This campground has everything you need. Flush toilets, pay showers, water, easy access to sites. If you’re looking for comfortable camping, this is a great place for you. We found it to be a little more commercialized than we prefer, but we chose to stay here due to the proximity to the Arizona Trail. The trail can be easily caught from Pine Grove and road from Utah to Mexico. The Coconino National Forest is gorgeous. Despite how built up the campground is, it still provides wonderful wooded scenery.
Meadow Creek is 30-45 minutes from Winter Park, depending on where you camp. You can camp right on the reservoir, or hike in further to find your own spot. We chose to backpack in a ways due to the wet ground, so be prepared for that. It is dispersed camping, so don’t expect fancy amenities, but that also provides the freedom to find your perfect spot. We camped here due to the close proximity to Columbine Lake, which I highly recommend! Due to the high altitude, the weather can be unexpected. We got snowed on in July! But the views made it all worth it.
Gold Park is a great place to stay if you want trails and high alpine lakes at your fingertips. We stayed here so we could hike Fancy Lake and the Missouri Lakes, both of which are less than 5 miles away. Gorgeous high alpine lakes. The campsite has pit toilets and a great host. We really enjoyed our 3 day stay! Be sure to take advantage of the stunning hikes nearby. An easy drive from Vail or Leadville.
This campground is right on the main road up to the Maroon Bells, so buses do pass by. But the camping is so close to Maroon Lake and the hike to Crater Lake. The landscape is gorgeous, especially if you can catch the fall colors. You might want to book your reservations well in advance during peak season. These sites book up quick, but being close to Aspen, Snowmass, and the Maroon Bells, it’s worth the advanced planning.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park is enormous. The options for trails are endless. Great for mountain biking or hiking enthusiasts. There are facilities, ideal for car camping or families. The park feels like it’s far from the city, but the drive is easy for a weekend camping trip!
We like the west side of Turquoise Lake better, due to less traffic and access to trails. The Timberline Lake trail is right near the campsite, which provides access to a smaller lake with grear views. There are toilets and drinking water. The campsite’s elevation is close to 10,000 feet, so make sure you have warm clothes for the evening. We found snow in June, which the dog was happy about!
If you’re looking to fly fish and don’t care where you sleep, then this campground works. Great access to world class fly fishing so you can get started early in the morning. Expect the campground to be crowded! Very little privacy or trees. It serves it’s purpose, but wouldn’t recommend if you’re not there to fish.
Indian Creek is lush and wooded, while still being close to Denver. The drive in is easy, following a paved road most of the way. Great spot for car camping. The Indian Creek trail system is ideal for mountain biking or running, with access to the Colorado Trail running through it as well.
The Lodgepole and all of the Jefferson campgrounds provide great access to the Colorado trail. I’ve camped here several times, but be sure to catch it in the fall! The colors are amazing. Just a short drive to Jefferson Lake, or you can hop on the Colorado trail just across the road. Not the most secluded sites, but plenty of trees and shade to feel private enough.
There is free dispersed camping all along County Road 390, near Winfield. You will need a 4x4 or AWD to get further along the road. There’s a stream that runs along 390, adding great background noise. Our site was big enough for multiple cars, with great access to the Huron Peak trailhead.
We camped off of County Road 203. We showed up late and everything along Marshall Pass Rd was occupied. We had great scenery, mountain peaks and beaver ponds. There were sites you could pull into off of the road, but we car camped along the side since we were leaving early. Finding a spot can be difficult, but the views and location are nice.
Lincoln Gulch is close enough to Aspen to travel to town, but far enough away that you feel secluded. The sites are tucked back from the main road and include bear bins to keep your food stored A 4x4 or high ground clearance would be recommended for Lincoln Creek Rd. We needed lots of bug spray for the mosquitos at our site, so be prepared! But having the water nearby was worth it. Lots of great trailheads in the area.