Hiking

Mesa Campground

Three miles west of Gunnison on US Highway 50, Mesa Campground sits at the gateway to one of Colorado's most compelling outdoor corridors, with the Gunnison River within walking distance and Blue Mesa Reservoir—Colorado's largest body of water—just minutes down the road. The campground offers full hookup sites for rigs of all sizes, cabin rentals, and proximity to both Curecanti National Recreation Area and the broader Gunnison Valley that makes this part of Colorado a legitimate four-season destination. The combination of river access, a national recreation area next door, and proximity to Crested Butte and Black Canyon makes Gunnison a natural hub for serious outdoor travelers. The campground's sites range from open and shaded options with 30 and 50-amp service to luxury pull-through configurations suited to the largest motorhomes. Free shared WiFi covers the property, and pet-friendly restrooms and showers reflect a campground culture that treats traveling pets as genuine guests. A well-maintained laundromat, communal fire pits, a small playground, and an on-site clubhouse, recreation center, and general store keep the operation self-sufficient for guests who prefer to limit trips to town. Propane service and boat storage accommodate guests who arrive between outings on Blue Mesa or the river. Cabins are available for those seeking a more contained stay. The Gunnison River is the natural focal point of the campground's immediate setting, and walking access to its banks provides easy trout fishing—the river holds brown and rainbow trout in quality numbers through the season—and the particular calm of a high-country river corridor available at whatever time of day fits your schedule. Blue Mesa Reservoir, three miles from the campground, is Colorado's largest body of water and one of the best Kokanee salmon fisheries in the West. Curecanti National Recreation Area surrounds the reservoir system and offers boating, paddling, and scenic canyon geology. Crested Butte, one of Colorado's most beloved mountain towns and a world-class ski and mountain biking destination, is 28 miles north of Gunnison on Highway 135. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park—a dramatically narrow canyon carved by the river itself—is accessible to the west for a day trip that ranks consistently among the most visually striking geological experiences in the Rocky Mountain region. The Gunnison area also anchors an off-road vehicle network extending into the surrounding mountains, and mountain biking trails out of Gunnison and Crested Butte are among Colorado's best. Mesa Campground operates year-round and provides a genuinely useful base for campers who want to explore the Gunnison Valley's remarkable concentration of outdoor opportunity. Summer is the peak season for water recreation on Blue Mesa and trails at Crested Butte, while fall brings extraordinary aspen color across the valley. Winter brings ski access at Crested Butte for guests willing to make the short drive over Kebler Pass. Book your site early for summer weekends and fall aspen season, and use the Gunnison Valley as the base camp it deserves to be.

River Village RV Park

11 RV Sites

River Village RV Park in Paonia, Colorado, offers 11 full-hookup RV sites — all pull-through — with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 80 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Individual fire pits, a general store stocked with propane, firewood, RV supplies, and classic toys, and site WiFi serve travelers in the North Fork Valley. Guests must be 14 years or older. Eleven pull-through sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 30-amp and 30/50-amp service, sized to 80 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Every site pulls through, so there is no backing after a mountain drive and no unhitching for an overnight. A general store handles propane fills and exchange, firewood, and RV supplies, and WiFi reaches the sites. On-site facilities stay simple — walking trails and picnicking areas, with the valley doing the work. Off-roading is nearby, and the mountains rise close on every side. Pets are welcome. Paonia sits on Colorado Highway 133 in Delta County's North Fork Valley, where the West Elk Mountains' volcanic summits meet the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The organic farming and winemaking community here has made this Colorado's most distinctive agricultural wine country, and the area draws food writers, cyclists, and travelers on the Aspen-to-Grand Junction scenic route. Paonia's wineries, the West Elk Wilderness, and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison are all within reach. Directions: driving from Grand Junction, Montrose, or Delta, the marquee is on the right; from Denver, Glenwood Springs, or Aspen, it is on the left. Summer and fall harvest season drive demand. With 11 sites, reserve well ahead.

