Red Feather Lakes sits in the Roosevelt National Forest about 55 miles from Fort Collins, and the surrounding area holds a mix of developed Forest Service campgrounds and dispersed options on forest roads. Bellaire Lake, West Lake, and Dowdy Lake campgrounds are the main developed sites, each with designated spots, vault toilets, and water during the main season. Reservations through recreation.gov are the standard for summer weekends, with sites filling several weeks out by July. Red Feather Lakes's dispersed camping spots cover the free and unreserved forest road options when recreation.gov windows are already closed.
The Dyrt check-ins here run consistently June through August, with reviewers noting that the lakes themselves draw anglers and paddlers as much as hikers. Cell service is limited or absent in much of the forest. The road into Red Feather Lakes is paved, which makes access easier than more remote national forest areas, but some campground access roads off the main route are unpaved and rough after rain.
Compare 2 top campgrounds at a time to find your favorite!
Round 1 of 5
$30 - $81 / night
"Dowdy is another wonderful (busy) campground at Red Feather Lakes, CO. I believe there are 62 sites total. Not all sites are open until later in the season."
"Clean bathrooms, sites spread out nicely and lake access for paddleboarding. Unique Colorado location."
"The road to lost lake requires high clearance. It is located 30 min away from Red Feather Lakes. There are a lot of dispersed camp sites."
"Drove up early In the week to get a great spot by lost lake and was very successful."
"We arrived on a Monday around 4pm and most of the spots were open, but it seemed like several others arrived at the same time as us and we actually snagged our spot right before someone pulled into it."
"Our spot was a little on the hill away from everyone and only had a few cars drive by."
$29 / night
"There is a hairpin switchback to get into the lower loop and the website states that it is not accessible to trailers longer than 20 feet."
"Fees: $23.00 standard single $7.00 for 3rd vehicle Reservations: 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov
Out of season: FCFS
Firewood for sale by camp host located at Upper Ansel Watrous Campground."
$41 - $185 / night
"Toilets are a reasonable distance. There is lots of shade and a great hiking trail up the ridge line. Staff is very friendly and it is very well maintained."
"There are many places for multiple groups to be near each other, and reservations usually fill up."
$25 - $50 / night
"Beautifully placed right at the curve of the Poudre, there is a short walking trail next to it,a perfect hammock place in a shallow runoff, a spot to tether tubes or paddleboards in an eddy, a picnic table"
"The drive into the Poudre Canyon is a beautiful one. We camped Thursday to Sunday. Spots are scarce and were full by Friday mid day. Some sights have shade, some do not."
$28 - $81 / night
"West Lake is one of three campgrounds located near Red Feather Lakes in Northern Colorado."
"West Lake campground is a beautiful spot off 74. The lake is great for fishing, and the tent campsites are super private. Your pass includes access to other lakes in the surrounding area as well."
"Big picnic table, bear-proof food box, close to river."
"The spots were well spaced, so I didn't feel like we were uncomfortably close to our neighbors. The campgrounds were well kept, and the guests were pretty quiet. I would definitely make a trip back!"
"Great spot near Red Feather Lakes and probably the only dispersed spot around that has AT&T service. Nobody else was here while I was camping and hardly anyone drove by, it’s pretty far out here."
"This campground is an especially good option for those wanting to avoid the summer crowds of the close by and popular campgrounds of Red Feather Lakes and Lost Lake."
$30 - $121 / night
"Bellaire Lake Campground, located in the Red Feather Lakes region, is a hidden gem. With only 26 sites and situated at an elevation of 8,600 ft, it is serene and secluded."
"This lakeside campground is a gem. With 2 loops, one close to the river, and one a short walk away, it's a nice smaller alternative to other campgrounds in Red Feather."
TravelerThe hosts are great. Very friendly and informative. Everyone here has been a complete joy to engage with. Quiet restful nights. We will return again in the future!
TravelerWe stayed at the beginning of June, there was a creek flowing over the dirt road about 3 inches deep, could make it over with any kinda SUV.
There was a nice grassy pull off right before the creek. It could fit 4 or 5 cars, maybe a few tents. We we're the only people there all night.
There we're a couple side roads too that might have some good campsites.
