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Silver Thread Basecamp

48 RV Sites, 1 Cabin, 5 Tent Sites, 3 Wagons

On the banks of the Rio Grande River in South Fork, Colorado—at the southern foot of the San Juan Mountains where the Silver Thread Scenic Byway begins its winding ascent through mining ghost towns, alpine meadows, and the crystalline lakes and waterfalls of the Rio Grande watershed toward Lake City and the Blue Mesa Reservoir—Silver Thread Basecamp puts guests directly on one of Colorado's Gold Medal waterways, a designation given by the Colorado Wildlife Commission to the reach of the Rio Grande above South Fork that consistently produces the trophy brown and rainbow trout fishing that defines Colorado's finest coldwater angling. The basecamp's combination of covered wagon accommodations, a rustic riverside cabin, full hookup RV sites, and tent camping creates a genuinely versatile property in one of the San Juan Mountains' most scenic and least crowded gateways. Full hookup RV sites with 30 and 50-amp service line the Rio Grande's bank, with 11 riverfront sites providing the immediate streamside position where the sound of the river is continuous and the trout rise visible from the picnic table. Covered wagons with queen beds, bunk beds, full bathrooms, heating, and air conditioning accommodate up to six guests each in the uniquely Colorado shelter format that combines the spirit of the frontier with the practical comfort of solid construction. A rustic cabin with a refrigerator, microwave, WiFi, and Smart TV rounds out the accommodation options. Hot tub and sauna service, a modern laundry, hot showers, a country store with propane fills, and a barbecue pavilion complete the basecamp infrastructure. South Fork sits at 8,180 feet in Rio Grande County at the confluence of the Rio Grande and the South Fork of the Rio Grande, in the broad, high-elevation valley that separates the San Juan Mountains to the west from the Sangre de Cristo range to the east. The Rio Grande's Gold Medal designation in the South Fork area reflects the river's exceptional clarity, cold temperatures, and aquatic productivity—conditions created by the high-elevation snowmelt and the spring-fed tributaries that maintain the water quality even during the warmer summer months. Fly fishing the Rio Grande in this reach requires skill; it rewards it with the trophy trout that have drawn anglers from across the country to this corner of southwestern Colorado. The Silver Thread Scenic Byway (Colorado Highway 149) begins in South Fork and climbs through one of the most spectacular mountain landscapes in the state—passing Thirty Mile Campground, the waterfalls of Slumgullion Pass, the historic mining towns of Creede and Lake City, and the Blue Mesa Reservoir before reaching Gunnison in a 117-mile journey through country that remains genuinely remote even in the height of the Colorado summer season. Wheeler Geologic Area, accessible by four-wheel-drive or a 14-mile round-trip hike from the byway, protects the volcanic tuff formations that create the most bizarre natural landscape in the San Juan Mountains. Silver Thread Basecamp operates May through October in the South Fork valley's high-altitude seasonal window, with the Rio Grande's peak fishing from late June through September when the water clears from spring runoff and the trout become visible and active in the rifle runs and deep pools below the basecamp. The fall aspen color on the surrounding San Juan slopes typically peaks in late September and early October in the gold and orange display that makes the drive up the Silver Thread Byway at that season one of the finest fall experiences in Colorado. Reserve your riverside site, covered wagon, or cabin at Silver Thread Basecamp and let the Gold Medal Rio Grande define your South Fork Colorado adventure.

