Base Camp at Golden Gate Canyon

3.1 mi

Gorgeous location! We drove through the whole campground and there wasn't one bad site! They have…read morereally nice restrooms with hot showers, 4 minutes for $1 and and you can add quarters as needed $.25=1 minute. There is a coin machine on the vanity. Located within the main restroom facility they have laundry and vending machines loaded with snacks and caffeine. The vending machines and ice machine all take cards and cash. The restrooms are cleaned constantly and the staff are all so pleasant! Panorama Point is located just up the hill with stunning views of the surrounding mountains! There is an office on the right when you enter the campground which is where you buy bundles of wood for $5 each. For a nice size fire that lasts approximately 4-5 hours you'll need to bundles.

This is a very civilized campground with brick and mortar restrooms, showers, and picnic tables…read more Please note every vehicle will require a Colorado State park pass which cost $7 per day. They sell firewood at visitor center for $5, credit card accepted. The elevation is roughly around 10,000 feet so pack extra water and clothes. Basic tent sites start at $30 and Cabins and Yurts start at $80. A little pricy for camping but the hiking trails and the proximity to Denver is worth it to me. Also if you have AT&T the LTE works for those with phone anxiety. Reserve online early most sites are booked months in advance.

Women's room - Vanity and bathroom

Laundry and vending

See all

Cold Springs campground

4.4

(10 reviews)

0.7 mi

Very nice campground. The people were very nice, clean toilets and dumpsters were near our…read morecampsite. 3 bundles of firewood is $20. Very clean, and close to Boulder.

Love this place and will definitely be back. I think I enjoyed the three sites at the end away from…read morethe road, especially 20, 21, 22 as they're more protected from road noise and other campers. The other campers were awesome though, friendly and willing to greet each other with a smile. I really appreciated Pam and Steve, the camp hosts. They were so diligent, keeping the camp clean (especially the toilets!), preserving the natural beauty of the campground, enforcing the rules about protecting the park from the serious threat of fires, and just generally being fun to talk to. Between site 8 and 9 has best views of the mountains. Go somewhere else if you don't give a crap about burning down the forest and don't want to stick to rules set respect other campers.

Rock outcroppings and a stellar view

See all

Denver West / Central City KOA

3.8

(33 reviews)

3.7 mi

By far my favorite KOA we've stayed in. First time in June 2023 in old site 8 now (17 or 18) and…read morelast week on site 39 on 7/7/26. Chuck, the owner, was awesome and super accommodating with our group. Remolded and added our new section that is great. Showers/bathrooms are directly across from 39. Still the incredible views of area and night skies are clear. Breakfast is conditionally good with pancakes and meat for cheap. Just a great place and people.

We were looking for a KOA that was located pretty close to my daughter's home in Conifer. So we…read moredecided to try Denver West/Central City KOA . The views coming up here were absolutely stunning. I told my daughter that this was a campground in the sky lol! So far up in the beautiful mountains and where the temperature was much cooler. We choose KOA bc they are easy to book, have a late check in and some nice amenities. This one had two hot tubs, a dog park , pancakes all you can eat for $3.25 and a pizza and wing place. We don't use most of the amenities bc we never stay long enough. But the dog park-Freckles love them and can run around in a safe and clean environment! Each KOA is so different. This one has the feel of a Rocky Mountain with rocks and gravel roads. Our site was very nice with full hook ups and a cement place to park. We would highly recommend this KOA!

See all

Central City KOA

3.3

(27 reviews)

3.7 mi

So...we almost gave up on KOA until we stayed at this place. I'm not sure where to start: I mean,…read morethey deliver fresh made pizza and wings to your tent or RV door! The site are meticulously maintained. The staff is exceptional (special shout outs to Chuck, the owner; Reagan in the kitchen; and Bethany, who was always kind). The campgrounds is perfectly situated in the midst of a bunch of mountain towns (Idaho Springs, Central City, Black Hawk, Georgetown) , so there a ton to do in the vicinity. Know what you're getting: this is a hotel for which you provide your own roof; calling it a campgrounds is only slightly accurate. KOAs are really designed for folks who like the idea of camping, but don't want to camp. You'll get a fire pit, and some excellent, super dry firewood that makes for a really easy start, and you'll have a fully stocked convenience store steps away from your very clean campsite. What's more, the bathrooms are better than most hotel bathrooms! They're clean, with plenty of hot water, and the staff check them several times a day. The service is excellent, the location is perfect, and the staff is seriously unparalleled! Well done Denver West for restoring our faith in the KOA brand!

