Camping options near Howard, Colorado include a mix of established campgrounds, dispersed sites, and cabin facilities stretching along the Arkansas River corridor. Sugarbush Campground directly in Howard provides tent and RV camping with full hookups, while nearby Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area offers multiple developed campgrounds like Rincon and Salida East with various accommodation types. Several properties feature cabin rentals, including Cutty's Resort near Coaldale, approximately 7 miles southwest of Howard. The region supports both primitive camping on public lands and amenity-rich options with showers, electric hookups, and sewer connections.
Road conditions and access vary considerably throughout the region depending on location and elevation. Most established campgrounds like Sugarbush are accessible via Highway 50, while dispersed sites such as Hayden Creek Roadside Camp require navigating less-maintained forest roads. Many campgrounds in the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area operate year-round but take reservations primarily from April through October. Facilities range from basic (vault toilets only) to comprehensive with showers and hookups. Highway noise can be a factor at several riverside locations, particularly at Rincon Campground. According to one visitor, "The road is right behind you so it's good for one night. Went swimming in the river and it was glorious."
Campers consistently rate waterfront locations among their favorite aspects of camping in this area. Sites along the Arkansas River provide opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming while offering scenic mountain views. Several visitors mention the peaceful setting despite occasional highway noise, with one noting that "sites are close together but very nice and level, plus there isn't large gravel which is a lot easier on the tent." The Salida area serves as a convenient basecamp for outdoor recreation, with a visitor describing Sugarbush as a "great basecamp" with "so much to do in this area." Campgrounds farther from the highway tend to offer more solitude but may have fewer amenities. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer months.
$60 - $300 / night
"Close to everything you need but you will feel away from it all."
"Our family and another reserved two sites next to each other. The pools on site were perfect for the kids. On site mini golf was a blast. The views in the campground were awesome."
"really friendly staff, clean facilities, and very close to Salida! Was a perfect weekend."
"The creek that runs through the sites drown out any highway noise. Easy 5 minute run to fishing access. Very family friendly."
$28 / night
"Right next to the river. You can hear the traffic from the highway unfortunately but its not terrible."
"This campsite is a couple miles outside of Salida. Along the river it offers beautiful views and immediate access to the river. The camp host is friendly and the campsite is very well maintained."
$28 / night
"This is a lovely, well maintained campground next to the Arkansas River. There is a boat launch and vault toilets (clean). There are no frills, but it is a peaceful setting."
"Basic campground surrounded by beauty nice lake"
$22 / night
"Tent camped in the dispersed area because Hayden creek was full, near Rainbow trailhead, entire area to ourselves 98% of the time besides two groups of hikers over 2 nights almost 3 days."
"It had everything we needed: plenty of shade, the creek rolling by right next to us. I loved falling asleep to the sound of the water."
$28 / night
"The campground is north of Salida Colorado on the Arkansas River. This is the busy spot at the end of the commercial river rafting run."
"Beautiful in its location, there were site improvements several years ago, which are nice and still hold true in 2023. (level tent pads, delineated sites, etc.)"
$73 - $144 / night
"Great location, close to Salida and hiking & biking trails. "
"The resort is modern with all new and clean amenities, the staff is responsive to emails and very friendly in person, and the location is convenient to Salida and the activities of the area. "
"If you ever been to any of the BLM camping locations around Salida, Mt. Shavano is not anything different."
"It was easy to find and close to the highway. The road was pretty good but got a bit bumpy as we got closer but still not a problem with our trailer."
"Within 20 minutes of driving you have multiple Colorado 14ers to hike, amazing fishing, miles of mountain biking trails and 2 amazing towns with great places to eat or grab a beer. "
"Beautiful surroundings, picnic tables, fire rings. I gave it a 4 because of annoying rig running generator and a little highway noise."
"level, shaded, right by nice size creek. perfect for exploring and quiet. we were in tent but saw several largeRV. some traffic but never heard another person. were a few spots right next to us but we"
"Quite a few flat tent spots right by the creek although there are boulders from preventing you from driving too far into the woods."
LegendYou can walk to the dunes from the campground. It is beautifully set amongst Pinon pines. The sites are widely spaced but almost all are very slanted. Hard to level a van or camper. Restrooms (toilets and sinks) are clean. No hand soap though. There is an RV dump outside the campground. Very quiet and some sites have beautiful views.
