Best Tent Camping near Saguache, CO

We loved this camp site! It was our first time to tent camp in Colorado and it was great. Several sites to choose from. Some have views of the dunes, some are more secluded. Bathrooms were clean. Very spacious tent site with a fire pit. Our tent sleeps 6 and we had no trouble fitting in the spot.

I’m tent camping from my car, but after seeing the tent sites that are on top of each other and zero views i asked to move to the rv overflow lot. It’s more spread out, same amenities as the rustic tent and 180 mountain sunrise views. I’m also working full time while here and the internet has been pretty dependable so far. There is a laundry and shower both for additional fee, as well as a pool for additional charge. Indoor restrooms as well. There is an area to refill on drinking water and an are to wash dishes. A bit of road noise during the day as the overflow lot has an unobstructed view of the mountains, it’s also right off the main road / highway. It was peaceful and quiet at night though so that’s all that mattered to me.

My friend and I stayed at the South Fork Campground for a fly fishing trip.  

The campground seems to be primarily a RV campground with 50 sites, but they do allow tent camping with 6 sites. There is an office at the entrance and the staff were friendly. Next to the office is a community room and laundry room.

The RV sites have water and electric hookup. The tent sites do not - at least ours did not. There are restrooms with sinks, toilets and showers nearby the campsites.

The campground itself sits on the Rio Grande River which is a world class fly fishing river. When we were visiting the river was flowing fast and deep, so it was not a very productive time. We choose to fish in the mountain lakes and streams instead.

Overall the South Fork Campground is a nice place to stay for a few days or longer. The campsites were a little close in proximity for me, but I'm one that is accustomed to backcountry camping where there are few people around. The campground is a short drive to the town of South Fork where there are grocery stores, gas stations and outdoor gear and fly fishing stores.

Rv sites in lower meadow are great. We camped in a tent on weekend on site T12. AMAMZING river front meadow site. The last weekend we used a travel trailer and it rained all weekend so we were glad to have a trailer this time. The water is warm because it is below mt princeton hot springs.

We grabbed a tent site for our small teardrop for a night and decided to stay 2. Staff was very freindly. Store had essentials including a gas pump. Only a handful of folks in the tent area and it was nice and quiet. fantastic views of the dunes and plenty of shaded sites. Bathroom in the tent sites were clean

Flies, no defined tent sites, some had tent areas but rain water ran right through them. Entire area smells very bad. Area was not maintained .weeds, grass etc no managed.

In my opinion this place is kind of rundown and dumpy. Maybe it hasn’t been maintained bc of covid closures? Idk either way I wasn’t impressed. We had a tent site. The tent sites were small and along a cliff with the Arkansas below. Our “large” tent site barely fit our big cabin tent, with enough room to park our vehicle. Our tent was literally a foot away from the road you pull in on. We had 2 young kids with us and I would not call it very kid friendly. We were Constantly having to keep an eye on them. Either they fall off a cliff into the river or worry about them getting into the main 2 way camp road that huge rvs and trucks drive by on. It was very hard to “relax” while kids were trying to play. The sound of the river at night was nice that’s about it. The encounters I had with staff weren’t great. A bit rude and unhelpful. I feel the prices are high considering you can’t use any amenities advertised due to covid restrictions. There were a lot of “rules” they had I haven’t encountered in other campgrounds. There are much prettier/nicer campgrounds along the Arkansas River I would stay at.

We tent camped here in late September. Beautiful location with well-kept sites and bathrooms. However sites are close to the road and we could hear the traffic all night. Probably best suited for RVs and quick spot to camp.

This area is absolutely beautiful. There are a few tent camping spots at the bottom right before you cross the bridge. As you continue up the road past the bridge, there are 3 spots you can bring a small trailer to and a couple more tent spots. DO NOT bring your trailer past the 3rd spot up the road after the bridge. And do not drive up that section to the 3rd if it is already taken (scout ahead here, trust me). You won't be able to turn around and the road gets worse with no where to turn around and no spots. There are more places for tent camping the further up you go though but the road is not good so all-wheel or 4WD with clearance is needed. I pretty much only saw trucks and outbacks and 4runners making it up there.

Other than that, it's next to the water, the trees are good and healthy, near lots of hiking trails, (angels of shavano TH takes you up the most beautiful section of Colorado trail (': it was a butt kicker though), not great service but I had enough to send a text whenever I needed to. I spent 4 nights here and will 100000% be back. Loved it so much.

Tent camped in the dispersed area because Hayden creek was full, near Rainbow trailhead, entire area to ourselves 98% of the time besides two groups of hikers over 2 nights almost 3 days. Bring camp toilet for dispersed camp areas or walk to the vault toilet at Hayden creek (long walk). Camped right along the brook an filtered water.

We had site 68 and 70. Site 70 had trees that made it hard for RV . I would recommend this campsite for people who tent camp. RV sites are challenging to get into and some sites have no room for tow vehicle. Campsites are close to each other. Nice to be close to Sand Dunes.

Really gorgeous camping spot with easy access to tons of different outdoor activities. Tent sites are very well maintained and very beautiful. Walk-in sites are very close to parking, I would barely consider them walk-in sites. My only complaint is that the tent pads are made of gravel and therefore extremely hard to properly stake down tents.

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 

Motorcycle tent camping along the river. This campground did not have much shade. Only one group table had a cover over it. Some shade trees along the river bank. Great views of the Arkansas River. Highway 50 close to this campground. It was noisy. All night long, cars would pull into the campground stoping at the restrooms and shining lights into my tent. Probably best suited for RVs and quick spot to camp.

Park Creek Campground Rio Grande National Forest

Elevation: 8500

Directions: In South Fork, Colorado, at intersection of State 149 and US 160, take Road 160 west 7.8 miles to Park Creek campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground.

This small campground, stretches along the banks of the South Fork of the Rio Grande River among mature shade trees. Many sites are adjacent to the river. US Highway 160 is very close by so will have some traffic noise. The campground has the feel of spacious seclusion and is very cool and shady. Accessible, Tent camping, Camping trailer, Picnic tables, Toilets , Drinking water.

Amazing hiking, camping, and fishing if you can make it to the lakes from the campgrounds. Atv 4x4 required to access lakes or a long hike. Well maintained several mile long dirt access road to campsite could be done in small campers. We tent camped in dispersed camping before the actual campground. Whole place to ourselves saw Elk, Deer. Only draw back to this site were the hawk sized mosquitoes.

Spacious sites that are magnificently kept . Big flat tent sites at each site, right near the river. There is a boat ramp here where rafting companies pick up thier rafters, but its separated nicely from the campsite. Nice vault toilets but no potable water spigot, so bring your own water! Some of the rv/trailer sites are uneven. So bring extra leveling blocks!

Snowblind is a great campsite for tent camping and also rvs and pull behinds. The road up to the campsite is 8 miles off the highway so no traffic to be heard, but is an easy drive. There are a few hikes you can do that send you to some amazing views! Tommy the campground host is one of the coolest we've ran into, and will help ya anyway you need! Great place, awesome ppl, and beautiful view!