Looking for the best Centennial tent camping? Finding a place to camp in Wyoming with your tent has never been easier. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Centennial, Wyoming's most popular destinations.
Walden Reservoir is a picturesque lake full of wildlife outside of Walden, Colorado. The Walden Reservoir is an easily accessible destination in a seldom seen portion of northern Colorado for birders, hunters, and those looking for a free, isolated place to rest.
The North Sand Hills Campground was installed in 2011 to accommodate large RVs. The campground has two vault toilets and 13 individual pull-through sites, each with a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad. In addition to the developed campground, numerous dispersed camping sites exist within the North Sand Hills OHV area. Always use existing sites. For more information, please contact the Kremmling Field Office.
Comanche Peak Wilderness, named for its prominent 12,702 foot peak, was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System by the United States Congress in 1980. Elevations within the Comanche Peak Wilderness range from 8,000 to 12,702 feet.
Located within the Roosevelt National Forest, this 66,791 acre wilderness area features lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine and spruce-fir forests below expanses of alpine tundra. Many scenic trails provide access to the area that borders the north and east sides of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Camping and campfires are prohibited within 200’ feet (or more if posted) of all lakes, streams and trails to protect water quality, sensitive vegetation and to help assure solitude. Thin soils and mountain vegetation are easily damaged by fire and fires scar rocks and soil. Use a stove, a fire pan or an existing fire ring when and where fires are allowed.
Trailhead parking is ample and ideal for parking horse trailers and unloading horses. The trail provides a good access to the Mt Zirkel Wilderness, great for groups with horses who want to get away from other more heavily used trails. Campsites are numerous, especially near Stump Park. This trail lies within the Mt Zirkel Wilderness. Please refer to the Wilderness Regulations. The wilderness is closed to motorized and mechanized vehicles. No developed facilities. Setting is managed forest area. Timberline is at approximately 10,500 feet elevation. This trailhead is managed by the Parks Ranger District.
Traveler
Large campground near beautiful lakes with healthy trees. Many campsites, some with lake view. Weeknight in August was mostly empty. Some sites shaded. Very quiet and restful. No water but has trash. Pit toilets clean, probably because campground is lightly used. Roads from Albany in better shape that roads from Centennial. Great dispersed camping all around. Great spot for boating and ATVs.
Guide
We drove to Medicine Bow specifically to camp here. The pictures don't do it justice!
We arrived on Wednesday morning to find all sites occupied. So we drove around for a little while before heading to Brooklyn Lake.
Sugarloaf is easy to reach. Just take 130 from Centennial and turn right on USFS Road 346. No 4x4 or high clearance necessary, we watched a few cars make the trip in/out.
Dont have much to review since we didn't stay the night, but the scenery is excellent. Even the drive in on 130 was one of our favorites.
We will definitely try this one again in the future.
Scout
Near freeway, relatively secluded. Good camp site, some areas RV friendly. Tent sites hard to come by at night
Legend
Status: Open year round
Reserve mid spring through September 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov
weekend reservations recommended
70 sites including 10 walk-in tent 30 sites year round $24.00 tent sites $32.00 electric $64.00 double sites
Vault toilets, water during season ,tent sites have bear boxes, picnic table, fire ring/grill, trash no sewer or water hookups The campground has beautiful Ponderosa Pines but the Pine beetle is beginning to take its toil.
The back loop closes early fall. all sites have electric except the tent sites. There are 5 double sites. The campground can accept various size rigs. The day use area with a boat ramp and pit toilet with a nice size parking lot. There were a lot of people fishing from the shore. The lake is beautiful with small islands and rock formations. The road to and in the campground is gravel and rather dusty. Potholes
Directions: Drive 21 miles north of Fort Collins on US Highway 287. Turn left (west) onto the Red Feather Lakes Road (County 74E) and travel approximately 22 miles. Turn right (north) and travel another mile to signed campground entrance on the right.
LNT
Better than when you found it
Stay safe Happy travels
Guide
Second time staying here. Tent camping and a rooftop tent. We stayed on the north causeway. We had the peninsula spot which was the best spot in that area. Beautiful lake and wildlife. Wish I had fishing gear with me. The staff keep this park clean. Thank you to them! Will be back.
Legend
Nice campground, a little noise from highway 80. Sound really carries, can hear the climbers as they scale the rocks. The forest service says there aren't any moose here, but we saw a cow moose with two calves on a hike in the surrounding Medicine Bow National Forest. Tent sites have tent pads, campfire rings and picnic tables.
