Elbert Creek is locates at the base of two trailheads: Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive. Both are great 14ers with beautiful views. The campground is nice with good distance between each sites and plenty of trees. No reservations are required, all sites are first come first serve. A water pump is available, but the water needs to be treated before drinking. Firewood is not available at the site but I was able to find some at the entrance of the Forest Rd. Both mountains are popular hikes so expect people to arrive around 4am to begin their hike.
This is a secluded backcountry site about 2.2 miles from Sprague Lake TH or 1.3 miles from East Portal TH. The hike is fairly easy to follow with signs guiding along the way. This would be a great spot if you're wanting to camp in the backcountry by yourself as there is only one site available at Over the Hill. There is another backcountry site about .5 mile away. There is a compost toilet located a short walk from the tent site but all other items must be brought in. A bear canister is required but we did not encounter any wildlife during our stay.
Glacier Basin Campground is located in RMNP. The spots fill up quickly and it is a good idea to make reservations online ahead of time. We've stayed here in loop B where it is open for the most part but the tent sites are spread further apart. In loop C the campsites are closer together but there are more trees providing some privacy for those who want it. Glacier Basin campground is a short walk from park and ride which is a free shuttle that will take you to many different spots throughout the park so you don't have to drive each day.
I experienced my first night in the backcountry at Leigh Lake and can't wait to go back there soon. The hike was relatively flat with great views along the way of String Lake, Leigh Lake and Mt. Moran. One side of the site is completely open to Leigh Lake and around the corner is the peak of Mt. Moran while the other side of the site is a dense forest filled with trees. We spotted elk walking through the trees in the morning while relaxing on the beach waiting for the sun to come up. There is plenty of space so loading up a kayak would be ideal. We packed and hiked to the site so had limited space but there is plenty of room to spread out on a nice tent site and beach if you're able to kayak across the lake.
Colter Bay is great for any type of camper. Walk in sites available on a first come first serve basis but the campground has many sites available. Some of the sites are located on the waterfront which makes for a great view but the water is a short walk away for the other campers. Certain sites also offer great views of the peaks across the water. We used a tent for camping which was around $30 per night. Restrooms and showers are also located nearby.
Make reservations online before arriving. We visited the campground in August and the campground was full. The campground is family friendly with plenty of activities nearby. Each campsite is surrounded by trees for the most part so there is plenty of room for a hammock and some privacy. The campground is also conveniently located near Jackson Lake. We stayed at three different sites during our visit to the Grand Tetons and this was the best location for car camping in our opinion.
Small quaint campground en route to many other parks in Wyoming. Great stopping point with plenty of privacy. The majority of the campgrounds are fairly small however they back up to the Middle Popo Agie River which provides a relaxing environment.
The campsite has a great location between two beaches along Redfish Lake. All of the campsites were in great condition with a picnic table and fire ring. We thought the price of $20/night was a little much as they charge the same amount for tents/campers. We were one of two campers using a tent the two nights we were there. The campground is well maintained and is just a short drive from the lodge and minutes away from hiking trails. The campground is first come first serve and was full both days by 10am when we were there at the beginning of July. Our recommendation is the hike to Bench Lakes (8 mi round trip) which starts at the Redfish TH.
