Planning a Camping Trip in Grand County? Get to Know All the Best Campgrounds and Dispersed Camping in the Area!
Unobstructed stars filling the night sky, the dull glow of a campfire, and that connection to nature that only comes with a night spent camping in Grand County's Rocky Mountains - those are summer (and fall!) goals for mountain living. Pair that with access to lakes, rivers, forests, and trails steps from your campground, and life really doesn't get much better.
Access to the best "car camping" here in the Winter Park area is abundant. Whether you're looking to secure a coveted established campsite well in advance; roll in to take your chances on a first come, first served site at one of the many campgrounds; or set up camp in an area opened to dispersed camping, Grand County really does have it all - complete with jaw-dropping scenery and access to world-class outdoor adventure.
We've put together some of our favorite reservation only, first come/first served, and dispersed camping spots from Winter Park to Grand Lake. Most camping areas are available in our summer season: May - October. Pro tip: While some campgrounds are first come, first served and seem hard to snag, don't give up hope! If you can get there between 10am and noon (especially on a weekday!), you have the best chance of claiming a site with campers packing up and heading out.
WINTER PARK
Robbers Roost: We love seeing this sign when we drive over Berthoud Pass back into the Fraser Valley - it means we're almost home! The Robbers Roost campground is in the Arapaho National Forest and sits right off Highway 40 along the Fraser River (which helps drown out the road noise!) just 8 miles south of downtown Winter Park at the base of Berthoud. With ample shade in the national forest, its 11 non-electric campsites are available on a first come, first served basis. They do allow RVs and trailers under 25 feet, but it's a little bit of a tight squeeze - the campground is best suited for tents. Restrooms and dumpsters are available for campers to use, but water is only available at the Idlewild campground (5.5 miles down the road). It's a great location for exploring the hiking on the pass and driving 5 minutes to Winter Park Resort's Trestle Bike Park and base activities in the summer!
Idlewild: Just a mile south of downtown Winter Park in the Arapaho National Forest, the Idlewild campground sits just off Highway 40, also along the Fraser River. the paved Fraser River trail winds through it, making it easy to walk or ride into town for dinner, shopping, live music, and events; access Winter Park Resort; and take advantage of Winter Park and Fraser's extensive trail system. The tall trees provide plenty of shade in typically-full campground. The 24 non-electric sites work for tents, RVs, and trailers and available on a first come, first served basis.
Vasquez Rd: This is the closest free, dispersed camping to the town of Winter Park. The primitive campsites are a great base camp for mountain biking and hiking or heading into town a few miles down the road! Heading down Vasquez Road from town, once you hit the Arapaho National Forest border, you’ll begin seeing preexisting campsites that line the road until it dead ends. The tranquil Vasquez Creek runs alongside most of the campsites.
FRASER
St. Louis Creek: Just a mile outside of Fraser, this 16-spot, primitive campground sits along St. Louis Creek in the Arapaho National Forest near the Fraser Experimental Forest. You can ride or hike right from the campground - Creekside trail runs right next to it. A quick drive brings you the Byers Peak Trailhead or St. Louis Lake Trailhead. Open June through September, the campground operates on a first come, first served basis. From Fraser, drive up past the rodeo on CR 73. After a few miles, follow the signs to fork left to the campground.
Elk Meadows: You can find dispersed, free camping up CR 72 from Fraser in Arapaho National Forest. Coming from Winter Park, turn left onto CR 72 at the light in Fraser. Follow it under the railroad tracks and up the hill, past the Fraser Tubing Hill until you come to a parking area. Pass through the parking to look for a site. There are about 10 sites, and the area is well-marked to note where camping is allowed. Be aware that it can be pretty busy with hikers and bikers, but it the sites have great, easy access to Fraser and Winter Park trails. We love the Iko and Broken Spade loop, and the Zoom and Chainsaw trails!
Church Park: Church Park Road connects Fraser to Ute Pass and is a fun area to play around on off-road vehicles. There are plenty of free, dispersed campsites along the roads, and it's easy to pull up for a night or two without having to plan way in advance. From Fraser, drive up CR 73. Just past the rodeo grounds, take a right on CR 50. Follow it about six miles to the start of Church Park. You can keep going for miles to explore the area and find your perfect spot!
TABERNASH
Strawberry Creek Rd: Great free, dispersed camping along the road up to Meadow Creek Reservoir in Tabernash. Head north on Hwy 40 from Winter Park/Fraser - just before the left curve on the bridge into Tabernash, take a right onto CR 83, curving immediately left and then right, coming to a T-intersection where you'll take a left onto USFS 129. After half a mile or so take a left onto Strawberry Road. From there, free camping on forest service land along the road is ready for you! Just drive until you find a spot!