Meadows of San Juan Resort

In the wide-open ranching landscape of the Uncompahgre Valley in western Colorado, Meadows of San Juan Resort in Montrose offers a full-service destination that serves as a natural gateway to some of the most spectacular canyon and mountain scenery in the American West. With 120 RV sites and a diverse range of lodging options including lodges, premium cabins, and rustic cabins, the resort scales comfortably from weekend getaways to month-long snowbird stays. Montrose itself occupies a strategic position in western Colorado—a working city surrounded by dramatic public lands that most travelers rush past without stopping to explore. The resort's Country Barn Guest Center anchors the communal experience, housing billiards, cornhole, ping pong, board games, and a new pickleball court. A seasonal indoor/outdoor pool keeps guests cool through Colorado's warm summer afternoons, and a bark park, horseshoes, and shuffleboard round out the outdoor recreation options. A fitness center, game room, general store, laundry, and full shower facilities handle daily practicalities, and the gathering hall and scheduled summer activities foster the social community that makes longer stays at a well-run resort genuinely enjoyable. The resort accommodates 50-amp service and features a dump station for self-contained travelers. Montrose sits at 5,800 feet in the Uncompahgre Valley, where the plateau and canyon country of the Colorado Plateau meets the western flanks of the San Juan Mountains to the south and east. The Uncompahgre River drains northward through the valley in a corridor of cottonwood and willow that softens the high-desert landscape and provides excellent habitat for birding and fishing. The valley's agricultural heritage—peach orchards, livestock operations, and hay meadows—gives the surrounding landscape an unhurried, ranching character that provides a welcome contrast to the dramatic canyon scenery that begins just outside of town. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, roughly 15 miles east of Montrose, presents one of the most dramatic and least-visited canyon experiences in the national park system—sheer dark walls dropping 2,000 feet to the Gunnison River in a chasm so narrow that some sections receive only 33 minutes of sunlight per day. Ouray, 35 miles south on the Million Dollar Highway, is Colorado's "Switzerland of America"—a hot-spring town encircled by 13,000-foot peaks and accessible via one of the most scenic drives in the state. The Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water, provides fishing and boating within easy range, and Telluride's ski resort and mountain town are under 80 miles southwest. Spring and summer are prime exploration seasons from Meadows of San Juan, with wildflowers carpeting the mountain meadows and long days allowing extended exploration of the park and canyon country. Fall color in the San Juans arrives brilliantly in late September and early October, and the resort's central position gives easy access to multiple color destinations within a single day. Winter visitors find a quieter resort at reduced rates, with cross-country skiing in the San Juans and the perpetually dramatic scenery of Black Canyon available year-round. Reserve your site or cabin at Meadows of San Juan Resort and experience western Colorado's astonishing landscape from the comfort of a full-service base camp.

Cedar Creek RV Park

Cedar Creek RV Park in Montrose, Colorado, offers full-hookup RV sites with water, sewer, and electric alongside cabins and glamping accommodations on a creekside property in the Uncompahgre Valley. Back-in and pull-through sites, on-site dining, a dog park, and walking trails make this a comfortable base in the gateway city to Colorado's western slope. Full-hookup sites carry water, sewer, and electric in back-in and pull-through configurations, with site WiFi throughout. Cabins and glamping units serve guests who want a furnished alternative without giving up the creekside setting. A general store, propane fills and exchange, laundry, restrooms, showers, and a dump station handle the practical side, and on-site dining covers meals. The property is built for guests who spend days out and want comfort on return. A playground, dog park, pavilion, and walking trails run the grounds along the creek, with planned activities through the season. The surrounding country supports mountain biking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, and birding, with skiing and wine tasting nearby. Pets are welcome. Montrose is the most practical basecamp in western Colorado. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park lies east, the Grand Mesa's lake plateau north, and the San Juan Mountains south via the Million Dollar Highway toward Ouray, Silverton, and Telluride. The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area is also close. Seasons shape the visit sharply here. Winter runs cold and snowy with highs in the upper 30s to mid 40s, good for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the Black Canyon and generally quiet at the park. Spring through fall carries the bulk of demand — reserve ahead for summer and fall color.

from $34/night

BV Overlook Camp & Lodging

BV Overlook Camp & Lodging sits half a mile from downtown Buena Vista, Colorado, offering full-hookup RV sites with water, sewer, and electric alongside cabins and tiny homes, open all year with sweeping views of the Arkansas River valley and the Collegiate Peaks. Back-in and pull-through sites carry fire pits, picnic tables, and site WiFi. Full-hookup sites carry water, sewer, and electric in back-in and pull-through configurations, with fire pits and picnic tables. Cabins and tiny homes serve guests without a rig, and the property accommodates everything from a 40-foot coach to a campervan. A general store, laundry, propane fills and exchange, dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side, with WiFi throughout and year-round operation. Check-in is 3pm for accommodations and 1pm for RV sites, with all check-outs at 11am; early check-in and late check-out are sometimes available for a fee but cannot be guaranteed in advance. A recreation center, playground, dog park, walking trails, and community fire pit fill the grounds, with mountain biking, biking, hiking, birding, and stargazing from the property and planned activities through the season. Skiing and boating are nearby. Pets are welcome. Buena Vista sits at the heart of Colorado's adventure corridor, where whitewater rafting, hot springs, high-altitude hiking, and ski touring all converge within a short drive. The Collegiate Peaks rise to the west and the Arkansas River runs below. Summer rafting season is the peak. Reserve well ahead.

