Lostfork Basecamp
This place is incredible. The sound of the river alone will calm your nervous system. Whether you’re camping or staying in one of the cabins, you will not be disappointed.
303 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Paved access on Highway 67 makes Divide more accessible than most Pike National Forest entrances to its north and west. The town sits at around 9,100 feet between Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek, and the surrounding national forest land has developed campgrounds and dispersed sites within a few miles of town. Eleven Mile Reservoir and Florissant Fossil Beds are both reachable as day trips from here. Most sites in the immediate area work for standard vehicles, though some of the deeper forest roads above 9,500 feet require clearance and dry conditions.
"This Colorado state park brings visitors year-round for all types of recreation. We have traveled here several times, both tent camping and in our camper."
"By far my favorite campground in Colorado. Sites all have great views and are paved. The park is clean and rangers are always around checking in. Close to town and great hikes. Can’t wait to go back!"
from $18 - $270 / night
Check Availability"This campground will be rated as a Basecamp — grounds that offer a comfortable home base that you’re happy to return to after a day of exploring the surrounding area."
"It is in Cascade, CO right off of Highway 24. It is minutes away from Pike's Peak, Manitou Springs, Cave of the Winds, Red Rocks Open Space, and Colorado Springs."
from $40 - $87 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful 4 mile drive up a winding dirt and gravel road through the canyons with the stream next to you. Camp sites a little close but not so bad. The scenery is out of this world."
"Close to the trailhead that will take you up. This is on the backside of the mountain if you are in Colorado Springs."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"The park is conveniently located close to everything to do in Colorado Springs. Spaces were VERY close together. There is no view of any of the surrounding beauty."
"This campground is a great central location for everything around Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs. It is very close to Garden of the gods park and red rock open space."
"Rampart Range Road is the main dirt road that has plenty of smaller trails branching off of it to keep you busy exploring all summer."
"Tucked back in National Forest land."
"It is located in Woodland Park, a lovely mountain town about 30-40 min. outside Colorado Springs. Lots of sites, mostly RV but there is a nice tent only section with a good number of spaces."
"You’re surrounded by other campers, but you don’t feel cramped in any way. There is a bathroom and shower house which were all very clean."
from $30 - $110 / night
Check Availability"We were going from direction Divide town using provided coordinates. All went fine until we ended up in a dead end road with private residence."
"Made friends with nearby campers."
"Colorado campground is situated outside of Woodland Park (10 minute drive) and right next to Manitou lake. "
"CAMPGROUND REVIEW: COLORADO CAMPGROUND PIKE NATIONAL FOREST https://www.recreation.gov/camping/colorado-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?"
from $28 - $38 / night
Check Availability"This park has set up campgrounds, but we chose to drive off road a bit and set up camp on the edge of a rocky overlook. Given we went in October, but we were the only campers around our area."
"There were a few pull-off roads off of rampart. Each pull off had a few camping spots with a place for a tent and a fire circle. The view was great and it was a beautiful area."
"If you enjoy panoramic views of the Rockies, drive in dispersed camping and putting your off-roading skills to the test, this dispersed campsite is a must visit!"
"30 minutes and kick back and please crack a cold one for Colorado being the best place."












This place is incredible. The sound of the river alone will calm your nervous system. Whether you’re camping or staying in one of the cabins, you will not be disappointed.
Great spot for relaxing weekend getaway for our family. Plenty of room for the kids to explore and they even had a blow up bouncy house for them during the day. Hot tub under the stars at evening time. Very clean bathrooms!
Cool spot. I like there were different sized spots and a clearly marked line where a 4WD/AWD vehicle is needed and no large rigs. I found a spot that was visible by the road, but there was water access and cool surroundings. The main road was well paved, but turning into my site was a bit rough and I needed the 4WD. There were large animal (I assume black bear) prints to give that extra bit of camping excitement, but no actual sitings (one day, Juliana. One day). Some mosquitos but not overwhelming. The scenery was gorgeous. Definitely a bit desert-esque but it was legitimately perfect weather in mid September. Cool creek rocks and a stunner of a sunset. Would absolutely return again. No numbered sites. Toilets about 1/4 mile beyond the drive through boulder.
Quite the drive but worth it. They were repaving some of the road and I personally had no issues getting to a site. It’s gravel, but doable for most vehicles. There was a propane tank and some trash left behind when I got there (always disheartening to find), but it didn’t feel “lived in” like some other spots have so I ultimately felt pretty safe. It was truly beautiful. I got a spot right at the creek that was tucked away from the main road. Maybe a handful of cars passed throughout my stay, so very peaceful and quiet. Zero amenities, so come prepared. No Verizon cell service. Lots of milky quartz laying about, beautiful birds and minimal bugs. Would make the trek here again in a heartbeat.
Lake Wellington is a beautiful family and dog friendly campground just about 90 minutes from Denver. There are 75 sites, and even when it's pretty full they are decently spaced out that you don't feel too on top of other guests. We brought our dogs and a group of friends and had a great few nights, even seeing Bald Eagles mating!
