Hayley K.

The Dyrt Pro

Denver, CO

Joined July 2016

Former outdoor guide who loves traveling and exploring new and quiet places. Year round camper.

Favorite Campground on the Pass

I absolutely love this campground. There are two loops on either side of the main road and I recommend the one by the creek. There are 4 sites that are down by the creek in the trees that are walk-in only but have the most space between them and are right on the creek. They are my favorite spots on site.

There are pit toilets available that are well maintained and there is water access. There is also a dumpster for trash. This site is better for large rigs too. There are multiple sites where you can easily back right in.

It is really quiet at night and the creek gives off a beautiful white noise for those that are close to it. This campground is very busy during the weekends in Colorado but you can most likely find a spot any day during the week.

This area is an absolutely gorgeous forest setting and is totally what you might have imagined for a Colorado camping experience. Easy access to the Bierstadt trail if you are a 14er hiker and a really fun road bike route up and down Guanella Pass. You are also less than 20 mins from Georgetown so it is also a good spot for you to have a basecamp.

Great central spot for travelers

Beautiful campground on a gorgeous pass. This is a small campground and the sites are not very far apart but it is great for water lovers or those that are looking for easy access to the pass. It is easy to access from I-70 so it is great for travelers passing through Colorado looking for an easy site with pretty views. I would recommend trying for this spot during the week as on the weekends in the SUmmer when the Pass is open it is full nonstop. 

There are clean pit toilets and level spots but the road around the campground is pretty tight so it’s not great for large rigs. More for vanlifers or tent campers. There is firewood available when the weather/restrictions allow it. 

Clear lake is just down the road, so it is just a bike ride or walk away but it is at elevation so keep that in mind.

Gorgeous but Busy State Park

This park was incredible for just getting away with my pup for a night. We brought out the bike and did some trails to find the perfect spot and since we went in the middle of the week we had our choice of spot.

The bathrooms near the parking lot are in great shape but out near the walk in sites there is only a portapotty but it is well maintained. 

All the sites are walk-in so expect to carry your gear for a little while or bring a wagon. In the Fall this park is just stunning with aspen leaves all different colors so it brings a bit of solitude in nature too even with all the people in the park. 

The lot to park in is also the big hiking trail lot so there are always cars there. It makes it not super quiet all the time but I got lucky in the noise department since we were 1 of 2 campers. 

It is pricey but honestly if you are in Denver and just looking for a nice site to stay in the mountains and want to do some hiking or biking and have easy access to the city this is great.

Stunning setting and fun hiking and it's dog friendly!

This campground is a must stay. Between the separated free sites, small number of spots, and ranger programming on-site at the campground every weekend, it was a top 5 favorite spot for us. Especially since it is our nation's 2nd national monument created! It is also one of the only trail dog-friendly monuments we have seen. 

We arrived on a busy holiday weekend and easily managed to find a spot. There are 9 fully equipped spots total with one being fully wheelchair accessible. Fire ring, picnic table, 360 views, and nice rangers. There is a well-maintained pit toilet and water sources. 

The campground is quiet since it is out of the way of the main highways. You really have to want to be here in particular to find it. In early September the weather was perfect. Not too hot, a bit rainy, and covered in wildflowers. This isn't a National Monument with a lot of attention paid to it. The rangers do a great job maintaining it but since it is out of the way and not highly Instagrammed, it is beautifully quiet. 

We got up early to hike El Morro since the trails are only open from 9-5 (be back at the ranger station by 4:45). We were the first ones on the trail and stairs. 1000% recommend doing the stairs route if your body can take it. The 200 ft stair climb wasn't bad at all and the views and trail up top were incredible. I would recommend going up this way and down the switchbacks instead of the reverse.

Even in the snow this place is amazing

This spot is hot! Literally. It is the perfect central point for exploring the state and is made up of lava rock. But even in the middle of a snowstorm, it is incredible!

There is minimal shade so ideally camping in an RV or in early spring or Fall would be best.

I was here when there was a freak blizzard and snowstorm that almost took my tent on a flying adventure so I was forced to sleep in my car.

The snow did make the igneous rock so beautiful though. There are lots of spots, for RV’s to pull through with power. There are also dumpsters, clean bathrooms, and a showerhouse.

