Cabin camping is an amazing way to experience Jefferson, while still enjoying a little rustic luxury. Find the best cabin camping near Jefferson. From secluded to easy-to-reach, these Colorado cabin rentals are perfect for any adventurer.
Heaton Bay Campground is situated at an elevation of 9,000 feet and centrally located for recreation and relaxation in the White River National Forest. There is little or no shade in the campground due to pine beetle infestation and the removal of hazard trees, but the sites offer open views to Dillon Reservoir and several mountain ranges.
Dillon Reservoir is 3,233 acres with 26.8 miles of shoreline, offering an ideal spot for fishing, boating, and sailing. The reservoir supports a healthy population of rainbow and brown trout, in addition to a few cutthroat finding their way into the lake from feeder streams. Opportunities for hiking and biking in this area include more than 7 paved miles of the 50-mile Summit County trail system. The Old Dillon Reservoir Trail is a favorite. This short, easy trail has spectacular views of the Tenmile Range and the Continental Divide. For those wanting a bit more solitude, hiking in the Ptarmigan Wilderness area is a wonderful escape from the crowds.
Dillon Reservoir is 3,233 acres with 26.8 miles of shoreline, offering an ideal spot for fishing, boating, and sailing. The reservoir supports a healthy population of rainbow and brown trout, in addition to a few cutthroat finding their way into the lake from feeder streams. Opportunities for hiking and biking in this area include more than 7 paved miles of the 50-mile Summit County trail system. The Old Dillon Reservoir Trail is a favorite. This short, easy trail has spectacular views of the Tenmile Range and the Continental Divide. For those wanting a bit more solitude, hiking in the Ptarmigan Wilderness area is a wonderful escape from the crowds.
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting 8 wilderness areas, 4 defined seasons, and 10 peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout. Alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. These species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live.
For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.
Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain ski resorts are all located within 10 miles from Dillon Reservoir. These resorts stay open year round.
Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
$44 / night
We provide year-round access for camping and day use. Whether you’re interested in an overnight stay or just plan to visit during the day, we offer a wide variety of activities: from camping to fishing, swimming and canoeing, mountain biking, hiking, and more. In winter, activities also include ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Wellington Lake, one of our greatest attractions, is a privately-owned natural wilderness area. The 167-acre lake is managed as a trophy fishery with an emphasis on conservation. Just a short drive’s distance from Denver and Colorado Springs, we welcome all visitors looking for a relaxing mountain getaway in the great outdoors.
*Jefferson County is in a Stage 1 FIRE BAN.
**Due to extreme fire danger a Red Flag warning has been issued and NO CAMPFIRES are allowed in the park at this time.
$40 - $120 / night
Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers multiple campgrounds, cabins, yurts, RV sites, group sites, and a guest house. From Memorial Day to early October, there are 132 campsites in two campgrounds: Reverend’s Ridge and Aspen Meadow. Reverend’s Ridge offers 38 tent sites and 59 sites with electrical hook-ups. Facilities at Reverend’s Ridge include flush toilets, shower, ice machine, laundry facilities, and a dump station. Aspen Meadow offers 35 tent sites and vault toilets. As of January 1, 2019 both campgrounds will be Reservation Only. Golden Gate also offers 20 backcountry tent sites and four backcountry shelters. Our backcountry sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis year-round. Please register for backcountry sites at the Visitor Center.
$18 - $90 / night
Minimum Trailer Length Requirement: 18ft
Full service RV sites or mountain chalets(cabins) await you at Tiger Run Resort, where our extraordinary location and excellent accommodations are certain to satisfy every traveler. Our resort is situated between the pristine Swan and Blue Rivers, sheltered by the majestic Ten Mile Mountain Range; we are your premier gateway to the finest in Rocky Mountain recreation.
