Looking to find an RV campground or tent campsite near Grand Lake that allows dogs? Finding a place to camp in Colorado with your dog is easier than ever. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a place near local attractions, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect spot for you and your pup.
The Moraine Park Campground and Headquarters East Utility Project is underway. Moraine Park Campground is expected to remain closed this summer/fall season due to construction delays. __ Accessed via Bear Lake Road, Moraine Park Campground is situated on the north side of Moraine Park, offering beautiful views of the vast park and the surrounding mountain peaks.
Rocky Mountain National Park has 355 miles (570 km) of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain peak climbs. Visitors enjoy the park's various lake trails (Bear Lake, Cub Lake, Mills Lake), waterfall trails (Adams Falls, Alberta Falls, Ouzel Falls) and summit trails (Deer Mountain, Twin Sisters Peaks, Flattop Mountain). The park also offers some unforgettable scenic driving routes, including Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. Trail Ridge Road reaches 12,183 feet (3700 m) above sea level and is America's highest continuous highway. It climbs above the park's evergreen forests to its windswept alpine tundra, where visitors enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. Driving along the historic Old Fall River Road is like motoring through an earlier era. Constructed in 1920, this steep, one-way, uphill, gravel road punctuated by switchbacks quietly leads travelers from Horseshoe Park through the park's wilderness to Fall River Pass, 11,796 feet (3595 m) above sea level. Several visitor centers are within the park, offering ranger-led activities, education and history about the park, and seasonal nighttime programs.
Rocky Mountain National Park has 355 miles (570 km) of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain peak climbs. Visitors enjoy the park's various lake trails (Bear Lake, Cub Lake, Mills Lake), waterfall trails (Adams Falls, Alberta Falls, Ouzel Falls) and summit trails (Deer Mountain, Twin Sisters Peaks, Flattop Mountain). The park also offers some unforgettable scenic driving routes, including Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. Trail Ridge Road reaches 12,183 feet (3700 m) above sea level and is America's highest continuous highway. It climbs above the park's evergreen forests to its windswept alpine tundra, where visitors enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. Driving along the historic Old Fall River Road is like motoring through an earlier era. Constructed in 1920, this steep, one-way, uphill, gravel road punctuated by switchbacks quietly leads travelers from Horseshoe Park through the park's wilderness to Fall River Pass, 11,796 feet (3595 m) above sea level. Several visitor centers are within the park, offering ranger-led activities, education and history about the park, and seasonal nighttime programs.
A pleasant mix of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine and the occasional Engelmann spruce forests the campground, offering partial shade in this open area. Grasses, shrubs and seasonal wildflowers fill the open meadows. Wildlife is plentiful in the park; mule deer and the majestic Rocky Mountain elk are the most commonly seen. Black bear, coyote, bighorn sheep and moose inhabit the region as well, but can be harder to stumble upon.
The town of Estes Park lies just outside the park's main east entrances, and is a short drive from Moraine Park Campground. Dining, shopping, rafting, fly fishing, horseback riding and golfing opportunities await. Lake Estes offers boating, sailboarding and fishing.
Please refer to Rules and Reservation Policies for information on changes and/or cancellations.
$60 / night
Glacier Basin Campground (8,500 feet) is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park, along the Bear Lake Road Corridor. The entrance to Glacier Basin Campground is approximately 5.2 miles up Bear Lake Road and across the street from the Park & Ride Parking Area.____ There are 150 campsites available by reservation only. There are no first come - first served campsites available at Glacier Basin. Any sites that are open are listed as "A" for available. Any campsite listed as ___NR___ has Not Yet Released; this means that those campsites are not yet available to be reserved. A number of campsites are available to be reserved up to 6-months in advance on a rolling window. ____ Some campsites are available to be reserved 2-weeks prior to your desired camping date.__ Some campsites are available to be reserved 1-week prior to your desired camping date. Group campsites are available to be reserved 1-year in advance on a rolling window.__
Rocky Mountain National Park has over 350 miles of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain climbs. One of the most popular activities in the park is wildlife viewing. There are excellent wildlife viewing opportunities to see elk, Mule deer, Bighorn sheep, hawks, a wide range of songbirds and more throughout the park. Rocky Mountain National Park offers some unforgettable scenic views along of the land above trees, over 1/3 of the park is alpine tundra. Enjoy incredible scenic drives along Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road.
Rocky Mountain National Park has over 350 miles of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain climbs. One of the most popular activities in the park is wildlife viewing. There are excellent wildlife viewing opportunities to see elk, Mule deer, Bighorn sheep, hawks, a wide range of songbirds and more throughout the park. Rocky Mountain National Park offers some unforgettable scenic views along of the land above trees, over 1/3 of the park is alpine tundra. Enjoy incredible scenic drives along Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road.
