1 campground with availability this weekend
State Forest State Park near Jelm houses upscale glamping accommodations in northern Colorado, with options at North Michigan Campground and The Crags Campground. Elevated experiences include yurts and cabins with modern amenities including electric hookups, comfortable beds, and climate control for year-round stays. The park boasts water hookups, reservable sites, and picnic tables for an enhanced outdoor experience. "We really enjoyed camping here, even though the sound of the river can be quite loud," one visitor noted about the natural surroundings. CanyonSide Campground provides additional glamping options with unique themed cabins and a pop-up trailer rental for those seeking a more resort-style camping experience without sacrificing comfort, complete with showers and toilets.
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the surrounding Medicine Bow National Forest while enjoying glamping comforts. The sites provide convenient access to fishing in the Poudre River, hiking trails into the canyon, and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities for moose, deer, and bears. A guest mentioned, "The views were amazing, met some great people, and chipmunks." Winter visitors benefit from year-round operation at State Forest State Park accommodations. CanyonSide features communal areas including covered patios with WiFi boosters, and proximity to local restaurants like the Poudre Canyon Grille for dining options. Guests should note that most glamping options require advance reservations, especially during summer months when the region sees peak visitation.
"There is no electricity or sewer capabilities for RV's and campers and the sites are relatively small, but a pop up or smaller 5th wheels and RVs will fit."
"The drive up to this area is breathtaking as well."
"Options for camping in campgrounds, close to others, or more alone. Options to camp near the lake, river, or on dry land.options for large or small camping areas. Peaceful and beautiful."
"From Chambers Lake north down FS 103 youll find a lot of dispersed camping and a lot of great spots with beautiful views."
"There is no electricity, bedding, or running water, but there is a propane heater that looks like a wood burning stove that casts a great ambiance."
"We were camping in Utah at Dinosaur National Monument, but due to the smoke from a nearby wildfire and the high heat of the summer, we decided to cut our stay one day short, and head over to the Rockies"
Available this weekend
from $28 - $120 / night
"We were driving through the area and needed a quick/easy place to camp for the night. Even in mid-July, we were the only people there. Spots are labeled well, with great fire pits at every sight."
"Great views and nice center fire pit!"
"Ranger Lakes is located a couple miles East of the Visitor Center for State Forest State Park. It is right on highway 14 just west of the Continental Divide at Cameron Pass."
"Amazing vistas 360 degrees, lots of hiking trails nearby. Moose & elk in the area. Many sites with electricity."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $36 / night
"This is a pitch your tent, start a fire, watch the deer walk thru type campground. Beautiful views of the Rockies, trails for all levels of hiking."
"I love the opportunity to connect to the wild spaces that surround us. I love finding people who share that same passion."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $28 / night
"There’s communal fire pits, a jungle gym for kids, and hiking trails into and up the Poudre Canyon."
"The bathrooms are always super clean, there is even an outdoor shower(covered of course) available in one of the tent sections. There are sinks available at both tent sections as well."
from $60 - $70 / night
"Just pull out onto one of the dirt roads and there are fire pits. Real dispersed camping."
"The washboard road coming off the highway is harsh but it smooths out when you get closer to camp. There are at least three camp site I saw that are all secluded by boulders and trees."
"I stayed at site 410 which has a stream behind it and was a beautiful spot. I would also recommend sites 411-414 & 421 for the primitive camper."
"The North Park campground at State Forest State Park has just been renovated with full hookups and a brand new bath house!"
"After driving past the more established Lake John RV Resort we found this spot to park our campervan. Site has a metal tin can fire pit. Very peaceful with private location."
