Camping areas near Pleasant View, Colorado offer convenient access to both Denver's urban amenities and the natural beauty of the foothills. Located at approximately 5,600 feet elevation, this area experiences typical Front Range weather patterns with warm summer days that cool significantly at night and occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Several campgrounds remain accessible well into fall, with many sites featuring electric hookups for unexpected temperature changes.
What to do
Hiking and mountain biking trails: Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers extensive trail systems for outdoor enthusiasts. "Golden Gate Canyon SP is enormous. The options for trails are endless. Great for mountain biking or hiking enthusiasts. The park feels like it's far from the city, but the drive is easy for a weekend camping trip!" notes one visitor to Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
Water activities: Bear Creek Lake Park provides opportunities for paddling and swimming during summer months. A camper reports, "Loved the hiking and biking trails. Beautiful lake for swimming and paddle sports. Will definitely be returning for the archery and horseback riding," from their stay at Indian Paintbrush Campground—Bear Creek Lake Park.
Wildlife viewing: Standley Lake Regional Park offers excellent bird watching opportunities, especially for eagle enthusiasts. "I don't know how you could not like a place with a huge lake that bald eagles nest beside. With a rookery, this is the spot for bird enthusiasts!" shares one visitor who appreciated the natural surroundings.
What campers like
Easy access to mountains from urban areas: Campers appreciate locations that provide quick escapes from city life. At Reverend's Ridge Campground, one camper notes, "We stayed here in early June to avoid the chaos of RMNP and were not disappointed. The drive from Golden up into the park is beautiful and you truly feel like you are leaving the noise of Denver and the metro behind."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and shower facilities. At Dakota Ridge RV Park, a visitor mentioned, "Staff were very polite and helpful. This is a great base camp for exploring Denver as well as Jefferson and Clear Creek counties."
Spacious sites: Some campgrounds offer ample room between sites. "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. Enormous amount of room," reports a camper at Reverend's Ridge Campground.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Many popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months. At Chatfield State Park Campground, a camper advises, "Without a reservation you put your name on a list that they start going through at 1pm to assign sites. As someone tent-camping this is no problem, just takes some time (site assigned ~1.5hours after arrival at 13:20). But be wary if you need certain hookups."
Site variations: Campgrounds offer different site types with varying amenities. "There are 3 different areas - each has multiple bathhouses, which have coin-laundry available. Showers are coin-operated as well," explains a visitor to Chatfield State Park.
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience traffic noise due to proximity to highways. "This campground is right off the freeway and the noise makes it difficult to sleep or relax," notes a camper about Chief Hosa Campground, highlighting an important consideration when selecting the best places to camp near Pleasant View.
Tips for camping with families
Look for campgrounds with activities: Some parks offer multiple recreation options. "This park has great trails for hiking and mountain biking. There is also a high elevation lake as well as fantastic views of the continental divide," shares a visitor to Golden Gate Canyon State Park.
Check bathroom facilities: Family-friendly restrooms are important for longer stays. "The bathrooms were very clean. The showers were pay only and only with a bank card. $1.50 for a five minute shower," notes a camper from Cherry Creek State Park Campground.
Consider campground layout: Some sites work better for family groups than others. At Standley Lake Regional Park, a camper advises, "We got site 47, which is labeled as an RV site, but it is NOT suitable for pop up campers. The site doesn't have even a hint of a levelable spot. The rangers weren't very helpful the first night, and we had to speak with the head ranger to get permission to setup on our friends site, #46, which is a great size and worlds more level!"
Tips from RVers
Water pressure awareness: Some campgrounds have unusually high water pressure. At Prospect RV Park (now Applewood RV Resort), a camper cautions, "Be sure to have a water pressure regulator or you'll come back to a flooded RV."
Consider elevation for temperature planning: The temperature difference between Denver and foothill campgrounds can be significant. "We stayed here for a month and a half with electric only. Along a gorgeous walking path to the mountains, within immediate walking distance to multiple breweries and restaurants, and extremely accessible to the mountains," shares a visitor to Clear Creek RV Park about why electric hookups matter in this region.
Dump station information: Not all campgrounds with RV sites offer on-site dump facilities. "Washers are $2.50/load, Dryers are $2.00/load. Change machine available. WiFi: Slow, but strong signal and definitely usable for light web browsing. Google speed test showed 2Mbps down, 0.40Mbps up," notes a camper from Dakota Ridge RV Park, providing practical information beyond basic amenities.