RangerHeaded to Colorado and had this gem picked out way ahead of time. Came mid week and found a spot. This place is awesome. One of the most amazing views of any campground we have stayed at. Lots of opportunities for van, small RV , and tent camping . Will stay here again. Vault toilets, bring your own water, there are fire pits tables and cell reception is good
Traveler
We were told by Google that this campground was permanently closed, but we went with The Dyrt's info, and it really panned out. We were the only ones there, it was a short walk down to the Platt (flys and lures only), and the tent site, fire-ring, and picnic table were in top notch condition. Would definitely stay here again.
GuideThis campground is great! The lake is wonderful to kayak on and to fish. The sites are very clean and large. They have a picnic table and fire pit. Of course the sites very in size. There is electric hookups in most sites with the exception of the tent sites. The hosts are very friendly and welcoming. Lots of trees for shade and beautiful views.
Guide
State parks were full so we stopped over in Laramie. Originally planned on a tent site but once we saw how open the tent space was, we decided to grab a dog friendly cabin instead. It was cozy with air conditioning and a mini fridge. Kind of a weird location between a neighborhood and hotels.. but it did the trick. Nice community fire pit for us to relax next to in the evening. Staff were friendly and helpful and bathrooms were clean.
ScoutI showed up late was still able to get a reservation by the water. I was able to get firewood at the camp store, and they had a lot of other things for sale. camped right in the water, it was beautiful! If I had to say anything bad it would be that for a tent site there wasn’t any grassy area to put my tent, most every spot had a lot of gravel which was unfortunate. other than that it was great!
Scout
Loved it,
Went on an adventure with my husband, we booked a tent site here because it is cannabis friendly. Which it is.
The Hosts are very nice and Accommodating.
The views were amazing, met some great people, and chipmunks.
The drive to Fort Collins is about an hour, however it's a beautiful trip. You are a short time away from Chambers Lake, and the Reservoir.
Highly recommend this area.
Guide
West Lake campground is a beautiful spot off 74. The lake is great for fishing, and the tent campsites are super private. Your pass includes access to other lakes in the surrounding area as well.
We didn’t see any moose but we could definitely hear them early in the morning.
Clean bathrooms and great, friendly hosts!
ScoutThe dyrt has some old info on their overview page, there are no reservations - it is first come first serve, there is no water hookups, but there are several water spickets that are available when the water quality meets standards for drinking water - sometimes water is not available (check USDA Vadauwoo Camprround site for up to date info).
The sites are a combination of back-in, pull-offs, and walk into tent camping sites. All afford amazing views of the unique rock formations and easy access to hiking, climbing and repelling sites within the area.
GuideOur family tent camped one night, but we wished we would have stayed longer. Sites and restrooms are well maintained by friendly staff. This campground can fill up very quickly (we learned the hard way) and when full, sites are close together. At less busy times, more secluded and more open sites are available. The trails , both hiking and biking, are rugged enough for a thrill, but can be tame enough for kiddos. We have visited this campground twice on our travels west, and are sure to visit again!
GuideWalk-in availability only and about 11 sites which worked out fine. Only about 9 were filled when we were there. The bugs here got pretty annoying pretty quickly so be prepared. You will need a bear bag or vault. There are vault toilets and bear proof trash cans available. Water is also available. The tent sites were decent. You can fish in a nearby stream and check out the Green Mountain Falls accessible by day hike. They are worth seeing!
Guide
What a great campground. Very rustic with each site having its own fore ring and table. There were plenty of flat areas for trailers but I would argue that all sites are perfect for tent camping. It appears to be a great place for those who are into mountain biking as I felt I was the odd man out since nearly everyone had one and was riding. I really enjoyed the peace and quiet and view of the stars!
I would most certainly visit this campground again. Close to the I-80 which makes it convenient.
GuideThis was just an overnight stop, we were placed upon a hill top in the open right next to a reservable picnic shelter. The wind wind was brutal, but it was a pretty view. The amenities at the park are quite good, the visitor center was very nice and the showers and bathrooms were clean and very well maintained. Since we were only doing an overnight I cannot comment overall on the park. We did see some very very nice tent sites and trailer sites. Its a water sports kind of park but in early may the weather was rather cold and the wind as I said was brutal.
