The best camping near Ridgway State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Ridgway State Park adventure.

The best camping near Ridgway State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Ridgway State Park adventure.

Camping near Ridgway State Park

100% (5 reviews)

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Ridgway State Park adventure.

Pack up your boat or paddle-board for a camping excursion at this reservoir park.  

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Community favorites near Ridgway State Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Ridgway State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Ridgway State Park

99%
(348)

Riverwalk Yurt, luxury on river

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents35 acres · Hotchkiss, CO
The House where we live is the corner stone of the Bruce Property and is on the Colorado Register of Historic Houses.The residence was constructed between 1905 and 1912, using red bricks made on the site. John and Sophia Bruce, early pioneers in the North Fork Valley, were first involved in cattle raising. The family later became successful fruit growers. Located along the West Elk Loop, a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway, the large two-story residence features a steeply pitched hipped roof with prominent attic dormers.As a guest of Riverwalk you will have full access to the river during your stay. In addition, there is the Riverwalk Trail System that skirts the North Fork of the Gunnison River from the top of the property, by the Riverwalk Yurt, (available on this site) meandering downstream past the Riverwalk TIPI (available on the site) passing  the Grove Yurt (available on this site) and terminating at the bottom of the property with the sandy Riverwalk Beach. There is a trial that zigs through the Cottonwood Grove and zags back along the gentle Monitor Ditch skirting a newly planted grove of young trees.For RV Campers we provide 2- 30amp,1-50 amp and 1- 110-amp electrical services and potable water. There is a dump station available. There is also access to our heated shower house with running water and bathroom amenities (<3 min. walk, may be shared with other guests). The property is perfectly geared to groups of friends gathering in a central location between the onset of the Rockies and the termination high desert to the west. Friends or family will reserve both Yurts and the RV Site for a perfect reunion setting!
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$35
 / night
98%
(209)

Sage View Ranch

24 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents11 acres · Paonia, CO
After traveling the US in our motorhome for almost 5 years my husband Scott and I know the value of a smiling face and a helping hand after a day (or week) of travel. Exploring and experiencing this amazing country, its diversity and incredible people enhanced our lives in so many ways. In mid 2017 we found out our first grandchild was on the way. Long story short we parked the RV and parked ourselves here in Paonia, CO. In December of that year, we moved onto this amazing property full time and started the long list of fix ups (the list is still long). lol We are blessed to have our two adult sons and (aforementioned) grandson living on this property with us. Our philosophy is to live in the moment as the present is the gift. Whether enjoying a sunrise or a sunset or anytime in between you’ll likely find us outside most days. In that, we love all that nature has to offer including fresh fruits and veggies, animals, beauty and fragrances. Sage View Ranch is being created with the desire to have people experience the natural rustic beauty and magic of Paonia. Scott and I look forward to meeting you :)
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from 
$30
 / night
94%
(17)

Pinion Farm Homestead

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents21 acres · Nucla, CO
Pinion Farm Homestead located in the town of Nucla, CO is a 40-acre new farm/orchard operation that currently includes pigs, rotational grazing cows and sometimes horses, organically-grown vegetable garden, hay pastures and practices regenerative agriculture within the heirloom apple orchards onsite. Originally home to the Uncompahgre Ute Native Americans, Nucla was founded by a socialist group from Denver, the Colorado Cooperative Company. Some of the members built (some sent money) a 17-mile ditch to carry water from the San Miguel River to the mesa top. Pinion Farm Homestead was homesteaded by the Lundahl family and were founding members of the cooperative. The original farm included an old farmhouse, a chicken coop, and a winter storage building that are all still standing. The Lundahl family raised pigs, chickens and cows, cultivated apple, peach, mulberry, apricot and plum trees, and grew hay, corn, oats, barley and vegetables. John Lundahl owned the creamery for a short time as well.
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$30
 / night
100%
(11)

Tongue Creek Ranch

3 sites · Lodging70 acres · Austin, CO
Tongue Creek Ranch is beautifully situated at the base of the Adobe Buttes on the southern side of the Grand Mesa in Austin, Colorado. The 70-acre ranch has over 40 acres in hay and alfalfa with seasonal cattle grazing in the fall and winter months. Whether you come to stay at one of the rental properties, get married or host a special event, we welcome you to enjoy the beautiful setting of Tongue Creek Ranch and the incredible sites of the Western Slope! David and Barb Cocetti purchased the ranch in June 2019 to embark on a new life where they could cultivate the land and be more self-sustaining. By following Biblical guidelines for work and agriculture, this land has come to life! It is proving to be an oasis where people find peace while enjoying the serenity of the surroundings. The clamping Cabin sits behind the horse arena and in front of Tongue Creek. It's the cutest little cabin and we mean little, more like an expertly finished big shed. It is 10x14 with a 3x14 covered porch but finished inside like a 5 star hotel. AC, TV, Wifi, fireplace, comfortable queen size bed. Beetle kill tongue and groove ceiling, cultured barn wood wanes coating. It's super nice. The ranch itself may be the reason for the "glamp" booking. The yard is manicured and the 25 house, goats and chickens are fun to see. The big plus is we are only 20 minutes away from the Grand Mesa outdoorsman mecca. This is probably the cheapest base camp to the Mesa. The ranch is a great base camp to wineries, Moab, Telluride, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, fishing, boating, hiking, trails and hundreds of open BLM land for Razor riding. Check us out.
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$28.80
 / night
98%
(33)

