I absolutely love this area of Colorado. It's breathtaking no matter which direction you look. Decent campground that was a bit too big for my taste. I agree with another reviewer: choose your site wisely! Dirty vault toilets. Water spigots that were almost all dripping (some almost running). I believe it should be posted at time of reservation if there are STEPS involved to set up camp. This site had maybe 10 steps, some in desperate need of repair. As a senior solo camper, this was challenging. This site was not my choice but the only one available for my time-frame (right next door to the camp host and on the main/incoming road). When we were there, no availability of firewood from camp host, but a load did arrive while we were there. Really noisy campground (plenty of barking dogs), PLUS,a helicopter was doing a training mission two of the days we were there and flew directly over the campground, low-level, 3-5 times each day.
No bear boxes. (there was a hiker/bear interaction on the Venable trail on June 17th.)
Positives were wildlife, scenery, wildflowers, awesome hiking both directions out of the campground, nice fellow campers (those we met).
In hindsight, I would have been really upset if I'd paid full price.
The Zuni Loop was the only area open when we were there. We tent camped.
Positives: showers were open, lots of deer, night sky, so close to the interior of the Park, bear boxes, flushing toilets and running water in bathroom sinks.
Negatives: smallest campsites I've ever seen > made it challenging to set up. We were told all toilets (3) in that loop were open, but they actually were not (the one closest to us was still locked until the 2nd or 3rd night). Not much privacy as the sites pretty much sat right on the road.
Conclusion: would not return. Would much rather stay in the state park near Mancos which had HUGE shaded sites.
Campsite 17 was awesome. Huge, isolated, 1 minute from a very clean vault toilet with 2-PLY TP!!! Shaded. Tons of bird activity. Sound of Columbine Creek to fall asleep to.
No bear boxes. Beautiful but heavily used trail out of the back of the campground with multiple stream crossings. Loved it enough that I'll return to the same site.
South Narrows Picnic Area: This day use area is set just off of NM Highway 117 and tucked against the sandstone cliffs among piñon and juniper trees. There are six covered picnic tables with fire grills available. The area also has two vault toilets. No overnight camping is allowed in the area.