from $69/night

Salida RV Resort

85 RV Sites

Salida RV Resort in Colorado offers 85 full-hookup RV sites on more than 1,600 feet of private Arkansas River frontage, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 45 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Premium riverside back-in and premium mountain view categories join standard mountain view back-in and pull-through tiers, with a boat ramp, fitness center, and clubhouse. Eighty-five sites span mountain view back-in, mountain view pull-thru, premium mountain view back-in, premium mountain view pull-thru, and premium riverside back-in categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp with site WiFi, sized to 45 feet. Every category is named for its outlook, which tells you what the property is selling — river or mountains, and how close. A laundry, propane fills, dump station, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. A boat ramp gives direct river access for boating and fishing, with a fitness center, clubhouse, game room, billiards, pickleball, sports courts, walking trails, hiking, biking, a playground, and dog park filling the grounds. Pets are welcome. Private river frontage in Chaffee County is a serious claim. The Arkansas carves through the Sawatch Range's eastern foothills between the Collegiate Peaks and the Sangre de Cristos here, and the whitewater, fishing, and trail access make this one of the most concentrated adventure-sport landscapes in the American West. Salida's historic downtown is close. Summer is peak in the Colorado high country, when the rafting season runs and the passes are open. Reserve well ahead for June through August, with fall color drawing a strong September.

from $64/night

Four Seasons RV Park - Salida

62 RV Sites, 4 Cottages

Four Seasons RV Park in Salida, Colorado, offers 62 full-hookup RV sites and four cottages along the Arkansas River, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 65 feet. Premium River and Deluxe River back-in categories join deluxe back-in, deluxe pull-through, and a small premium river tier, with a boat ramp, walking trails, and mountain views in every direction. Sixty-two sites span deluxe back-in, deluxe pull-through, deluxe river back-in, premium river back-in, premium river back-in small, and standard categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp with site WiFi, sized to 65 feet, with picnic tables. The river categories are the reason to book here, and the small premium river tier right-sizes for compact rigs that still want the water. Four cottages and cabins round out the lodging. A laundry, propane fills and exchange, dump station, restrooms, showers, and boat storage handle the practical side. A boat ramp opens the Arkansas for boating, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, with walking trails, hiking, biking, a dog park, and picnicking filling the rest. Skiing and snowboarding are nearby. Pets are welcome. Directions: from US-285 go east on US-50 toward Salida — the park is a half mile east of town along the river, 10 minutes from Poncha Springs and an hour from Cañon City. The Collegiate Peaks define the skyline in every direction, and the Arkansas is the most rafted river in the country. Summer rafting season is peak. Reserve well ahead for June through August, with fall color drawing a strong September.

from $70/night

Riverwood Resort on the Gunnison

28 RV Sites, 14 Motel Rooms, 1 Apartment

Riverwood Resort on the Gunnison in Delta, CO, offers 28 full-hookup RV sites plus 15 apartment and motel rooms, with 30 and 50-amp service and room for rigs up to 75 feet. Sites come in four categories — standard back-in, premium back-in, riverfront back-in, and pull-thru — all carrying water, sewer, and electric with site-delivered WiFi and a picnic table. The riverfront back-ins are the ones worth requesting. At 75 feet the property takes long coaches, and the attached inn means travelers can mix an RV stay with a room for family arriving separately. Laundry, a bathhouse with showers, and walking trails are on the grounds. Both the campground and the inn are pet friendly. Fishing on the Gunnison is the draw, with river frontage and a lake on the property. Delta sits where the North Fork Valley's orchards and farmland meet the broader canyon country of western Colorado, on the Gunnison River between Grand Junction and Montrose. Rates for RV sites, apartments, and motel rooms are on the booking page. Riverfront sites are limited and go first during summer fishing season.

from $2/night

Four Seasons River Inn & RV Park

14 RV Sites, 4 Tent Sites

Four Seasons River Inn & RV Park in Delta, CO, offers 14 full-hookup RV sites and 4 tent sites, with 30 and 50-amp service and room for rigs up to 45 feet. The park publishes both back-in and pull-thru site categories, each carrying water, sewer, and electric; confirm which layout you're booking when you reserve. Laundry, a bathhouse with showers, a dump station, propane fills, and RV storage cover the practical side, with cabins available for guests without a rig. Pets are welcome, with a dog park. River frontage and walking trails make up the on-site recreation, and the campground works as a full-service base rather than a destination in itself. Delta sits at the confluence of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre rivers in western Colorado, within reach of Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Grand Mesa, the Million Dollar Highway, OHV trails, rafting, and skiing — and there's still a drive-in theater in town. Rates for sites and tent spots are on the booking page. Ask about RV storage if you're basing here for a season.

