Hiking Campgrounds in Colorado
Discover the best hiking campgrounds across Colorado. Experience the best of both worlds with camping that puts you right at the heart of incredible hiking opportunities. Direct trail access and stunning mountain vistas.
Hiking Campgrounds in Other States
Featured Campgrounds
Handpicked destinations that define the region
About This Region
Colorado stands as Americas premier mountain hiking destination with 58 peaks over 14,000 feet, vast wilderness areas, and trails ranging from gentle riverside walks to technical alpine scrambles. The Rocky Mountains backbone runs through the state, offering dramatic terrain from the Front Range near Denver to the rugged San Juans in the southwest. Whether youre bagging fourteeners or exploring hidden alpine lakes, Colorado camping and hiking delivers world-class mountain adventures.
Colorado hiking campgrounds span elevations from 5,000 to over 10,000 feet, with conditions varying dramatically by altitude. National forest campgrounds typically offer primitive to basic facilities with direct trail access. Many popular areas require reservations months in advance during summer. Expect afternoon thunderstorms in summer mountains—start hikes early. Wildlife including moose, elk, and bears are common; proper food storage is essential.
Best Time to Visit
Summer (June-September) is prime hiking season once mountain passes clear of snow, typically by late June at high elevations. Early fall (September-October) brings spectacular golden aspens and fewer crowds. Spring offers lower elevation hiking while higher trails remain snowbound. Winter opens opportunities for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing at many campground areas. Fourteener attempts are best July through mid-September.
Region Highlights
- Direct trail access
- Mountain and forest settings
- Backpacking base camps
- Scenic wilderness views
Plan Your Trip
Essential information for a great camping experience
How We Rank Campgrounds
We curate the top 24 campgrounds for Hiking Campgrounds in Colorado using a transparent, data-driven methodology
Review Sentiment
We analyze camper reviews to measure overall satisfaction based on average ratings.
Review Volume
Campgrounds with more reviews provide stronger signals of quality and popularity among campers.
Quality Score
Our ranking combines sentiment and review volume to surface consistently well-reviewed campgrounds.
Geographic Relevance
Campgrounds are selected based on proximity to the destination and relevance to the search area.
Our Data Sources
- Recreation.gov - Official federal campground data and availability
- State Park Systems - ReserveCalifornia, ReserveAmerica, and state-specific booking platforms
- Google Reviews - Aggregated camper ratings and sentiment analysis
Hiking Campgrounds in Colorado FAQ
Common questions about hiking campgrounds in Colorado
We've ranked 318+ hiking campgrounds in Colorado based on trail access, hiking variety, scenery, and user reviews. Top options are near national forests, state parks, and wilderness areas.
Popular Colorado Campgrounds Book Fast
The best hiking campgrounds in Colorado book up quickly, especially during peak season. Set up free alerts to catch cancellations.
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167,000+ Campsites
Coverage across Recreation.gov, ReserveCalifornia, and more
Outdoorithm
Just now
Site #42 is now available!
Rocky Mountain National Park Moraine Park Campground · Your preferred dates
Tip: This campground typically books out within hours. Act fast!
Find Your Perfect Colorado Campground
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