ScoutSo far it’s pretty nice, good lil community and showers and laundry is available
TravelerThis area has several non-marked pull offs and side roads that don't have signs prohibiting camping. Most of the spots are unlevel, though the setting is great and sites are well-dispersed. Those with 22ft+ rigs or trailers should probably avoid, but small camper vans are just fine.
TravelerJust used for overnight on the way from Colorado to South Dakota. It was quiet and peaceful. Looks like good fishing.
TravelerThis is an awesome spot to camp. It’s dispersed camping for up to 16 days. Beautiful views and quiete
GuideMy Verizon doesn’t work here so starlink recommended. Campground quiet, spaced out. Signs leave something to be desired. No sewer dump at site. Gate was open and plenty of pull through spots. Sites unlevel a bit side to side with gravel ground. Love the lake.
GuideNicely spaced sites with fire rings. Some have more privacy/coverage than others. Three bars of service on TMobile.
TravelerWe had a hard time deciding what to rate this because there truly were so many pros, however the cons were fairly plentiful as well. We had a great time don’t get us wrong but… decide for yourself.
The pros: -Honestly I loved the location in relation to fellow campers. We had nobody to the south of us and our neighbors north of us were blocked by a bush. We were up the hill overlooking to the reservoir above the neighbors west of us. However to the east of us was the main road in and out of the area. So expect road noise over neighbor noise. -Shower house and flushing toilet that were clean and very well maintained. Climate control and comfortable and very well lit. However the shower token system didn’t take our bills so we couldn’t use our showers (I note a camper passing by on our first day telling us about the shower house “it’s a pain in the ass…”) -close to the dumpster and literal feet from the water. -could walk down to the water (even got picked up by some friends on a boat)… or travel north for a social trail along the water with some killer fishing areas.
The cons- while not deal breakers for us we couldn’t give this site any more stars because of them -The road noise is a lot. We were lucky to be in an RV however tent camping would be a different story. -again with tent camping although this site felt private you would be amongst only rvs and trailers.
Well that’s my review for site S46 at south bay campground of Horsetooth… attached are some videos of the site as well as a spot I was able to walk to just north of this site.
Red Feather Lakes is located in northern Colorado with most campgrounds situated at elevations between 8,000-10,000 feet. The area features granite rock formations typical of the Roosevelt National Forest region, which creates distinctive camping environments with natural windbreaks and climbing opportunities. Summer temperatures average 75°F during daytime with nighttime temperatures often dropping to 40-45°F even in July and August.
Hiking from your campsite: Mountain Park Campground connects directly to the Mt. McConnel Trail. "This campground shares a parking lot with the Mt. McConnel trailhead. This is one of my favorite trails along the Poudre, mostly because it is rarely crowded and offers beautiful views," notes a visitor to Mountain Park.
Fly fishing: The Cache la Poudre River provides excellent trout fishing opportunities. "Caught trout 20 yards from my tent from the Cache La Poudre," reports a camper at Ansel Watrous Campground.
Paddleboarding and kayaking: Several lakes in the area offer calm waters for paddlesports. "Beautiful lake. Very nice camping not far from Fort Collins. Great lake for non-motorized boats," states a visitor to Dowdy Lake Campground.
Rock scrambling: The distinctive rock formations provide natural climbing opportunities. "Our spot was set back from the road, in a meadow, surrounded by boulders. Loved it!" shares a camper from Lost Lake Dispersed.
Quiet lakeside sites: West Lake offers peaceful waterside camping. "We love that this campground is quiet, spaced out and fairly small. It's perfect for our young family," notes a visitor to West Lake.
River sounds: Several campgrounds along the Poudre River feature the soothing background of flowing water. "This campsite is right on the river in a small cluster of 3 tent only walk in sites. The site is right on the banks of the large rushing river that will lull you to sleep at night," describes a camper at Ansel Watrous Campground.
Dark skies for stargazing: Remote locations provide excellent night sky viewing. "The sky was filled with stars after sunset. Beautiful place!" shares a visitor to Dutch George Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse animal species. "Got to see a young bull moose. Unfortunately witnessed young kids drive their dirt bikes all the way on to the beach area during twilight hour," reports a camper at Lost Lake Dispersed, highlighting both the wildlife opportunities and concerns.
Road conditions: Many dispersed sites require appropriate vehicles. "The road to get here is graded gravel & really not too bad. We saw some larger rigs, so people do manage it," notes a visitor to Bellaire Lake Campground.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly between locations. "Verizon cell service was a major bonus," reports a camper at Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest Dispersed Camping, while another camper at Mountain Park states, "No cell service from any of the carriers."