GuideClean spots with picnic tables and fire rings at each spot. (Although no fires allowed at this time.) Two porta-potties at the entrance. Nice and quiet. Only negative is that the spots are very close together so there’s very little privacy. There were many big horn sheep in camp at dusk which was a cool surprise.
ScoutAs of March 27, 2026, Stage I Fire Restrictions have now been expanded to include ALL National Forest System lands, roads, and trails, as well as all designated dispersed campsites within the exterior boundaries of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.
Under Stage I Fire Restrictions, the following are prohibited within unincorporated Chaffee and Fremont County: • Igniting, building, maintaining, or using any open flame fire — including campfires — except within designated fire grates in developed campgrounds or picnic areas. • Outdoor smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, at a developed recreation site, or in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren of flammable materials.
85-90% of all wildfires are caused by human activity. ‘If you light it, be prepared to fight it.’
ScoutAs of April 2026, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect for all National Forest System lands, including dispersed campsites in Pike-San Isabel National Forests (Browns Creek area). That means NO open campfires are allowed in dispersed sites, even in existing rock rings. Please check all fire ban restrictions in areas where you might be camping in Colorado due to the state’s significant drought. Nationally, 85-90% of wildfires are caused by human activity. “If you light it, be prepared to fight it”.
TravelerVery pretty dispersed spot. Roads were a little muddy from the rain. Need a vehicle with awd and decent clearance to use roads further down. Our tent spot isn't very flat but is ok. Here on May 1st, 2026 and its pretty chilly but no snow, lots of rain
TravelerFlat graveled tent/RV spots, super clean. Right next to the river. You can hear the traffic from the highway unfortunately but its not terrible.
LegendThis isn’t really a true dispersed camping spot. It’s designated sites only and the sites are close together in a campground style loop. Fire pits but no other amenities. 1 bar Verizon and it’s a ways past the marker on the the Dyrt. Maybe 2 miles down the bumpy washboard road to get to the first loop. Some good views but can be cold and windy up here.
LegendThis is a group camp spot but it is very small maybe only 2 or 3 acres. There is a gravel loop and the group sites are not clearly marked. There are just some random fire pits and picnic tables thrown around. You have to make reservations online at recreation.gov the site does have some some Verizon signal but it’s not great. The surrounding forest are peaceful and nice to walk l. Closed seasonally so beware before showing up
ScoutI am a return visitor to the Salida RV Resort. I have stayed at two other campgrounds in the area, but Salida RV Resort has become my go-to. The resort is modern with all new and clean amenities, the staff is responsive to emails and very friendly in person, and the location is convenient to Salida and the activities of the area. The sites are level and fully functional. They have a nice walking path along the river with an available pickle ball court for those who might play. As for me, I am a fly fisherman and enjoy fishing the Arkansas River. I enjoy camping next to the river, and have even caught quite a few brown trout in my "backyard" behind the camper.
Camping options near Howard, Colorado range from established sites with full amenities to primitive dispersed camping along forest roads. Located in the Arkansas River Valley at approximately 7,000 feet elevation, this area experiences cool nights even in summer months with temperature drops of 30-40 degrees from daytime highs. The region's camping season typically runs from late spring through early fall, with accessibility to higher elevation sites limited by snowfall from November through April.
River activities: Fish, raft, or swim in the Arkansas River at Hecla Junction Campground, which offers boat launch access for those exploring Browns Canyon. "Great views of the Arkansas River. Probably best suited for RVs and quick spot to camp," notes Kenneth S. from Hecla Junction Campground.
Hiking and exploration: Trek the Rainbow Trail near Hayden Creek Road for mountain views and creek access. "Tent camped in the dispersed area because Hayden creek was full, near Rainbow trailhead, entire area to ourselves 98% of the time besides two groups of hikers over 2 nights almost 3 days," shares Shawn at Hayden Creek Road.
Soak in hot springs: Visit Valley View Hot Springs for natural thermal pools. "We originally planned just to do a daily soak before heading to our next campsite but ended up just staying here because we enjoyed it so much," says Brittany R. at Valley View Hot Springs.