from $29/night

The Last Resort on the River

28 RV Sites, 2 Cabins, 5 Tent Sites

The Last Resort on the River sits along the Blanco River on Highway 84 between Pagosa Springs and Chama, New Mexico—a small, quiet campground on a cold-running mountain river in the San Juan foothills of southwestern Colorado where the fishing is good, the setting is genuine, and the distance from the resort crowds of the main Pagosa Springs corridor is part of the appeal. The property has evolved from a simple riverside stopping point into a full-service camping destination with hookups, cabins, tent sites, and a collection of on-site recreation that keeps guests occupied through long summer days in the high country. The campground offers 23 full hookup sites with electric, water, and sewer, plus six partial riverside sites with electric and water for smaller units positioned closest to the Blanco's current. Tent sites are situated directly on the river. A dry cabin and a fully stocked one-bedroom cabin are available for guests preferring enclosed accommodation. The bathhouse provides men's and women's showers and restrooms, with an on-site washer and dryer for laundry. A small general store carries ice, snacks, fishing tackle, and RV supplies. A former barn converted into a pavilion serves as the communal gathering space, two playgrounds provide children's recreation, and horseshoes, volleyball, and tether ball courts fill out the dry-land activity roster. Walking trails thread through the property, a dog park provides a fenced run area, and fishing is available in both the campground's stocked pond and the Blanco River itself. River tubing and beach access round out the water recreation. The Blanco River's valley cuts through the San Juan foothills in a landscape of piñon, juniper, and ponderosa pine that transitions into the higher spruce-fir forest of the San Juan National Forest as the elevation rises toward the Continental Divide. This stretch of Highway 84 between Pagosa Springs and Chama is one of the quieter and more scenic drives in the Four Corners region, traveling through ranching valleys and past the volcanic mesa formations that characterize the geology of this corner of Colorado and northern New Mexico. The Blanco runs cold and clear through the campground, fed by snowmelt from the San Juan peaks visible on clear days to the north. Pagosa Springs is about 20 miles north and is anchored by the geothermal hot springs at the center of town—the deepest known hot spring in the world feeds the pools at The Springs Resort and the town's other soaking facilities, providing the kind of hot-spring experience that the San Juan Mountain towns have offered travelers since the nineteenth century. Chimney Rock National Monument, a Chacoan outlier site where ancestral Puebloan structures perch on dramatic stone columns, is accessible as a day trip and represents one of the more visually striking archaeological sites in the American Southwest. Wolf Creek Ski Area, one of Colorado's snowiest mountains, rises above Pagosa Springs for winter visits. The Last Resort operates through the Colorado mountain camping season, with peak demand from Memorial Day through Labor Day and the high-altitude location delivering cool nights even at the peak of summer. The combination of riverside camping, hot spring proximity, and position on the scenic Pagosa-to-Chama corridor makes it a natural stop for travelers crossing the San Juan region who want something more than a highway pull-off and something less than a full resort experience.

from $45/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

Royal Gorge RV Resort & Cabins

69 RV Sites, 7 Cabins, 12 Tent Sites, 1 Glamping Site

Royal Gorge RV Resort and Cabins in Cañon City, Colorado, offers 69 full-hookup RV sites, seven cabins, 12 tent sites, and a glamping site across 35 acres, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, ADA-accessible sites, and rigs accepted to 65 feet. Premium and deluxe back-in and pull-through categories join a pool, hot tub, spa, and jumping pillow with mountain views in both directions. Sixty-nine sites run in deluxe back-in 30/50-amp, deluxe pull-through 30/50-amp, premium back-in 30/50-amp, and premium pull-through 30/50-amp categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp with site WiFi, sized to 65 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. Accessible sites are available. Seven cabins, 12 tent sites, and a glamping site round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, propane fills and exchange, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. An outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and spa anchor the property, with a jumping pillow, sports courts, volleyball, basketball, horseshoes, walking trails, golf cart rentals, a playground, community fire pit, and picnicking filling the grounds. A river runs the property for fishing, and the birding is productive. Pets are welcome. Thirty-five acres with mountain sunrise and sunset views puts the Royal Gorge experience within reach from camp — one of the most geologically significant canyon systems in the Rocky Mountain West, with the Arkansas River corridor and its whitewater alongside. Summer is peak. Reserve well ahead for June through August.