Scout
Beautiful camp sight! Went tent camping for 3 night and had a great time with my boyfriend. Found plenty of spots open Friday morning and stayed pretty empty through most of the day. Began filling up Saturday afternoon. Stayed in sight 21, close enough to a river to drown out some noise. Each sight is FF and does have a bear box, which is a nice addition. Camp sight was clean, bathrooms were very clean and well maintained. Camp host was very friendly! Plenty of spots to dip in the river or go fishing. I do wish it had more trees around each camp sight for privacy. Got to see a momma and baby moose pass through. Over all; a wonderful stay!
LegendCurt Gowdy State Park, Cheyenne Wyoming
Located between Laramie and Cheyenne, about 25 miles to each. We stayed at the Tumbleweed Campground. If you enjoy stargazing, you'll be amazed. There are no campground lights to interfere and campers keep lights to a minimum. We had a cloudless clear sky to enjoy the heavens. One of the most awesome night skys I've seen. Would love to be here for meteor showers!
This area has electric and water. The sites are gravel and mostly level. Each site is totally separate with great views of the reservoir. There's a nice picnic table and firepit. Vault toilets. Really nice tiled showers (takes quarters) and flush toilets are available 24/7 at the Visitor Center up the road. Boondock and tent campgrounds also available. Staff super friendly. Camp store has the basics. Nice mountain bike and hiking trails. Popular intermediate hike to waterfall, 4 miles rounddtrip. Fishing, picnicking, kids play areas.
Legend
We camped here on a Sunday night on our way back to Fort Collins after a multi-day backpacking trip. We were one of only two groups of campers at the campground. Not only is this campground incredibly beautiful, but it is very clean and well appointed. The sites have plenty of parking space for a car or two each, fire pits with grates to cook on, wooden picnic tables and flat gravel tent sites as well. The restrooms are very clean at this campground and there is a cool old water pump on the north end of the campground. As the name suggests, the campground is sorrounded by Aspen trees which provide amazing fall foliage scenery. There are multiple sites right by the rivers edge, which was quite nice to listen to at night. There are plenty of hiking, fishing, backpacking, and outdoor opportunities galore nearby! We were even lucky enough to spot a group of mountain goats from our campspot in the early evening.
TravelerChecked in about 8:30pm on weekday for car/tent camping. Got last spot on upper tent loop (FC/FS-self serve). Upper tent loop also has some RV spots. It seems like a very popular spot for XC RV drivers. The upper loop was very quiet, both the people and the area, and far enough from Interstate that Hwy noise was not an issue. The only problems were the wind(strong in am), and the lack of running water. Vault toilets were clean enough. The faucets near toilets did not work. The only available water was from the green well pump, and it had noticeable color to it. I used it for cooking and cleaning, but not drinking. Great trails! We did a nice 3.5 mile loop around Turtle Rock. It has good and climbing/bouldering, wish I had more time for that. It was cool due to a recent rainfall, and the 8000'ish elevation kept it that way at night. All creeks were dry in late august, and the 3 ponds were nearly so. Very pretty spot that feels more remote than it is. There is a lower tent walk in loop, which is much better sheltered from road noise and wind. The lower tent loop has vault toilets, but it does not have water as far as I could tell. Lower tent loop was completely vacant and available, while upper RV/tent area was full.
LegendCampground Review
This campground is located in the Poudre Canyon area of Colorado. This is a private, 420-friendly campground. While many will be drawn to that allure, there is a lot of other features this campground offers that makes it a lovely place to stay. There’s communal fire pits, a jungle gym for kids, and hiking trails into and up the Poudre Canyon. It’s also a good place to bunk if you like to fish, with access into the rivers just across the road and so many other spots just a short drive away. Across the road is a general store for any last-minute camping supplies, munchies, booze, and ice. There’s also the Poudre Canyon Grille – a tiny, well-kept trailer serving up burgers, fries, and other fast food sandwiches. Near the office, there’s a large covered patio that has a cell and WiFi booster and in the summertime is a lounge area with a TV. There are two areas that have a bathroom with shower – both single use. When there are nearby music festivals, Canyonside has been known to shuttle festival goers to and from areas of greater access to help you enjoy the show. Speaking of shows, there are sometimes laser light shows where the hosts reflect their displays off the rocky canyon walls, and up the canyon there is also a small ampitheatre.
