and provide a “fire pit” that is constructed from an old washer tub with legs welded on. Just ask for one at the front desk. They also sell firewood for the fire. Oh, and they come by and pick up your trash at your site between 9-5 each day just leave your bag out by the road. There are full hookups at most of the sites. The area is in walking distance of the Gunnison River and there is a nice hiking trail on the south side of the river heading west. There is also a bike path that goes back into town and up the road toward Crested Butte. On the main road (intersection of CR11 and highway 135) there is a bus stop for a free bus trip into Gunnison. The men’s bathroom had a couple of issues, the overhead light didn’t work very well and one of the toilets was malfunctioning but they got those fixed pretty quickly. There is a nice combination of shade (from the trees) and sun at all the sites.

This is a tent only camp area with one clean outhouse type bathroom. There is a camp host on site that manages more than one camping area. She came around in the evening to collect money for site. The cost was $16 a night and we only spent one night. We would have stayed longer but deceided to spend one night in Crested Butte. The host told us that bears have been known to walk through the very site we chose and we had forgotten our tent. Luckily my husband snores since we slept out under the stars! It was so beautiful though! There was a fire ban and no rain so it was super dusty every time someone drove by dust flew. There is a stream that flows near by that you can walk to but for the most part shrubbery blocks seeing it from the camp site. I really liked it here at night it is dark, dark, so you can see a million stars. Plan to pack out your garbage.

Key things - 3+ miles down a dirt road (rough but nothing requiring a 4WD), no electricity, no water (except creek), no cell service with AT&T (not sure about others), 11 sites, normal size tent pads (a little small for my 9x12), out house toilets (2), great white noise from the creek if the water is flowing

Cost is $16/night.  $8/night with National Parks Pass number (make sure you have your pass so you can record the number)

This is a decent campground near Crested Butte.  If it is a dry spell, like it was for us, it is dusty and the road next to the camp is dusty.  Be sure to pick a site away from the road. Also pick a site away from the toilets. Site #9 is the best for privacy, if you are willing to carry your equipment down a short trail (we stayed in 8, 9 and 10 - all good sites).  All other sites are on the camp road.  The camp is dusty, which was exaggerated by our 2 and 3 year old grandsons enjoying running around creating dust clouds.  It was a nice weekend so the dirt bikers and atvs were busy on the road next to the camp, but didn't start before sun up and were gone before sun down (most went out in the morning and back in the afternoon - so not constant traffic).  

Overall, we had a great time and the kids were able to run around without worrying about cars in the camp.  All of the campers there with us were quiet and went to bed by 9pm.  Many just came in, set up camp for the night and left the next morning - no long term campers.  

We stayed the weekend of 13 Sept 2019 - days temps were in the 70s, nights went down to the upper 20s and lower 30s - take the right gear.  We ended up using a tent heater the first night (but I'm old and get cold).

If you like to have a nice relaxing time camping… don’t come here! Seriously! If you can… cancel and go literally anywhere else.

• Do you camp with dogs?
• Do you camp with Kids?
• Do you camp with an RV?
• Do you camp with more than 8 people?
• Do you camp with a grill?
• Do you like to NOT be micromanaged when you camp?

Then read on, Baby Doe is NOT the place for you in 2021.

First of all, you need to know are a family that camps with kids, and camps a lot! We are respectful camp neighbors. We have never been treated this way. (Please read my other reviews)

The camp host are Camp rule vigilantes. They don’t need a complaint or a “danger” to harass you. They are actively looking for things that no one is even complaining about, and they are enforcing rules that I’ve never even heard of.

Not only do the camp host have the extremely excessive camp rules posted on the tables (included in pictures), after you’ve arrived they come and ask you if you I’ve read the rules.

DOGS - They said if your dog is off leash, they don’t give you a warning, they consider the posted rules the warning, they only give fines. Also make sure you have an in-ground dog steak because they are enthusiastic about dogs not being tied to trees.

KIDS- Their posted rules include “children should never race bikes / shout throughout the camp site” … are you kidding me. So basically don’t bring your kids. The camp host were so aggressive about the other rules I was scared for my children to wander to far from our campsite. Our friend that had an older child was told to slow down when she was riding her bike.

RV - a friend in our group left their exterior lights on and sure enough the camp host came knocking. She started with “I’m not saying you’re breaking any rules but…” … long story short, he was asked to turn them off.

8 PEOPLE PER CAMP SITE - I’m not joking, they were trying to enforce 8 people per camping site. It was us and a couple families calmly hanging by the camp fire (no music playing) they told is we’re not supposed to have more than 8 people per camp site. The hilarious part about this is that the Ranger rolled by our campsite not even 5 mins before the host did and didn’t stop to say anything about it.

GRILL- Have you ever stayed at a camp ground that wouldn’t allow a charcoal grill because there’s “almost” fire ban?? Instead they recommend using the fire pit to cook. We stayed 6/18 and some counties are under a fire ban, Lake County where Baby does is located is NOT under a fire ban, but they still asked us not to use a charcoal grill.

QUIET-HOURS - at 9:52 they came to tell us that in 8 mins it’s quiet hours. Then proceeded to be ridiculously aggressive about it, despite us having ZERO complaints. We weren’t playing music, we were quietly hanging by the campsite.

I’d like to say the water was nice and the fishing was good but all of these positive things were overshadowed by being harassed by the camp host over non-issues.

Do your self a favor, find a better camp spot.

Please don’t take my word for it… people must be getting the memo because I’ve never seen so many empty camp sites! It was so hostile I’ve considered filing a formal complaint about how bad they were.

Nice campsite right on the banks of Roaring Fork River. Small site with 10 spots, first come, first serve. Arrived on a Wednesday in July just before noon and there were several spots to pick from. Sites 4 - 7 are on the river, which was very nice, good for sleeping. There are as fire pits and tables at each campsite. Vault toilets and a water spout on site. Plenty of lodgepole pines between sites so it feels private. Trail head for Lost Man Trail is right across the street, or head east on Hwy 82 to Independence and Lost Man Lake Tail head for a nice out and back.

This is a beautiful campground for those who like quiet and isolation..It is approximately 40 minutes west of Gunnison, CO. There are no reservations and no hook ups. There are vault toilets. What draws us to this campground is the beauty of the surrounding area. Black Canyon is close by for those who like to hike. We enjoy riding our ATV and have found some beautiful trails full of wildflowers and wildlife. It is also close enough to take day visits to Montrose or Crested Butte. Oh, and if you like star gazing this is the perfect place as their is no light pollution.