Explore all that this “Golden” entrance to the Rocky Mountain region offers.
Tucked in between Denver and the Front Range, Golden is a base camp for adventures both in the city and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Once a hub for gold mining, hence the name, Golden now is a hub for local brew pubs and restaurants, offering a place to relax after enjoying the bounty of recreational opportunities. Clear Creek takes a wild tumble from the mountains before becoming a focal point for the town of Golden, which offers trails and parks along the rippling waterway. Public camping options in Golden include the city-run Clear Creek RV Park and Chief Hosa Campground. Just outside of town, Golden Gate Canyon State Park is nestled in the Front Range, offering 97 campsites, including RV and tent camping.
Dreaming of a camping trip in the Rockies? Golden is just over one hour from Estes Park, a popular eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, and approximately two hours from Grand Lake, the primary western entrance. Inside the park, several campgrounds offer sublime views and access to adventures. While full hookup RV parks are not found directly in the national park, the gateway cities are home to private and public campgrounds offering a range of amenities.
Your best bet for finding free camping is to look for dispersed camping areas in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, which offers 1.5 million acres of open space in the Rocky Mountain wilderness, stretching north and south of I-70. Over 50 public campgrounds are available, with tent camping being more common than RV camping. Amenities like picnic tables, dump stations, and potable water are sometimes found.
Though Denver is a city, a surprising number of state park campgrounds and RV parks can be found, offering easy access to the vibrant downtown, museums, and shopping in the Mile High City. Chatfield State Park and Cherry Creek State Park are two year-round public camping options, offering a mix of full hookup, electric, and basic sites. Amenities include hiking trails, laundry facilities, and free wifi at the visitor centers.
Summer is primetime for camping, as evening temperatures stay comfortable for tent camping and daytime temperatures are perfect for outdoor adventures. Spring is cooler, with variable weather. Fall brings the changing of the aspen trees, an annual celebration in the Colorado Rockies. Winter weather is always a possibility in both fall and spring, however. Winter brings unique recreational opportunities, but freezing temperatures and heavy snows are regular occurrences campers need to be prepared to handle.