This is a recreational area so I’m guessing that in the main season it is filled with off roaders and hikers.

There are also great trails that head out from the campground and with it being on the main road going across the state, it is a perfect spot to set up shop for exploring.

It is just a few hours from White Sands, Albuquerque, and Taos.

One of my favorite Spots in NM

This place has changed a lot over the past couple of years! Last time I was here there was only the bathroom and two picnic areas. Now there are upwards of 10 campsites situated for RV’s or tents. Tent camping can be done along the outside of the area because the parking lot is mostly gravel so it would be hard to set up a spot there. Ideal for RV’s though.

Lots of turnaround space and cheap camping.

They have a visitor’s center (which wasn’t open due to covid) and they are remodeling their bathrooms. Bathrooms are flush toilets and heated but need updating.

It is a quiet campground, pretty out of the way so most people just come for the day to hike around the petroglyphs.

The trail is incredible and filled with over 20,000 carvings. It is windy so be prepared for all sorts of weather. I hiked in a tank top and woke up the next morning to 7 inches of snow.

The camp hosts are incredibly sweet and helpful. They have firewood for sale when it is permitted but with winds, I wouldn’t trust fires too much.

There is a tourist style store on the main road turning into this place with an incredible art gallery from a local artist named Cameron Blagg. His Indigenous-inspired art fuels the love and natural history of the area.

Party Town USA

Big party spot on the Snake river!

This is the campground that all the boaters and jet skiers head to so they can use the boat put in ramp. The camp sites are on the water but are super compacted and loud.

The only bonus of this site is that you are across the street from Ritter Island and the springs and waterfalls that are transporting over 200 year hidden underground spring water.

It is a beautiful site if you have a boat or kayak to get around the island. The springs are connected in an indoor pool with slides and water play which makes it great for families.

As for camping, bring your ear plugs. This campground is a nonstop party, we ended up moving up the road to a smaller hot spring just to be able to sleep. I would only us this location as a take out point or a car drop off is you are doing a Snake River float trip. But even as you get close to this location, watch out for jet skiers that will try and take you out. There are no regulations around here it seems.

Beautiful hot springs, private tub rooms, and nice campground on the creek

This campground is in connection to a beautiful hot spring complex. We got the last spot which they called the overflow. It is a nice grassy spot behind the bathrooms. The other spots were great for pull-through RV's or tent spots.

It was busy on a holiday weekend but we didn't feel like we were being overrun with people and the pools and tub made it all worth it. 

There is also a large group spot down by the creek. Beware of mosquitos down there though. We just walked down by the group site before they came and were immediately bitten.

The bathrooms are well maintained and super clean. They are cleaned each morning and restocked. The staff is very helpful and sweet. 

There are showers up by the hot spring pools. I would recommend renting a private room for$40 to soak in your own tub. It was great during the pandemic to have fresh clean water in your own private room.

This spot also has geodomes surrounded with apple trees to rent out if you are looking for a more cabin-like feel.

There is also an alligator on site too. She looks pretty old and is pretty lethargic but is very pretty.

Cute Little Private Campground

Super cute little campground with nice custom touches for the bathrooms. It sits down in a valley near one of the main roads in Idaho so it's not super quiet during the day but they are really good about enforcing quiet hours and people are very respectful. 

It has a creek that runs by it and it has easy access to Lava Hot Springs in town. This is a great site for families with kids with easy access to local restaurants and fun at the springs water park. 

The sites are part of a large field and are ideal for RV privacy but tents are more exposed. I didn't end up setting up a tent in my site, I slept in my car so I had more privacy.

HOT HOT HOT but beautiful

This is a super cool campground. Made up on entirely lava rock, you need to have some serious stakes or your tent will end up in the middle of the lava field next door like we saw with MULTIPLE tents. 

Lava rocks are lightweight so you can’t use them to weigh it down, you can have it tied off and to the table and grill if possible. 

All sites are exposed to sun for most of the day. There are coveted tucked away sites to protect from wind and some sun but then you don’t get the view of the incredible night sky. 

