RV parks around Saguache, Colorado sit at elevations between 7,800 and 8,000 feet, offering cool summer camping with evening temperatures that can dip into the 40s even in July. The surrounding San Luis Valley features a high desert climate with significant temperature swings throughout the day. Most campgrounds in the region provide gravel sites rather than paved, and several are located along rivers or creeks.
What to do
Fishing access: At Woods & River RV Park, campers enjoy direct access to the Rio Grande River with excellent trout fishing. "River spots are nice. Water and power but there is a dump station. Rio Grand River at your door step," notes one visitor, while another adds, "We spotted big horn sheep on the cliff behind us!"
Hot springs soaking: Many campers visiting Sand Dunes Recreation enjoy the on-site hot springs pools after exploring the nearby national park. "The pools are artesian hot springs. The pools are extremely kid friendly, and there are greenhouses with 21+ soaking and bar," writes one reviewer who adds, "We get a weekend away for about 80 bucks for two nights and swimming."
Mountain biking trails: The Salida area offers excellent mountain biking access, with Salida RV Resort providing a convenient base. "Perfect spot for access to Methodist Trail system, down town and easy bike ride away," explains one mountain biker, noting the immaculate grounds and perfectly level sites.
What campers like
River sounds: Many campgrounds in the region feature waterfront sites where campers can fall asleep to flowing water. One visitor to Bighorn Park described, "Slept with the back open and fell asleep to the river sounds. Just heavenly!" Riverside sites often command premium prices but provide natural white noise.
Kid-friendly amenities: Several area campgrounds cater to families with children. One visitor to Woods & River RV Park highlighted the "fun kids area with playground and treehouse with zip line," making it an appealing option for families. The park's walking trails along the river provide additional recreation options.
Wildlife viewing: The mountain terrain around Saguache offers opportunities to spot diverse wildlife. At Bighorn Park, campers report, "We spotted big horn sheep on the cliff behind us!" During early mornings and evenings, deer sightings are common at many area campgrounds.
What you should know
Train noise considerations: Some campgrounds in the region experience railroad noise. At Cool Sunshine RV Park in Alamosa, one camper noted, "The train whistle is deafening and will rattle your teeth. 5 trains came by the one night, one as late as 10 pm." Consider packing earplugs if staying at locations near active rail lines.
Hot water systems: The geothermal activity in the San Luis Valley creates unusual water systems at some campgrounds. At Sand Dunes Recreation, one camper observed, "If you have an rv and hook up to the water, it is fed from the hot springs so the water is always very warm. Didn't get to test out our hot water heater at this location!"
Limited bathroom facilities: Some smaller RV parks have minimal bathroom facilities for the number of campers. One visitor at Sand Dunes Recreation mentioned, "What's a little awkward about this place is the showers are a combo shower/toilet room, and there are two of them to service this whole camp when the pool rec area is closed."
Tips for camping with families
Frog ponds access: Children often enjoy natural features at campgrounds beyond standard playgrounds. At Sand Dunes Recreation, "There are a few ponds with frogs too, which is cool, but also means pack the earplugs as these guys are an alarm clock you can't snooze in the AM," advises one camper.
Heated pool options: The Monarch Spur RV Park includes family-friendly amenities that keep children entertained during downtime at camp. "They have a nice camp store, WiFi that works, golf cart rental, a playground, kids games, a community area," reports one family, adding "The kids didn't want to go anywhere they were happy just to hang out here at the campground."
Cabin alternatives: For families without camping equipment, several parks offer cabin accommodations. At Sand Dunes Recreation, one visitor highlights, "We booked this cabin for the cheap price and didn't even know about the on-site hot spring until we got there. It's a bit quirky but we loved it."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing variations: RVers report varying site dimensions across Saguache-area campgrounds. At Cool Sunshine RV Park, one camper notes, "Back in spaces are close to each other. Pull throughs have more room between spaces." Another RVer at Monarch Spur observed their site was "incredibly long but a bit skinny but did the trick."
Hookup positioning: RVers should be prepared for unconventional utility connections. One camper at Woods & River RV Park cautioned that "hookups are new but all seem to be placed too far up which requires you to pull your trailer to the end of the site to align hookups; otherwise you will need to run lengths of sewer and electric to connect."
WiFi reliability: Internet connectivity varies significantly across the region. At Cool Sunshine RV Park, one camper reported, "WiFi was not super reliable," while another campground visitor noted, "Campground internet was spotty but cell service is great so internet is very good if you have a hot spot."
