Camping in Grand County - Spend a Night Under the Stars

Roughing it in the great outdoors at a campground beneath the mountain sky is a sure summertime energizer.

Whether you're planning an extended camping trip or just an overnight, here are some campgrounds and camp sites. Prices are subject to change. Major campgrounds that take reservations fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Senior discounts are frequently available.

Affects of the Mountain Pine Beetle

The Mountain Pine Beetles are killing trees at epidemic levels and will be affecting the landscape for years to come. When hiking, picnicking or camping, avoid deed or leaning trees that may have a greater potential to fall. A trail could be clear one day but have deadfall across it the next. Crews are out there working to clear trails and dead trees to allow us to continue to enjoy the terrain. Avoid the woods on days with strong winds.

Campgrounds and trails may close for tree clearing or safety reasons. Contact the US Forest Service at (970) 887-4100 or visit www.fs.fed.us/arnf for updated information. Many of the campgrounds have been cleared of the dead or dying trees.

Usage Fee

There is a fee for the Arapaho National Recreation Area (ANRA). If you will be camping or playing here more than once, buy the annual pass. It's worth it. Visit the Sulphur Ranger District office in Granby for more information. For day use, there are self-page kiosks at locations entering the ANRA. Failure to have a pass could result in a fine. Don't risk it.

Reservable Campgrounds

These campgrounds allow reservations but have a certain number of sites that are non-reservable. Reservations must be made a minimum of four days prior to your arrival and can be made up to 180 days in advance. Credit cards are accepted by calling 877-444-6777 (toll-free) or online at www.recreation.gov. The site has maps of the campgrounds and useful information. Campsites can be reserved from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There is a $9 fee for this service in addition to the campsite fees. We have found this service to be very useful and user-friendly.

• Arapaho Bay Campground (ANRA) on the shores of Lake Granby has 84 sites and is open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Closes Oct. 24. $18/day single; $34/day double. Maximum seven-day stay.
• Stillwater Campground (ANRA) on Lake Granby has 124 sites. Closes Sept. 26. $20/day basic site, $23 sites near the lake, $40/day double. $5/day surcharge for water and electric hookups
• Green Ridge Campground (ANRA) on the banks of Shadow Mountain Reservoir has 70 sites. Closes September 26. $17/day single, $34/day double. Maximum seven-day stay.
• 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. There is a fee for entrance to Wilderness Area. Contact the Forest Service (970) 887-4100 for information, maps and permits.

Non-reservable Campgrounds

These campgrounds are on a first-come, first-served basis. On popular weekends, arrive early.

• Timber Lake Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park, eight miles north of the park entrance, has 98 sites, all on a first-come, first-served basis. $20/night while the water is turned on from mid-May through mid-September; $14/per night when the water is turned off. Cash or credit card. Access Pass and Senior Pass holders receive a 50 percent discount on camping fees. Ranger-led campfire programs are held in the amphitheater at Timber Creek during the summer months. Timber Creek Campground looks extremely different than it has in the past. The campground sits in a lodgepole pine forest where the majority of trees have been killed by the beetle outbreak, and removed.
• Sunset Point Campground (ANRA) has 24 campsites on Lake Granby. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day. $20/ single; $40/double. Maximum 7-day stay.
• Willow Creek Campground has 34 campsites. Five miles north of Granby on US Hwy 34, left on County Road 40 for two and a half miles. There is a boat ramp for small watercrafts. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
• Denver Creek Campground has 17 campsites. From Granby, go three miles northwest on US Hwy 40, then 12 miles west on Willow Creek Road (State Hwy 125). The campground is split into two sections, one on each side of the road. Rate: $15/day. Maximum 14-day stay. Closes Sept. 26.
• Idlewild Campground, one mile south of Winter Park on US Hwy 40, has 24 campsites. This campground is right on the Fraser River with the Fraser River Trail going through it. $14/day, 14-day maximum stay. Closes Sept. 7.
• Robbers Roost Campground just at the base of Berthoud Pass has 11 campsites on the Fraser River.  $14/day. Maximum 14-day stay. Closes Sept. 7.
• St. Louis Creek Campground is located in the Fraser Experimental Forest about three miles west of Fraser on County Road 73. It has 15 sites. It is adjacent to St. Louis Creek, but none of the camping sites overlook the creek. $14/day. Maximum 14-day stay. Closes Sept. 7.

Backcountry camping is permitted in designated areas in the national forest. Contact the Forest Service at (970) 887-4100 for information and maps.

Take care of your campfires. Never, ever, leave your campfire unattended. Be sure your campfire is completely out and cold before leaving it. Consider using a stove to cook with instead of a fire. Check for conditions or restrictions.

Purchase firewood locally to protect our forests. Destructive insects and diseases can get a free ride into our region in firewood brought from out of state.

This is bear country; practice safe food-storage techniques. Always keep food secure in a car or hung properly in a tree. Small rodents and large bears will be interested in what is on your picnic table. Keep all trash in secure trash bags. Fines for leaving trash where animals can rummage!

Never flick your cigarette butt. Wet it or put it in a can.

Always leave your site cleaner than you found it. Remove all trash and never leave any food for the wild critters to eat.