A pleasant mix of Douglas fir, Lodgepole pine, Ponderosa pine and the occasional Engelmann spruce forests the campground, offering equal amounts of sun and shade. Grasses, shrubs and seasonal wildflowers fill the open meadows. Wildlife is plentiful in the park, and while mule deer and the majestic Rocky Mountain elk are the most commonly seen, black bear, coyote, bighorn sheep and moose inhabit the region as well.
The Town of Estes Park is a short drive from the campground, located outside of RMNP___s Beaver Meadows and Fall River Entrances. Dining, shopping, rafting, fly fishing, horseback riding, and golfing opportunities await. Lake Estes offers boating, sailboarding, and fishing.
$70 / night
So close, yet feels so far away from the hustle and bustle of Estes Park. This very popular campground is located at an elevation of 8,300 feet at the end of a beautiful road just west of town. There are wonderful views of the snow covered peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park and access to the East Portal Reservoir which has ample opportunities for fishing. This double loop campground offers shady sites suitable for tenters and campers with small RVs and trailers shorter than 22 feet in length. It is especially well-suited for families and outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore nearby nature and trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. Sites at this campground open up to views of Rocky Mountain National Park and starry nighttime skies. A mature blend of ponderosa and lodgepole pines interspersed with groves of aspens makes it a wonderful home away from home. It is an ideal setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation. The camping season runs from mid-May to late September.
The Estes Park Campground at East Portal has 66 sites suitable for tents and small trailers and RVs. There is a maximum length of 22 feet for RVs. All sites are equipped with picnic tables and campfire rings, some with ADA accessibility. Guests also have access to drinking water, flush toilets, hot showers, water & electric hookups, dump station, firewood and ice sales, and a playground for the kids. Cell phone service is spotty and there is no wi-fi, so please plan accordingly.
$35 - $50 / night
This campground with 89 RV sites and 28 tent sites is the perfect destination for all types of camping enthusiasts from retired big riggers to families who enjoy the simple comforts of tent camping.
$20 - $55 / night
Timber Creek Campground is the only campground on the west side of the park. The campground is about eight miles (13 km) north of the Grand Lake entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. It sits along the Colorado River at an elevation of of 8900 feet (3000 m). A mountain pine beetle infestation caused most of the trees to be removed, so there is no shade at campsites. Camping in a trailer or RV? Please be advised, this campground has a total vehicle length limit of 30 feet (9 m). RVs and combined vehicles and trailers that exceed this limit cannot camp in Timber Creek Campground.______ Any sites that are open are listed as "A" for available. Any campsite listed as ___NR___ has Not Yet Released; this means that those campsites are not yet available to be reserved.__ A number of campsites are available to be reserved up to 6-months in advance on a rolling window.______ Some campsites are available to be reserved 2-weeks prior to your desired camping date.__ Some campsites are available to be reserved 1-week prior to your desired camping date.__
Rocky Mountain National Park has over 350 miles (563 km) of hiking trails. There are many wonderful trails to explore on the west side of the park, including the Colorado River Trail, Coyote Valley Trail, Green Mountain Trail, and more. Enjoy fishing along the banks of the Colorado River.__ The park also offers some unforgettable scenic driving routes, including Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. Enjoy the scenic views in the land above trees while exploring the alpine tundra or visit Alpine Visitor Center. Are you interested in history? Take a step back in time and explore the Holzwarth Historic Site, just down the road from Timber Creek Campground.
Rocky Mountain National Park has over 350 miles (563 km) of hiking trails. There are many wonderful trails to explore on the west side of the park, including the Colorado River Trail, Coyote Valley Trail, Green Mountain Trail, and more. Enjoy fishing along the banks of the Colorado River.__ The park also offers some unforgettable scenic driving routes, including Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. Enjoy the scenic views in the land above trees while exploring the alpine tundra or visit Alpine Visitor Center. Are you interested in history? Take a step back in time and explore the Holzwarth Historic Site, just down the road from Timber Creek Campground.
Timber Creek Campground has been impacted by both mountain pine beetle infestation, which killed many of the trees, but also by wildfire. This results in almost no shade in the campground, but it provides for an opportunity to see forest regrowth. Wildflowers can fill surrounding meadows and a mix of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and ponderosa pine are all around as you explore the park.__ Wildlife is plentiful in Rocky Mountain National Park. Mule deer and the majestic Rocky Mountain elk are commonly seen. Black bear, coyote, bighorn sheep and moose also inhabit the area, but are less common to see.
