The Woody Creek area sits at an elevation of about 7,000 feet in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, with campgrounds spread throughout the nearby valleys and forests. Nights drop below 40°F even in summer months, creating significant temperature swings between day and night. Most camping options near Woody Creek require advance planning due to limited availability and seasonal closures between late October and May.
What to do
Hiking on nearby trails: Difficult Campground provides access to the Difficult Trail which starts at 8,000 feet elevation and continues for 6 miles. "The Difficult Trail begins near the entrance. The trail starts at about 8,000 feet and is not maintained after 3 miles but continues on for 3 miles up to an elevation of more than 10,000 feet," notes one camper who stayed at Difficult Campground.
Biking on paved paths: Several campgrounds connect to regional bike trail systems for day trips. "Located just above a beautiful river, the campground is close to a partially-paved 40+ mi bike path (Aspen <> Glenwood Springs). Although we didn't have time to ride them, Trailforks shows some nice MTB trails nearby as well," writes a visitor to Gateway RV Park.
Gold panning: Some campgrounds offer on-site gold panning activities for a unique experience. "This place has on-site gold panning! I cant give this place much praise but the gold panning did it for me! Long story short; Gold Panning and 25 mins from Breckenridge," explains a reviewer at Middlefork RV Resort.
What campers like
River access: Many campgrounds feature direct river access for fishing or cooling off. "Driving through the Vail valley and we needed a place to camp. Kids loved playing frisbee in the field and swimming in the river. Highway is nearby but not too much noise at all," notes a visitor to Riverdance RV Resort.
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and showers are frequently mentioned as standout features. "The bathrooms were very clean and surprisingly modern. It's very quiet here at night with some traffic sounds during the day. All in all...I highly recommend this campground," writes a camper who stayed at Sugar Loafin' RV/Campground & Cabins.
Natural surroundings: Campers appreciate the forest settings and nature viewing opportunities. "This campground is tucked away east of Aspen in a beautiful forest of aspens between mountains covered with pines. For the most part, the sites are carved out with plenty of space and cover between you and your neighbors," a visitor to Difficult Campground reports.
What you should know
Bear safety requirements: Bear activity is common near Woody Creek, requiring proper food storage. "There was a bear raiding vehicles at night so make sure you lock everything and use the bear boxes provided at each site," warns a camper who visited Difficult Campground.
Variable cell service: Cell coverage differs significantly between campgrounds, affecting planning and communication. "The campground was great! It has water and electric, a clean bathhouse and a laundry room. They have a campstore in case you need anything," shares a visitor to Sugar Loafin' RV/Campground & Cabins.
Site spacing: Privacy between sites varies substantially by campground. "Even though the sites were close to each other, there was a lot of shrubs and trees between sites so it cut the noise way down and gave you privacy," notes a Difficult Campground visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming spots: Look for campgrounds with kid-friendly water access during summer months. "We stayed here 5 nights Sun-Fri while doing work/school and enjoyed exploring Buena Vista in the evenings! Very cool places to explore just around the corner from here... Arkansas river has some neat spots," explains a camper at Mt. Princeton RV Park & Cabins.
Playground availability: Some campgrounds feature designated play areas for children. "The kids play area needed attention. The restrooms were very clean. Helpful staff lead us to our spot and helped us park," notes a Sugar Loafin' visitor.
Ice cream socials: Select campgrounds offer special events for families. "We were tent camping on motorcycles and rode into Leadville late in the evening. This campground was open (with staff) late, and were very friendly and accommodating. We just barely missed the ice cream social," writes a Sugar Loafin' guest.
Tips from RVers
Site depth limitations: RV owners should confirm site dimensions before booking rv sites near Woody Creek, Colorado. "The sites are a bit shallow (we could not lower the rear patio on our 25' toy hauler)," shares one visitor to Gateway RV Park.
Winter RV options: Several RV parks near Woody Creek, Colorado remain open year-round. "Looking for a Summit County RV park, there is no better. We stayed in March for some spring skiing. Not only was it one of few if not the only park open during the winter months but is located right in between Breckenridge, Keystone and A Basin," writes a visitor to Tiger Run RV Resort.
Unique amenities: Some RV sites around Woody Creek feature unexpected comforts. "The clubhouse offers a heated pool and hot tub, arcade, business center, locker rooms, laundry, and owners lounge. There are tennis/pickleball courts and a community fire pit in the center of the resort that hosted movie night during our stay," explains a Tiger Run guest.
