If you want to explore the beauty of Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, glamping is an excellent option. Find all the best glamping sites for your Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Colorado camping adventure with The Dyrt. The Dyrt's camping photos, reviews, and tips are an easy way to find the right Colorado glamping spot for you.
This is the most popular campground at Ridgway, located on the top of a mesa covered in Pinyon pine and juniper trees. Offering campsites 80-187, it is also part of the Dutch Charlie area of the park. RV campsites have electric hookups and shared water and there are 10 walk-in tent sites. The dump station is located down the hill at the entrance to the Dakota Terraces Campground.
All campgrounds offer: Restrooms; also, during the high season, showers, laundromat (coin operated), snack machines and a change machine in a Camper Services Building A playground Additional restrooms Hiking and biking trails
Official NPS North Rim Website The North Rim campground is remote and has 13 sites dispersed among pinyon and juniper trees. Sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Elevation: 7767 ft (2367.4 m). The ranger station is open intermittently in the summer and closed in the winter. In the summer, maps and newspapers are available on the ranger station porch. The ranger station also has a self-pay station for the park entrance fee and a self-registration kiosk for wilderness permits.
$20 / night
Situated on several acres of beautiful landscape, the Ouray KOA Holiday offers several amenities such as a hot tub, pet walk, onsite restaurant, gem mining, and playground. With spacious RV sites, deluxe cabins, camping cabins, and a variety of tent sites, you can pick the pace of your travel. We offer an experience for every kind of camper, whether you're traveling with kids, pets, or friends, book your getaway today!
Riverbend RV Park and Cabins is centrally located between the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, the majestic San Juan Mountains and the beautiful Grand Mesa. It’s the perfect location for you and your family to stay and play every month of the year!
This full service, gated Park offers RV sites year round and updated park amenities to give you the best camping experience!
Come see our new office, laundry and bath facilities together with shared common fire rings, gathering patios, cooking spaces and off leash dog park.
Riverbend RV Park offers shaded, full hook up RV sites, 1500 feet of private walk in river access for fly fishing and floating and we’re just minutes away from golf courses, miles of bike paths and the Western Slopes newest and largest Rec Center.
$42 - $149 / night
Located in southwestern Colorado's San Juan Mountains, Ouray Riverside Resort has everything you need for the perfect vacation. We offer comfortable rooms, secluded cabins, and convenient RV sites just off U.S Route 550 (the Million Dollar Highway), along the Uncompahgre River. Besides a variety of lodging accommodations, Ouray Riverside Resort has the amenities needed for a comfortable and convenient stay, including an onsite store, laundromat, jeep wash, fuel stations, and high-speed fiber optic WiFi. If you need a great meal, you can drop by our Ouray Cafe and Steakhouse. And, if you're looking to enjoy an off-roading adventure in the Ouray backcountry, one of our new Jeep Rubicons is exactly what you need. All in all, Ouray Riverside Resort, is the perfect basecamp for your Ouray adventures. For more information, give us a call. We look forward to meeting you!
$50 - $99 / night
Palisade Basecamp RV Resort, your premier camping destination offers Cabins, RV Sites, and Riverside Tent Camping. Nestled between fruit orchards and wine vineyards along the river in picturesque Palisade, Colorado.
The 14-acre campground and RV resort is conveniently located near I-70 and Highway 6, directly off the Fruit and Wine Byway of North River Road. We are only one mile from historic downtown Palisade and located near the world-renowned mountain bike trails, wineries, orchards, and festivals of western Colorado.
Choose your site along a vineyard, down along the river, or up on the bluff looking over the river and surrounding peach orchards, and encounter a one-of-a-kind camping experience.
$39 - $137 / night
Guide
Favorite spot to go glamping. Pay showers (4 mins for 4 quarters) and there is power at the campsite. The hosts are always nice and other campers have been polite about quiet time etc...it's only a 22 min drive to the newly renovated hot springs pool. It's very hot during the day, but cools off at night. The beach is great if you can get a grassy area to put towels down. Love going here for a clean camping experience.
Traveler
We had an amazing stay at Basecamp 550. The campground’s location is perfect, with easy access to Ouray, Montrose, Telluride, and other nearby areas. The amenities were excellent, including quarter-operated hot showers and laundry, restrooms, Wi-Fi, full hookups, and a clubhouse with coffee + tea, kitchen access, and a great workspace. Our site had a beautiful view and was right next to a ranch where cows would come right up to the fence. The communal fire pit was a nice touch, and the private, fenced-in setting made us feel safe and comfortable. They also offer glamping tents and casitas on the property. Highly recommend!