The town of Grand Lake lies just 8 miles (13 km) outside the park's west entrance. Dining, shopping, and other recreational activities can be found there.
$35 / night
The Arapaho Bay Campground is located in the Arapaho National Recreation Area on Lake Granby, southeast of Grand Lake. Visitors enjoy the area for its great boating, fishing and hiking opportunities.__
Lake Granby is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area. It offers boating, sailing, swimming and fishing. Anglers cast for kokanee salmon and a variety of trout, including rainbow, brown, mackinaw and cutthroat. National Fishing Week is held the first week of June each year. Numerous hiking and horseback riding trails are located within the Arapaho National Recreation Area, including the Roaring Fork Trail, Monarch Lake Trail and the East Shore Trail (which is part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail).
Lake Granby is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area. It offers boating, sailing, swimming and fishing. Anglers cast for kokanee salmon and a variety of trout, including rainbow, brown, mackinaw and cutthroat. National Fishing Week is held the first week of June each year. Numerous hiking and horseback riding trails are located within the Arapaho National Recreation Area, including the Roaring Fork Trail, Monarch Lake Trail and the East Shore Trail (which is part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail).
The campground is situated on Arapaho Bay, on the eastern tip of Lake Granby, at an elevation of 8,300 feet. Afternoon thunder showers should be expected during the summer months. Due to the mountain pine beetle infestation and consequent hazardous tree removal, the campground offers little to no shade.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.
Rocky Mountain National Park's west entrance is just north of Grand Lake. With lush valleys and craggy peaks reaching elevations over 14,000 feet, visitors are provided opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures. Scenic driving, hiking, backpacking, fishing, horseback riding and wildlife viewing are popular activities in the park.
$17 - $25 / night
Stillwater Campground is located on Lake Granby, six miles southeast of Grand Lake, in north central Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its great boating, fishing and hiking opportunities. The necessary Arapaho National Recreation Area pass can now be purchased online (Interagency Age and Access passes are also valid)! __
Lake Granby is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area. It offers boating, sailing, swimming and fishing. Anglers cast for kokanee salmon and rainbow, brown, mackinaw and cutthroat trout. A boat ramp and dock are located on-site. National Fishing Week is held annually the first week of June. Numerous hiking and horseback riding trails are located within the Arapaho National Recreation Area, including the East Shore Trail (which is part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail), Roaring Fork Trail and Monarch Lake Trail.
Lake Granby is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area. It offers boating, sailing, swimming and fishing. Anglers cast for kokanee salmon and rainbow, brown, mackinaw and cutthroat trout. A boat ramp and dock are located on-site. National Fishing Week is held annually the first week of June. Numerous hiking and horseback riding trails are located within the Arapaho National Recreation Area, including the East Shore Trail (which is part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail), Roaring Fork Trail and Monarch Lake Trail.
The campground is situated on the northern shore of Lake Granby, at an elevation of 8,300 feet. Afternoon thunderstorms should be expected during the summer months. Due to the mountain pine beetle infestation and consequent removal of hazardous trees, the campground has little to no shade.
Rocky Mountain National Park's West Entrance is located north of Grand Lake. With lush valleys and craggy peaks reaching elevations higher than 14,000 feet, visitors are provided opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures. Scenic driving, hiking, backpacking, fishing, horseback riding and wildlife viewing are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the park.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.
$20 - $28 / night
Five miles north of Nederland, National Forest System Road (NFSR) 226, commonly known as Gordon Gulch, turns east off of Colorado Highway 72. NFSR 226 intersects other forest roads: NFSR 314, 228, 233 and their off-shoots. There are 15 numbered, designated campsites scattered along the road system within 1.5 miles east of Highway 72. Camping is permitted in designated sites only. Take care when driving in this area. Snow and mud can persist through most of the year. The free Boulder Ranger District Motor Vehicle Use Map displays National Forest System (NFS) routes open to motorized travel and is available online and at the Boulder Ranger District offfice.
Streams; treat water for drinking.
Green Ridge Campground is located on beautiful Shadow Mountain Reservoir, southwest of Grand Lake in north central Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its great boating, fishing and hiking opportunities.
Shadow Mountain Lake is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area. It offers boating, swimming and fishing. Anglers cast for kokanee salmon, as well as rainbow, brown, mackinaw and cutthroat trout. A boat ramp and dock are located within the campground. The Colorado River can also be accessed from the campground. National Fishing Week is held annually the first week of June. Numerous hiking and horseback riding trails are in the vicinity, including the East Shore Trail (which is part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail), Roaring Fork Trail and Monarch Lake Trail.