Meadow Creek Reservoir: This idyllic reservoir sits above Tabernash and Fraser at around 10,000 ft. Only open to non-motorized crafts, it's a great place to kayak, canoe, paddle board, and fish. And the free, dispersed camping around the reservoir make this a go-to for setting up camp for a few nights without the crowds. We love the variety of options for camping and always make a Columbine Lake hike (Junco Lake Trailhead) a priority when we camp that way! Note: you'll need an ANRA pass for each vehicle while there.
GRANBY
YMCA's Snow Mountain Ranch: The 5,000 acre property has it all, including RV and tent sites for camping! Take advantage of the central location and all of the summer activities by camping right on the property. They offer full hook up sites, water + electric sites, and basic sites. Fun fact: members get a discount of $20/night. Reserve your site online!
Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains: This sprawling property sits on the corner of Hwy 34 and Hwy 40 just outside of downtown Granby. It definitely gives off glamping vibes, with a large outdoor pool and hot tubs; two restaurants; a general store; an arcade and mini bowling alley; tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts; plenty of outdoor lounge space; a fun playground; grassy open space; and a pond for paddle boarding. People cruise around on golf carts as they take advantage of all the resort has to offer. Full hook up RV sites, tent sites, airstream rentals, and various-sized cabin rentals (all reservable online), Sun Outdoors has all the options. While you might not feel totally "away from it all" there with its size and all there is to do, it might be a great fit for you and your crew! And it's centrally-located to plenty of more secluded outdoor adventure for your day trips!
LAKE GRANBY
Arapaho Bay: This is one of our favorite places to camp in the county! Tucked on the eastern tip of Lake Granby at the end of CR 6 ( 9 miles off of Highway 40) in the Arapaho National Forest, there are three different campgrounds within the Arapaho Bay camping area: Big Rock Loop, Moraine Loop, and Roaring Fork Loop. Most of the sites are reservable (six months in advance, so mark your winter calendars to get online and reserve for your summer fun!), but a few are available on a first come, first served basis. The Big Rock Loop (sites 1-22) sits in a nice lodgepole forest, but is farthest from the water without lake and mountain views. Moraine Loop (sites 23-51) has several lakeside sites but most beetle killed trees have been removed, so it doesn't give off the same forest vibes at the Big Rock Loop. Roaring Fork Loop (sites 52-84) has great waterside sites but has less shade and privacy than the others. Sites 23 -51 in the Moraine Loop as well as sites 52 - 84 in the Roaring Fork Loop are some of the most sought-after! You can easily bring a motorboat and tie it up along the shore over night, paddle board and kayak, ride bikes around the campground, and go a mile further down the road to hike around Monarch Lake. Note: you'll need an ANRA pass for each vehicle while there.
Arapaho Valley Ranch: Just across CR 6 from the Arapaho Bay campgrounds is privately-owned Arapaho Valley Ranch. A family-owned and run guest ranch, AVR is a little slice of paradise along the South Fork of the Colorado River. Tipis, cabins, glamping tents, RV parking with water and electric hook ups, and tent sites are scattered across the sprawling the property. The private pond, playground, and lodge (complete with a pool table and old school Galaga/Pac-Man game) make it feel like home. Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards are complimentary for guest use on the pond. The lodge is home to "Colorado's Smallest Bar," worth a stop by if you're in the area just to grab a drink and check out the property! Fishing, hiking, and all the fun you can have on Lake Granby are all either on site or around the corner. Check out their options and reserve your stay in advance at this unique ranch! Pro tip: their music festivals can be a blast, but if that isn't why you're headed that way, be sure to check your dates with their event schedule so you can skip the music if you're looking for a more tranquil stay!
Sunset Point: The closest lake campground to downtown Granby, Sunset Point sits right near Lake Granby's boat ramp on CR 6 right off Highway 34. The first come, first served campground has 24 non-electric shaded sites that offer quick access to all the lake fun. It's in the Arapaho National Forest - check out their fee chart to know what to expect to pay. We love this one for getting a crew together for a weekend on the lake! Note: you'll need an ANRA pass for each vehicle while there.
Stillwater: Just on the west side of Lake Granby, Stillwater campground sits 8 miles northwest of downtown Granby on Highway 34. In the Arapaho National Recreation Area, the largest-in-the-area 129 site campground accommodates tents, trailers, and large RVs (offering some sites with water and electric hook ups). A boat ramp and dock are on site, making it easy to hop on the water. It has great views of the mountains and lake but, unfortunately, some highway noise. Pine beetles were a problem with many of their trees, so the campground is relatively exposed to the sun. But the location on the lake is ideal! Reserve online to get your site six months in advance, or take your chances with some first come, first served sites in the Stillwater campground. Note: you'll need an ANRA pass for each vehicle while there.
