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Established Camping

Pinewood Reservoir

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Pinewood Reservoir offers camping near a body of water surrounded by rolling hills and forested areas. Temperatures range from lows around 20°F in winter to highs near 85°F in summer. Nearby attractions include Carter Lake and the Devil's Backbone Open Space, providing opportunities for hiking and water activities.

Description

Larimer County, CO

Pinewood Reservoir

Pinewood Reservoir is located west of Carter Lake at an elevation of 6,580 feet. Pinewood is 100 acres of water surrounded by 327 acres of public land. It is popular for trout fishing and camping. The campground is newly remodeled and has drive in electric sites as well as walk in tent sites overlooking Pinewood Reservoir. The reservoir is part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The purpose of this water project is to divert water from the west slope to the east slope for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower generation. Reclamation is solely responsible for power generation. The agencies jointly manage water levels for irrigation, municipal, and industry use. Recreation is managed by Larimer County Natural Resources. Brand new, 15 standard drive in electric sites and 12 walk-in tent sites are found at Pinewood. There are vault toilets and water spigots throughout the campground in addition to day use parking, picnicing, and a natural play area.

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Location

Pinewood Reservoir is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

Take I-25 to Berthoud Exit (Exit 250). Turn left (West) onto Highway 56 and continue for 9.5 miles, passing through town of Berthoud. At the foothills, the road will turn sharply to the right (north). Turn Left (west) onto County Road 8E and continue for 3 miles to the entrance station where you can purchase permits. Follow County Road 8E west to the intersection with County Road 31 and continue around the lake for 5.5 miles to the intersection and County Road 18E. Turn left (west) and continue about 4.5 miles to the lake.

Coordinates

40.36508215 N
105.28461336 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Available

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites

Drive Time


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

16 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 4, 2021

Nice place

The campsite was well maintained and reasonably easy to locate. A bit close to other campsites for my liking, but not overly intrusive. The view was great and the trail hike was nice and not difficult to navigate.  Bear warning was on, but smokey left us alone for the weekend. 5 stars.

SiteTent site
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Daniel , October 4, 2021
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Daniel , October 4, 2021
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Daniel , October 4, 2021
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Dec. 17, 2020

Small but very nice campground above Loveland, CO

Pinewood Reservoir campground (also reviewed on this website as "Pinewood Lake" campground) is a small but well-maintained campground and has nice views of a lake and rolling foothills. There are 16 RV sites and 9 walk-in tent sites. Non-motorized small boats allowed and there is an easy hiking trail around the lake. Only draw back is you pay both a park fee and a campsite fee.

Site16
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Cee G., December 17, 2020
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Cee G., December 17, 2020
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Cee G., December 17, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Oct. 15, 2020

Pretty but nothing special

The reservoir is pretty and visible from most sites, and the facilities are well maintained. That said, the site is on a road, near homes, and does not offer much privacy between sites.

Reviewed Sep. 15, 2020

A Colorado gem!

This was our second visit to Pinewood Lake and while some things stayed the same others were much the same.  Our first visit last fall was during the final stages of a blizzard.  Not to be outdone this visit we arrived last week on the tail of an early September snowstorm!  But the weather cleared quickly and all was well with great weather the rest of the weekend. This was our first visit with an on duty camp host  and I must say that they were wonderful.  The campgrounds were spotless, as were the restrooms.  Camping during wildfire season in Colorado means fire bans but we found a way around that small obstacle.   This lake is a great getaway and offers a ton of things to do.  Hiking, fishing, kayaking and paddle boarding to name a few.  The views of the lake and surrounding valley are the Colorado foothills at their finest.

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Aug. 19, 2020

A Big Bunch of “meh”

This by no means is a bad camp site, but don’t add this to your wish list of destinations. The campsite themselves are very well maintained, and the camp hosts were very friendly.

The beach was highly disappointing because there was so much broken glass everywhere. I was terrified to even let my kiddos play for fear they’d cut themselves.

No shade or trees. Perhaps it was because we were near-ish the camp trash and I’m sure the time of year didn’t help, but it was fly-central. I killed at least a dozen the first night we arrived.... and it got worse from there.

