Camping options near Laporte, Colorado sit along the foothills where the plains meet the Rocky Mountains at approximately 5,000 feet elevation. The area experiences warm summer days with temperatures averaging 80-85°F and cool nights dropping to the 40s-50s. The Cache la Poudre River corridor offers several camping destinations with varying levels of development and amenities between Fort Collins and the higher mountain elevations.
What to do
Hiking from camp: At Mountain Park Campground, campers can access trailheads directly from their sites. "A nice hike leads to the summit of Mount McConnel right from the CG," reports one visitor. The location makes it "an epicenter for outdoor recreation" with options for white water rafting, fishing and climbing all nearby.
Water activities: The South Bay Campground provides excellent water access at Horsetooth Reservoir. "The lake was great for paddle boarding, canoeing, and kayaking," notes a camper. For river-oriented activities, Dutch George Campground offers "a sandy area along the river that would work well for kids" and spots where you can "tether tubes or paddleboards in an eddy."
Fishing opportunities: Trout fishing draws many visitors to the dog friendly campgrounds near Laporte. At Ansel Watrous Campground, one camper reported, "Caught trout 20 yards from my tent from the Cache La Poudre." Sites positioned directly along the water provide convenient access for anglers throughout the day.
What campers like
River sounds: The rushing water creates natural white noise at many campsites. "The site is right on the banks of the large rushing river that will lull you to sleep at night," explains a camper at Ansel Watrous. Similarly, Dutch George offers sites where "the river drowned out nearly all traffic noise and was nice to fall asleep to."
Privacy between sites: Dutch George Flats Campground provides a good balance of community and seclusion. "The sites are set apart enough so that you don't feel on top of each other at all," notes one visitor. The campground's Ponderosa Pines "provide great shade and a natural barrier between sites."
Clean facilities: Despite being more rustic, many campgrounds maintain high standards. A camper at Dutch George remarked that "the restrooms were very clean and did not smell bad," while another noted that Mountain Park has "the cleanest vault restrooms I have ever seen as they were cleaned multiple times each day."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds have switched to reservation-only systems. Boyd Lake State Park moved to "a reservation only system. I was unaware of this when pulling up to the park, so though they had open sites I could not reserve them without using the booking system." Check requirements before arrival.
Bear awareness: Mountain Park has installed bear boxes at some sites. "None of the sites in that section of the campground have bear bins, but I did notice pallets of bear bins sitting in the parking lot at the campground entrance that I assume are to be installed this season." Always secure food properly in bear country.
Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds along the Poudre Canyon have minimal or no connectivity. At Ansel Watrous, there's "no cell phone service" while at Mountain Park, "there is no cell service in the campground, but I drove west on Hwy 14 about 10-15 minutes to the small town of Rustic and I was able to get 2-3 bars on 4G LTE."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Fort Collins North-Wellington KOA offers "clean, well-kept campground with full outdoor kitchen, pool and play areas." Mountain Park also provides "volleyball and basketball courts, a playground and horseshoe pits" making it "great for group/family camping."
Kid-friendly water spots: Look for campsites with gentle water access for children. At Dutch George Flats, "site 10 is very wide but doesn't have much shade BUT if the river is high this is the best spot for kids as there is a large rock in the middle of the river that creates a gentle pool/gulley right in front of this spot."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Laporte offer chances to see animals. "We saw a guy on a mountain bike" and "deer wander in the morning" at various sites. Mountain Park visitors reported seeing "a variety of birds (including hummingbirds), chipmunks, ground squirrels, and a mule deer."
Tips from RVers
Level site considerations: Not all sites are equally level. At Wellington KOA, one camper noted the "RV site not level at all." At Horsetooth Reservoir, sites closer to the entrance tend to be more level and better maintained.
Hookup availability: Electric hookups are available at several campgrounds, but water connections vary. At South Bay Campground, sites have "electric hookups (we used 50amp at our site) but no water hook up. Drinkable water close by at various locations within the campground."
Dump station access: For longer stays, knowing where to empty tanks is important. At Inlet Bay Campground, "the dump station is outside the campground, but is a good one. Good water pressure and potable water." Some sites recommend filling water tanks at the dump station before setting up camp.
Ranger