Note: Truck Campers & pop-ups are not permitted
$105 / night
This recreation area is part of Bear Creek Lake
SUGAR LOAFIN’ is surrounded by lake and stream trout fishing, rock hounding, pine scented forests, jeep trails, clean air, hiking, boating, mountain climbing, blue skies, cool breezes blowing off snowcapped mountain peaks, and the nation’s highest golf course, which, by the way, is our neighbor. We are one mile from Turquoise Lake. Enjoy the scenic drive around the Lake, or the hiking trail that circles the east and north shores.
$40 - $150 / night
$49 - $149 / night
Spillway Campground is perched along the South Platte River near the base of the dam of Eleven Mile Reservoir. Adventurists and families alike will find things to do here. Birding is excellent, as is hiking. Rock climbers enjoy the solid rocky cliffs of the canyon and fly fishermen find abundant catches in the river.
Hike the Overlook Trail for breathtaking views of Eleven Mile Canyon and Reservoir. Occasionally, Golden Eagles can be viewed nesting in the nearby granite cliffs and crags. Springtime brings higher chances of spotting Bald Eagles. Visitors enjoy fishing by shore or canoe. Rainbow and brown trout, kokanee salmon and pike are among the species anglers are likely to find.
The campground, at altitude 8,500 feet, is located at the edge of Eleven Mile Canyon, furthest from the canyon entrance. Some campsites are shaded by scattered spruce and ponderosa pine. Spillway is the closest campground to the Eleven Mile Reservoir, which spans 3,405 surface acres and 5 miles in length. Eleven Mile Canyon was cut by the South Platte River and is bordered by polished gray granite cliffs.
For facility specific information, please call (661) 702-1420.
Visitors enjoy the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossils of insects and plants reveal the story of a very different, prehistoric Colorado.
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
$22 / night
Ranger
Heaton Bay Campground, located near Dillon Reservoir in Colorado, offers a stunning lakeside camping experience with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. The campground is set in a picturesque location, making it a perfect spot for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy water activities, hiking, and enjoying the serenity of nature.
The sites at Heaton Bay are spacious, well-maintained, and equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, providing a comfortable setting for both tent campers and RV travelers. There are flush toilets and potable water, but no hookups for RVs, so keep that in mind when planning your stay. The campground is nestled among tall pines, providing some shade and a peaceful atmosphere, though there are few trees at some sites, so be prepared for full exposure to the sun.
One of the biggest highlights of Heaton Bay is its proximity to Dillon Reservoir, where you can enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. The campground is also just a short drive from the popular town of Dillon and the many hiking opportunities in the area, including access to the nearby Swan Mountain Trail and many 14ers.
The only downside is that during peak summer months, the campground can be busy, as it’s a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Be prepared for crowds, especially on weekends. The nights can also get chilly, so it’s essential to pack warm layers, even in the summer.
Overall, Heaton Bay Campground offers an excellent lakeside camping experience with a perfect balance of nature, water activities, and mountain views, making it an ideal spot for a Colorado getaway.
Ranger
And in fact I believe they were KOA of the year 2023 or 2024. More expensive than we're used to, but has nice amenities. Sites level with concrete pads, fairly large. Some space between with trees. Nice metal patio furniture provided at each site(chairs, table, fire pit). Has decent showers, hot tubs, and off leash dog park. Inexpensive pancake breakfast and pizza/wings to your site are available, also an onsite store. Kind of at the top of a rise, so good views but also kind of chilly for July (60s/40s). Massive thunderstorms with hail and heavy rain two evengings (CO mountains tend to get afternoon t-storms). Communicate via text to let you know about goings on. Good radio station out of Idaho Springs KYGT 102.7 and 103.9
Guide
I spent the night at Base Camp because the campgrounds North and South of Ned were full and it was dark and getting late. You have to be lucky with those ones to get one of the few good spots that are there. I have been to the convenience store at BC before and it was closer to Idaho Springs (I was going there the next day to meet a friend). $39 per night for a tent site is INSANE. I could have stealth camped and there was another spot I could’ve gone too but BC was close and I was tired. I guess that’s how they make their business. Begrudgingly it worked for what I needed.