TravelerIn addition to plenty of tent and RV sites, Ridgeway SP also has three heated and furnished yurts for those seeking an enhanced comfort level. Each unit includes a fridge, futon type beds, dinner table and chairs. Bring your fishing poles, hiking shoes, water craft and dogs, cause they're all allowed.
Legend
Beautiful views of the mountains and a 5-mile long reservoir make this campground pretty spectacular. You can even rent one of the 3 yurts if you like. You are also only about 10 minutes from the Orvis Hot Springs and a great BBQ place called Welded Elephant BBQ Shack.
RangerRidgway State Park was a convenient location for my trip through Colorado to Utah. After a stop at Black Canyon of the Gunnison Ridgway was a great spot to stop for an overnight out of any city. At the Dakota Terraces there are only a handful of spots for tents so if you know you are going to camp here make a reservation. This was a last minute stop on our trip and I snagged the last tent spot in the campground. They have full facilities and even a few Yurts you can rent for larger parties that looked like fun. Didn't stay long because we were only looking for a spot for the night. The only downfall is that the site were very close together and this is more of an RV Campground.
Traveler
One of the most beautiful camping experiences we've had. Camped one night on our road trip throughout southwestern Colorado. Campsites over look the canyon.
Guide
This place is amazing and is truly a great basecamp. Beautiful views in every direction. Super clean and close to endless Colorado adventures!
GuideThe Staff is Happy! Located on the Colorado River. Winery’s & Distillery’s close by. Clean restrooms & laundry, a general store with just about everything you might have forgotten.
ScoutGreat find... vineyards all around, a local brewery, tent sites on the Colorado river. The winery next door (colterris) is awesome. Small family owned great atmosphere. A truly amazing stop on our way east
GuideNice campground with spacious sites. Concrete pads under the picnic table and fire pits. Water access nearby. Bathrooms were super clean and the showers were nice and hot. Laundry facilities available. We stayed on D-183 and had a nice view of the mountains and the lake. Definitely one of the best state park campgrounds in Colorado.
LegendWe tent camped here on an amazing tent deck. Our first experience with this! We love this part of Colorado. So many beautiful sites to see and things to do. We have family to visit here, as well.
Stayed here in the month of August when you have to watch for those pesky but awesome thunderstorms.
Well maintained campground with clean facilities. We'll definitely be back!
GuideThe location is good since it by the wineries and the Colorado river but the sites are all all jammed in together with no trees. The bathrooms are really nice though. The Van sites have almost no space to put out an awning. The camp store is very limited and the hours are not good.
TravelerThis RV park had a great shower/ bathroom and laundry facility. Our spot overlooked the Colorado River and had great scenic views. We had no issues with the hookups even though the temperatures were below freezing. It's mandatory to have a heated hose during the colder months. The Wi-Fi had a strong signal and we had very few issues with lagging.
LegendI've. been visiting this area of Colorado since childhood so it has special meaning for me. We remember the area BEFORE there was a reservoir! This campground doesn't disappoint! Our site had a view of Courthouse Peak. The area feels natural and sites are spaced out. We had water and electric. There's a dump station on site.
We only had one night here, it was the last night of the season for our area and the next nights were full.
Popular campground likely requires advance reservations for peak season.
GuideCan’t say enough about this camp spot. Wow!! Pull throughs ... back ends available. Fabulous service from the owners. We planned on staying 2 nights but ended up staying a few more days. Dog park, showers, laundry faculties, full hookups, general store, art, great WiFi (we had Verizon) ... and some sites are backed up to the Colorado River. Just amazing .... very clean. Would highly recommend!
TravelerClean. Super nice people on the phone and in person. Did I mention everything was clean, in good working order and ready for our arrival. The campground is beautiful, with the Colorado River on one side and peach orchards surrounding the rest. You might hear some traffic noise from I-70, and train whistles at night, but nothing you can’t deal with. Great place to camp. We’ll be back again.
TravelerMy wife and I stayed here in March of 2022. The campground was awesome and there didn’t seem to be a bad spot in the entire loop. Good views of the San Juan Mountains to the south! Power hook-ups were nice, but no water hook-ups during “winter” months. With that said, there was community spigots located near the campsites that were still on if you need to top off your fresh water tanks. The dump station was also nice, but no running water there during the winter either.