ScoutTop tier glamping resort on the river with an awesome beach and swimming hole, live music on proeprty, grab and go lunch, and the nicest staff I've ever met! 10/10 would come back here. Great place to bring the dogs and kid
ScoutIn January I researched campsites at State Forest State Park. Due to lack of shade, I chose not to stay by Northern Michigan Reservoir and chose The Crags campground instead. After looking at each campsite, I chose to reserve site 524 due to the pictures and site description ‘heavily shaded, pull through tent site’. A week prior to arriving I double checked the campsite to verify it did have ample shade as I have a black lab that gets uncomfortable after it reaches 70 degrees and didn’t want to be sitting out in the hot sun myself as it was to reach the lower 80s on one of the days. Unfortunately upon arriving at The Crags, we found that the site had zero shade and was the least shaded campsite at Crags, nothing like the pictures on the website. There is no attendant and no cell reception so I was at a loss for what to do. I later found the Visitor Center and spoke to the young girl working, but she was more interested in eating her chips than caring about my campsite being falsely advertised as having shade. Needless to say we didn’t spend much time at the campsite after it got hot and had to be creative in finding places to stay cool until the sun started to go down. In addition, most people go camping to get away, unplug, and find the quiet in nature. The campsite unfortunately had a group of 4 come in Friday night to do nothing but drink, be loud and party all day long. On the other side was a family with two small children, one of which was happy to be camping and was screaming and having a tantrum at all hours of the night. With no site attendant, there was no control over the noise. It was unfortunately not the quiet, relaxing weekend away that we had planned and we will not return to this site in the future. Attached pictures show the actual campsite vs the advertised/shady campsite and description. The reservation website definitely needs to be updated
ScoutBeautiful area, lots of rock formations. Just brought the family out for the day to explore but we loved it so we will definitely be back to camp. Pretty crowded in August. Lost a singular truck key attached to a singular home key on Hermosa Rd on 08/01/26 so if you may happen to find it I would be very grateful if you reached out to me! I live in the area. Thanks!
TravelerMy husband and I stayed at the Ranger Lakes Campground during the Never Summer race weekend, and it was the perfect spot! The race course runs right by the campground, making it incredibly convenient for cheering on the runners. The camp host was fantastic. He was around if you needed anything but never intrusive. It was obvious he took time in maintaining the campground, especially the restrooms. Speaking of the bathrooms—they were the cleanest vault toilets I've ever used! They werent buggy/cobwebby and didn't smell, and were cleaned daily by the camp host. Honestly, that alone is enough to make me come back!😂 As an added bonus, we even had a moose wander right through our campsite, which made for an unforgettable experience. Overall, we had an amazing stay. The campground was clean, quiet, well-maintained, and in a perfect location. We would absolutely stay here again!
RangerRanger Lakes is located a couple miles East of the Visitor Center for State Forest State Park. It is right on highway 14 just west of the Continental Divide at Cameron Pass. There is trash collection at the parking lot for the lakes, vault toilets, and water available at a central location. The bathrooms are brick and had not odors. There is a path from the campground to the nearby lakes where people fish and hike the nature path. This campground is at elevation and gets cold in the evenings. Very few mosquitoes.
The campground is one loop. Most sites are well-spaced, have tent pads, picnic tables, and fire pits. This area is home to 600 moose.
Minimal cell service on T-Mobile. Public WIFI is available at the Visitor Center.
ScoutCrags Loop Campground in State Forest State Park is a TENT ONLY site and RVs, campers, and trailers are NOT allowed. There is a steep road in that you will not be able to get through and there are NO HOOKUPS. Visit the State Forest State Park website and it will confirm this is TENT ONLY so leave the RV.
The sites are great. Most are nice and private with good views and this tends to be a quiet campground (be respectful and considerate of other campers when you stay here). The location is perfect for hikers as there are multiple trails near by and backpacking routes as well. The facilities are good enough (this is tent camping, so have realistic expectations).
If you are looking for a quiet and relaxing tent camp close to trails for early morning hikes, Crags Loop is the place.
GuideAmazing vistas 360 degrees, lots of hiking trails nearby. Moose & elk in the area. Many sites with electricity.
TravelerBeautiful spot lots of flat spots. Make sure to go in early to get a spot! Winds can be extreme so be careful if you have a awning
RangerThe North Park campground at State Forest State Park has just been renovated with full hookups and a brand new bath house! The hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing & other outdoor activities are second to none! And you’re surrounded by snow capped peaks to boot! Highly recommend North Park campground if amenities are of importance!
Dispersed camping options near Jelm, Wyoming offer more primitive experiences than the nearby glamping accommodations. Located at 8,100 feet elevation in the Medicine Bow Mountains, this area experiences dramatic temperature drops at night with summer highs averaging 75°F and nighttime lows frequently dropping below 40°F. The region sits at the intersection of alpine forest and high desert terrain, creating diverse camping environments within short distances.
Fishing access points: North Fork Poudre Campground provides easy access to Kilpecker Creek. "The beautiful Kilpecker Creek runs through the camp and most of the campsites are situated right along the creek," notes Joe O., who recommends bringing a filter to pump water from the creek if needed.
