Camping options near Idledale, Colorado range from basic tent sites to premium yurt experiences at elevations between 5,000-9,000 feet. This location sits at the intersection of mountain terrain and urban accessibility, with many campgrounds providing electrical hookups and year-round availability depending on weather conditions. Temperatures can vary significantly between day and night, often dropping 30+ degrees after sunset.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers numerous multi-use trails for all skill levels. "The park is enormous. The options for trails are endless. Great for mountain biking or hiking enthusiasts," notes one visitor to Reverend's Ridge Campground — Golden Gate Canyon.
Archery practice: Bear Creek Lake Campground maintains a dedicated archery range for visitors. "Loved the hiking and biking trails. Beautiful lake for swimming and paddle sports. Will definitely be returning for the archery and horseback riding," shares a camper.
Mount Evans summit drive: From Echo Lake Campground, take the highest paved road in North America to 14,264 ft elevation. "Echo Lake campground is situated off Squaw Pass Rd next to Echo Lake and the start of Mt Evans Rd... driving to the summit of Mt Evans is a must do. Overall this campsite is at a prime location because the surrounding scenery is great and there are many hikes to do nearby."
Wildlife viewing: Golden Gate Canyon offers chances to see native wildlife in natural settings. "Get up early and drive mountain base road...we caught a great view of a moose. Panorama Point had a breath taking view," recommends a camper at Reverend's Ridge.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Chatfield State Park maintains well-kept facilities with modern amenities. "Clean bathrooms. Very friendly attendant. Level primitive spots," mentions one reviewer at Chatfield State Park Campground.
Proximity to water recreation: Multiple lakes provide swimming and boating options. "Chatfield is such a great park; I've spent so much time biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, spending time with family... The dog park is by far the best. Off leash- so much room; well taken care of and big lake for the dogs to swim."
Electrical hookups: Many campgrounds offer powered sites for convenience. At Indian Paintbrush Campground—Bear Creek Lake Park, a camper notes, "Pros: great views of the foothills. Lots of park amenities like horse stables, archery range, swim beach, boat rentals, hiking trails, picnic areas."
Mountain views: Campsites typically offer views of surrounding terrain. "While this campground is minutes from the city and seconds from a highway, at night you feel like you are in a quiet, mountain campsite with stars to gaze for days."
What you should know
Elevation considerations: Most campgrounds sit at higher elevations, affecting temperature and breathing. A visitor to Echo Lake shares, "I came in from out of state and got pretty altitude effected so we had to cut the trip short, but it was lovely nonetheless."
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds close during winter months. Indian Paintbrush operates from "April 1 to October 31," while others like Chatfield and Cherry Creek remain open year-round.
Shower facilities: Coin-operated showers are common. "Showers are coin-operated as well," notes a visitor to Chatfield, while another camper at Base Camp at Golden Gate Canyon mentions, "The bathrooms were very clean and recently remodeled, but require coins if you were going to shower."
Reservation requirements: Many popular sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. "The campground is tiny and a little cramped but was very clean and had running showers that was a plus," reports a visitor to Golden Gate Canyon.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Indian Paintbrush, "they have archery, a beach, horse stables and ring, large lake to fish, clean bathrooms," making it ideal for families seeking glamping close to Idledale, Colorado.
Nature programs: Some parks offer educational activities. "There are facilities, ideal for car camping or families. The park feels like it's far from the city, but the drive is easy for a weekend camping trip!" shares one visitor to Golden Gate Canyon State Park Campground.
Site selection: Choose sites with adequate space for family activities. At Standley Lake Regional Park, a camper advises, "The campsites are very large. There's no hook ups for water, electric or dump sites although there are water spigots that can be used to fill fresh water."
Weather preparation: Mountain weather changes rapidly, requiring layers and rain gear. "I would expect it to be pretty tight quarters, and you are pretty close to a decently trafficked road," notes a visitor about summer camping at Base Camp.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Different campgrounds offer various levels of services. Cherry Creek State Park provides "full hookups. The sights were concrete and level. It was a little pricey, but we would stay again when visiting family, because there is definitely a lot to do!"
Site levelness: Some campgrounds require equipment for leveling. At Reverend's Ridge, a visitor notes, "Loop E (electric hookups) is very spacious and well laid out. Every campsite is a pull thru allowing you situate anywhere along the paved area to best suit your needs. Mostly level, fire rings, and very large metal picnic tables."
Dump station access: Plan for proper waste disposal. "Campground is clean and quiet, I made a quick stop in the facilities and everything was well maintained," mentions a camper at Cherry Creek, where full facilities including sanitary dumps are available for luxury glamping experiences near Idledale.