Shadow Mountain Lake is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area. It offers boating, swimming and fishing. Anglers cast for kokanee salmon, as well as rainbow, brown, mackinaw and cutthroat trout. A boat ramp and dock are located within the campground. The Colorado River can also be accessed from the campground. National Fishing Week is held annually the first week of June. Numerous hiking and horseback riding trails are in the vicinity, including the East Shore Trail (which is part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail), Roaring Fork Trail and Monarch Lake Trail.
The campground is situated between the southern shore of Shadow Mountain Lake and the banks of the Colorado River, at an elevation of approximately 8,300 feet. Afternoon thunderstorms should be expected during the summer months. Due to the mountain pine beetle infestation and consequent removal of hazardous trees, there is little to no shade available in the campground. Since 2008, 3,000 pine seedlings have been planted to remedy the problem in the future.
For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.
Rocky Mountain National Park's west entrance is located north of Grand Lake. With lush valleys and craggy peaks reaching elevations higher than 14,000 feet, visitors are provided opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures. Scenic driving, hiking, backpacking, fishing, horseback riding and wildlife viewing are popular activities in the park.
$17 - $25 / night
The road is still closed
It can get a little windy, don't expect to do anything with the lake other than look at it. Locals are protective of it. Drove my Class C with no problem. A truck and trailer will also get down here with ease. I don't believe a Class A would be able to find anything. But the view is beautiful. There are a few spots coming in. Keep driving until you hit the lake and there is a large open area with several spots to park.
3 nights starting Thursday after Labor Day. Was able to get the reservation 2 weeks ahead as it was released for use. Camping at this campground also gives you a time+ entry permit good for bear lake road. After 1 pm the first day and then anytime on following days. They have planted many new pine trees a few years ago to replace the ones destroyed years ago. Even then the shade in much of C loop is nonexistent. Thus a tarp is a good thing. Sites are reasonably well separated. In a few years as the new trees mature the privacy between sites will be good or very good. Restrooms were clean. Their time actuated lights makes the campground dark if no one is using the head. That is very good because star watching was excellent (near a new moon). Evening ranger program was held in the amphitheater each night. Hiking trail to sprague lake is about a mile with plenty of birds and other critters. We saw a weasel and a flock of turkeys. At sprague lake around 9 am the local moose goes wading to eat. And of course you are in the park, so you can drive to see elk, coyotes, pika, marmots and more. Great place. T-Mobile varied from 2 bars LTE or 2 bars 5G. Sufficient connectivity
Found a nice big spot with sun and shade and a great overlook. Was a touch concerned that it would get ATV trafficy over the weekend as it was at a junction where 3 roads jet off. However upon inspection on mountain bike, they all dead end and aren't very long, so fun for a little bike ride but not much of an ATV or dirt bike adventure.
Being towards the end we saw very few people and it was quite and serene. We did it in our sprinter camper van with 2WD and pickup.
Only issue we had was due to the nature of disbursed camping not the site or area. A car with 3 men showed up Saturday evening. In the morning one of their dogs wandered over to our site (my husband had run into town so I was alone). Owner meandered over and retrieved her, without a word. Later the 3 of them started walking up one of the roads, them one walked across and just with the dog on the rock outcropping technically on our site. He eventually went back to their site. A while later one of the walkers returned and decided to use his metal detector on the road 30 from our site and right behind where I was sitting. There was oddles of space to explore so it was creepy that's he chose to be that close to me. As I got up to walk back to my van, the second dog came running at me barking. The guy eventually called it back and it left me alone, but again not a word.
I LOVE dogs, but I'm not a fan of their humans who don't keep them within their boundaries and let them charge after "the neighbors"
Except for the creepers, it was a wonderful place
Sites weren’t marked like other places I’ve been but I expected it being dispersed. Had a wonderful time the sky was pretty it was secluded and lots of space for dogs to run!
Beautiful views of the mountains and water. Campground had flush toilets that were decently maintained. Got in around 5pm on a Friday in early september and had no problem finding a FCFS spot with a water view.
Amazing campsite. Plenty of spots directly next to the river and beautiful views all around.
The fishing is excellent on this stretch of water as well.
Lots of room to spread out but some weird regulations. Like only 3.2% alcohol?
The pulloff is one of many along the road. It's big, gets you quite far back from the road. Very little traffic on the road at night, I didn't notice any. Peaceful area. Not sure you could get a tent set up off of the pavement, but you could set one up on the gravel. I slept in my car.
Beautiful views and a great spot of Bear Lake Rd.
Nice campground right along the lake. Friendly host that had a few supplies and provided firewood. We saw a bull moose too!
