Deer Haven Campground

We stayed here for a night in early June. Beautiful campground surrounded by aspens and conifers at about 9000 ft elevation.

There is a very large group site there (I think can accommodate ~100 people) which is why the max fee is so high. There are 10 regular sites for $21 each. The drives up to them are fairly narrow, and some you could not get many (if any) RVs into. Sites 1-5 especially are small and perfect for a couple small tents, and are close together but fairly private due to the relatively thick trees.

There are no trash dumpsters so be prepared to pack everything out. It's also bear country so keep everything locked up. There are flush toilets, surprisingly, probably because of the large group site.

There were several species of wildflowers blooming in our campsite, and we heard an owl and coyotes at night. The breeze through the aspens was lovely. 10/10 would recommend.

This 10-site campground is off the beaten path and can be accessed from 2 routes. In the center of the campground is a large meadow with a small walking bridge. The camp is full of Aspen trees and when the wind blows, it’s quite the heavenly sound. It has one large group campsite that can accommodate up to 200 people, if memory serves. The per-night fee for a tent site is $17 and is first-come first-serve, and the group site fee depends on the party size, but I believe the minimum is $65 and is reservable.

It should qualify as a dark-sky place, as you can see millions of stars at night, and the Milky Way is quite clear. It is also fairly quiet at night, with occasional owl and cricket sounds.

The camp hosts are currently Mike and Cindy and the quiet hours are from 10 pm until 6 am. We found that to be a bit too early because the sun sets at 9 pm in the summer and dusk/twilight lasts a good deal longer than 9 pm.

When we arrive early enough, we head straight to site #10, as it is the one most secluded and feels the largest. There is also a one-person bathroom right next to it. It does not flush and there is no sink, but there is zero smell. There is also a water pump a few yards away. There was formerly a tree see-saw in front of this site, but it was broken when we last visited (7/5 through 7/7/19). Some of the other sites are quite lumpy, like sites 6-9, but if you have an air mattress they aren’t too noticeable. We did see a few skunks at night a few years ago but none this time. They are harmless and are looking for food in camp if some was left out. They do not see well, so they will walk close to you if you stand still. There are also deer to be seen in early morning and evening.

We have camped here 2 or 3 times and find it to be a favorite. We have not used the group campsite yet, but were informed they no longer carry insurance that covers horses, so they are no longer allowed in camp. There is also a small kids’ pond for fishing nearby at Wood(s) Ranch. Adults are allowed to fish as well, but are encouraged to yield to kids if needed. My son and I caught 6 small trout in less than 2 hours on nightcrawlers/worms and Power Bait eggs, fishing off the bottom from 8-10 am. It is also only about 10 miles from Navajo Lake.

I recommend a stay at Deer Haven campground to see if it has the same effect on you that it does my family. Enjoy!