Cutthroat Bay: Also on the west side of Lake Granby in the Arapaho National Recreation Area, Cutthroat Bay is just a mile down Highway 34 from the Stillwater campground. Cutthroat Bay is designed for groups (has two single sites that can host up to 30 people). If you're planning a big group camping trip and want to make sure you'll have a spot all together, this is a great option! Be sure to reserve online well in advance. Note: you'll need an ANRA pass for each vehicle while there.
SHADOW MOUNTAIN LAKE
Green Ridge: The only established campground on Shadow Mountain Lake, Green Ridge campground in the Arapaho National Recreation Area has 79 non-electric sites available for tents, trailers, or RVs. It's tucked off Highway 34 nestled at the base of Shadow Mountain along the Colorado River and just over the hill from the shores of Shadow Mountain lake. With walkable access to the East Shore trailhead, beautiful mountain views, a quick walk to the lake, and just 10 minutes from Grand Lake, Green Ridge is a favorite as a base camp for exploring Rocky Mountain National Park. While the sites are relatively spread out, they are pretty open (read: no trees), so this might not be your spot if you're looking for more privacy. From the intersection of Highways 40 and 34 in Granby, drive 12 miles northwest before taking a right on CR 66. Follow the road about two miles to get to the campground. You can reserve a spot online or try for one of the first come, first served sites. Note: you'll need an ANRA pass for each vehicle while there.
GRAND LAKE
Grand Lake KOA: Formerly Elk Creek Campground (switched to a KOA in 2023), this campground is the closest to the west entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. On the road to Grand Lake Golf Course (CR 48), the KOA offers full hook ups, water + electric hook ups, tent sites, and cabin rentals. Amenities like laundry, showers, basketball court + playground, TV lounge area, game room, and a general store are ideal for those looking for some creature comforts of home! Open May 15 - October 1, the Grand Lake KOA makes it easy to hop online and reserve your spot so you're ready to roll in and enjoy the Grand Lake area!
Stillwater Pass/CR 4: This is some of the closest free, dispersed camping to Grand Lake, conveniently located at the northern end of Lake Granby. County Road 4 leads directly from Highway 34 into the Arapaho National Forest, with preexisting dispersed campsites.From Granby, take US-34 W north for 8 miles. Turn left heading west onto County Road 4 and follow the road a couple miles to Stillwater Pass.
Rocky Mountain National Park: The two campgrounds on the west side of the park are Timber Creek and Moraine Park. Moraine Park has about 100 sites, comprised of tent-only sites, walk-to tent sites and RV sites without hookups. It's typically the only year-round campground in RMNP, but it is currently under construction and not available likely until summer of 2025. Timber Creek campground is about 8 miles north of the Grand Lake entrance and offers 30 non-electric standard sites for tents and RVS (note the RVs in this campground have to be 30ft or less). While the scenery is beautiful, this campground is relatively exposed as most of the trees had to be removed because of beetle kill. The national park has dump and fill stations available May - October every year. All standard campsites are $35/night during the summer and $30/night in the winter. They need to be reserved online - a number of campsites are available to be reserved up to six months in advance on a rolling window, some two weeks prior and some one week prior (for those of us who are planning a little more last-minute!).
PARSHALL
Kinney Creek: Some off-the-beaten-path free, dispersed camping can be found at Kinney Creek in the Byers Peak Wilderness just outside of Parshall. It's a great spot to set up as a base camp for off-roading and dirt biking and is likely less busy when other areas are full. Note: the last three or so miles up to the trailhead are relatively rough and rocky and require a vehicle that can handle the terrain, but there are still some spots to camp below that! To get to Kinney Creek from Parshall, take County Road 3 to County Road 30 (Forest Road 138) and turn left on the Kinney Creek Road (Forest Road 141) and follow to the trailhead, about four miles.
Williams Fork Reservoir: This is another great on-the-lake campground. With 56 sites on the Williams Fork Reservoir (managed by Denver Water), you can set up camp and spend your days out on the water. Of note, the majority of sites are designed for trailer or RV camping, with some tent sites on the peninsula and the east side of the campgrounds. Motorized boats can be launched from the nearby ramp; you can fish steps from your campsite; and paddle boarders and kayakers love the peaceful water. Since big game hunting is available nearby, the Williams Fork Reservoir campground is a popular spot to set up base camp for hunting. Make sure to bring your own water and firewood, as these primitive sites to not offer any. Denver Water just started charging for camping at Williams Fork Reservoir, and reservations can now be made online. To find it, pass through Parshall proper and turn left (south) on CR 3 (Ute Pass Rd) - just follow the road to the Williams Fork entrance.
NEED MORE INFO OR A RECOMMENDATION?
There's no shortage of camping here in Grand County - you just have to know where to find it! If you need more tips as you plan your camping adventure, we're here for you! Feel free to reach out - we'd love to answer any questions you have or point you in the right direction. And if a camping trip in the mountains solidifies your plans to own mountain property, let us know! We'd love to share our local knowledge of the market and help you get started on your real estate journey!
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