Reservation requirements: For established campgrounds, early booking is essential. "It's hard to get a spot here unless you reserve a spot 6 months ahead," advises a visitor to West Lake.
Weather variability: Mountain conditions can change rapidly. "We had one night the moon was so bright it was daylight and the next night the fog settled and you couldn't see your hand in front of you," shares a camper at Bellaire Lake Campground.
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "They have done a lot of work on the sites and surroundings. Family oriented and nice playground for them to play on," notes a visitor to Mountain Park.
Safe water play: Look for sites with gentle water access. "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," advises a camper at Dutch George Campground.
Camping at elevation: Prepare for temperature swings. "Winter camping is FCFS and is a really nice if you get a 'warm' winter weekend. The power at the sites is a plus, even for tent camping," shares a visitor to Dowdy Lake Campground.
Rock exploration: Many sites feature natural climbing features for children. "Great views and great beginner rock piles for the kids to climb on," notes a camper at Comanche Peak View Campground.
Site selection for larger vehicles: Some campgrounds accommodate various RV sizes. "We stayed here over a weekend and wanted to stay longer. Pulled our 33' travel trailer and there were good spots off the road," shares an RVer at Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest Dispersed Camping.
Electric hookup locations: Several campgrounds offer powered sites. "At 8,000 feet. A great small wakeless canoe and kayak lake. Most sites have electric," notes a visitor to Dowdy Lake Campground.
Leveling considerations: Terrain can be challenging at some sites. "Except site 7 you have to back straight uphill and would be hard to hitch or unhitch anything over 20' let alone leveling," warns a camper at Bellaire Lake Campground.
Water access planning: Limited water sources require preparation. "There is water but no threaded attachment to fill tanks so you must bring buckets or water jugs," advises an RVer at Bellaire Lake Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado?
Red Feather Lakes offers several excellent campgrounds. Bellaire Lake Campground is a hidden gem with only 26 sites at 8,600 ft elevation, featuring interesting rock formations and a serene, secluded setting. For water access, Dowdy Lake Campground provides 70 sites, including 10 walk-in tent spots, with options for both tent and RV camping with electric hookups. Other excellent options include Mountain Park Campground with well-spaced sites and maintained tent areas, and Comanche Peak View Campground for those wanting to avoid crowds. The area also offers dispersed camping opportunities for a more primitive experience.
Do I need reservations for camping at Red Feather Lakes?
Reservations are highly recommended for most developed campgrounds around Red Feather Lakes, especially during peak season (May-September) and weekends. Dowdy Lake Campground requires reservations through Recreation.gov from mid-spring through September for its 70 sites, with weekend bookings particularly important. Some campgrounds like West Lake also operate on the reservation system. Dispersed camping areas such as Lost Lake and Comanche Peak View operate on a first-come, first-served basis. For private options like Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch, advance reservations are essential, especially during summer weekends and holidays when availability can be limited.
When is the best time of year to camp at Red Feather Lakes?
The prime camping season at Red Feather Lakes runs from late May through September when temperatures are mild and facilities are fully operational. Lost Lake Dispersed area is popular during summer months, offering meadow camping surrounded by boulders about 30 minutes from Red Feather Lakes. Late spring brings beautiful wildflowers while early fall offers spectacular foliage with fewer crowds. Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch has reported pleasant camping conditions in late May with good hiking opportunities. Winter camping is possible at some year-round sites, including some at Dowdy Lake, but requires proper cold-weather gear and preparation for potential snow conditions.
What camping sites are available at Red Feather Lakes?
Red Feather Lakes offers diverse camping options. Comanche Peak View Campground provides primitive sites with fire pits and flat tent spots, accessible with high-clearance vehicles. For developed camping, Mountain Park features well-spaced sites with level tent spots, nearby toilets, and a ridge line hiking trail. The area also offers dispersed camping in Roosevelt National Forest, private resort camping at Beaver Meadows with riverside sites, and established campgrounds at Dowdy and Bellaire Lakes with amenities like vault toilets and seasonal water. Additionally, State Forest State Park offers primitive sites popular with backpackers and those seeking moose viewing opportunities.
Keep Exploring