We showed up at night and it was very quiet, no problem finding a spot to camp. However, during the day the gnats, bugs, and ants were everywhere. Literally crawled up our boots and bodies. Great place to over night, but terrible place to hang out during the day unless you have a bug net.
Woke up on the first morning pretty much alone on a Tuesday after Labor Day, fishing happens but the lake remains nice and quiet. Night two had snow and woke up to some white caps. Will be back for sure!
This was our first time dispersed camping and it was definitely an adventure. There wasn’t a single person alive around us and we were hidden in trees so it was a little scary at first but once all the stars came out, it was so beautiful. The lows reached 40° so it definitely got chilly at night, but you can’t beat that sunrise over the mountains.
Just stayed here as our Basecamp for our RMNP adventures. This has moved to the top of my list of favorite campsites! Some sites are smaller, but several are good size and spaces far enough apart for the perfect amount of privacy. The vault toilets were the cleanest we have ever seen! Basically no cell service unless the wind blew just right. Also, they do charge an additional $15 to use the dump station. That felt like a rip off considering what we already paid to stay here with no services, but wasn’t much we could do about it.
This campground has everything. Full hook up, shower, restrooms, a great playground and a fantastic river.
Incredible views, access to the lake, great and well maintained spots.
The reason I didn’t give it a 5 was that the management company employees were absolutely terrible and rude. Stay here just don’t interact with them unless you want a rude conversation.
We had moose everywhere here. Cool paid spot. We have visited twice and love it.
Very quiet spot. There were many other campers all around but did not hear any noise other than from highway nearby which wasn't disturbing at all. Easy access off highway although I didn't drive too far into the road as it was raining.
Super awesome fishing out here if you know where to go. Great camping. We’ve enjoyed this area!
It’s a place I’ve camped so many times. Just beautiful and in the park so don’t deal with timed entry.
You really want a 4x4 in this area to get to good spots. It’s crowded and can be sketchy in my experience as a fire fighter up there. Bike riders take offense to people shooting and vice versa. Can be loud at night and day with motorized vehicles.
Stayed here over a weekend and wanted to stay longer. Pulled our 33’ travel trailer and there were good spots off the road.
We loved camping here! We were very surprised that our site #14 did have trees and privacy after hearing from others that the Elk loop was bare from beetle kill. Lots of sites are bare, but this one is on the edge close to the Moose loop so plenty of trees. We did have to wait at the entrance gate until almost exactly our check in time at 2:00, but that was ok. Also, rec.gov had the check in and out times incorrect which was confusing, but the flexible and friendly campground hosts allowed us to finish our morning hike, giving us until noon to check out and into our second site(regular check out is 11:00). Something else surprising, the hosts said they often have same day availability due to cancellations and people who leave earlier than expected. Not sure I would take a chance and come up just for that, but it could extend your stay.
We ended up changing from Moose site 17 to site 34 for the second night. Both were amazing and private, but 34 had more space and suited us better. Wonderful experience with friendly and helpful hosts, very clean restrooms, quiet, peaceful, and fantastic hiking- oh and the views from the lake! Book early but don't give up- we got in on cancellations!
So wonderful to walk to the trails and there are many to choose from from. The restrooms are super clean, although not as many and as closely spaced as usual, but it wasn't a problem. We were so happy to make reservations on cancellations as it is super hard to get a spot here. We will try again in the future! Such a gorgeous place.
Went a little further up to a different pull out (same road, maybe 1/2 mile or less up), which ended up being a little more secluded. No outstanding views but a good spot. No cars at night so it was very quiet. If you keep driving on the same road you’ll find a bunch of pull off spots. No internet but starlink was great.
Please text 603 404 8514 if you find a phone at site 15 !
Great spacious spot with picnic table and walkable to the reservoir
A long time favorite for our family. About 72 miles from the biggest town, Fort Collins. About 13 mile from the nearest services, which are limited, at Sportsman's Lodge & the Trading Post. 25 miles from Archer's and 26 miles from Glen Echo at Rustic which has a bit more to offer, including a restaurant and liquor store in addition to staples and touristy stuff.
1st come, no reservations, 41 sites with the usual basic campground amenities. On site host with firewood for sale. Situated between the tiny headwaters of the Laramie River and the much larger West Branch of the Laramie.
7ish miles from the pavement of Hwy 14 on dirt road. No cell and no Wifi. I'm not a fan of their water which is available at one pump, near site 3. Closest cell service and Wifi that I know of would be at Glen Echo.
Gateway to the Rawah Wilderness with the main access trailhead located a short walk away at the West Branch TH.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Grand Lake, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Grand Lake, CO is Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 89 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 284 dog-friendly camping locations near Grand Lake, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