We spent two nights here while exploring the greater Denver area. The staff was outstanding, and…read morethe facilities were clean and well-maintained. Although the tent sites are small and close together, they were still enjoyable. The drive to the site is scenic, and it's just an hour and a half from Rocky Mountain National Park. I highly recommend it for anyone seeking a camping spot near Denver.

See all

Cottonwood Rv Park

8.3 mi

I loved it there. People are so nice. Winnie and glen keep everything so clean it's Well…read moremaintained , No loud noises. Beautiful river runs through the grounds , I was there a year , I miss it terribly

We stay here monthly and have nothing but good things to say about the camp, the location, the…read moreneighbors, and most importantly the management. The Straub family are very hard workers and their pride-of-ownership is obvious. Not every amenity is provided like laundry, but the value is excellent.

Hessie Trailhead

(22 reviews)

9.8 mi

Great trail. 7-18-26 Rainy but great weather overall. It says around 4 miles, but that is rather…read moredifficult because there are so many mini trails to explore. I ended up at the end around 6 miles. They shut down the road as parking was full near the trail and they had a free shuttle that took us up. You park at the high school below. The shuttle driver was lovely and even stopped so we could see a moose. Trail is not for someone with weak ankles as it is very rocky. The views are phenomenal.

I loved this 4 mile round-trip hike. It was absolutely amazing and wonderful to enjoy my kids. We…read morespent an entire hour at the very top of the lake. I believe you can walk around the whole lake, but it got a little bit woody so we turned around halfway through and went back the same way we came in at the beginning you can make a left or right I suggest making a left as there's more openings that appears to look in the lake and play in the water and dirt. This is hands-down the best hike I've ever been on with multiple waterfall in a stream in many parts of the hike. My biggest focus is looking for streams and waterfalls.

See all

Lost Lake frozen

Sugarloaf Campground

5.0

(1 review)

30.8 mi

This is literally one of those reviews that I've hesitated to write. I just don't want to share…read moresuch a great place! Though after much consideration, I suppose I might as well be the one to share it with all my Yelp friends! Star #1: It is a first come, first serve, FREE campground. There is a paid campground nearby as well, so don't fret if you arrive and there are no sites available. However, it is such a hidden gem that I have yet to have the need for that. Star #2: Many of the sites are adjacent small streams, so you'll get to fall asleep to the sounds of babbling brooks! There are a few that are more open and offer lots of space for activities and larger groups too - bags anyone?! We tend to prefer the ones that are tucked up against the mountain. Star #3: The variety of sites makes it a great place for any type of camping: tents, camper, car, etc! Though, I will say, an RV might be pushing it... Star #4: At approximately and hour and a half from Denver, this campground is ideal for those looking for a close and quick mountain getaway without committing to hours in the car. Star #5: If you are like many campers and want to get some shooting in while you embrace your inner woods-person. Sugarloaf has got you covered! There is a wide open area right when you turn up the main road that is prepped for all your shooting needs. So go ahead and fire off a few rounds. Just don't forget: safety first! After camping a handful of places in Colorado Sugarloaf Campground has been on of my favorites and on of the only ones I have been back to multiples times!

