Deerlodge Park Campground

4.46

28 reviews

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

First-Come

Sites

7 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Dinosaur National Monument (National Park Service) site

Get Directions

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

First-Come

Sites

7 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Dinosaur National Monument (National Park Service) site

Get Directions

Deerlodge Park Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Scan & Pay campground: visitors pay on-site by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app. Scan & Pay payments are non-refundable and...

Standard Site Fee$0.00

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

Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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What Campers Say

4.46

Recommended

Based on 28 reviews

40 Google reviews

Most mentioned

quietcleanwaterbeach

"Reviewers consistently give Deerlodge Park Campground top marks, describing it as beautiful, quiet, and very clean. Campers highlight its primitive, low-use feel, spacious sites under cottonwoods along the Yampa River, and the sense of seclusion, with several noting they had the campground almost or completely to themselves."

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Best Time to Camp at Deerlodge Park Campground

While the campground welcomes visitors throughout all four seasons, each brings its own character and challenges. Winter transforms the access road into a test of determination, often requiring specialized vehicles or a willingness to trek through snow. Late spring ushers in the Yampa's most dramatic performance, when snowmelt swells the river beyond 18,000 cubic feet per second, sending floodwaters across the campground and temporarily reclaiming the riverside flats. Summer and fall offer the most reliable access, with warm days perfect for river activities and cool nights under the cottonwood canopy.

Spring (Mar-May)

Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Snow activities available. Some facilities may close. Check conditions.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: Open year-round; winter access can be very difficult due to snow.

About Deerlodge Park Campground

Tucked beneath towering cottonwoods where the Yampa River begins its dramatic journey into Yampa Canyon, Deerlodge Park Campground offers an intimate wilderness experience within Dinosaur National Monument. This seven-site, walk-in tent campground provides a shaded riverside retreat with basic amenities and year-round access, though spring's powerful runoff and winter snows demand respect and preparation from adventurous visitors.

Small walk-in campground with seven tent sites located along the Yampa River; sites are suitable for tent camping only.

Historical SignificanceYour campsite sits within one of America's most remarkable paleontological treasures, where Dinosaur National Monument preserves not only the bones of ancient giants but also the stories of Indigenous peoples and early explorers who traversed these canyons. The monument's famous Quarry Exhibit Hall and visitor centers lie within reach, offering context to the deep time and human history that surrounds your riverside camp. This landscape has witnessed everything from the age of dinosaurs to the river expeditions of Major John Wesley Powell, making every night here a connection to millions of years of natural and cultural heritage.

Weather and SeasonsWhile the campground welcomes visitors throughout all four seasons, each brings its own character and challenges. Winter transforms the access road into a test of determination, often requiring specialized vehicles or a willingness to trek through snow. Late spring ushers in the Yampa's most dramatic performance, when snowmelt swells the river beyond 18,000 cubic feet per second, sending floodwaters across the campground and temporarily reclaiming the riverside flats. Summer and fall offer the most reliable access, with warm days perfect for river activities and cool nights under the cottonwood canopy.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground occupies a broad, grassy bench where massive cottonwoods create a cathedral of dappled shade along the Yampa's edge. Just beyond your tent, the river gathers itself before plunging into the geological masterpiece of Yampa Canyon, where layered rock walls rise hundreds of feet above the water. The boat ramp nearby serves as the launching point for multi-day river expeditions, and you'll likely witness the excitement of rafters beginning their journey into one of the West's most remote and spectacular canyon systems. Dawn brings the river to life with birdsong, while evenings paint the canyon walls in shades of amber and rose.

Geological RegionPositioned at the threshold of Yampa Canyon within Dinosaur National Monument, the campground rests in a landscape carved by millions of years of river erosion through ancient sedimentary layers. The Yampa River, one of the last free-flowing tributaries of the Colorado River system, has sculpted a canyon that exposes rock formations spanning hundreds of millions of years, creating a geological textbook written in stone that surrounds your camp.

Campsite details

Sites SizeSeven shady walk-in sites suitable for tents located under large cottonwood trees along the Yampa River.

Sites PrivacyLarge flat open area beneath cottonwood trees along the river.

Total Campsites7 campsites

Recommended CampsitesVisitors should download the Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival and be prepared for limited or no cellular service. Check USGS and NOAA Yampa River flow reports before camping due to flooding risk.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

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Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive are not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Site layoutSeven shady walk-in tent sites; each site includes a picnic table and campfire ring.