Alpine lake hiking: From The Crags Campground in State Forest State Park, take advantage of proximity to mountain lakes. "Remote, but access to some really great hikes (American Lakes/Snow Lake, Lake Agnes)," reports Lauren P., who spotted wildlife during her stay.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Laramie River Road Dispersed camping areas offer excellent wildlife spotting. "Wildlife is abundant with tons of deer and moose in the area. Topography is Aspen wetlands and is beautiful," writes Justin D., adding that the county dirt road remains well maintained and fairly wide despite the remote location.
Boulder exploration: Vedauwoo Wagon Road camping area features distinctive rock formations popular with climbers. "We nestled behind a rock and couldn't even hear the traffic by nearby road," explains Laura C., who found the sites well-labeled with established fire pits at every location.
Secluded sites: Campers appreciate the privacy at North Michigan Campground in State Forest State Park. "Spacious dispersed sites. Most have fire pits. Lovely weather in June. Not as windy as the pilot hill rd or vedauwoo dispersed sites," reports Izzy T., who enjoyed the shade and hiking opportunities.
Year-round access: The Crags Campground remains accessible during winter months. Hayley K. describes staying in cabin #3: "We had room enough for 4 people and 3 dogs and didn't feel like we were on top of each other. The gas stove kept us nice and toasty all night long!"
Waterfront locations: Several campsites offer direct water access. Jen M. recommends site 221 at North Michigan Campground: "This site is right above the water with its own little trail going down to the reservoir," though she warns visitors to bring bug spray and fill water containers near the cabins.
Mountain views: The scenery consistently ranks as a top feature. At State Forest State Park, Kell H. notes: "Perfect weather and beautiful scenery. The campground was well maintained, even after the busy weekend. We hiked, biked and just enjoyed the view."
Fire restrictions: Regulations vary by location and season. At Laramie River Road Dispersed camping, Molly U. observed: "The area is extremely fire damaged in places & there was a fire ban in effect when we were there over 4th of July."
Wildlife precautions: Multiple campers report close encounters with wildlife. "We have had full grown moose run through our camp site and there has been reports of black bears near by as well as elk and deer," explains Darla R., who recommends taking proper precautions with food storage.
Road conditions: Access to some glamping close to Jelm, Wyoming requires navigating unpaved roads. "The washboard road coming off the highway is harsh but it smooths out when you get closer to camp," reports kiloalpha 2 about Upper Blaire Dispersed Camping.
Water availability: Many sites lack potable water. At North Fork Poudre Campground, Joe O. advises: "There are pit toilets in the campground, but no running water - so pack your own or bring a filter to pump out of the creek."
Temperature fluctuations: Prepare for cold nights year-round. Darla R. notes even summer campers should be prepared: "It does get cold at night even in summer as it's about 9,000 ft above sea level."
Child-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer amenities specifically for children. At North Michigan Campground, Meghan H. shares: "My 4 year olds threw rocks in the reservoir, they bikes on nearby trails. The bathrooms were clean too."
Wildlife education opportunities: State Forest State Park's Moose Visitor Center provides educational resources. Amanda M. explains: "The visitors center was educational and interesting, and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable and answered all of our questions."
Safety considerations: Families should prepare for wilderness conditions. Darla R. advises: "There is no cell service but there are call boxes in the area and we often see rangers driving by."
Accessible sites: Some campgrounds offer specific sites for accessibility needs. B B. notes that Pearl Lake State Park has designated accessible sites among its lakefront spots, with additional sites on an upper loop offering views of the lake or valley.
Hookup availability: CanyonSide Campground offers electric and water hookups on poured concrete sites. Will T. notes additional amenities: "There are sinks available at both tent sections as well. There are also communal areas where you can hang out and meet other campers."
Size limitations: The Crags Campground restricts larger vehicles. Grant M. shares: "Had no trouble pulling our 16ft Scamp up with a minivan, but can see that if the road was wet it wouldn't have gone as well. Small trailers are fine, 2WD is fine as long as you aren't battling the weather."
Dump station locations: Sarah S. recommends RVers at Ranger Lakes Campground "make sure to fill your tank at the maintenance center 6 miles up the road," as on-site water access can be limited.
Levelness of sites: North Michigan Campground offers suitable terrain for RVs. Garret M. notes: "Plenty space between sites for privacy too. They had twice daily ranger visits and they were very polite."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Jelm, WY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Jelm, WY is North Fork Poudre Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Jelm, WY?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 glamping camping locations near Jelm, WY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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