See all

Heaton Bay Campground

(17 reviews)

35.8 mi

July 24, 2026 - Silverthorne, CO…read more We first stayed at Heaton Bay Campground about seven years ago, so we were looking forward to camping right along the water again. Unfortunately, because of the severe drought and low winter snowpack, Dillon Reservoir is currently about 20 feet below its normal level. Our campsite was no longer waterfront, but we had a short hike down to what is now more like a small pond. There are a few more drawbacks, too. There isn't a nearby dump station or an RV water fill, although there are water spigots for filling jugs. Campfires were prohibited during our stay because of the high fire danger, and you can hear some traffic noise from the nearby highway. Even with those disappointments, I still give this campground five stars. Why? Because, the campsites themselves are outstanding. They're spacious, private, and thoughtfully laid out, with plenty of room between sites. The views of the surrounding mountains are absolutely spectacular, and the campground has a peaceful, wooded setting that's hard to beat. If you're looking for a scenic campground with large sites and don't mind the lack of full amenities, Heaton Bay is an excellent choice. We'd happily stay here again.

New management just took over and disappointed in the changes they have made. It's a beautiful site…read moreand great location but the one star is due to management. They will not let you will up your RV with water although it says you can on their website. Make sure you fill up before getting to the campsite. Very frustrating to pull the extra weight.

July 20, 2026 - Vault toilets.

July 21, 2026 - A view of our site from the road.

See all

Sunset - July 23, 2026

Estes Park Campground at Mary's Lake

3.9

(37 reviews)

35.1 mi

This was an AMAZING campground for a trip to RMNP! We saw so many elk and mule deer right from the…read morecampgrounds majestically roaming free. It was truly magical. Our campsite was perfect and up at the far / left end of the campground site. We had picturesque views at all hours of the day. The bathroom closest to our campground was just the potty portion, but there was a full bathroom just down the drive with showers and sinks and such. Our fellow campers were kind enough to rescue our tents and pin them down with rocks while we were out hiking (thank you, kind humans!). Our whole experience here was wonderful, and I would definitely return next time I'm in the area. The RV spots to be fair (as other reviewers mention) were more lackluster. The tent sites, especially at the outer edges, are where it's at!!

Campground was very clean and check-in and camp store were great. Bathrooms are coin operated and…read morewere very very clean! The RV campsites were very close together and were not shaded. Neighboring campers dogs were off- leash and came over to our campsite.

Happy campers at the end of the rainbow

See all

Mary's lake

Hidee Gold Mine

(124 reviews)

3.8 mi

Excellent guide. No panning but real chipping ore in mine. Tour took about 90 minutes. All well…read moredone.

Went with a few friends during our trip in Colorado and had a wonderful experience. The tour guide…read moreand all the staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. The tour felt intimate since it was just my friends a few other people. We really enjoyed the gold panning and highly recommend adding on the experience!

Awesome experience. Would definitely recommend Rusty and his crew!!!we made in out with our goodies

Learning how mining used to be done by hand.

See all

Colorado Railbike Adventures

4.4

(19 reviews)

28.0 mi

Railbike Adventure was something I had never done this so I treated myself and my guests that were…read morefrom California to an adventure. It was a hot day, we enjoyed it but we all agreed it was a "one and done". The views are good but not great. We were given a speaker to take with us. No explanation of what the purpose of the speaker was so we just synced it with our iphone and played music (which the car behind us did the same so it was dueling music). Maybe that was the purpose??? I think the concept of Colorado Railbike Adventures has so much potential and they could do so much more to make the experience unforgettable but unfortunately, there's was nothing that made me want to come back or spread the word to try this experience. The staff was nice and the manager was great at sharing some history of the RR tracks, coal mining town, and history of Erie.

Peaceful escape through history as we pedaled the tracks of an old coal railroad. The guides are…read morefriendly and helpful.

Historical information board

4 person rail bike

See all

Base Camp at Golden Gate Canyon - campgrounds - Updated August 2026

Best of Black Hawk

Things to do in Black Hawk

People found Base Camp at Golden Gate Canyon by searching for…

People who viewed Base Camp at Golden Gate Canyon also viewed

Idaho Springs RV Campground

4.2

(5 reviews)

Quick overnight, last minute booking. Person who took our booking was very nice and quickly…read moresecured our site over the phone. We have a sprinter with no hook ups. Was a clean, well lit parking site with WiFi, showers and shore plugin. The showers were clean and secure. Water was warm. Overall, great option for quick overnight stay and for the price, very affordable.

