Camping sites near Woody Creek, Colorado are situated within the high elevation terrain of the Roaring Fork Valley, ranging from 7,800 to over 10,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach the 70s during daytime but drop into the 30s at night, particularly at higher elevations. Most dispersed camping areas require visitors to pack out all trash and manage without developed facilities, while established campgrounds operate primarily from late May through September.
What to do
Hiking from Lincoln Creek area: Lincoln Creek Dispersed Campground provides access to multiple wilderness trails. "We loved tent camping here with our dog. The road around the loop is paved but the sites themselves are not. You tent peg into the dirt. It's a 5, 10-minute walk to the reservoir but you feel a world away from its busy day visitors," reports Jeane L. about Little Maud Campground.
Fishing the Fryingpan River: Anglers can access Gold Medal Waters from several campgrounds along the river. "We camped at site #49. It was about 100 ft from the Frying Pan River. We fell asleep to sound of rushing water- so peaceful. Not much shade but there was a picnic table, fire ring, and bear box at the site," notes Erin E. about Chapman Campground.
Paddle sports on reservoirs: Non-motorized watercraft are welcome at several lakes in the area. "The reservoir is small, but an awesome place to escape and do some light paddleboarding or fishing. We saw quite a bit of wildlife during our short stay, ospreys, marmots, foxes, deer, and plenty of fish and other birds," writes Andrew C. about Chapman Campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing and natural barriers. "The campground is in a beautiful area with hiking trails. Has fire pits and picnic tables. Unfortunately the water spigots are not available. They are having issues with the water. Pit toilets. Hosts are very nice and willing to help out in any way possible," shares Maria Carlota M. about Difficult Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The area supports diverse mountain wildlife. "We never saw bears, but often woke to new claw marks on the trees so make sure to keep a clean campsite! Campground had a daily ranger visit (very friendly) to maintain the bathrooms and garbage cans," notes Sean F. about Chapman Campground.
Mountain stream soundscapes: Creekside sites offer natural white noise. "The campground is set in an aspen grove and a creek runs right by it. There aren't many sites at this campground, so I recommend reserving a site especially during peak season," advises Karl G. about Silver Queen Campground.
What you should know
Vehicle clearance requirements: Many camping areas require appropriate vehicles. "The road is a high-clearance road that is fairly rutted out with tight turns and very small sections to pass people. I didn't see a single RV/trailer and most everyone was driving a 4Runner, Tacoma, or Jeep," warns Connor M. about Portal Campground.
Bear safety protocols: Bear-proof storage is mandatory. "Clean campground. Nice amount of privacy between campsites, friendly campground host who even gave us free firewood when they were sold out right after a holiday weekend. There was a bear raiding vehicles at night so make sure you lock everything and use the bear boxes provided at each site!" advises Megan A. about Difficult Campground.
Limited or no cell service: Communication is restricted throughout the area. "No cell service here or on most of the road up after you leave nearby Basalt. We loved it and will definitely be back. The hosts said to make a lot of noise and they will leave. Our banging of the fire grate wasn't noisy enough but the host had an air horn that worked," explains Jeane L. about Little Maud Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Choose campgrounds with amenities: Facilities matter for family comfort. "We went for the hiking and fishing but many were there with kayaks, paddle boards and other water toys. It's far enough from the marina that you don't hear boats going in and out. The views are great and the drive is spectacular," notes Rebeca H. about Mollie B Campground.
Look for creek access: Water features entertain children. "We had plenty of room for 4 tents, a nice size fire, and a game of frisbee. Access: There's a marked turn off from HWY 82 to take you to the campground. You'll descend about 500 ft off the hwy along a dirt road for a quarter mile," describes Daniel B. about Lincoln Creek Campground.
Consider elevation impacts: High altitude affects children differently. "Keep in mind that the campground at Portal is 10,500 feet so if you aren't used to the altitude or familiar with altitude sickness you'll want to do a little research before camping here as it's a long bumpy drive out," warns Connor M. about Portal Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger vehicles: Not all campgrounds accommodate big rigs. "If you have a long-ish rig or are not good at backing up - stay away from loop C. Loop D along the creek have great shade but are close together," advises Carrie H. about Chapman Campground.
Leveling challenges: Many sites require blocks or leveling equipment. "Our site was very large with plenty of choice spots for tents. Our two big tents took up only a small part of the space. Plenty of trees for hammocks as well. Firepit, bear box and picnic table rounded out the amenities," shares Sean F. about Chapman Campground.
Dump station locations: Plan for waste management. "Remote campground might pose some access challenges for larger rigs. Clean pit toilets, no showers, no laundry. Fresh drinking water and dumpsters are available. No dump station in campground," notes Renee H. about Chapman Campground.
