Guanella Pass

Star4.62
199 reviews
Arapaho and Roosevelt NF, 101 Highway 103, Clear Creek Ranger District
StargazingGreat Hiking

Quick Facts

10,900 ft

Price

$26/night

Booking

Reservable

Sites

18 campsites

Season

The campground is op...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Very Pet Friendly

RV Friendly

Opens American Land and Leisure site

Official Website
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Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

January 2026

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

January 2026
Guanella Pass
$26.00 - $26.00 / night
Campsite Fees
The nightly rate for all campsite types is $26 during the peak season (June 6 to September 13). Rates do not include discounts, taxes, or incremental...
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Standard Site Fee$26.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

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Provider
801-226-3564
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What Campers Say

4.62

Top-Rated

Based on 199 reviews

127 Google reviews

Most mentioned

viewspeacefulcleanspacious

Some mention

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"User reviews for Guanella Pass Campground are overwhelmingly positive, with an average sentiment rating of 4.48 out of 5. Campers frequently praised the site's natural beauty, cleanliness, and helpful staff."

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Campground Map

Arapaho and Roosevelt NF, 101 Highway 103, Clear Creek Ranger District

Guanella Pass

Arapaho and Roosevelt NF, 101 Highway 103, Clear Creek Ranger District

Driving directionsFrom I-25 in Denver, take I-70 West to Georgetown Exit 228. Go south on County Road 381 (Guanella Pass Scenic Byway) for 9 miles. From Denver take Highway 285 to Grant. Turn right (north) onto Park County Road 62. Drive approximately 14.5 miles to the campground.
Access to the campground is via gravel roads. Large RVs are not recommended due to road conditions and elevation challenges. Visitors noted the need for four-wheel drive in certain areas. Roads may be rough and uneven, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Nearby places
Georgetown (7 miles, approximately 15 minutes)
Nearby supplies
Firewood is sold by the campground hosts. Supplies like groceries and fuel are available in Georgetown, approximately 7 miles away. Specific details about supply stores or fuel locations are not provided.

Best Time to Camp at Guanella Pass

Summer at Guanella Pass brings crisp mountain mornings with temperatures dipping into the low to mid-40s—perfect for snuggling in your sleeping bag with a hot cup of coffee. As the sun climbs over the peaks, daytime temperatures warm to a comfortable 60s, ideal for hiking and exploring. The dry mountain air keeps conditions pleasant, though you'll want to bring layers for the dramatic temperature swings. While mosquitoes make their presence known during the warm daylight hours, they retreat as evening shadows lengthen and cool mountain breezes sweep through camp, leaving peaceful nights under star-filled skies.

Best
Summer(Jun-Aug)
4.5 / 5

Peak season; crisp mornings, wildflowers, hiking and fishing—most popular time per reviews.

Fall(Sep-Nov)
4.0 / 5

Open into early Sept; good for late-summer alpine colors but short season for fall foliage.

Spring(Mar-May)
Not recommended

Campground closed/unreservable in spring (snow/high elevation) per seasonal info.

Winter(Dec-Feb)
Not recommended

Campground not reservable outside June 6–Sept 13; winter camping/facilities not supported.

Planning Tips
  • Peak Season: June 6 to September 13. Book 2-3 months ahead.
  • Operating Season: The campground is open for reservations from June 6 to September 13. Outside of these dates, the facility is not reservable.
  • Current Alerts: Potential fire restrictions during dry conditions. Visitors are advised to check local fire ban updates.

About Guanella Pass

Nestled high in the Colorado Rockies, Guanella Pass Campground offers an authentic alpine camping experience at 10,900 feet. The campground's 18 sites are thoughtfully arranged in two intimate loops, separated by the babbling waters of South Clear Creek and a scenic county road. Whether you're arriving with an RV (11 spacious sites accommodate larger rigs) or seeking a more traditional tent camping experience (7 sites perfect for canvas shelters), you'll find yourself immersed in pristine mountain wilderness. Modern vault toilets and fresh water from potable hand pumps ensure comfort without compromising the natural setting, while the crystal-clear creek provides a soothing soundtrack to your mountain retreat.
Guanella Pass Campground supports a variety of camping styles, including tent camping and RV camping for smaller vehicles (large RVs are not recommended).
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Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers
Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Check-in
Check-in must occur within 26 hours of the reservation start time.
Check-out
Check-out occurs at the end of the reserved stay period. Specific check-out hours are not provided.
Stay Limit
Visitors are allowed to stay a maximum of 14 nights at the campground within a rolling 60-day period.

Amenities available

Potable water
Fire rings
Picnic tables
Firewood available
Vault toilets

Activities you can enjoy

The campground offers a range of outdoor activities focused on its scenic and remote mountain location. Fishing and hiking are the main attractions, with a number of nearby trails and the South Fork of Clear Creek providing opportunities for trout fishing.
HikingHiking is a popular activity, with access to numerous nearby trails like the Silver Dollar Lake Trail. This trail leads hikers above the treeline to a scenic lake. Trail difficulty levels were not specified.
FishingTrout fishing is available in the South Fork of Clear Creek. No specific details on fish species or fishing quality were provided.
Wildlife viewingThe campground area offers opportunities to observe wildlife. Several users reported sightings of big horn sheep and deer during their visits.
Winter Activities
Water Sports
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Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsThis is bear country; campers must store food securely in vehicles. Mosquitoes are noted as highly active during daytime hours. Visitors are advised to exercise caution on rough roads and watch for wildlife such as mountain lions.
Active AlertsPotential fire restrictions during dry conditions. Visitors are advised to check local fire ban updates.

Weather at Guanella Pass

Reviews

4.6
199 reviews
Top-Rated
Top-Rated
Guanella Pass is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews
User reviews for Guanella Pass Campground are overwhelmingly positive, with an average sentiment rating of 4.48 out of 5. Campers frequently praised the site's natural beauty, cleanliness, and helpful staff.
Review Summaries
Based on 199 reviews

What Campers Love

- 'Cleanest vault toilets I’ve ever experienced.' - 'Spacious and spread out sites make you feel like you have a piece of the woods all to yourself.' - 'The views are unforgettable!' - 'The...
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Based on 199 reviews

Common Concerns

- Issues with water pump functionality in some reviews (e.g., 'The water pump did not work, known issue.') - Bright lights disturbing night environment in some areas. - Limited privacy in certain...
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Based on 199 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

- Book in advance to secure a good spot. - Be prepared for cold nights (temperatures can drop into the 40s, even in summer). - Bring bug spray to manage mosquitoes during the day. - Consider a...
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Based on 199 reviews

Seasonal Insights

Summer is the most popular season for camping at Guanella Pass Campground, with activities like hiking and fishing drawing visitors. Nights can be cold even in summer, and bugs are more active during...
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Based on 199 reviews

Camper Quotes

- 'Beautiful streams that you can hear nearby. VERY clean bathrooms that smelled great.' - 'Used this campground as a base camp to ride the Georgetown Railroad. Had some ice cream while in town and...
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Based on 199 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

- Sites #10, #11, and #12 are highlighted for being close to the creek. - Site #18 was mentioned as inconvenient due to the picnic table being 30 yards away. - Site #14: 'Very loud and disruptive...
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Based on 199 reviews

Accessibility Features

No specific information about accessibility features or reviews addressing accessibility was provided.
Based on 199 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

Pets are allowed, but no specific reviews about pet-friendly features beyond general leash rules were mentioned.
Based on 199 reviews

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Last updated January 13, 2026
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