How much does camping cost at Pitkin?

Camping fees at Pitkin range from $24/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Fees are typically paid at the campground entrance.

Is Pitkin first-come first-served or reservation?

Pitkin operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot.

What is the best time to visit Pitkin?

Pitkin is open July 07 to September 30. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Pitkin?

Pitkin does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Are dogs allowed at Pitkin?

Pets are not allowed at Pitkin. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

Pitkin

4.18

17 reviews

Pitkin

Real-Time Availability

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Quick Facts

9,390 ft

Price

$24/night

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book Online Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

9,390 ft

Price

$24/night

Booking

Walk-in Only

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book Online Official Website

Get Directions

Pitkin

$24.00 - $24.00 / night

Campsite Fees

ScanPay 1: $24.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction fee ($8 online / $9 phone / $3 in person).

No paid fee categories listed.

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Campground Map

Pitkin

38.6117, -106.5032

Weather at Pitkin

Best Time to Camp at Pitkin

Best season: summer. Mid-summer offers the most reliable access and the warmest, most comfortable weather at this 9,390 ft campground — expect daytime highs in the 60s–70s°F and nights dropping into the 30s–40s. Trails, wildflowers and general backcountry access are at their peak from July through August, and afternoon thunderstorms are common so plan activities for mornings. Crowds are moderate compared with Front Range gateways, but sites are first-come, first-served so arrive early in the day to secure a spot. Peak months: July, August, September, June Avoid: December, January, February

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Mid-summer is the only practical window; July/Aug daytime highs in the 60s–70s are comfortable.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: July 07 to September 30. Book 2-3 months ahead.

About Pitkin

Pitkin Campground sits at 9,390 feet in Colorado's mountains near the small town of Pitkin. Sites are first-come, first-served, so arrive early in the day during summer to avoid getting shut out. Cell service is limited or nonexistent, and you'll need the Recreation.gov app downloaded in advance to use the QR code payment system.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: summer. Mid-summer offers the most reliable access and the warmest, most comfortable weather at this 9,390 ft campground — expect daytime highs in the 60s–70s°F and nights dropping into the 30s–40s. Trails, wildflowers and general backcountry access are at their peak from July through August, and afternoon thunderstorms are common so plan activities for mornings. Crowds are moderate compared with Front Range gateways, but sites are first-come, first-served so arrive early in the day to secure a spot. Peak months: July, August, September, June Avoid: December, January, February

Elevation9390 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies high-elevation terrain characteristic of Colorado's central mountains. At 9,390 feet, the air is noticeably thinner and nights stay cool even in July. Wildflowers peak from mid-July through August when snowmelt recedes and alpine meadows come alive. Afternoon thunderstorms build over nearby peaks most summer days, bringing brief downpours and dramatic cloud shows.

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Reserving a campsite

Amenities available

This campground is first-come, first-served; visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for campsites by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app and the Scan and Pay feature; you must download the Recreation.gov mobile app prior to arrival.

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Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.2

17 reviews

Satisfactory

Pitkin is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Review Summaries

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Go if

Mid-July through August campers who can roll in on a Friday morning and don't mind cold nights in the 30s. The wildflower bloom and afternoon thunderstorm light shows are real, and crowds stay thinner than anything near the Front Range.

Skip if

Arriving on a summer weekend afternoon almost guarantees a full campground with no backup plan. No cell service also means you must download the Recreation.gov app before you leave home or you can't pay on-site.

Nearby Campgrounds

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Gold Creek Campground - Gunnison Rd

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Gold Creek Campground sits at 10,039 feet on the southeastern edge of the Fossil Ridge Wilderness Area, offering free dispersed camping in the Gunnison National Forest. The campground has vault toilets and follows a first-come basis. Reviews consistently mention the seclusion and natural beauty, though the access road is long, unpaved, and poorly signed.

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North Fork Campground (Salida, Co)

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North Fork Campground sits in the high-elevation alpine terrain of Colorado's PSICC recreation area near Salida, offering tent, RV, and primitive camping with vault toilets. Operated seasonally during peak months, the campground serves anglers and paddlers drawn to the reservoir and nearby creeks. Reviewers consistently highlight phenomenal fishing, beautiful scenery, and the remote alpine environment.

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North Fork Campground

PSICC

North Fork Campground sits at high elevation near Salida, offering primitive tent sites with views of the Continental Divide and fishing access to North Fork Reservoir. Managed as part of the PSICC recreation area, this very small campground attracts visitors seeking remote alpine solitude. Summer brings the most reliable access and active trout fishing, though the road in can be rough and signage sparse.