To learn more about what may be going on near the time of your stay, just call the campground. Which is also what I suggest you do before you book, especially if you’re interested in renting one of their really cool themed cabins (there’s a few, are different sizes, and each have a unique décor theme and were all incredibly clean). There are a few factors like the day of the week, amount of people, and amount of dogs you have that will affect your nightly rate. Ask about the dog policy when you call too, as not all sites allow for pets – like the tent sites – and there is a pet waiver that should be read.
One thing I noticed that was neat for tent dwellers was that one area of the tent sites (there are two sent site locations on either side of the park) had a hammock or swing chair and access to water to do dishes (there is also communal dishware) in addition to your typical flat plot, fire pit, and picnic table. There is also poured concrete sites for RVs with electric and water hookups, but I don’t remember seeing a dump station.
Not sure you want to go all the way in on a cabin but don’t want a tent site and you don’t own an RV? That’s OK as there’s also a pop up trailer on site that can be rented as a “glamping” option. It was a pretty neat little place, but due to the size and chance of trapping pet dander, dogs aren’t allowed in there either.
The hosts are very accommodating and want to help you enjoy your stay. They are approachable and can point you to resources to help you make your stay a 420-featured one, if that’s your thing. I understand they’re looking to add more tent sites and shaded areas and continue to tweak their internet to help it cover more of the grounds. I look forward to returning to see how the place evolves. I do like that there’s so many ways the hosts are there to accommodate you, and one thing that I would love to hear about is that they’ve added drinkable water access. Water is there for you but bring your own drinking water on site.
I want to give this place a 5 out of 5 because of how nice the hosts are, how well kept the grounds are, how many camping options there are, and how many activity options you have, but it gets a 4 out of 5 from me because of the water access, pet restrictions, and add-on fees (pet, extra guest), plus possible fines for any ‘dog infractions’. If you plan your trip ahead, you will have a great time here and really enjoy the atmosphere.
Product Review
As part of the Dyrt Ranger program I am given camping gear to test from time to time, and today I was reviewing a new kind of spork, the Morsel Spork XL. This company makes 3 kinds: The regular sized spork, then the XL, and a spoon XL. I have the morsel XL spork. No better place to review a munchie-curing tool like a 420-friendly campground! I’ve used a lot of sporks over time, and there were three things about this one that I really liked.
These sporks are nowhere near the lightest sporks on the market, but their added weight gives them more durability. They aren’t indestructible, but they won’t snap when they get shoved in your pack either. It is technically also a knife because of the ribbed edges of the fork, but I didn’t have a lot of success cutting with this. I love how it’s dishwasher safe and BPA free! Their versatility for camping makes them a better all-around solution for satisfying your hunger than what you’re using now. 4.75/5 because of the whole knife thing not really working super great.
LegendThis place is fantastic and easy to get to. Located right off I-80 and less than 20 miles from Laramie WY.
Campground Review: We arrived on the Friday afternoon of Father’s Day weekend, and there were a few tent sites available. All sites are $10.00-- If just visiting the park, there is a $5.00 day use fee. There are two loops that both accommodate large RV's down to tents. We chose a pack-in tent site that was down a trail about an 1/8 mile surrounded by the granite rock formations the area is know for. It was kind of tucked away from the rest of the campers in the area. Even way back in here, they had a very nice picnic table and metal fire rings with a grill for use. The campground was very clean. In the main area, there are restrooms and drinking water available. The camp host was very helpful with directions. (wish I could recall his name) He gave us some trail maps of the area. There are multiple mountain biking trails which we had a ball exploring. They are open to hikers and horseback riders as well so be aware and be courteous. The area is very well known for off-width rock climbing. There Is a wall of sport climbing and many boulder projects. Be aware the granite can flake off so use established routes.
Restrooms were tidy and well stocked with TP. there is water available near the restroom area.
The Badger Creek Fire was currently burning to the south causing a lot of smoke in the area. There was not a fire ban at the time we visited.
There Is free dispersed camping nearby. See Vedauwoo Road Dispersed Camping for my review of that area.