The beach was pretty busy with campers definitely not a tranquil beach environment.

I liked that the campsites where spread out, it was disappointing how many houses surrounded the campground, and the nearby road wasn’t a nuisance, but it definitely didn’t help the feeling of being “in nature”

Easy to pull through with our camper.

Over all, it’s a solid three starts from me.

  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Kelsey C., August 19, 2020
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Kelsey C., August 19, 2020
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Reviewed Oct. 14, 2019

Beautiful in white!

My wife and I took our inaugural trip in our small camper to Pinewood Reservoir last weekend during the front range's first snowfall for 2019.  We had just bought our camper and weren't about to let a little snow stop us from trying things out.  We drove up on Thursday and the roads, despite some steep climbs and winding curves, was in great shape.  

We found the campground empty, and already white with the snowfall.  We had a reserved a spot and claimed it.  Several other sites appeared to be reserved, but with the weather, we had the place all to ourselves.  Heaven, with just a taste of lonely.  Even with the snow and us being novices we set up without a hitch and were soon enjoying the magical panorama of the lake below us and the hills and mountain tops around us.

By Friday the weather had cleared and the Colorado blue skies had returned.  While it was still chilly a few other campers arrived, including a number of Boy Scouts trying to hone their cold weather tenting skills.  By our Saturday departure, the camp ground was filling up and we enjoyed meeting some nice neighbors.  

All in all the place was perfect.  the water access was off due to the seasons cold, but the place was clean, the restrooms were open, and the electricity was on.  A great place for late season, and I am sure it is busy but spectacular during the summer.

SiteP13
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Kell H., October 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Kell H., October 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Kell H., October 14, 2019
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 27, 2019

Perfect

This campground lines the east ridge of pinewood reservoir. Each campsite is dugout into the hillside, with a perfect view of the lake. Shaded by large pines, and a great view of the sunset. I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a beautiful site away from the crowds, but wants to keep their vehicle close.

  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Weston S., July 27, 2019
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Weston S., July 27, 2019
Reviewed May. 23, 2019

Small delightful campground

This is a County campground, up a very steep windy paved road, probably unsuitable for very large RVs. Most of the camp spots are relatively small, also. But they have electricity, they’re relatively level, and the views are great. The reservoir is limited to non-motorized boats. Cellphone coverage is really problematic, but HDTV reception from the Denver stations is good. It’s a nice, quiet place to just relax.

  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Cary A., May 23, 2019
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Cary A., May 23, 2019
  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Cary A., May 23, 2019
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2018

site #9. Right on the lake

Sweet close camping in May. All trailer spots have electric and water hookups. Sweet Hike in sites on the side of the hill overlooking Pinewood Res.

  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Ronny D., August 8, 2018
Reviewed May. 15, 2017

Nice weekend trip

Nice campground, recently updated (2013?). Camp spots are visible from the road, but very little traffic. Great views of reservoir, good fishing, and nice trail (around a 3 mile loop). Gets windy.

Reviewed Jul. 8, 2016

Love this palce

It is right past carter lake but feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. Less crowded good hikes and fishing is ok as well. There are walk in tent spots and trailer spots to keep everyone happy. Will visit again!

  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Curtis G., July 8, 2016
Reviewed Jun. 16, 2016

Lakeside views

Our one night stay was drizzly and foggy, but you could see the reserviour right from our tent. I used a hammock and my friends slept on the camp pad. There was a nice fire pit with a grate we used to heat up burritos. Enclosed bathrooms were a short walk away. The campsites were very close together and exposed, so don't expect much privacy.

  • Review photo of Pinewood Reservoir by Michelle F., June 16, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Pinewood Reservoir?

    Camping at Pinewood Reservoir can cost between $20.00 and $48.00 depending on the site.

  • What is the elevation of Pinewood Reservoir?

    Pinewood Reservoir is located at 6654 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Pinewood Reservoir?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Pinewood Reservoir, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Pinewood Reservoir have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Pinewood Reservoir does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Pinewood Reservoir?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is available.