The location of this place was perfect for us as we were there for skiing; One hour from Telluride, one hour from Silverton, and only 30 minutes from the Red Mountain backcountry skiing area.
Ridgway Colorado is only a few miles down the road if you need gas or supplies, and Ouray is just past that if you’re looking for great restaurants and breweries.
LegendDriving through Colorado in the fall there is nothing which can compare. Mild days and cool nights equate to perfect camping for those who are a bit adventurous and that is a term which suits me to a T!
I found myself in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison area in early October. As I happened to be driving I noticed signs for the National Park, which otherwise I didn’t know was even there. I took a turn and drove up the winding paved path, used my park pass and loved what I found. It was like a dark canyon of steep embankments. I could see for what seemed like forever downward to the waters which cut through the canyon.
I went on the short distance to the visitor center before deciding I wanted to check out the camping at this facility and when I did so I was so excited. The campgrounds just were a continuation of the amazing views and because it was fall, the site was not full.
Sites were average size and offered great views. It looked like mostly a tent zone which was nice, although it did look like perhaps it could accommodate an RV, though there were not any present when I was there.
The campground had several bear boxes around, which kind of made it all seem so real about the wildlife presence in the area. There were also a few water spouts available and vault toilets nearby. Picnic tables were scattered and in good condition.
Something that makes this site unlike many in Colorado area was that I didn’t see any scheduled closures posted. Many sites in the state close with weather and do not offer services, this one might do the same but I saw no obvious postings to indicate such.
My site was $16, which was not bad considering the views and access to trails. You could easily follow the roads and find something of interest is you were not wanting to hike and had a lot of information available just a short distance ahead at the visitor center.
TIPS:
LegendCampground Review
I only stayed for an overnight but I did make a reservation, although they were not full. They do close at 6pm (the office does) so late entry doesn't work unless you have made a reservation. I found my map and site info in a mailbox at the office entry. I chose to stay in the section along the river. All the way in the very last site, I think it was site 9. When I got to my site, there weren't very many other campers but I was quickly greeted by a man in a golf cart. Turns out he was the camp host. He was really coming down to view the sunset, which was very nice, but he also chatted with me for a bit.
The site itself was quite small. It was a good thing I had a very small tent. I spent a bit of time just trying to decide where I'd put it due to signs stating no camping beyond a certain point. The camp host kind of sorted it out with me. But I have a tiny two man tent and it was the perfect size for it. There was a picnic table, what appeared to be a brand new firing (this campground is new) and an electric outlet. Of course, there was also the fabulous view of the Colorado River just about 200 feet away. The bathrooms were up the ridge, although there was a porta potty just at the end of the riverfront sites. The bathrooms were pretty extravagant. Heated, flush toilets, free showers, running water sinks, mirrors galore. There were also family restrooms, I did not explore those. Laundry facilities were also onsite. Along with greenhouses, gardens, a swimming pool and a hot tub. What looked like an area to have a gathering with a grill. There was a trail that went around the park too. Up until recently the Colorado River has been too low to fish but I imagine fishing is about to get better now that it's really flowing.
Product Review
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - today I am testing Morsel Sporks. I went with the XL Morsel Sporks because we do a lot of eating out of a bag when we are in fire bans, which is often. This trip was no exception, except we are not in a fire ban. At first glance, these sporks seem really durable. Which is good, camping can be rough on utensils. I noted the spoon on one end and the rubber edge for getting every last bit, also the fork with the knife like edge on it. I did use the knife like edge to cut ham and it worked fairly well, not as well as an actual knife but that can be expected. The meals I had this trip made more use of the spoon then the fork. I had a chowder for dinner, which I transferred to a bowl due to the bag it came in being too narrow to really use the morsel spork. The other meal was granola and that package was perfect for the morsel spork. I didn't have any trouble with the spoon for mixing or eating. It held a good amount of food. The spork fit in my mouth well, I have a small mouth and sometimes if a utensil is too big it can be difficult to get in my mouth, but this fit well. They were so simple to clean too. I was using just a jetboil and was able to get my morsel sporks completely clean. Food didn't get stuck anywhere. Another feature that may become useful is the hole on the end of the fork that I could use to attach my spork to my bike while I travel. They are dishwasher safe and BPA free so I am confidant that I can add these sporks to my camping routine.