Gear Review: Occasionally the Dyrt will offer gear to test out and demo on a camping trip. I was lucky to have the opportunity to test and review theICEMULE Pro size Large 23L backpack cooler https://icemulecoolers.com/collections/pro-coolers/products/the-icemule-pro-large This cooler is amazing! I was skeptical at first. I let my teenage daughter use it prior to this trip on a beach outing and it is now the new favorite cooler for these girls! They raved about it! The ICEMULE Pro 23L held 10 pounds of ice and 10+ beverages and our food that needed kept cold. There was still ice In the bottom 2 1/2 days later when we returned home. The website says this will hold an 18 pack of beer, I don’t doubt that. Since we were camped at a pack In site, being able to pack In our cold stuff like a backpack was a great feature! We were even able to pack everything out between the two of us In just one trip! Normally a cooler of this capacity would require a singe trip for 1 or possibly 2 people. The cooler seals by rolling the opening down and buckling it closed. No zippers or latches. There is an air vent you can blow into to create additional insulation for the cooler. The cooler also folds/rolls down to a compact size when not in use. This cooler is easy to use, a dream to pack anywhere you need a cooler, and most Importantly: keeps stuff COLD! This is now an every trip favorite item! And they are currently on sale (20% off!) on the ICEMULE website!
Scout
The Bow River area has some beautiful scenery with rivers, trees, meadows, wild flowers, and wildlife. The forest service road into the campground is in great shape, and although it's a little rocky, there are no pot holes or rutted terrain. We made reservations for 3 nights, but only stayed 2, primarily because of a serious mosquito infestation. But that's nature and if you want to be in it, you have to be prepared for nature's unexpected turns. Just beware and prepared if you're visiting in June.
The forest along the dirt roads are obviously big logging areas with clearcut swaths (no selective cutting) and grounds littered with slash. These areas are unsightly and make you wonder what kind of forest service management is being observed. It appears to be about satisfying a lumber industry instead of preserving the health and beauty of our national forests.
What we weren't prepared for was the obvious neglect of the campground itself with seemingly little to no supervision or maintenance. We reserved and paid in advance for two campground sites at Bow River for ourselves and another couple. We arrived to find no posting of any reserved signs at either site. Luckily, there were few people there when we arrived so our sites were open and available to us. We're still wondering what we could have done if our sites had already been occupied by other campers.
We also quickly discovered that no water could be collected from the handpump. Thankfully, we brought some water with us, but our friends had none so we had to be very frugal about our use of the little water we shared. We also gave one kettle of water to 4 young men who arrived with no water at all. They were forced to leave the next morning because of it. I still have not been able to find anything on rec.gov warning people that the campground has no drinking water available. This is irresponsible and, at the very least, creates an inconvenience/hardship for those who are paying to stay there. There is an assumption that the information being provided and the services being sold are accurate. People arriving at this campground have traveled at least 19 miles on a dirt road with no facilities to get there. Are they just supposed to leave again and travel that same distance out if they have no water with them?
Finally, the bathrooms were quite run down and dirty. The pits themselves seemed as though they had been cleaned out, but the doors were rotting and the floors were littered with paper and covered with dirt.
We never saw any campground host, supervisor, manager, or employee of any kind. We did meet one man who circled the campground once, told us he was the campground host, and said he was looking at the sites for the first time. He was camped somewhere else and was told that his job was to drive to Bow River to colect any registration envelopes that might be in the iron collection box that was old and partially hidden behind some bushes, making it hard to locate. There also was no sign on the box.
The website claims "Open for 2024 Season!," "Tent camping, Camping trailer, Picnic tables, Toilets, Drinking water, Parking."
The bottom line is that this campground is sadly neglected. Too bad the forest service isn't paying attention.
Guide$20/night cash or check for off season first come first serve. You can reserve and pay electronically “on” season. I got an rv spot (last in upper loop) but a few tent spots open while searching. Also a few more spots opened in lower loop as I was unloading. Came to check out new rock climbing routes. Before the “season” here starts. Spaces are spaced nicely. Bear signs posted so be mindful of food and trash left out. It is Wyoming so very windy but sunny.
RangerReal cowboy Wyoming feel here, lots of fun nature to do and views all around. There are like a dozen different places to camp here, most require some driving on dirt and/or gravel roads to get to. Our sedan handled it ok but in the spring or muddy weather it could be impassable without 4WD. There’s only a few places for campers so if you have a tent you’ll want to bring it so can get closer to the really beautiful spots along the reservoirs. There’s an archery range so if you like to sleep in and/or not hear guns all day pick a campground and campsite far away from that. Anyway it’s an astoundingly BEAUTIFUL area.
Tent camping near Centennial, Wyoming offers a chance to immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of the area, with various options for outdoor enthusiasts looking to pitch a tent.
Frequently Asked Questions
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