Rocky Mountain NP Area Campgrounds

[2ArizonaRV]

Hello,
I am looking for some advice for preferred campgounds in the area of RMNP. Estes Park area or on the west side of the NP is fine, too. We would prefer full hookups but they are not necessary. We tried the campgrounds in the park and they do not have availability when we needed reservations. We do want lots of trees in and around the site. We love peace and quiet and a nearby river is wonderful. I know this is a big order but if anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear from you.
Thanks!

[mythplaced]

1 1/2 hours east of RMNP

Jackson Lake state park

Hidden Treasure.......HU no sewer though...dump station

[GaryKD]

Hi 2ArizonaRV,
Consider staying away from Estes Park. I've been there many times. Tried several different CGs. I've been disappointed every time. On the West side, consider:
Winding River Resort 970-627-3215
Elk Creek CG and RV Resort 800-355-2733
RMNP is my second favorite NP. Have fun.

[2ArizonaRV]

Thanks Mike. We will check out Jackson Lake SP.

[2ArizonaRV]

Gary, we appreciate the advice as well as the phone numbers. We will check it out. Thanks.

[WheelingIt]

Just a note. Winding River Resort is an awesome campground (simply huge and lots to do) but the Grand Lake area has been devastated by the pine beetle. We stayed there last year and had a blast, but many of the trees are dead and/or have been cut down. So if you're looking for heavy forest this may not be your best bet.

You can see pics of what the campground looked like last year here: http://wheelingit.wordpress.com/2010...grand-lake-co/

[2ArizonaRV]

Thanks WheelingIt...that is good information. We do really want to spend our time in the trees, since we live in the desert, trees are a welcome change.

[micd]

Try Hermit Park or Olive Ridge.

Hermit Hollow probably is the most treed of the ones at Hermit Park but parts of Bobcat have nice trees also. Same with parts of Kruger. No river, but peace and quiet. Also some nice trails. One in Hermit Park goes to the top of an overlook with a very scenic view of Estes Park. Very close to Estes Park for visiting it and RMNP.

Olive Ridge is a heavily wooded campground not too far from Estes and RMNP. The Reserve America site says it has pine beetle damage but when we were there last summer it was still heavily wooded so I think maybe someone put that in without knowing.

I don't think either have hook ups. Hermit has a dump station. Neither has a river running through it.

In Hermit the smaller your rig the better opportunity you will have to find good treed sites. I think the more open sites are the ones that accommodate the big rigs. From what I remember pretty much everything in Olive Ridge has trees. Some more secluded than others.

Meeker Park Overflow campground is an option in the area and has some nice trees but doesn't take reservations.

If you need pics of Hermit Park sites I can send you some as we spent some time going through there and taking pics of sites we thought were level and could fit our 30 ft. RV. I can also tell you which ones I thought would accommodate big rigs but if they didn't have trees and were too open I didn't take pictures of them.

If you go to my blog there is a post of some pics. of Hermit Park, however I don't include everything I took, just some random ones. I have many more of specific sites.

Michelle