Open and Closed SeasonOpen year-round; winter access can be very difficult due to snow.

Reservation PlatformsRecreation.gov mobile app (Scan & Pay via on-site QR code).

Walk-in AvailabilityFirst-come, first-served only. Visitors must physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site; pay on-site by scanning the QR code with the Recreation.gov mobile app. Some remote areas may have limited or no cellular service.

Cancellation PolicyNo refunds, changes, or cancellations allowed for Scan & Pay payments.

Amenities available

Potable water

Fire rings

Picnic tables

Vault toilets

Activities you can enjoy

Recreation at and near Deerlodge Park centers on river-based activities on the Yampa River, hiking trails across Dinosaur National Monument, and cultural/interpretive opportunities at visitor centers and the Quarry Exhibit Hall. The campground sits at the head of Yampa Canyon adjacent to a boat ramp used for multi-day rafting trips.

Hiking

Dinosaur National Monument offers miles of hiking and cross-country travel; trails provide opportunities to explore cultural sites and geology.

Boating

The campground is on the Yampa River by a boat ramp and is the put-in for Yampa multi-day rafting trips. Whitewater rafting (commercial and private) is popular; private trips require a permit and commercial trips should be arranged in advance.

Cultural and Educational Programs

The monument features two visitor centers and the Quarry Exhibit Hall with in-situ dinosaur fossils; history and cultural sites (Fremont petroglyphs, homestead cabins, ranches) and interpretive resources are available.

Winter Activities

Campground is open year-round but winter access can be very difficult due to snow; access and conditions may be limited in winter.

Water Sports

River rafting is a primary water sport here, with notable rapids (Teepee, Big Joe, Warm Springs). The Yampa's flow fluctuates seasonally; check USGS and NOAA flow forecasts before planning trips.

Campground rules

Pets are not allowed
All campsites have picnic tables and campfire rings / campfire pits. No additional fire restriction details provided.

Hazards

General hazardsCampground will flood when Yampa River flow exceeds 18,000 cfs (typically late spring runoff). Winter access can be very difficult due to snow.

Weather at Deerlodge Park Campground

°F

Dec 11

Thursday

Overcast

Precipitation: 0%

Humidity: 58%

Wind: 1.9 mph

Overcast

Weather History

Weather data powered by Open-Meteo

Detailed 7-Day Forecast

Reveal forecast

Good to know

Proximity to water featuresAdjacent to the Yampa River at the boat ramp at the head of Yampa Canyon; campsites are riverside.

Campground Map

Deerlodge Park Campground

Driving directionsDrive west from Craig, Colorado 59 miles (95 km) or east from Dinosaur, Colorado 51 miles (95 km) on Highway 40. At the Dinosaur National Monument sign turn north onto Deerlodge Road (labeled Dinosaur Park Service Rd on some maps) and drive 17 miles to the campground.

Accessible from U.S. Highway 40 via Deerlodge Road (Dinosaur Park Service Rd on some maps); final approach is 17 miles on Deerlodge Road from the Highway 40 turnoff.

Nearby places

Craig, CO — 59 miles

Dinosaur, CO — 51 miles

Canyon Visitor Center — 51 miles (east)

Quarry Visitor Center — 80 miles

Reviews from booking and map sources

4.5

28 reviews

Recommended

Deerlodge Park Campground is recommended, placing it in the top 40% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewers consistently give Deerlodge Park Campground top marks, describing it as beautiful, quiet, and very clean. Campers highlight its primitive, low-use feel, spacious sites under cottonwoods along the Yampa River, and the sense of seclusion, with several noting they had the campground almost or completely to themselves.

Review Summaries

Based on 28 reviews

What Campers Love

Campers love the scenic riverside setting on the Yampa, with tall cottonwoods, sandy beaches, and good fishing. They repeatedly praise the peace and quiet, the clean primitive facilities (vault...

Based on 28 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Expect a primitive, first-come, first-served experience with a small nightly fee and no reservations. Water is only available in the warm seasons, so plan accordingly. It’s also a key drop-off point...

Based on 28 reviews

Camper Quotes

"Spent a Friday night here in June and had the whole campground to ourselves. It was so peaceful. Primitive but the bathrooms were clean." "Picturesque and quiet campground. Right in the Yampa River...

Based on 28 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

One reviewer notes the campground itself is dog friendly, but popular trails within Dinosaur National Monument are not dog friendly, so visitors with pets should expect limitations on where they can...

Based on 28 reviews