Secluded creek-side camping: Hayden Creek Roadside Camp offers sites alongside flowing water. "There are a handful of dispersed camping sites along Hayden Creek Rd, South of Cuttys and before you get the the USFS campground. The creek is nice and the sounds was much louder then we anticipated, which was good," reports Kelly at Hayden Creek Roadside Camp.
Family activities at resorts: Cutty's Resort offers organized activities beyond camping. "We had a good time, plenty of activities, pools, putt-putt, hiking, they had young staff that organized hands on crafts and science experiment classes for all the kids to participate in who were staying that weekend. One class was the kids making alka seltzer rockets," explains Thomas P.
Mountain views and wildlife watching: Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area provides elevated perspectives. "Beautiful view of divide in one side and Arkansas Valley on the other. 14 day limit, we stayed 3 nights and it was quiet and peaceful. We saw Bats, Nighthawks, Turkey Vultures, Coyotes, and Deer," shares Sheridan B. at Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area.
Reservation requirements: Many established campgrounds require advance planning. "DO NOT GO HERE UNLESS YOU MAKE A RESERVATION! The camp host was very friendly and nice! She told us that it fills up fast and that we were so lucky to pull in when we did," warns Kirsten L. about Hecla Junction.
Road conditions: Access varies widely between sites. "The road starts as tar and converts to gravel. It is a maintained road but is loaded with washboard so you may just have to take it easy if you have a motor home or trailer," explains Chad M. about Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area.
Seasonal considerations: Weather impacts camping experience significantly. "It got very cold in October, but has beautiful views of the mountains!" notes Dare To Everywhere about Hayden Creek Road.
Activities for children: Look for campgrounds with structured recreation. "We make sure to visit Cutty's every summer. Lots for the kids and adults to enjoy. Indoor and outdoor pools, mini golf, volleyball, basketball, tennis, horse shoes, bingo, karaoke, too much to list!" recommends Alicia S. at Cutty's Resort - Hayden Creek.
Quieter locations for family rest: Some campgrounds offer more peace than others. "We had a great time with our family camping here for a long memorial day weekend. Really friendly staff, clean facilities, and very close to Salida! Was a perfect weekend," shares Mike D. about Salida North BLM.
Connectivity concerns: Cell service varies widely. "No cell service via Verizon; very spotty with AT&T. But good, fast Wi-Fi is available," reports Matt about Sugarbush Campground.
Leveling challenges: Prepare for uneven terrain at some sites. "Our particular site was pretty unlevel but that's not the campground's fault," notes Sarah F. about Cutty's Resort.
Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary by location. "Sites are close together but very nice and level, plus there isn't large gravel which is a lot easier on the tent. The facilities and laundry room were clean," explains Will T. about Sugarbush Campground.
Size restrictions: Not all roads accommodate larger rigs. "Nothing is officially marked but you can tell where others have camped and many sites have a fire ring. Shortly after you enter the Wildlife Area if your driving an RV or trailer you may want to take a right and explore that area," suggests Chad M. about Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping sites in Howard County?
Howard County offers diverse camping opportunities. Sugarbush Campground is conveniently located near Howard and provides drive-in access. For those seeking a more secluded experience, Road 240 - Dispersed offers wooded sites with river access. The area also features several dispersed camping options along forest service roads that provide peaceful settings away from crowds. Most camping areas are accessible from late spring through early fall, with high-elevation sites typically snow-free from June through September.
What amenities are available at Howard County campgrounds?
Amenities vary widely across Howard County campgrounds. Riverside RV Park offers riverside campsites with the soothing sounds of the Arkansas River, ideal for RVers seeking water access. Ohaver Lake Campground provides lakeside sites with excellent trout fishing. Most established campgrounds feature fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Dispersed camping areas typically offer minimal amenities—just beautiful scenery and privacy. Some campgrounds have potable water during peak season, but it's always wise to bring your own, especially at primitive sites.
Do I need reservations for camping in Howard County?
Reservation requirements vary across Howard County camping areas. Rincon Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area requires reservations through Colorado Parks & Wildlife (800-244-5613 or cpwshop.com). Hecla Junction Campground also operates on a reservation system. For dispersed camping areas like 228A Dispersed Campsite, no reservations are needed, but these operate on a first-come, first-served basis. During peak summer months and holidays, securing reservations for established campgrounds is highly recommended, especially on weekends.
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