Iron City sits at 9,940 feet in Colorado's PSICC recreation area, offering budget-friendly tent, RV, and primitive camping along Chalk Creek. Operated seasonally during peak months with a friendly camp host, this small alpine campground serves as a launch point for ATV trails and day hikes to the ghost town of St. Elmo. The site features vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables, plus access to the historic Iron City Cemetery.

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Monarch Park

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Monarch Park sits at 10,500 feet in the Pike and San Isabel National Forests near Salida, managed by the Salida Ranger District. This high-elevation alpine campground offers tent, RV, and primitive sites with vault toilets, potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Campers use it as a base for hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing in the surrounding high country, with alpine lake fishing and wildflower meadows accessible during the summer season.

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Cold Spring (Co)

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Lottis Creek Campground

Cty Rd. 742, Taylor River Canyon, Gunnison, CO, 81231, USA

Lottis Creek Campground sits in the Taylor River Canyon near Gunnison, offering tent, RV, and primitive sites with electric hookups at high elevation in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest. Operated by Recreation Resource Management of America, the mid-sized campground draws hikers, anglers, and boaters who come for Fossil Ridge Wilderness access and Taylor River trout fishing. Reviewers consistently praise spacious sites, exceptionally clean vault toilets, and helpful hosts, though some note road maintenance issues and ATV noise in certain loops.

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Frequently Visited

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Lodgepole (Taylor River Canyon Near Gunnison, Colorado)

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Lodgepole sits along the Taylor River in Taylor River Canyon, 20 miles northeast of Gunnison in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest. This high-elevation alpine campground is managed by Recreation Resource Management of America and offers large, shaded sites under lodgepole pines with direct river access for fishing, kayaking, and swimming in calm pockets. The campground draws anglers targeting Taylor River trout and families looking for a scenic base to hike and bike nearby trails.

$18.00 - $33.97 / night

TAYLOR PARK RES, GRAND MESA, ALMONT, CO 81210, USA

Lakeview Gunnison sits at 9,400 feet on the shore of Taylor Park Reservoir in the Gunnison National Forest, 15 miles from Almont. Recreation Resource Management of America operates this mid-sized campground with electric hookups, vault toilets, and a camp store. Campers fish for trout, launch boats into the reservoir, hike high-country trails, and watch for wildlife against a backdrop of the Sawatch Mountains.

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Angel of Shavano sits at 9,206 feet in Colorado's San Isabel National Forest, offering small-scale alpine camping near the Colorado Trail and Mt. Shavano trailheads. The Forest Service operates this seasonal campground with tent, RV, and primitive sites alongside the North Fork of the South Arkansas River. Campers hike fourteeners, fish mountain streams, mountain bike forest roads, and watch for wildlife in a quiet high-country setting.

$25.00 - $25.00 / night

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Bootleg is a high-elevation alpine campground at 8,396 feet in Colorado's PSICC recreation area. Summer brings the most reliable access and warmest conditions, with daytime highs around 55–75°F and cool nights dipping into the 30s–40s. Afternoon thunderstorms are common, so mornings are best for activities.

Reservable

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No fees available

Campgrounds

Pitkin

From the U.S. Forest Service

Reference information about Pitkin sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →

Overview

<p>The area surrounding Pitkin Campground is popular for four-wheel driving in the Summer and Fall months. Many 4-wheel drive, high-clearance roads exist in this mountainous region. The area north and east of Pitkin was part of the mineral belt that extends into Leadville. Many of the 4-wheel drive roads were created by miners over 100 years ago. Pitkin campground is also used as a winter trailhead for snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers. There are 22 campsites.</p>

About the campground

The elevation is 9,400 ft. This attractive campground is composed of two loops and two spurs in a large stand of Lodgepole pines. One is small and tightly configured. The other loop, above Quartz Creek, is large and has mostly pull-throughs, widely spaced. The spur with sites 10 through 14 is located along the creek and has no turnaround. Campground features an ORV-friendly attitude and lantern posts. Exploring the nearby town of Pitkin is a good day trip activity. Firewood is available for a fee. This is bear country; practice safe food storage techniques.

Seasons & access

Open May 13 through October 1.

RV information

The parking aprons are gravel. There are several grey water disposal

Directions

From Pitkin, CO, take Forest Rt. 765 (dirt) north 0.3 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground.

National Forest: Gunnison National Forest
Ranger District: Gunnison
Elevation: 9400
Rate: $18 per day
Maximum Stay: 14
Open Season: May 23 – Sept. 29