from $49/night

Mountain View RV Resort

40 RV Sites, 2 Cabins, 2 Glamping Sites

Seven miles west of Cañon City on US Highway 50 in Colorado's Royal Gorge country, Mountain View RV Resort earns its self-proclaimed title as the best RV park in the region through a combination of immaculately maintained full hookup sites, Starlink-powered fast WiFi, genuine mountain views, and a location three miles from one of Colorado's most spectacular natural landmarks. At 6,400 feet elevation in the foothills of the Wet Mountains and Sangre de Cristo Range, the resort provides clear high-altitude air, outstanding stargazing, and proximity to a concentration of adventure activities that makes Cañon City a legitimate Rocky Mountain destination beyond its status as a Royal Gorge gateway. The site infrastructure at Mountain View is notably well-engineered. All sites are immaculately clean, level, and fully graveled with full hookup service including 30 and 50-amp electric, water, and sewer connections. Fifty percent of sites are pull-throughs ranging from 65 to 100 feet—accommodating the largest motorhomes without maneuvering difficulty—and 95 percent of sites feature concrete patios, fire pits, picnic tables, or upgraded outdoor furniture. Complimentary Starlink WiFi delivers the fast connectivity that remote work travelers increasingly require. Clean restrooms and showers maintained daily, coin-operated laundry, and a camp store stocked with firewood, snacks, drinks, and camping essentials complete the property's practical infrastructure. Glamping domes with luxury beds, Keurig coffee makers, mini-fridges, microwaves, and unobstructed mountain views provide a premium alternative to RV sites. Horseshoes, cornhole, basketball, and shuffleboard provide on-site recreation, and the pet-friendly policy allows up to four dogs per site. The Royal Gorge cuts through the Arkansas River canyon west of the resort in a geological spectacle—a 1,000-foot-deep chasm carved by the Arkansas River through Precambrian granite—that remains among the most dramatic natural formations in Colorado. Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, three miles from the campground, provides access to the bridge spanning the gorge (the world's highest when completed in 1929), aerial gondola rides, ziplines, and skycoaster experiences that combine engineering drama with adrenaline. The Arkansas River below the gorge is among the premier whitewater rafting destinations in the Rocky Mountains, with commercial rafting operations offering runs from beginner-friendly to expert-class. Beyond the gorge itself, the Cañon City region supports a full range of outdoor recreation that extends well into the surrounding mountains. Fishing on the Arkansas River from Salida downstream through the gorge provides excellent trout angling, and the river's Gold Medal water sections are particularly well-regarded. Horseback riding, hiking in the Wet Mountains, and photography excursions into the surrounding canyon country fill out the activity calendar. Cañon City's historic downtown, the Colorado Territorial Prison Museum, and the region's several winery and craft beer operations provide terrestrial alternatives to the outdoor lineup. Mountain View RV Resort is open year-round, and the Colorado climate in the Cañon City area—mild by Rocky Mountain standards—makes it accessible across all seasons. Summer is peak season for whitewater rafting and Royal Gorge sightseeing, while fall brings extraordinary color in the surrounding foothills and dramatically reduced crowds. Winter reservations are available for guests who appreciate quiet mountain country in the off-season. Book your site and let the Royal Gorge country earn its reputation as one of Colorado's most compelling canyon destinations.

from $36/night

Blue Spruce RV Park

79 RV Sites, 16 Cabins, 2 Onsite RV/Trailers, 2 Apartments

Located 40 minutes northeast of Durango, CO, Blue Spruce RV Park is a quiet, full amenity RV Park with a few unique twists. Our full hookup RV sites are nestled in a pine forest that backs up to the mountains. Our amenities include a dining hall, game room with parlor games, an outdoor pavilion and several other outdoor activities on the grounds. We offer multiple cabins, park apartments, and pre-setup RV's for rent. We are a perfect launching point for endless outdoor fun.

Junction West Vallecito Resort

Junction West Vallecito Resort in Bayfield, Colorado, offers full-hookup RV sites and cabin accommodations in the mountain country of La Plata County near Durango, with an outdoor pool, game room, library, and lake on the property. One practical detail to plan around: there is no cell service in the park, though WiFi calling is available — check with your provider before arrival to have it enabled. Full-hookup RV sites serve guests with rigs, and cabins provide enclosed lodging for those without. A general store, laundry, propane fills, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side, with WiFi throughout. The lack of cell coverage is worth taking seriously if you need to stay reachable — enable WiFi calling before you arrive rather than after. An outdoor pool anchors the warm months, with a game room, library, and pavilion for other hours. A playground serves families, and a lake on the property supports fishing, with horseshoes and basketball on the grounds. Pets are welcome. Bayfield sits at cool elevation in the forested upper Piedra River drainage, near Vallecito Reservoir and the San Juan National Forest. That puts the full southwestern Colorado recreation corridor within reach — Mesa Verde National Park, the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and the Weminuche Wilderness Area's high alpine trail network. The San Juan Mountains deliver the most visually spectacular concentration of high-country scenery in the Rocky Mountain West, and the conifer forest and mountain air here are the reason guests choose this over a Durango-adjacent park. Summer is the season at this elevation. Reserve well ahead for July and August.

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

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.

Tall Texan RV Park and Cabins

84 RV Sites

Tall Texan RV Park and Cabins in Gunnison, Colorado, offers 84 full-hookup RV sites with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 45 feet, with more than 50 years of continuous operation in the Gunnison and Crested Butte Valley. Super size and El Grande back-in categories join premium back-in, premium pull-through, standard, and super size pull-through tiers. Eighty-four sites span standard back-in, premium back-in, super size back-in, El Grande back-in, premium pull-thru, and super size pull-thru categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp with site WiFi, sized to 45 feet. The El Grande and super size tiers give larger rigs a proper option in a valley where space is often tight. A general store, boutique shop, laundry, propane fills, dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. A game room, playground, pavilion, and pond fill the grounds, with fishing on the property and a river nearby. Offroading is close by. Pets are welcome. Fifty years of continuous operation in a competitive mountain resort market says something no amenity list can. Gunnison sits at the convergence of the Gunnison River valley and the road north to Crested Butte, with the Black Canyon, Blue Mesa Reservoir, and the West Elk Mountains all within reach. Directions: from Highway 50, turn north on Main Street (Highway 135) for 2.5 miles — if you cross the bridge over the Gunnison River you have gone too far — then right onto County Road 11 by the mailboxes and the blue campground sign, and 300 yards in. Summer is peak in the Colorado high country. Reserve well ahead for June through September.