This place is a great place to stay. We were looking for a tent spot and they were sold out but…read morethe owners were extremely accommodating and found us a spot for the night. When there was a no show, they came to us and asked if we would want to move to a better spot. This place is hardly a dump like the one review states. This is a new place and still shaping up the place to make it an awesome place. The rv sites are super nice and level. There is no shade trees in the rv area. There is an access road by the facility but not too busy. They are right across the street from a river rafting company and a zip line spot and a running river. It is not a dangerous campground like the negative reviewer states. Showers are clean and really nice. Clean restrooms and the store area is shaping up nicely. This place will be so cool once done. You do get interstate noise but nothing terrible, but expected as you are close to the interstate. The photo is of our tent spot #6. We will be back.

Red Rocks Glamping

(2 reviews)

A friend and I stayed in one of the Safari tents for one night. The people that checked us in were…read morevery friendly. The tent is pretty big. Inside was a bed and a couple of small tables. There's no heating, rugs, or electricity. Honestly I didn't know what to expect from glamping. I've always just camped and this was basically the same thing except you get a bed here. The tent is not any warmer. It was pretty freezing at night. The bathrooms outside are a little nicer than regular camping. They also had showers here which I didn't get to use. They don't provide shampoo/conditioner/soap, only the hand soap that's in the bathrooms. For the price we paid I'd rather just camp.

Fantastic place! Great staff. We had a large group and they were all so friendly and accommodating!…read moreThank you!

Idaho Springs Visitor Information Center

3.7

(11 reviews)

We did a road trip, and this was one of the spots we stopped at. It's the first gold mining town…read morewhen the gold rush started. The town is so small, if you blinked you would miss it. It has a bunch of mom and poo stores. This trip we went into their local museum which was cool and gave you a bit of history about their town. We all loved it and bought some cute souvenirs. Overall, a cute quaint town. Will be back to ski!

Signs out front saying masks required, yet staff inside not wearing them/not wearing them properly…read more Very disrespectful of the staff. Every single guest inside was wearing one, which was noticed and great. The whole staff-not-masked gave me a bad taste about this town since this was the first place I visited. Luckily the rest of the town's establishments were intelligent enough to both have the sign out front AND actually follow it. Hopefully this will be over soon but it's not over yet. Bathrooms for paying visitors only (require a key), and they were dirty. Went to the museum which was $3 or $2 for military and I think $1 for seniors, signs had many spelling mistakes and the exhibits were not very cohesive--there was no progression throughout the museum just random exhibits and artifacts. It would be extremely boring for a child.

Blair Motel

(3 reviews)

•$$

The staff are very friendly and helpful. They went out of their way to help my significant other…read moreget some clothes ironed. The rooms have paper thin walls. Light sleepers, be aware of this.

The Blair Motel is where you want to take your last shower before heading out into Rocky Mountain…read moreNational Park or the Arapaho National Forest. Great, comfy beds, a ridiculously helpful and friendly owner, all located in a stand-up little town for you to spend a night adjusting to the altitude. I'd love to stay here again.

Chase Creek Bed & Breakfast

4.4

(8 reviews)

Incredible find! We come for the opera each year and were tired of hotels. Chase Creek made our…read morevisit perfect; great opera and great lodging. Karen and Hal are warm, welcoming hosts. The house is inviting, quaint, very clean, beautifully appointed and each room offers wonderful amenities. We stayed in Sleepy Hollow. Very comfortable bed (love the comforter) quiet room, great cross breeze, beautiful view, updated bathroom with a jetted tub (also a shower with a shower head high enough for my 6 ft husband), plenty of hot water. Extra touches like the shared coffee bar make it a homey feel. Great breakfast; ours was palisade peaches, eggs Benedict with dill sauce and a blueberry muffin. This place is a gem!! We will be back.

This place is great, our first experience in a bed and breakfast. Did it on New Years Eve. Karen…read morethe proprietor was awesome and welcoming, the room( PolarStar) was clean, spacious and warm. Breakfast was amazing and the other guests were very friendly.

