Mud Springs Campground sits at 8,400 feet elevation in the woodland terrain near Glade Park, Colorado. Located 2.8 miles down a graded washboard gravel road from the end of pavement, this rustic camping area offers 13 sites with vault toilets. Seasonal operation runs from May 15 to October 15, with temperatures that can fluctuate dramatically between summer days and cooler nights.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Access numerous trails near Mud Springs Campground that wind through high-elevation terrain. One camper notes, "Great BLM campground at higher cool elevation, 8400 elv. 2.8 miles of graded washboard gravel County road from end of pavement. Lots of aspen trees here."
Wildlife watching: Observe local wildlife from your campsite at Cottonwood Lake Campground, which offers sites spread out along the water. According to a visitor, "The campsites here are well spread out and right on the water. We found we had privacy and still had great hiking spots near by."
Stargazing: Take advantage of dark skies at Buckeye Campground, which offers both reservable sites and free dispersed camping areas. A camper shares, "The dispersed is free, has a fire pit and a spot to park. There are trees all around and the views are much better in the dispersed area."
Fishing access: Try fishing at Ward Lake, which sits at approximately 10,000 feet elevation. A visitor explains, "A very nice camp ground for tent campers, very few people, beautiful scenes and within a very short distance of good hiking. Campground staff was helpful and we had a beautiful site right by the lake which is open to fishing and swimming."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Ward Lake Campground maintains exceptionally clean restrooms. One camper reports, "The restrooms were immaculate! Some of the cleanest pit toilets we've seen. No oder and very clean. The whole campground was really clean in fact."
Water access: Enjoy riverside camping at Oak Grove Campground, which provides direct access to the Colorado River. A visitor reports, "Great site along the river right off of SR-128. Toilets are clean. Peaceful site that offers privacy from the freeway."
Solitude during weekdays: Find quiet midweek camping at Palisade Basecamp RV Resort, which becomes less crowded outside peak weekends. According to one review, "Clean. Super nice people on the phone and in person. Did I mention everything was clean, in good working order and ready for our arrival."
Winter camping options: Several glamping sites near Glade Park remain open year-round. One winter camper at Palisade Basecamp reported, "Stopped here for the night before skiing at PowderHorn. Campground was easy to find, clean and quite. We stayed in a tent site and were the only ones there!"
What you should know
Weather changes rapidly: At higher elevations near Glade Park, conditions can change quickly. A camper at Ward Lake Campground advises, "Be prepared to put a cover on your tent as intermittent thunderstorms come up out of no where."
Limited cell coverage: Most areas have restricted or no cellular service. A visitor notes, "Limited cell signal for Verizon, Att, but no TMobile. No trash and although normally water is available, it was not working in Aug 2021 due to drought."
Arrive early for sites: First-come, first-served campgrounds fill quickly, especially on weekends. One camper at Cottonwood Lake recommends, "I cannot stress this enough, get there early if going on a weekend! We arrived at 2:30 and got one of the last spots."
Road conditions vary: Some access roads require appropriate vehicles. A camper shares, "May need a car that has AWD if you're going up the hill to more dispersed spots as we had difficult in our smaller car."
Tips for camping with families
Lake activities: Highline Lake State Park offers multiple recreational options for children. A reviewer notes, "This is a small campground on the Western Slope of Colorado. It has a lake that allows motor boats... They also rent paddle boats on site. We visited the two swim beaches."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Kids enjoy spotting local animals around Glade Park glamping sites. According to one visitor, "Stay outside your camper here and listen to the doves, ravens, owls, and watch the hawks. There are hundreds of domestic sheep and goats adjacent to the campground."
Kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds offer specialized facilities for children. One camper shares, "The lake is simple and clean, there is a large swim beach and the visitors center has children's fishing gear that is free to use during your visit. There is a wooden play structure as well."
Prepare for temperature swings: Pack appropriate clothing for children as temperatures fluctuate significantly. A camper reports, "It was incredibly windy while we were there the first day. So much so we walked in to the woods to get out of the wind. The sun was quite warm but the wind made it cold. The second the sun went down the temps dropped drastically!"
Tips from RVers
Site sizing considerations: Uncompaghre River Resort accommodates larger rigs comfortably. A reviewer states, "Sites are large, no issues to fit my 43' 5th wheel and Truck. 12 miles to Montrose - a cute yet full sized town - anything you need is there."
RV pad quality: Many glamping facilities near Glade Park offer concrete pads for stability. According to one visitor, "The spots are level concrete pad with full hook up. Most spots have shade and space between on the outer ring is about 10 feet each side."
Summer heat preparation: The region can experience temperature extremes during summer months. One camper advises, "The weather in this canyon seems to stay dry and hot but the rivers are ice cold."
Site selection for large vehicles: Not all campgrounds accommodate bigger rigs equally. A visitor notes, "This CG has two sections. The upper part is old school FS, narrow roads, small sites, lots of trees...not a good place for larger TYs or RVs. The lower section is much better for larger RVs and TT."