Basic amenities, but clean and easy to find. The campsite is very close to the highway, so if you're looking for something more off the beaten path, keep looking. However, if you just need a place to sleep with great views, this is a solid spot. We saw bighorn sheep and even heard what sounded like a bobcat possibly mountain lion at night.
I want to start on a positive because that is the type of person I am, and because this review is going to have a lot of negative. This park is a great location for sightseeing, especially if you are going to Pikes Peak by way of the Cog or shopping in Manitou. My GM and I worked hard to make the park as great as we could with the very little funding that we got. As seen in the reviews we had excellent customer service and had high standards for keeping the park clean. I was very good at my job and I loved doing the work until the new owners took over. When the park was sold, we had high hopes that the new owners would be good people and want to put real work into the park. We were very disappointed that they turned out to be money grubbing horrible people. Ken, one of the owners, treats people and his business very Trump like. He and his wife must state that they are religious more than a few times when having a conversation; I personally think this is to make themselves look good to cover the toxicity that truly lies under the surface. When they meet people, they put on a façade and lie and say whatever they think people want to hear to get what they want; proven to me by the broken verbal promises they made to me. They are not community driven; they are money driven; you can make money and still be good people, but they chose not to be. They practice wage theft just like big corporations by over working employees and under paying them; in their words“you must wear all hats”. They are the type of people that use others until they don’t need them then throw them away like garbage. I was bullied into quitting on a phone call where Ken was very disrespectful and unprofessional with me. The phone call was me trying to explain that I could no longer do the FB post due to our deferent ethical viewpoints, and he would not let me talk by saying“you are not doing your job, are you going to quit” repeatedly. I found out that I was not allowed to post about Manitou Pride parade because he said,“it is not family friendly, and the company and I do not promote the LGBTQ+ community”. I am a proud member of that community and so I should not be the one to post on FB for the company. The groundman quit a day later because of disrespect and broken verbal promises. Then a few days later my boyfriend was fired and then Sheryl the GM was fired.(I believe they were fired for retaliation) Ken only wants employees that are easy to exploit or controlled, because he is incapable of managing people without fear and bullying. He boasted that he is called the grim reaper in business, but I don’t think that is the flex he thinks it is. But yes, he was the destruction of the community we put so much work into. I also want to voice my disappointment in Dana, who Sheryl worked hard getting to be allowed to come back as an employee. Dana did great work her first summer with us, so it was a shock to see her true colors show when she started to brown nose Ken. She spread multiple rumors, I feel the worst one was about Melinda’s daughter and the things she wrote about in her diary. I also did not like how she used David, the guy that does the golfcart tours in Manitou, was nice to his face then talked so badly about him when he was not around. I truly think Jesue and her father would be ashamed of her for how she acted to get her new position.
If you are going to camp at a lakefront spot definitely have something you can sit in else you will be attacked by flies. Super quiet during the week - got busy over the weekend.
Found a great spot a bit further in surrounded by Juniper trees and a bit of grassy patches and rock fire pit. Love the open space and secluded spots! Definitely not ideal for the cacti. Our pup ended up sniffing one and got the needles in her muzzle. 😬 Weather is pretty nice with highs in the 80s and lows in the 40s
The Pike National Forest near Divide, Colorado sits at elevations between 8,500 and 9,500 feet, creating consistently cold nights even during summer months when temperatures can drop into the 30s. Winter camping isn't recommended due to heavy snowfall from October through April. Campers should prepare for afternoon thunderstorms during summer months, which often arrive like clockwork between 2-4 pm.
Hiking to Devil's Playground: At Crags Campground, access backside trails to Pikes Peak. "Great place to stay if you are wanting to hike pikes peak. Close to the trailhead that will take you up. This is on the backside of the mountain if you are in Colorado Springs," notes camper Brent L.
Fishing at Manitou Lake: The small 5-acre lake near Colorado Campground offers trout fishing opportunities. "Manitou Lake is a trail walk away. You can toss your canoe or kayak in, but unless you are simply trout fishing, its tiny size doesn't offer much variation," according to Dave V.
Off-road adventures: Rampart Range Road provides access to numerous forest service roads for exploration. "Rampart Range Road is the main dirt road that has plenty of smaller trails branching off of it to keep you busy exploring all summer," reports camper Doug C., adding that "the smaller trails that branch off of Rampart Range Rd do better with a 4wd with high clearance."
Mountain wildlife viewing: The area provides frequent wildlife encounters, especially deer. At Diamond Campground & RV Park, campers reported "uninvited friends, deers all over!" while another mentioned "wildlife right outside our door every morning."
Fall colors: Mount Herman Road dispersed camping offers spectacular autumn views. "The trees were turning yellow in the Fall and the weather was perfect. You could see mountains all around and the roads were really great getting there," notes Lisa H. about the scenery.
Secluded camping: For those seeking privacy, Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping offers numerous options. "Beautiful area with lots of great sites available along mt. Herman rd. Looked at 3-4 different sites... Certain areas of this road are heavily graded so take it slow if need be," advises camper Evan E.