Guide
Overall Nice site. Stayed one night. Too pricey for a stopover. Propane fire pit looks nice but could not use. Must have a 20 pound tank. Store was closed as we arrived at 5 pm.
Train and traffic noise as expected for location.
Lot of stuff for kids. Nice facilities. Clean park.
Guide
Very convenient to trails. The kids play area needed attention. The restrooms were very clean. Helpful staff lead us to our spot and helped us park.
GuideCampground is right on the Leadville 100 race course.
Perfect place to train for the race or relive past races.
Great place for dogs.
Some campsites and way better then others so look at map first.
Super helpful staff.
Mind when you need laundry, can get very backed up.
Traveler
There's not much at the ARH marker itself, but continue on down the one-lane, mildly-rough road to a number of very nice campsites down in the valley. They are well marked with fire grids. These are considered dispersed campsites with no hookups or fees.
Guide
This was my first backpacking experience and I couldn't recommend it more for first timers. There is a designated pad for your tent, a bear locker and even an outhouse all nearby. My wife and I stayed at site K and it was beautiful.
LegendYou are right between two towns Frisco and Silverthorne. There is some traffic noise from I-70 and a trail next to camp so lots of people passing through. The sirltes are nice but there is no personal hook ups for water. The sites are small and sometimes close together.
LegendI ended up here on accident but loved my stay. Every staff member was so helpful and nice. Sites are close together and it is a bit pricy for an RV ($92 per night). This was my first time at a KOA, I enjoyed having all of the services right there. They fill propane tanls, air for tires, nice hot shower, laundry and a hot tub.
ScoutThis place used to be awesome. The new owners are greedy and can't "run" the campground. It's dirty, stuff is broke, keys for cabins are always missing, and prices are going through the roof for what it is.
Ranger
This is a very nice, quiet and quaint camping spot! We loved the wooded areas. The flat parking pads and hook ups! There’s nothing extra special here to make it a 5 star. I’d absolutely visit again!!…. But it’s not a bucket list spot!
The coolest thing is we did see a moose!
Scout
This campground is an absolute dump run by dishonest crooks. We stayed here in October on a night that it got below freezing and snowed. We were put in a cabin that had a 2-inch gap between the bottom of the door and threshold. The heater was more like a hair dryer and didn’t warm the cabin. It was 40 degrees in the cabin so we didn’t sleep. The floor crunched while walking on it and the platform bed was metal. When we got off the bed there was a loud bang. When we tried to get a refund from the owners she blamed us and said the problem was we didn’t understand rustic cabins. We have stayed in rustic cabins in the cold months for 10 years and never experienced this. There are many places in Buena Vista…take your business elsewhere.
Legend
Ashley here with The Dyrt. We're happy to welcome Clear Creek Getaway to The Dyrt. Check them out and leave them some love!
Scout
Amazing views, friendly staff & nice set up. Wish we could have stayed a little longer. But definitely helpful when passing through.
ScoutIt was my first time camping, and this place is very beginner-friendly.
The site provides water and restrooms. The site is close to trails and fishing spots.
Traveler
Very convenient off the highway, but then you get highway noise. Clean campground, very nice owner. We didn’t used the facilities so I can’t speak for that. Very fair price for FHU space with tree and picnic table ($43 after tax).
RangerWe were going to give this a 3 star review based on our first night here in D loop. No water, sites close together and a long walk to the vault toilets, plus the site was not level. Our second night was in E loop. Sites are over 100 feet apart, level, flush heads, near free showers, and water available plus dish washing area, but no tent pads. Loops are either RV or tent. Tent loops also have sites too close for our taste, about 37 feet apart. Though if you choose carefully, a few sites are more remote. Some of the tent loops let you park adjacent to your site (loops H and I). Others you park in a common area and walk to your site. Volunteer staff very friendly. In season camp programs. Much jet noise from airliners leaving Denver. Some road noise also, but very quiet at night. Your experience will vary with your chosen loop and site. Overall nice, much more so in E loop and B loop looks similar. For tenting, I’d suggest H or I loop. Good T-Mobile.
