Book Ahead for Adventure!
photo credit @theweekendforecast
The great outdoors is always there for you. It is a constant, an expanse filled with endless possibilities for recreational fun! Its essence is free to everyone, all the time. However, some of the most breathtaking adventures require an advanced reservation. Believe it or not, many campgrounds and permitted areas start taking requests six months or more in advance. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back!
Here’s our list of some of the most sought-after excursions in Colorado and beyond. If you’d like to explore them this summer, you’d better start looking for spots and permits now!
Campground Reservations
Forest Service (FS) Campgrounds
FS Campgrounds afford a variety of campground experiences. From putting up a tent to backing up your RV or Denver campervan rental, the options are vast and the settings are diverse and awe-inspiring. Check out some of the different Forest Service Campgrounds here and then hop over to Recreation.gov to book your reservation as many spots open more than 6 months ahead of your desired camping dates.
Some of our favorite FS campsites:
Difficult Campground isn’t so difficult on the eyes, nestled up against the Roaring Fork River. Just outside Aspen, this location is a great way to visit the area in the summer, especially since there is very little camping elsewhere in the valley. Make your reservations 6 months ahead of time at Recreation.gov, as there are very few first come first serve sites.
Oh Be Joyful Campground is great for visiting Crested Butte in the summer (opens May 27) and fall (closes September 30). It is a 30-site campground along the Slate River with waterfalls and wildflowers galore. The availability opens up two weeks before your desired reservation time. The first chance to book, on Recreation.gov, will be May 13th, 2022.
Lake Irwin Campground is near Oh Be Joyful and Crested Butte. It sits between its namesake lake and the Ruby Mountain Range. In addition to plenty of hiking and mountain biking, there’s swimming and water recreation along the lake. Their season runs from June 19 to October 5, and reservations can be made at Recreation.gov.
NOTE: Lake Irwin Campground will be closed for construction through 2022.
Colorado State Park Campgrounds
CSP Campgrounds has over 40,000 campsites and 58 cabins and yurts for a reasonable cost. Camping reservations are required for all campsites and they open up 6 months ahead of your desired camping date. You can check out the 34 Colorado State Parks that allow overnight camping in this Uncover Colorado article, and you can make your online reservations on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website.
Some of our favorite State Park campsites:
Stagecoach State Park sits in a valley, nestled between inspiring mountains, alongside a 771-acre reservoir off the Yampa River. Reservations can be made day of, up to 6 months ahead of time, but are required to camp here. Year-round recreation offers cross country skiing and ice fishing in the winter, and water and mountain sports in the summer! Reserve your spot on the CPW Shop website.
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area is a hugely popular area for whitewater rafting, but in addition to tearing down the rapids, you can find hiking, wildlife watching, mountain biking, rock climbing, and camping. Two of our favorite campgrounds are:
Railroad Bridge is near Buena Vista. From here you have river and climbing access. And Ruby Mountain is the most popular campsite in the area, especially with boaters because of the river access. Reservations are required for camping at each campground and can be made up to 6 months in advance on the CPW Shop website.
State Forest State Park has MOOSE! But not just moose. They also have 71,000 acres of forest supporting the full range of recreational activities (hiking, horseback riding, skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, and more). There are a variety of camping options, including backcountry, but they all require advance reservations and day passes. Reserve on the CPW Shop website up to 6 months in advance.
National Parks
National Parks pepper the American landscape, with over 130 parks to choose from when dreaming up your summer adventure. We’ve named a few, but check out the National Park Service website to start planning. And know that reservations are often required as well as entry permits. Check your campground now to see how far ahead you can reserve your space.
Some of our favorite National Parks:
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) has five campgrounds (Aspenglen, Moraine Park, Long’s Peak, Glacier Basin, and Timber Creek), and all but Long’s require reservations far in advance. Check out the National Park Service’s (NPS) website to find directions on how to make your reservations for this stunning park. We love camping here over the summer or in early fall (end of September) for the elk rut! Moraine Park is the best for elk viewing.