Oasis RV Resort & Cottages

36 RV Sites

Positioned directly across from Blue Mesa Reservoir—Colorado's largest body of water, covering more than 9,000 acres of surface area in the Black Canyon country of Gunnison County—Oasis RV Resort and Cottages offers lakeside camping access alongside a well-rounded amenity package that makes it a comfortable multi-day destination for guests exploring the Curecanti National Recreation Area and the broader Gunnison Valley. The resort's lakeside location gives it a natural backdrop defined by the reservoir's dramatic rock formations, and the combination of immediate water access and Gunnison's outdoor recreation infrastructure positions it as a natural basecamp for guests drawn to high-altitude Colorado camping. Sites are available for RVs with electric and sewer hookups, and tent camping and vacation cottages expand the accommodation options for guests with different lodging preferences. Shaded RV sites, free Wi-Fi, and pure drinking water address daily comfort needs, while a coin-operated laundry, propane sales, RV and boat storage, and a dog park handle practical aspects of an extended stay. The general store on-site is well stocked with groceries, toiletries, fishing tackle, RV supplies, and regional souvenirs, giving guests a convenient on-property resupply option without requiring a trip to Gunnison's retail corridor several miles away. Blue Mesa Reservoir, created by the impoundment of the Gunnison River behind Blue Mesa Dam in 1966, supports trophy trout fishing for Kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, and brown trout in one of Colorado's most productive high-altitude fisheries. Boating, waterskiing, kayaking, and windsurfing are popular on the reservoir's open water during the summer months, and the three arms of the lake—Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal—provide varied terrain for water recreation and lake exploration by boat. The Elk Creek Marina provides boat ramp access and rental services for guests who want on-water transportation beyond what they can launch independently. Curecanti National Recreation Area, managed by the National Park Service and headquartering near the campground on U.S. Highway 50, administers the reservoir and surrounding canyon lands with hiking trails, visitor programming, and ranger-led boat tours into the dramatic Morrow Point Canyon accessible only by water or the Pine Creek Trail. The Gunnison River downstream of the reservoir enters the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park—one of Colorado's most dramatic canyon systems, with sheer walls dropping nearly 2,700 feet to the river below. Dos Rios Golf Club in Gunnison provides a local golf option for guests seeking a break from water-based recreation. Oasis RV Resort and Cottages is open through the summer camping season, with the Colorado high country's elevation—Gunnison sits at approximately 7,700 feet—delivering cool nights and mild days even during the warmest summer months. The trout fishing season on Blue Mesa runs from spring through fall, and the reservoir's Kokanee salmon fishery peaks in late summer. Advance reservations for waterfront and lake-view positions are recommended for summer holiday weekends, when Curecanti National Recreation Area sees its highest visitation of the year.

from $60/night

Junction West Durango Riverside

97 RV Sites, 2 Cabins

Junction West Durango Riverside in Durango, Colorado, offers 70 full-hookup RV sites and two cabins along the Animas River in the Hermosa Valley, with 30 and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 70 feet. Riverfront back-in and super pull-through categories sit alongside an outdoor pool, on-site dining, a boutique shop, and a game room. Seventy sites run in back-in, riverfront back-in, pull-through, and super pull-through configurations, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 30 and 50-amp with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 70 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. The riverfront category is worth requesting — the river is the property's defining feature. Two cabins serve guests without a rig. A general store, laundry, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. The amenity roster reduces the need to leave the property. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, on-site dining and a snack bar cover meals, and a game room and boutique shop fill the rest. Swimming and fishing run from the river, which the resort follows where the Animas emerges from the canyon above town and widens through the Hermosa Creek confluence. Pets are welcome. Durango's downtown is minutes south, with its dining and craft brewery scene, and the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad — running through the San Juan Mountains since 1882 — is 12 miles away. The resort serves the southwestern Colorado season. Summer railroad traffic and fall color in the San Juans drive peak demand, and Durango lodging tightens considerably in both windows. Reserve well ahead, and request a riverfront site early if you want one.

from $45/night