from $25/night

Aspen Ridge RV Park

35 RV Sites

Aspen Ridge RV Park in South Fork, Colorado, offers 35 full-hookup RV sites at the confluence of the South Fork and Rio Grande Rivers, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 55 feet. Back-in, pull-through, and deluxe patio back-in categories sit at 8,200 feet in the upper Rio Grande valley. Thirty-five sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp across back-in, pull-through, and deluxe patio back-in configurations, sized to 55 feet, with picnic tables. Trailer rentals serve guests without a rig. Laundry, restrooms, showers, and a pavilion handle the practical side, with a community fire pit for evenings. Pets are welcome. On-site facilities are practical rather than programmed — this is a base for the surrounding mountains, and the valley does the work. Fishing runs from the rivers, with basketball on the grounds and a national park within reach. South Fork sits between Mineral and Rio Grande Counties at the gateway to the Rio Grande National Forest, the Weminuche Wilderness, and the Silver Thread Scenic Byway's mountain driving corridor — one of the least-visited and most naturally spectacular sections of the southern Colorado Rockies. The town's year-round resident community and resort economy sustain the full practical service infrastructure that serious mountain recreation requires, and the park's central valley position gives the best access to the fishing, hiking, skiing, and scenic driving in the drainage. The elevation shapes the season sharply. Summer fishing and hiking drive the peak, with fall color in the aspens a second draw and winter bringing ski traffic. Reserve ahead for July, August, and late September.

from $49/night

Grandview Cabins & RV Resort

81 RV Sites, 12 Cabins, 2 Tent Sites

Grandview Cabins and RV Resort in South Fork, Colorado, offers 81 full-hookup RV sites, 12 cabins, and two tent sites in the San Juans, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet. Back-in and pull-through categories at both amperages join a hot tub, recreation center, walking trails, and dog park. Eighty-one sites span back-in 30-amp, back-in 50-amp, pull-thru 30-amp, and pull-thru 50-amp categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with site WiFi, sized to 50 feet, with picnic tables. Four straightforward categories — pick your amp service and whether you want to back in. Twelve cabins, two tent sites, and trailer rentals round out the lodging. A laundry, propane fills, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. Rates cover two guests: additional RV guests are $3 per night, additional cabin guests $6, children under five are free, and active military get 10% off. A hot tub and sauna anchor the property, with a recreation center, community fire pit, walking trails, and dog park filling the grounds. Hiking, biking, boating, and fishing run nearby, with offroading close by. Pets are welcome. South Fork sits at the confluence of the South Fork and the Rio Grande in the San Juan Mountains, where the river's Gold Medal trout water, the Wolf Creek Pass corridor, and some of the deepest snowpack in Colorado meet. Creede, the Great Sand Dunes, and Wolf Creek Ski Area are all within reach. Summer is peak in the Colorado high country, with fall color and ski season extending demand. Reserve well ahead for June through September.

from $45/night

Chinook Cabins & RV Park

17 RV Sites

Chinook Cabins and RV Park in South Fork, Colorado, offers 17 full-hookup back-in RV sites in the upper Rio Grande valley, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 40 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. A single 30/50-amp back-in category means every guest gets the same spec, with cabins, a pavilion, community fire pit, laundry, and showers. Seventeen back-in sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp with site WiFi, sized to 40 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. One consistent category and no guesswork about what you booked; note the 40-foot cap before bringing a larger coach. Cabins round out the lodging. A laundry, showers, firewood, and a pavilion handle the practical side. A community fire pit, basketball, and horseshoes fill the grounds, with skiing, snowboarding, offroading, a golf course, mountains, a lake, and a river all nearby. The dark San Juan sky makes for exceptional stargazing. Pets are welcome. The property has operated since 1908, which makes it one of the oldest continuously running camping and lodging businesses in the southern Rockies — 117 years of the same job in the same valley is worth noting. South Fork sits where the South Fork River meets the Rio Grande in the San Juan Mountains, with Wolf Creek Pass and its enormous snowpack just west, the Rio Grande's Gold Medal trout water running through, Creede's mining history north, and the Great Sand Dunes within reach east. Summer is peak in the Colorado high country, with fall color and Wolf Creek's ski season extending demand. Reserve well ahead for June through September.

from $42/night