Weather patterns: Afternoon storms are common in summer. At Cripple Creek KOA, campers noted weather challenges: "We originally got a delux tent spot with water and electric but when a storm came through and blew our tent down... we were able to upgrade into a cabin."
High altitude effects: The elevation affects both comfort and physical exertion. "The air is thin up here- real thin. That also means that it's pure, clean blissfully light oxygen so breathe deep and enjoy it," notes Sarah F. about camping at 10,000 feet.
Weekend crowds: Dispersed camping areas become busy Friday through Sunday. "Ended up a parking lot by the end of the night. Too busy with inconsiderate neighbors. Beautiful views though. I think it's luck of the draw depending what night you go," reports Chloe S. about Rampart Range Road.
Fire restrictions: Fire bans are common during dry seasons. Crags Campground sometimes prohibits fires completely, with one camper noting "firewood is available; $7 for one bundle or $18 for 3 bundles. $18 per night for us with one car and a tent."
Kid-friendly activities: Lone Duck Campground and Cabins offers numerous amenities for children. "All of the amenities. Pool, laundry room, gift shop/Grocery. Arcade, pond, clean bathrooms. Best place every. And surrounded by mountains!" raves Cody K.
Wildlife viewing with kids: Colorado Campground provides accessible nature experiences. "This is a great campground for introducing little ones to car camping. The campground is clean and well-maintained, the sites are good-sized and it's a short hike to decent fishing at Manitou Lake," reports Cody R.
Playground options: Diamond Campground includes designated play areas. "Paved roads throughout made for nice bike rides with the kids and larger than usual dog run area was nice (right next to the playground made it easy to run both the dog and the kids)," notes Sarah S.
Family-oriented camping: Cripple Creek KOA offers organized activities for children. "They had a nice gift shop and provided a s'mores night for the campers for free... lots of activities for the kids. Board games were able to be checked out, there was a game room where the kids spent most of their time."
Site selection at Garden of the Gods: Consider booking carefully at Garden of the Gods RV Resort as site quality varies. "I paid $63/night for a Deluxe Plus Back-In spot. I was given D18 which was not only incredibly narrow, but very difficult to get into. Other, cheaper sites around the campground were much more spacious," warns Jason F.
Water hookup challenges: Be prepared for unusual utility setups. "After getting setup I found out that I'd need to climb up the short retaining wall into my neighbors site to hookup our water hose. The spigot was shared between our sites," reports one RVer about Garden of the Gods.
Cell service and connectivity: Internet access is unreliable in many camping areas. "I literally only reserved a site here because the resort advertised free WiFi and I knew I'd need connectivity to work for a couple of days. Let me be clear: THIS CAMPGROUND DOES NOT HAVE USABLE OR RELIABLE INTERNET!" cautions a camper.
Road access for larger vehicles: Several of the best places to camp near Divide, Colorado have difficult access roads. At Mount Herman Road, one camper warned, "Don't go up if you are pulling anything larger than a tear drop trailer. I didn't go all the way up, so I don't know if there is any kind of turn around up there."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds near Divide, Colorado?
Crags Campground is highly rated with its beautiful location accessed via a scenic 4-mile drive up a winding dirt and gravel road alongside a stream. With only 17 sites, it offers spectacular mountain scenery and is just 20 minutes from Divide. For those seeking dispersed camping options, Manchester Creek Trailhead provides free camping close to the town of Divide for supplies, though the forest road requires a high-clearance vehicle. Other excellent options include Lone Duck Campground and Cabins, which serves as a comfortable base camp for exploring the surrounding areas, and the dispersed camping along Rampart Range Road and Mount Herman Road for those seeking more seclusion and budget-friendly options.
Are there RV camping options in Divide, Colorado?
Yes, there are several RV camping options near Divide. Pikes Peak RV Park in nearby Manitou Springs offers 47 sites best suited for smaller RVs, though some larger rigs can be accommodated. For family-oriented RV camping, Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur provides easy highway access and is conveniently located for exploring attractions in both Colorado Springs and Denver. Diamond Campground & RV Park near Woodland Park is big-rig friendly with water and toilet facilities. Most RV parks in the area offer hookups, though specifics vary by location. For RVers seeking a more natural setting, Castle Mountain Recreation Area offers lakeside camping without hookups but does have bathroom facilities and allows RVs with quiet hours from 10pm to 8am.
What amenities are available at Divide Colorado campgrounds?
Campgrounds near Divide offer varying amenities to meet different camping needs. Colorado Campground provides basic facilities and is conveniently located next to Manitou Lake, offering both natural beauty and proximity to trails. For those seeking more facilities, Mueller State Park Campground features level gravel tent pads, spacious tables, fire pits, and easy access to trails and a visitor center. Most campgrounds in the area offer fire pits and picnic tables, while public water is available at a water station on Highway 67 in Divide. Toilet facilities vary by location, with some offering vault toilets and others providing more developed restroom facilities. Some sites are primitive with minimal amenities, while others offer more comforts for those who prefer less rustic camping experiences.
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