RE: Colorado Camping

[Wayfarer]

 We are wanting to make a trip to the Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park area in Colorado and are searching for info on the campgrounds available.  Have read TG1956 s and Trlrboy s comments in the Campground reviews (MidWest) but thought we might get more.  We need full hookups for several reasons, but being financially challenged/fixed incomes/etc are looking for something fairly nice but at a cost more reasonable than what is showing on the internet if there is anything available other than certifiable dumps.  Any suggestions?  Any recommended " Mon & Pops"  in that area?  We camp mostly for the view in the area, a little R&R, and will visit the RMNP and other sights in area, but age (back, knees, etc) doesn t allow us to get into much in the way of hiking, etc.
 
 What about other areas in Colorado?
 
 Any comments, suggestions appreciated.
 

[MtnCamper]

 Wayfarer
The price for full hookup sites varies, by how far out of town you want.
 Now all these are water and elec. I didn t ask about sewer:
 
 Estes KOA $33/night (970)586-2888
 www.koa.com  Click on Colorado
 
 Estes Park Campground $28.75 (970)586-4188
 www.estesparkcampground.com
 
 Riverview Campground - 20 miles(?) (970)667-9910
 $24/night
 www.riverviewcamp.com
 
 But RMNP doesn t have hookups.
 
 Personally we don t stay at any of them, (private CG s). I think out of the 3, I would chose Riverview, and make the drive up to Estes. These will give you an idea of price anyway.
 
 also there is:
 Blue Arrow (970)586-5342
 Mary s Lake (970)586-4411
 National Park Resort (970)586-4563
 Seven Pines (970)586-3809
 Spruce Lake (970)586-2889
 
 Hope that helps.
 

[TG1956]

 Wayfarer
Hi Wayfarer,
 
 You might check in a Trailer Life or similar Campground Directory and see what they list. My understanding is that the RMNP campgrounds are primitive, but then the price is right and you are VERY close to nature. I suspect Estes Park is going to be pretty pricey in general.
 
 The Trailer Life Directory gave the Estes Park Campground good marks in the areas that are important to my family - clean bathroom/showers and a clean campground. They did get a low rating for the quality of their check-in area, but we aren t going to be hanging out there. A friend of mine, who, by the way, is pretty (very!) particular has camped there for a few years in a row and he suggested it. I respect TrlrBoy s opinion (I know he s a more experienced pop up camper than I am), but I decided to keep my reservation at Estes Park Campground. However, I did check the " Mary s lake campground"  website and it looks really good, too. I ll definately drive through Mary s Lake when I m out there and check them out as we WILL be back.
 
 BTW, when will you be in Estes Park? We re going up the week of August 11th.
 
 Good Luck - TG

[maromeo]

 Wayfarer
We will also be in the area in early August. After doing a lot of research, we found RMNP too primitive as we wanted elec. Try Colorado State Parks, they usually have flush toilets and showers. They have power but no individual water hookups. But the faucets are pretty centally located throughout the parks. We are staying at Golden Gate Canyon park and will drive to RMNP. We are paying $18.00 a night. Alot of the state parks put together programs and lectures. You many want to check out their state parks. Hope this helps.
 Mary

[mwh710]

 Wayfarer
Stone Mountain Lodge & Cabins
 18055 N. St Vrain Drive
 Lyons, Colorado 80540
 303-823-6091 or 800-282-5612
 E-Mail: info@stonemountainlodge.com
 http://www.stonemountainlodge.com/
 
 20 min to Estes Park, 20 min to Boulder, fishing across the street.  We have reservations for a week in July.  $20/night[][]

[Wayfarer]

 Wayfarer
Thanks, guys.  Appreciate all the info and will keep it on file.  We had planned to make the trip sometimes after July 4th but as of now everything is on hold.  Had to put the Rockwood in the shop for some warranty adjustments and have no idea when I will get it back as the RV Repair place had RV s standing in line to find a place to park and leave it, etc.  Perhaps we ll wait until the " summer"  season is over and head up in the early fall.  Or, maybe sooner.  Who knows?
 
 Any further suggestions, comments, reports or whatever are welcome - just jump in anywhere and add your thoughts....
 
 Mary, TG:  Enjoy your trip.  Please post us a report.
 