Sites are first come first serve and the sites turn over at 2 pm so arrive during that time and you will be golden for your pick of views. The farthest loop is not advised for large RV’s, you won’t be able to make the turn. This means it is the perfect loop for tent spots. 

The bathrooms are clean, reservations are on an automated machine, and the campground is surprisingly quiet for being super compacted in one area of the field to protect the rock.

We were here for Labor day weekend and easily got a site. Plenty of hikes nearby and a great long and hot bike ride around the park from the campground.

Gorgeous Lake but busy during the Summer

The most popular of the campgrounds on the East side of the lake due to the tropically blue water. Lots of spots for tents and RV’s. Even has pull through sites on the lake. Beautiful views and easy beach access from all sites.

Bathrooms are okay, they need to attended to more often during busy weekends but as big as it is, it was well maintained. Sites have fire pit and picnic tables.

There is a large picnic pavilion for group gatherings with a cute little benched(rock) area. There are a TON of campgrounds on the East side of the lake. You will have your choice of spots with different amenities. 

The camp hosts are friendly and helpful. The sites are very RV or van-friendly. Many of them are also large enough for a large tent but make sure you check the sites before because not all sites are tent friendly.

It is a big party here during the Summer so keep that in mind when looking for a campspot. There is a big beach hang-out nearby where you can rent water sport gear so it can get pretty busy during the weekends but I went during the week and hardly saw anyone.

For experienced hikers only: Challenging decent

We got a permit and hiked down Werner trail to hit the river. It is a rocky and hard to find trail to the river. The views are incredible but it is really not a place to mess around. Bring EXTRA water, technu, and light gear in a stable backpack.

The hike down is rocky and you will need to be on steady feet.

Along the river there is a lot of poison oak so bring technu to wash yourself off.

There is beautiful fishing on the river but not exactly “floating” water.

It is quiet down there and very secluded but you really have to have experience to do this trip.

Great easy escape from the city

This area is so full of life and beautiful spaces of all shapes and sizes. Going off basically any side road off Tarryall you can find dispersed sites to set up for the night or a long weekend.

We camp out here often and rarely stay in the same place twice.

Roads can get pretty rough and this area is well used so they are often busy or packed but it is a great spot for setting up shop while exploring the area.

My favorite time of year to visit is Fall due to the gold Aspens but it is basically easy access anytime there isn’t snow on the ground.

I recommend bringing an AWD up here but I’ve seen civics out in the areas as well, you just need to pay attention to the road conditions and weather.

Sites are typically big enough for a large rig but you can find a multitude of small camp sites for tents or pop ups.

There are no bathrooms so most people pack in and out but there are pit toilet bathrooms at the reservoir for the important stuff.

There are lots of shooting and 4x4 action out here so keep your selves clearly visible and off trails.

Quiet in the offseason and super clean.

We came to this campground on a holiday weekend expecting it to be busy and packed since it was the first day opened. What we found was a completely empty campground, a beautiful beach, and lots of wildlife. 

The campsites themselves were beautiful, and the ones on the East side of the campground were perfect for a large tent or for small groups to get a little bit of privacy. The sites on the Westside were better for RVers and had river access. 

I'm guessing that because it was an empty campground because it isn't rafting season and because there are ample amounts of free camping nearby for the large groups and weekenders that come out from around the area. It was only $10 per night with no camp host. 

The bugs are probably also pretty bad during the Summer but we only experienced a couple of bites. We spent most of our time on the beach and fishing. It was a great location to play around with the pups and in the water.

The nature hike to the Gates of Lodore view point was nice and easy but not wheelchair accessible. Most of the sites and the bathroom can be handicap accessible. The bathrooms were super clean (keep it mind it was day 1 of the open season). 

We got a nice surprise each day and a herd of young deer wandered through our site. They didn't seem too worried about our dogs either.  

There are lots of sites nearby to visit like Vermillion Falls, Gates of Lodore School, Irish Canyon, Wild Horse area, and Browns park.

Be on the Lookout for Wild Horses

This area is located directly in the middle of the Wild Horse area of Northwest Colorado. This seems to be the place to ride dirt bikes or do some mountain biking. 

This is easy to find location since there is a large sign right off the road and there is TONS of space for camping. 

