The best camping near Navajo State Park

The 15,000-acre Navajo Reservoir, which flows over the Colorado–New Mexico state line, is the lifeblood of Navajo State Park. You can’t visit this park without getting on the water, whether setting sail on a boat cruise, zipping along the shore on jet-skis or water-skis, or fishing for catfish, crappie, and bass. Trails run along the San Juan River for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, while the Sambrito Wetlands area is a hot spot for bird-watching. Campers have plenty of options, from full hook-up RV sites to primitive tent campsites, or you can anchor your houseboat at the marina.

• Best for lakeside views: Tiffany Campground has RV sites and cabins, plus six walk-in tent sites looking out over the lake.  
• Best for RVs: Rosa Campground has 39 sites, all with electric, water, and sewer hook-ups.
• Best for self-sufficient campers: Windsurf Beach Campground has primitive sites for tents and small RVs away from the crowds.

1. You can reserve one of the park’s 138 campsites or three log cabins via the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website. 
2. Campsite reservations open six months in advance, and all sites can be reserved, including primitive campsites.
3. The park sees some 300,000 annual visitors, so campsites can book up fast. Book as early as possible, especially if visiting during peak season (April to November) or on holiday weekends.

Navajo State Park is open year-round, but peak season runs from April through November. Come in spring when wildflowers brighten up the hiking trails, plan a summer visit to make the most of water sports on the lake, or enjoy boating and angling from spring through fall (the boat ramp is from December through February). All campsites except Arboles Point are open through winter, but off-season campers must be self-contained.

• Navajo State Park is located 42 miles southeast of Durango, about a 50-minute drive away along Highway 151. The park lies just north of the Colorado-New Mexico state line.
• Facilities include a visitor center, restrooms, boat and watercraft rentals, boat ramps, and a dump station. All facilities close from December through March; however, the vault toilet at the primitive campgrounds stays open.
• Fires are permitted only in park-provided grills, and complete fire bans are possible during dry periods. 
• You can bring your own boats and watercraft, but you must follow state laws for both Colorado and New Mexico. Swimming is not permitted on the Colorado side of the lake. 
• Wheelchair-accessible campsites can be found at the Tiffany, Carracas, and Rosa campgrounds.