Tent camping options near Englewood, Colorado range from primitive dispersed sites to established campgrounds with basic facilities. Located at the base of the Front Range, these camping areas sit at elevations between 5,500-9,000 feet, creating significant temperature variations even in summer months. Most higher elevation sites around Englewood require preparation for overnight temperatures that can drop below 40°F even in July and August.
What to do
Fishing access points: Bear Creek Lake Campground offers multiple options for anglers. "There's a few playgrounds within the campground and park area, with access to trails to the lake, a boat launch and boat rental, equestrian stables, and archery," explains Kevin M. The campground serves as a convenient base for water recreation just minutes from Englewood.
Panoramic viewpoints: Golden Gate Canyon State Park features several notable lookouts. "Panorama Point offers amazing views that even my 70 year old parents were able to join us on. PP gets really busy but get there early enough after camping and you'll have it mostly to yourselves," notes Andrew B. The park contains numerous interconnected trails suitable for day hiking from campsites.
Introductory backpacking: For novice backpackers seeking tent camping near Englewood, Colorado, shorter trails provide good practice. Sawmill Hiker Campground offers a gentle introduction to carrying gear. Jessica K. writes, "It is a 1 mile, easy hike. The first 1/3 of a mile is dirt, the remainder is gravel. It is fairly hilly, but easy enough that we actually opted to push our Jogging Stroller with our kid the entire way."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campers frequently mention site spacing as a key factor. "The campsites are well maintained and quite spread out from one another. So although there was a group of scouts, a group of friends, and a bigger youth group who all hiked in, it did not feel crowded or noisy," notes Jessica K. about Sawmill Hiker Campground.
Dark sky viewing: The elevation and distance from city lights creates opportunities for astronomy. At Idylease Campground, Maria M. describes the experience: "Make reservations in person at Jeffco Open Space in Golden - those ladies are the best! Easy drive and a half-mile hike with moderate increase in elevation from parking to tent pads, numbered 1-5."
Boulder climbing access: Dream Canyon Campsites attracts climbers seeking quick access to routes. Hayley K. reports, "Lots of climbing routes nearby and easy to find some good spots away from others." The area's proximity to climbing areas makes it popular on weekends, with Sawyer S. noting, "We camped a very short walk from the parking lot. Amazing camp site with not many people around."
What you should know
Road condition challenges: Access to many tent sites requires appropriate vehicles. At Winiger Ridge at Gross Reservoir, Graham S. warns, "Camp sites are nice, but except for a few (~5) the rest require a serious climb (drive) up a gnarly hill with deep ruts. I wouldn't try this with a camper/RV, or anything that doesn't have high clearance and power."
Potential noise issues: Construction and flight paths can affect several camping areas. Melissa M. reports about Winiger Ridge: "We camped Sunday night and there is a Mine or Quarry on the other side of the 'lake' and they worked non stop for 24 hours, which means non stop noise. Once it got dark they had 3 bright spot lights that traveled across and lit up most of the campsites."
Water access limitations: Despite proximity to reservoirs, swimming access may be restricted. Karl G. explains about Gross Reservoir: "There are a lot of inlets to paddle into and trails to explore. However, there are some cons to the reservoir; there are a lot of rules that are strictly enforced. There is no swimming in the reservoir, which is very tempting."
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly sites: Parents with young children should consider shorter walking distances. "This was an excellent 'beginner' foray into backpacking! I had never been backpacking up until this point because I was always intimidated by the experience," writes Jessica K. about Sawmill Hiker Campground, noting it worked well with their one-year-old.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple areas offer chances to spot animals in natural settings. According to K R. at Staunton State Park, "Behind 19 are rocks and boulders. You could scramble up with or without kids (my kid was 2 and climbed with some help) and explore for about an hour just by the site. We sit at the edge of the boulders and watch the sunset."
Pack-in requirements: Families should prepare for carrying all supplies certain distances. "Since hiking in, some backpacking items would be helpful in order to make the haul easier. Though, taking trips could be an option, if necessary. When camping with a whole posse of kids, we used a wagon to haul all that crap up," advises K R. about Staunton State Park.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most tent camping areas near Englewood have significant restrictions for larger vehicles. Dorothy notes about Winiger Ridge: "All-wheel drive and higher clearance car helped getting in, as the road is pretty bumpy. Stayed in the last park-in campsite. Had to hike in to the lake, but was much easier that bringing in camping gear to the lake-side campsites."
Utility connections: Full hookups remain limited in the area. Bear Creek Lake Campground offers some of the best options for those seeking electric service, with Kevin M. explaining, "The sites are for tent/RV and have electric hookups... Only drawback might be the bathrooms have no night lighting and you have a dumping station instead of sewage hookups. Also water is available but not at the site."
Seasonal accessibility: Winter conditions can make many sites unreachable for larger vehicles. Catalina H. reports about Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area: "This dispersed site is pretty and is close to the highway, the road seemed a little sketchy in the snow but my RAV4 AWD made it just fine to most of the sites. It snowed on me overnight and the road was still very passable."