We stayed here one night on the way to Idaho and it was a great stopover spot for the night but due to ATV's and lots of people coming through, it's not a quiet long term camp spot. 

Co Rd 67, Maybell, CO 81640

Hit or Miss on spaces available and loud crowds

We have camped here multiple times. Read the whole review. The pictures attached are from our first trip. The second trip was packed with people so we didn't want to take pictures with them in them. 

The first time we were here we were one of 3 campers and the trees were amazing shade. This spot is beautiful. It is coated with cottonwood trees and has great water access to be able to wander up and down the river bed. The spots are well maintained and spaced apart. They are perfect for RV’s or tents.

The bathroom is set up in the middle of the 8 sites on the road. It is clean and well maintained. There is no trash service so pack out what you brought in. It was a really clean campground and seemed to be barely used. 

After the first night we figured out why we were basically solo the entire time…the mosquitos. Being a riparian zone and in a wildlife refuge, there are TONS of mosquitos at the campground. 

We typically use the natural stuff but this time we brought out the big guns of deet and picaridin. I would suggest citronella candles or some sort of perimeter repellant. Even with all the bug spray we brought, we were eaten alive. The only time we felt pretty safe was when we were on the water. Even then, try not to stay on or too close to the shore. The water was absolutely stunning and crystal clear. 

Our dogs were insanely happy to play in the water being that it was shallow enough for them to swim and still safely get to shore. I set up a chair in the middle of the river and lounged with my dogs swimming next to me. We did a paddleboard float trip from Swinging Bridge to Crook campground and it took about 3 hours for us to go from one campground to the other.

The second time we came here was Easter weekend and it was PACKED! There were way less mosquitos but there were insanely loud and obnoxious ATV groups rolled in and blasted music past midnight. Since it is a free campground we couldn't go to a ranger or anything. This trip we only stayed one night and moved on to a different spot instead of staying the full long weekend in this space.

First to Review
Quiet but unshaded

This is a small campground that is best if you are in an RV for shade. This section of the river is exposed to the elements so it can get pretty windy and hot. The water access is limited to the boat ramp or wandering through the brush to get to the edge. 

The first few spots of the campground are also a bit higher up on a cliff so be careful if you are planning to take those spots. The water is shallow but beautiful. 

I spent most of my time paddleboarding through the rocky formations next to the site. 

The bridge is super cool. Very narrow and makes for great photo opportunities and a little bit of a thrill if you want to complete the drive across it. It was rebuilt in 2018 after the center collapsed out of it. It is super sturdy now. 

We decided after spending some time here that we wanted to move to the Crook campground for some shade. 

This park and campground is handicap accessible but not paved. There are also handicap fishing spots, hunting blinds for permit hunting in season, and tons of wildlife. There are 5 sites on the river side and two on the land side of the road next to the bathroom. The bathrooms are really well maintained and clean. 

The TP was fully stocked and was handicap accessible. The boat ramp is better at this campground than at Crook. There are no motorized boats allowed on this section of the water. Only human run boating aka paddleboards, rafts, float boats and tubes. This boat ramp is at deep enough water and the“ramp” isn’t too steep. There is no trash service so pack out what you brought in.

Not a campground

This location is a fairground for events and equine shows only. You can keep your horses there and park your RV in designated spots during events but you can't just stop here for an overnight stay. 

They do have open stalls for long haul riders that are passing through and need to have a safe space for their horses.

Really Beautiful site surrounded with incredible rocks and river play

This is an incredibly pretty campground. There is a big loop with a field in the middle for larger parties. Lots of tubing and fishing in the creek. You can't get fully into the campground unless you have a reservation so it is really safe. 

Lots of families with kids camp here and it is a lesser-known camp pretty far out of town so it is a lot of returners and locals.

Beautiful and Right on the Creek

Beautiful scenic spot right on the creek. It is a smaller campground The sites are secluded and surrounded with shrubs for privacy. There are some really cool spots across the creek against the rocks. 

There are fire rings and picnic tables at each site that are unkempt well. The bathrooms are cleaned often. You can't use this campground as a day use lot, you will need to pay for a site. 

There is also lot of beautiful rock formations and trails you can get to from here. Fishing is good in the creek and you might even find a piece of gold or two.