Camping near Parker, Colorado provides access to varied terrain and elevations ranging from 5,900 feet in town to over 8,000 feet in nearby mountain areas. The region experiences a semiarid climate with approximately 15 inches of annual precipitation, concentrated mainly from April through September. Most dispersed camping options require self-containment as facilities are limited or nonexistent outside established campgrounds.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Buffalo Creek Recreation Area has extensive trail networks ideal for riders. "Great camping spot, esp, if you like mountain biking. Not whistler in terms of terrain but plenty of trails for various ability levels. Much of the area still shows scars from the 1996 fire here, but the sprouts and smaller trees show you a preview of how nature heals," reports one visitor.
Water recreation: Cherry Creek State Park Campground offers swimming and boating opportunities. "Nice Swim Beach with brand new Bldg. Many covered Picnic sites, but again, you MUST arrive at the break of day to secure one," advises a regular visitor. The reservoir gets crowded during summer months, with capacity limits enforced.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings provide opportunities to see deer, rabbits, and various bird species. The campground areas report frequent rabbit sightings. "Lots of cute rabbits running around," notes a camper from Dakota Ridge RV Park.
What campers like
Easy mountain access: Campers appreciate locations that serve as convenient basecamps. "Indian Paintbrush Campground—Bear Creek Lake Park" gets high marks for accessibility. "Close proximity to the highway. Clean level spots. Lots of park amenities like horse stables, archery range, swim beach, boat rentals, hiking trails, picnic areas," reports a camper.
Variety of camping options: From primitive to full-service sites within short distances. "Jellystone Park™ at Larkspur" offers highly developed family camping. "This place is really cool (if you got the cash). Tons of amenities, pancake breakfast with characters for the kiddos. Water slides," reports a visitor.
Concrete pads at developed sites: Some campgrounds feature improved surfaces for easier setup. "The sites are also all concrete so leveling was very easy," notes a camper who stayed at Dakota Ridge RV Park.
What you should know
Seasonal crowding requires planning: Summer weekends fill extremely quickly at most sites. "Buffalo Creek Recreation Area" demonstrates this pattern. "Beautiful spot with easy access to lots of trails and Wellington lake. Only downside is that it is very difficult to find a spot on a weekend. We got up there around 6:30pm on Friday night and after driving around for a couple hours ended up bailing and going home."
Noise factors: Train tracks, highways, and other campers can impact experience. "The train was expected, so it didn't bother me too much. The site we were assigned did not have a fire pit in the site, it was up the road by another camp site," reports a camper from Jellystone Park.
Additional fees: Many parks charge day use fees on top of camping fees. "There is also an $11 day pass fee not included in your camping stay," warns a Cherry Creek State Park visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-specific amenities: Some campgrounds cater specifically to families. "So much to do for the littles!! Recently completely redone the entire park and it is all so wonderful! The campsites are amazing and the activities are so much fun," writes a visitor to Jellystone Park at Larkspur.
Arrival timing matters: Early arrival improves experience at popular sites. "If you want to get into the Park, suggest you go EARLY, EARLY, EARLY in the day. Traffic backs up all the way from the Entrance on Parker Rd to the Entrance Booth on weekends and holidays. Plan on an hour OR MORE to just get to the booth," warns a Chatfield State Park Campground visitor.
Safety considerations: Glass and other hazards exist at some locations. "Looked at 3-4 different sites all had a decent amount of broken glass so be careful with pets/little ones," cautions a visitor to Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven sites requiring equipment. "The A3 site chosen is gravel with a hole or two and significantly tilted low to the front left....requiring a 4 high stack," reports an RVer at Dakota Ridge RV Park.
Size restrictions: Some campgrounds have limited capacity for larger rigs. "Don't go up if you are pulling anything larger than a tear drop trailer," warns a visitor about Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping. The narrow switchback roads make navigation difficult for larger vehicles.
Hookup details: Availability varies significantly between campgrounds. "There are no bathrooms, showers, and sewer hookups. If you want to stay there for one or two days I think it's ok… But little pricey for no amenities," notes a visitor to Casey Jones RV Hideaway.