 Chuck []
 [font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

[Kelly]

 Wayfarer
[font=" comic sans ms" ]Chuck ~
 
 We stayed at Mary s Lake CG when we were out there last year.  While I liked the location and the views were awesome ~ the CG itself was one big dirt parking lot.  I wouldn t recommend that one.  I think when we get that way again we ll follow Mary s advice and find a state park.
 
 btw ~ you seem to be following us around the country ~ first the Grand Canyon and now Colorado ~ we ll be within 300 miles of you in August.  Let me know if you want to join us [][/font]

[Redwolf]

 Wayfarer
Rifle Falls SP and Ridgway SP, both on the western side of Colorado, are wonderful state parks.  You can find full reviews and pictures on my website (link below), in the June 2002 trips section.
 

[TG1956]

 Wayfarer
I like the idea of camping in the National Park. This will be just the second trip for us, so I m going to play it a little safe. We re going to stay with Estes Park Campground since we already have the reservation. I ll file a report when we get back home.

[Wayfarer]

 Wayfarer
Looks as though we might get our Rockwood back in time to make a trip in July...but that s not a sure thing...so we ll likely wait till fall.  Appreciate all the research passed on in this thread.
 
 Some observations, thoughts:
 
 MtnCamper (Gary) - That link you posted for the " Riverview Camp"  says it is a camp for girls 6-16.  Don t think that will work for us, but do appreciate the thought.  [&:]
 
 mwh710 - Stone Mountain Lodge seems like the way to go with a somewhat decent price, but with only something like 10 RV spaces, might not have opening too often.  Also didn t say anything about water hookups.  Still sounds good, tho.  Thanks.
 
 The State Parks seem like good deals, but hard to get any really detailed information.  Do they have a brochure or whatever that tells what parks have what kind of hookups?  Might check and see if I can get printed information.
 
 The RMNP campground is nice, but too primitive for me.  Believe I ll stay with a few more conveniences.
 
 Still hope we can get away to somewhere this month, even if not to Colorado.  We need to get our Rockwood back and go somewhere or this 50+ year marriage might just collapse!  We re both coming down with a real bad case of cabin fever and it s only been a little over a week.[8D]
 
 Again, thanks for all the info...
 
 [font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]
 

[Redwolf]

 Wayfarer

The State Parks seem like good deals, but hard to get any really detailed information.  Do they have a brochure or whatever that tells what parks have what kind of hookups?  Might check and see if I can get printed information.

 Rifle Falls had power, and shared water...we filled out water tank and disconnected so the neighbors could use it.  On our third day there, the neighbors moved out, and we had the water all to ourselves.    No showers here, however, and the dump station is several miles down the road.  However...the park is beautiful.
 
 Ridgway has full hookups, including septic.  Showers, laundrymat, playgrounds.
 
 

[MtnCamper]

 Wayfarer
Oops, that s what they told me on the phone, but try this one.
 [link=http://www.gocampingamerica.com/riverviewco/]RiverView Campground.[/link]

[Rocky Mountain Sue]

 Wayfarer
I am rather partial to the campgrounds in RMNP. Glacier is where I camp most of the time on the east side and Timbercreek on the west. They don t have hookups, but the ones in Estes Park are typical of RV parks, too crowded for me.
 
 I don t mind no hookups, it is still such a step up from the tenting days, luxury to me! My kids still pitch the tent, they like their own space (they re teenagers).

[Miss-Teri]

 Wayfarer
My DH s review site has at least one review for Estes Park campgrounds, there may even be more on there by now - www.campg.com .
 
 One thing I noticed about all the campgrounds in Estes Park was that all the sites seem to be pretty small and basically bare of trees.  The beauty is in the surrounding scenery, but not in the CGs themselves.  
 
 The CG we stayed at (I believe it was Spruce Lake) was crowded, but we really enjoyed our stay.  The river ran right along it, and the employees were very pet friendly - stopping to give our dogs dog treats whenever they happened by.        
 
 Speaking of the dogs, they enjoyed the experience, as when we went out to watch the elk that wandered into the campground, they helped themselves to the steaks on the table.  [&:]  
 
 It s beautiful country out there - RMNP is one of my favorite places.  Have a great time!

[MtnCamper]

 Wayfarer
A little off topic, But I re-discovered a campground this week that is at the very northeast corner of RMNP.(No road to the are being discussed). It s a gravel road into it, 9 miles, then a small primitive campground, $5 / night now $10 when they turn the water on (this week). But it s at 10,030 feet altitude. We are going back there in 3 weeks! Should be pretty empty during the week.