Camping
Camping in the mountains means having a quiet world around you and a nighttime sky full of stars. You are away from it all so relax and enjoy.
Green Ridge Campground on the banks of Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Stillwater and Arapaho Bay Campgrounds on the shores of Lake Granby can be reserved in advance by calling 877-444-6777 or online at www.reserveusa.com. There is a user fee for Arapaho National Recreational Area of $5 per car daily, $10 for 3 days, $15 for a week or $30 for a year, in addition to camping fees. You can buy a joint pass for $50 good for both Rocky Mountain National Park and Arapaho National Recreation Area (ANRA). Either agency will sell the pass. You must, however, buy it in person.
Willow Creek Campground next to Willow Creek Reservoir off CR 40 has 34 campsites. Boat ramp for small watercrafts. $13/night, 7-day maximum stay.
Denver Creek and Sawmill Gulch Campgrounds off Willow Creek Pass/Colorado Hwy 125 are located 16 miles northwest of Granby. Denver Creek has 22 campsites; Sawmill Gulch has 6. Both campgrounds have fire grates, picnic tables, drinking water and vault toilets. $10/campsite per night, 14 day maximum. Contact the Forest Service (970) 887-4100.
Indian Peaks Wilderness Area offers breathtaking views. For overnight camping, a permit and a $5 reservation fee are required from June 1 through September 15. Fee for entrance to Wilderness Area. Contact the Forest Service (970) 887-4100 for information, maps and permits.
Camping is permitted in designated areas in the national forest. Group camping is available by reservation at Cutthroat Bay Camping Area. Call 877-444-6777.
Several campgrounds are operated by the Fraser River Valley Lions Club with the Forest Service. St. Louis Creek and Byers Creek, located in the Fraser Experimental Forest west of Fraser on County Road 73, open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Idlewild Campground, one mile south of the town of Winter Park on Hwy 40, $12/night. No reservations. First come, first served.
Prices are subject to change. Major campgrounds that take reservations fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Senior discounts frequently available.
Propane is available at the Conoco in Grand Lake and Elk Creek Campground.
Always check for fire bans. Signs near camping areas and along trails indicate the fire danger during the summer. So, you can’t have a campfire. Think of it this way—without smoke to get in your eyes, you will have a clear view of the incredible star-lit sky.