Legend
Campground Review: We stayed at Ward Lake on Colorado's Grand Mesa. Ward Lake sits at about 10,000 feet. So, depending on time of year, it can get a little chilly. We arrived mid morning and the camp hosts were not available. There are two campgrounds, the upper and the lower. We stayed in the lower campground. The upper seemed to house more families and had more wooded sites, the lower seemed more suited to rvs and such but we still put our tent up in the lower section. Our site said that it was a shore line site, but the lake was down something like 40 feet and was supposed to drop another 20 feet. The shoreline was a bit muddy and the rocks made navigating the area difficult for us. Other people went down and fished though and did appear to be catching fish.
Our site was a bit less shaded, which we chose because we were expecting it to be chilly. There were some great shaded spots also but we were looking for sun. It had plenty of room for our two tents (they are small but still), it had a long driveway and a picnic table along with a fire ring. The restrooms were very near by, just across the road. 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. The hosts were doing an amazing job.
The chilly weather had us wanting to get moving so we found Ward Lake Trail and hiked all the way to the other side of the lake, which was beautiful! The trail was amazing, the trees were great and it made for a very scenic trail. The hike back was a little less scenic, along the shore line, the rocks were hard to navigate at times, especially with a 3 year old along. When we returned to our site, the rest of the campground had begun to fill up and the host made the rounds to collect our registrations. The fee was $18 for the night. The hosts were very friendly and sociable.
There was a wedding on the other side of the lake and by nightfall the band was in full swing. The music was pleasurable and not over powering. I don't know if weddings are common but we enjoyed listening under the stars.
Product Review: As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - today I am testing Green Goo Pain Relief. Our green goo arrived just in time, we hit up the post office, tossed it in our bag and then headed to the mountain. I have chronic knee pain from many years of playing hockey and I was coming off a nasty fall that left my knees swollen, bruised and sore. So while hiking, they definitely started to act up. The green goo pain relief is a bit softer then many of the ointments I've used, making it really easy to rub in. While hiking, I was able to simply pull up my pants leg, rub it on, drop the pants leg and keep right on hiking. To my surprise, it took care of the pain immediately! But, and I hate to have a but, it only lasted 15-20 minutes before my knees got achy again. It didn't really have a cooling/heating effect but it did provide immediate relief. I'll definitely use it again.
Guide
This is a 50+ community - for the first time I was really glad I was in my fifties. Host are great and very accommodating. Just ask and they will help you at. Stayed for a week in one of the back-in sites in the South section of the campground. The Uncompaghre River was about 30 yards behind the camp site - a short walk through the tall tree line. The North Section of the campground are pull-through sits with great shade. Tall Elms stand over nearly the entire North section. Paved roads throughout. large cement pads for the trailer and large concrete patios off each pad. Grass otherwise covers the site. 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. Delta is about 15 minutes in the other direction. Camp is located on the edge of the little town of Olathe. They have a few restaurants, a new Brewery that just opened, a liquor store and a gas station. Unable to venture into Olathe - do to COVID lock down. WiFi was good throughout the campground.
TravelerGreat place with lots of shade, grassy areas and concrete pads. Friendly and informative host. Fresh produce stands in the area is a must stop too.
TravelerIt's a 50 year old and over hidden gem. Absolutely amazing laundry and showe, concrete pads, hiking trail. The weather in this canyon seems to stay dry and hot but the rivers are ice cold
ScoutThis is a terrific spot. Owner and staff are friendly and helpful. 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.. It is quiet even though away from the highway but just minutes through town to Highway 50. Several trail options to walk the dog along the river from the park. No picnic tables or fire rings but that doesn't bother me. Added to my must stay places.
TravelerThis place had great reviews and lived up to them. Nice and quiet area along the river with plenty of shade and grass. The manager was very friendly and helpful. Close to town but it mostly a small farming town with few shops or restaurants. There is nice trail along the river to stretch your legs.
GuideA clean and quiet place. We stayed overnight and will stay again. The facilities were great
Scout
My girlfriend and I took a trip to Utah in January and found ourselves in a snowy Montrose en route to Moab. We booked a spot here and were greeted kindly by the owners and residential campers who help oversee the campgrounds. There is availability for all kinds of campers from Pop-ups, to RVs, to tent, and cabins and sits next to a lovely stream. The facilities were great as well! You can tell that there was a lot of heart and intention put into this space. Will definitely be stopping in again when passing through the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests is Elk Ridge Campground — Ridgway State Park with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 glamping camping locations near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
