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.
What to do
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."
What campers like
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.
What you should know
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."
Tips for camping with families
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."
Tips from RVers
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."