GuideI came up for a night of camping with one of my dogs. I reserved the area with electric hookup since I brought the van. The area was very organized and tidy. Campsite was large with a picnic table, fire pit, and central spot for trash and recycling. Area was quiet, but close to a road. No cell service for phone if you’re wondering.
Legend
State Wildlife Area
Scout
We had a great time in Site #24, camping in a tent. This site is inadequate for an RV or even a camper, as the parking spot is just a widening in the road. But the site was very private and had beautiful views. I left a day early as a new neighbor came to the site across the road and was running his generator a lot….so I just decided to leave….
LegendWe’re a one night in each location maybe 2 as we tour the US in 4-6week chunks. So places like this we can pull up to after a 6-10 hour drive day and the kids can do a water park, we can grab dinner and drinks, arcade, activities etc. it’s awesome. Super friendly neighbors. Great sites. Clean, big nicely landscaped. Love the propane fire pits. We had excellent proximity to both pools, store and arcade. We leave EARLY so good to be by the exit.
GuideEverything you’d expect from a KOA - clean, well cared for, activities, store on site. Great communication from property and great Wi-Fi signal
LegendThis was our first time staying at Bear Creek Lake. The park is not part of the Colorado Wilds or CPW State Park system, but daily vehicle fees are included with your camping reservation. Our towed vehicle was included when we checked in at the ranger station.
The campground is at the back of the park, roughly 2 miles from the entrance. There is a lot of bike traffic and windy roads. Sites are mostly level, electric only, and relatively close together. We stayed in Site 41 which was walking distance to the pit toilets and water spigot. We had no trouble fitting our 29' Class C, tow dolly, and towed vehicle.
We filled our 7 gallon water jugs at the spigot to top off our fresh water tank. The spigot is the terrible skinny faucet that is not threaded as to dissuade RVers from connecting a fill hose to it. If you want to fill water jugs like we did, bring a short (<6') hose and a water bandit so that you don't waste water.
Pit toilets and flush bathrooms were clean and well maintained. The bath house at the center of the campground features coin operated hot showers, $2 for 10 minutes. The water temperature was very hot, but manageable. A great convenience since there are no sewer hookups at the sites.
This is a great place to camp if you want to explore Morrison, Golden, or catch a show at Red Rocks. The main park entrance closes at 9:30 and a back gate accessible from I-470 opens that allows access to the campground. We had no trouble getting an Uber to pick us up to go to Red Rocks, but had several driver cancellations trying to get back after a concert.
TravelerPros:
- great location for exploring Denver
- beautiful sunset
Cons:
- SO MANY FOXTAILS which can be deadly to dogs, and my site was covered in them. They're also everywhere throughout the campground. So if you have dogs I would not use this more than a stopover to recharge.
- Highway noise was very loud if outside rig
Cell: you're in the middle of a city, both AT&T and Verizon worked just fine
GuideWell maintained campsite with moderate privacy. It is a walk on site but parking is right by the site so not far to haul stuff at all. There are trees all around the site but there is an opening/walkway to the neighboring campsite so not 100% private No one on the other side of site so there is an opening in trees that makes for a perfect hammock/ hang out spot which also provides more shade & privacy.
Bear locker, fire pit and picnic table. Bathrooms nice & well maintained. Close to stores and restaurants in case you need anything. Right on lake Dillon so paddle boarding and trials close by too.
GuideThe site was beautifully set up. Campfire rings with 2 rocking chairs. A table with 4 chairs instead of a picnic bench. Clean and extremely helpful staff.
Cabin camping near Jefferson, Colorado offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and cozy accommodations, perfect for those looking to escape into nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Jefferson, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Jefferson, CO is White River National Forest Heaton Bay Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Jefferson, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 48 cabin camping locations near Jefferson, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