Twisted Pine - Girl scout property

5.0

(1 review)

A beautiful stone lodge set in the hills of Genesee is a perfect mountain getaway only 30 minutes…read morefrom Denver! Up to 26 people can comfortably sleep on the floor on mattresses in three bedrooms at Twisted Pine. Enjoy exploring this 10 acre property or take a hike at Genesee Mountain Park where you might see the bison and elk herds that call this area home. This is a lovely girl scout property that we just recently had the pleasure of staying at with some of our troop. It looks like a very cool cabin with rock walls. It has a indoor fire place and a outdoor fire pit. It is set back a little bit so it feels like you are out of town but really you are still close to lots of things to do with only 15 minutes to golden, evergreen and wheatridge. Its also close to some great hiking at genesee mountain park. We will definitely be back with our troop!

Uplift Inn

We had the room in the corner and can't wait to come back! We traveled with kids, and the room had…read moretwo complete bedrooms with huge beds, and even a pull out couch if needed. We LOVED the huge windows that opened up and let in fresh mountain air.. Especially the shower window! How amazing is a hot shower with cold nighttime mountain air?!? our room had a huge deck with lots of seating. We were kind of bummed that it rained, so we couldn't take full advantage of this! The check in was contactless, which was really nice. The hotel texted us when our room was ready, and included a passcode for the door to the room. It was nice to not have to keep track of any keys! This hotel is super close to Marion's in the Rockies restaurant, and they have a great breakfast. Walkability here is okay, but mostly to a few restaurants, a liquor store, and a dispensary. Downtown is really fun, but since we had kiddos with us, we drove down there and mosied around. This is a super nice hotel and an amazing town. We love Idaho Springs and can't wait to come back.

We were headed from Tennessee to visit our son in Idaho Springs pulling our camper and camping…read morealong our way. While traveling through Kansas, the roof material separated on our camper and we had to leave our camper in Golden, Colorado for inspection and insurance. This was a devastating twist for our travel plans. I called Amy for lodging as we were trying to make our way and Idaho Springs since we had lost our camper and no place to stay. Amy was extremely professional and took immediate care of me and put us in the last air-conditioned room she had on a hot June night. The next morning, Rachel was extremely sweet to also take very good care of us bringing us ice and accommodating laundry needs. They clearly quoted the prices and explained what was available when I spoke with Amy on the phone. I could not give 10 stars on this review so the most they get is five. Thank you Rachel and Amy for turning a extremely difficult situation into as pleasant a one as it could be. Thank you.

Valley Hi Motel, Inc

4.5

(27 reviews)

•$

Stayed here twice this season and don't want this gem found, because it is a perfect spot if…read moreboarding at WP. You can walk to every place within the town, easy to get in and out to the slopes, has a hot tub, free breakfast, weed shop in the back, and an owner that is extremely helpful. Thanks to Joe, I will be a long time customer. The price is good for this area and if you don't need a kitchen or have just 2-3 of you, this is a perfect spot. Room has a fridge, microwave, and coffee maker. They are oversized hotel rooms that don't seem to feel crammed like others. That is all we needed for our trip.

Valley Hi Motel was where I stayed after spending an adventurous day exploring Rocky Mountain…read moreNational Park on a weekend back in September. Ultimately I would have much preferred to have overnighted in the town of Grand Lake, Colorado...a lot closer to Rocky Mountain, NP. Unfortunately rooms were ultra expensive in that quaint little town, so I "bit the bullet" and drove 35 miles away to stay here in Winter Park. I spent $100 plus tax for a Friday night. I was pleasantly surprised how big the room was. Besides 2 queen sized beds, accommodations included a lounge chair, plenty of closet space and an extended area for the bathroom. The spaciousness of the room was absolutely the best part of the motel! I checked in relatively late evening (8pm) and there were no issues. Parking was free and right in the back of the building. Valley Hi is located in the center of Winter Park with plenty of options for food all over town. There is free continental breakfast and coffee offered in the morning with your stay but the following day I had a long drive and grabbed food on the road. Although I was ideally looking for accommodations within the confines of the western part of Rocky Mountain National Park, Valley Hi Motel was more than a suffice place to put my head down and rest for the evening. If you're exploring in the Winter Park/Fraser area, I'd give the green light to come here.

The Wild Source

5.0