Backpacking RMNP is a majestic dream for the outdoors person. If you’re looking to backpack this summer, you’ll need to make your reservations at Recreation.gov on March 2nd at 8 am. The National Park Service urges you to familiarize yourself with the website first because on the day it’s a mad rush to pick up permits. Find more information here. When Backpacking, always double-check to see if you need a permit. Often, you will be required to keep a physical permit, not a picture on your phone, on your person for the entirety of your trip.
Great Sand Dunes National Park is the best in May when you can play in the Medano Creek and run in the sand before the scorching heat of summer. Piñon Flats Campground starts taking reservations 6 months in advance for individuals and 1 year ahead for groups. You can make your reservations by heading to the NPS website or Recreation.gov.
Utah’s Arches National Park is a “red-rock wonderland” sporting more than 2,000 natural stone arches and hiking, biking, and four-wheeling trails to see it all. The Devil’s Garden Campground is the place to stay and requires a reservation between March 1 and October 31. Sites are booked months in advance, so be sure to jump onto Recreation.gov, where you can reserve 6 months ahead.
Utah’s Canyonlands National Park
Backpacking Canyonlands Needle District is an incredible spectacle of mother nature. Though advanced reservations are not required, they are highly recommended, and overnight campsites become available 4 months ahead. Backcountry permits are very competitive, so get your permits as early as you can. Find all the info you need on the NPS website and in this Step by Step Guide, then book your site/permit on Recreation.gov.
Traversing the White Rim Trail, whether by 4WD vehicle or mountain bike, is an incredible journey. This challenging road can take 2–3 days by vehicle and 3–4 on a bike. Permits are necessary for both day trips and overnight trips, and the overnight permits tend to run out. If you’re planning to traverse the trail this spring/summer/fall, get your permits now! Permits are released in batches and can be found on Recreation.gov as well.
Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park, has 12 diverse campgrounds throughout its vast and impressive acreage. It comes as no surprise that campsites fill up fast in this gorgeous park! Five campgrounds (Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Grant Village, and Madison) book their reservations through the Yellowstone National Park Lodges website. Mammoth, Pebble Creek, and Slough Creek can be booked on Recreation.gov, and are on a 6 month rolling release. You’ll have to be quick to snatch these up!
Playing in Medano Creek during a spring trip to the Sand Dunes
Exploring Arches National Park
Camping at Moraine Campground in RMNP
Elk viewing at RMNP in the late fall
River Rafting Permits
Excited for a river float trip this summer? Well, make sure you get your river permit ahead of time. Many rivers regulate the amount of traffic throughout the season. Often applications are accepted in December and January prior. Permits are awarded via the lottery system in many cases, or, at the very least, you’ll need to get your application in days to months in advance. Check out this information on river trip permits from Colorado Whitewater and see if you’ll need to pull a permit.
Paddling the lower Colorado River near Grand Junction
River camp on the Upper Colorado near Dotsero
How to travel!
Titus Adventure Company wants you to make memories, not lists! Let us help you plan your next trip, starting with one of our Denver campervan rentals. These beauties, stocked with your basics, are warm and easy to use so you can focus on fun. Our other Colorado adventure rentals include a fleet of 4WD overland vehicles with rooftop campers: great view, easy to operate. And if you’re looking for additional camping rentals—fire pits, GPS, tents, coolers, various recreation packages—we’ve got you covered! We pride ourselves on being your one-stop shop for adventure with our diverse selection of Colorado camping rentals.
Check the availability of our 4WD vehicles and contact us today to reserve your Denver Jeep, 4x4, or campervan rental for your next camping trip!
Resources:
Basically, this helpful site is like Yelp for campsites, and you can book through the app. Get a free Pro membership trial when you book a trip with Titus Adventure Company!
This website takes the info on the campsite you want and then lets you know if that campsite opens up! Great for popular spots where they always seem booked because people do cancel their reservations all the time—it’s up to you to nab them!