Wild Abandon Ranch

1 site · RV, Tent50 acres · Paonia, CO
PLEASE NOTE: We do not allow campfires at our campsite at any time, regardless of fire bans or not. We had a fire hit our property last summer and no longer feel comfortable letting visitors have fires in such a high fire danger region. Thank you for understanding! Wild Abandon Ranch is a gorgeous 50 acre property that we purchased in March of 2023. Sadly, the property had been abandoned and neglected for over 20 years and we are doing our best to breath some new life into her. We are chasing those land dreams! This property has a wild amount of potential and an endless story of labor and we hope to bring a new vision and purpose to this very special place. The Hipcamp site is located down by the creek (on the SOUTH side of Minnesota Creek Rd) where you'll have total privacy and room to relax and explore. It is a beautiful place to get lost amongst the trees and the rhythm of the creek. Our property is only 3.5 miles from the town of Paonia so you're oh-so-close yet so far away from it all. Paonia is central to the abundant North Fork Valley and there is so much to experience in this area. From hiking, biking, camping, or swimming to touring the many vibrant vineyards or galleries. Your visit is very directly contributing to this land's second chance. We hope you'll visit again and follow along in the evolution of Wild Abandon Ranch. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!
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$40
 / night
97%
(459)

Old Moon Acres Tipi Haven

7 sites · Lodging22 acres · Paonia, CO
Formerly known as the North Fork Tipi Haven, this 22 acres was once owned by International sculptor Lincoln Fox, and built by Mr. Wooten in the early 1900's as an apple orchard, Old Moon Acres is now home to Old Moon Acres Tipi Haven. The North Fork Valley of the Gunnison River, encompassing Crawford, Hotchkiss and Paonia, was an important fruit orchard area in the late 1800's and well into the early 1900's. The valley's climate is a banana belt, perfect for fruit with the cold air coming down from the mountains at night and the heat from the mesas warming up the valley during the day. Coal mines up the road in Bowie and Somerset paid better, so many of the orchards languished over the years. Since the closing of all the mines but one, today the NFV is home to the largest concentration of organic farms in the state of Colorado as well as becoming a state Creative District serving the multitudes of artist and creatives that call the valley home. There are many pick-your-own peaches, cherries, apples, pears, nectarines and if we are lucky, apricots, in the valley. Delicious Orchards, 1 mile down Hwy 133, is an excellent place to pick your own, drink local hard cider and listen to live music on the weekend over a wonderful brunch. It is all about the farms, cattle, art, music, outdoor adventure, fun and relaxation here in the North Fork Valley. The tipis are custom made by the Colorado Yurt Company in Montrose, Colorado where they have been making yurts, tents and tipis since 1976. The tipis are expertly designed and made with custom paintings invoking the animal spirits that inhabit our land. These are a Sioux design tipi as the Ute's mainly lived in wiki-ups until they were introduced to the tipi in the 1800's. The Ute's appropriated the tipi design from the Sioux or Plains Natives. We have solar showers (solar bags of water heated by the sun during the day) available for free. Showers are also available at the local laundromat in Hotchkiss. Our goal is to awaken your sense of wonder by sleeping out in nature and waking up to the Colorado blue sky in clean, clear air at 5500 ft. You can visit the many high altitude wineries, fruit orchards, organic farms, farm-to-table restaurants, great music, interesting movies at the community owned Paradise Theater, art at the Creamery Arts Center in Hotchkiss, stand-up paddle boarding, WSSUP, at Crawford reservoir, mountain biking in Grand Mesa, hiking in the West Elks, rafting down the Gunnison river in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, fishing up canyon in the coolness of the forest or relaxing in one of many hot springs within an hour of us. Colorado Detours is highly recommended by us to take you and yours on a hiking, farm, wine, or geology tour of the area. Aspen, Crested Butte (over Kebler Pass), Glenwood Springs, Gunnison, Ouray, Grand Junction, Ridgeway and Telluride all are about an hour or two away by car. Welcome to Colorado.
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$65
 / night

The best camping near Ridgway State Park guide

Overview

About

Just north of Telluride, Ridgway State Park is a popular summertime getaway, with a large reservoir for swimming and boating plus around 14 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking. With almost 300 campsites (many with full hook-ups), plus plenty of yurts, the park is a popular spot for camping year-round. While Ridgway is at its busiest in the summer months, the park is a year-round destination, particularly among fans of ice-fishing, snow-shoeing, and cross-country skiing. All of the yurts and a handful of campsites are available in the winter months.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for swimmers: Dakota Terraces Campground has 79 campsites and three yurts, all within a short walk of the swim beach.
  • Best for longer stays: Elk Ridge Campground offers a mix of RV sites with full hook-ups and tent sites, with easy access to laundry and showers at the camper services building.
  • Best for getting away from it all: Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground has 15 secluded walk-in tent sites set amongst the trees (plus another 81 options with full hookups).

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. Reservations are only available through Colorado Parks and Wildlife online reservation system or over the phone
  2. Reservations can be made from six months in advance up to your arrival date. Book early, particularly if you are looking for a summer weekend reservation.
  3. Camping is available throughout the year, but only 20 RV sites and 15 walk-in tent sites are available from November through March. Yurts are available year-round, and are cheaper in the wintertime.

When to go

High season for camping at Ridgway State Park runs from April through October, but the busiest time is between Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends, when the weather is at its finest. July through September are the rainiest months in the area, so be prepared. Autumn and spring attract birdwatchers, while winter is a good time for cross-country skiing (although trails are not groomed). Limited winter camping and yurt rentals are also available.

Know before you go

  • You can pick up supplies and groceries in Ouray, about a 20-minute drive southeast of Ridgway.
  • Coin-operated showers, vending machines, and laundry facilities are available during the high season.
  • Dogs are welcome at the campgrounds and elsewhere in the park (except at the swim beach) provided they remain leashed. Yurts 12 and 14 are both pet friendly.
  • Horses and off-highway vehicles (OHVs) are not permitted in the area, although there are plenty of spots to ride either within a short drive of the park.
  • Wifi is not available at the park and cell coverage is limited.

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