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!

This place is a hidden gem. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to explore this area. We make this…read morea stop after Ya-ya farms and it never disappoints! We plan on camping here next summer to explore the nearby areas a little more and have a quick and easy get away from the city.

Came here apprehensive about it being open. I have been having a lot of difficulties getting…read moreinformation online regarding restrictions and shutdowns. I am not from Colorado. I had to take the initiative and just drive here just to make sure that it was open and what we were able to do. I was delighted to find such a beautiful park right along the river bank. Have the ability to tube and have the little ones play. Children can play, and there is also a kid pool (a definite bonus). I was afraid that it would get packed and we end up not being able to stay. So I was left behind, and my husband went back to get the rest of the family. Since it is Monday, I figure it is not going to get too busy. But, I am not going to take a chance. This spot should be on the list of visiting places. Especially right now that Boulder creek is closed and many other outdoor activities.

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.

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.

We had such a wonderful time at this campground! The kids loved having the water right there, and…read moreeven with it running fast we found a couple of perfect little coves for them to splash around in. The nearby hikes had something for every skill level, so our whole group was able to find a great fit. Clean, well kept facilities from start to finish!

Amazing campground in the middle of the mountains…read more We took a chance on this spot and we were lucky enough to snag the last campsite on a Friday at 2pm. Sometimes trips are hard to plan in advance, and we were ISO a spot with first come, first serve sites. Kudos to the universe for allowing the stars to align in our favor! + Along the Middle St. Vrain Creek + Two vault toilets located centrally between campsites + One fire ring (with grates) per site + Firewood available on property for $9 + Sizable tent pad, bear locker and picnic table + Walking distance to trailhead + Reservable and non-reservable campsites + 8 people allowed per campsite + Pets allowed We had an extremely enjoyable camping trip a few weeks back. Roughly an hour and a half from our house in Denver, Peaceful Valley Campground made us feel like we were thousands of miles away from civilization. For reference, the campground is about 8 miles away from the ever-popular Brainard Lake Recreation Area. We did experience some rain on Saturday afternoon which was a damper (pun intended). But because of that rain we were treated to the most spectacular rainbow and sunset. It was magical, just look at the pictures I got. The consensus was that we'd come back in a heartbeat next year. There's nothing better than going to sleep at night with the sound of a vibrant creek in the background. We're creekside campers and Peaceful Valley delivered an A+ trip for us!

Wow! It's so beautiful here. I enjoyed my solo take out dinner sitting on top of a boulder and…read moreenjoying the views of the lake and mountains. Plus, the lake is only. Short walk from the parking lot, so it is accessible to most. While on a short hike on the trail, I ran into a beautiful MOOSE and caught a few photos while he ate his dinner. Amazing experience!

Brainard NRA is stunning. I was surprised how fast the tickets go for this place during the summer…read moremonths - I went in mid September and the tickets for the morning times were fully gone within minutes after they dropped online a few weeks before I went Given RMNP tix go like that I was ready at 0900 for when they dropped, and actually within 1 min the 8-11a time slot sold out so I couldn't get it! But I did get the 5-8a slot which was fine. The area itself is very easy to find and navigate, and it is well maintained by the staff. When you arrive they do scan your day pass ticket and give you a pass to hang on your rear view mirror. The lot was plenty empty at Long lake trailhead (the start to get to Lake Isabelle) when I arrived around 0730. The day was fairly cool but not cold, and partly cloudy. It was absolutely gorgeous, the hike there was even more beautiful than the lake itself! I saw a moose along part of the trail too. The lake itself was surprisingly low, I'm not sure why the water level was that low but it looked much lower compared to the pictures/tiktoks I've seen online. That said, it is still very picturesque. There were lots of places to roam around the lake, and even tho it became SUPER windy when I got to the lake, I had a good time running around (but note - my nose was running like CRAZY, if you have allergies, come with tissues!). I did end up walking from long lake trailhead to the lake Mitchell trailhead and making the hike out there too; Isabelle is prettier imo but it was still a fun walk and the trailhead at Mitchell has plenty of parking too. There is a little trail, about 15 mins walk between long lake trailhead and Mitchell trailhead, although you do briefly have to walk along part of the road. Brainard lake itself is also lovely, I saw a moose hanging out right by this lake too!

I love coming here when I want to get away from the city and have a truly relaxing night or two. It…read moreis typically quiet, dark and can be very romantic. I personally love coming when it's snowing or when there is snow on the ground. In a clear night, you get the best view of the stars and sky. It's a hop skip and jump from Denver for a quick getaway, so I'm frequently here. There is no NO phone service, and please if coming in at night keep flashlights down to the ground as clothing is optional.

Obviously the location is amazing. Hard to beat hot springs in winter, especially since we were…read morelucky enough to be there while it was snowing. But service and accommodations? Negative stars. My husband and I just stayed two nights in the caboose for our anniversary. First impressions the caboose is adorable, but smells like the inside of a bong. Absolutely overwhelmingly rank. We opened all the doors and windows and used most of a bottle of febreeze we found under the sink to make it slightly more tolerable. Then when we pulled open the murphy bed we found someone else's dirty underwear. We let the attendant know, he apologized and told us he'd let his manager know and we should hear from her the next day. We watched him write a note for her. Heard absolutely nothing. No follow up whatsoever. We talked to another employee when we were checking out to let him know we left a pile of someone else's dirty laundry on the stoop and his response was "f***, I keep telling those guys they have to clean in there." Seriously not impressed for a $500 stay. On top of that the provided linens are one thin blanket, threadbare sheets and the saddest pillows you've ever slept on. I get that it's a rustic setting, but that's no excuse for a dirty, smelly room and cheapskate bedding. It was just gross.

I dont know why this place only has 3 stars! The views alone are worth 5. I gave it 4 because the…read morewater system is down and there are porta potties instead for the bathrooms. And from the looks of the maintenance documentation inside of them, its been months and they havent resolved the issue. The camp sites are clean and the bear boxes are super useful and spacious. The picnic tables at the sites are all wood and of varying conditions. There are a multitude of options for types of sites and if sites havent been rented they say open and you can claim them, however, you have to pay cash or check in the moment. There are tent only sites, day use, and rv sites with electrical hookup. Water currently unavailable. Definitely would come back and hopefully for longer!

Stillwater is one of my favorite car camping sites. It is a short drive to Lake Grandby and about…read more25 minutes to Winter Park. The camp sites are always well maintained as are the bathrooms. The bathrooms have running water, full stocked with toilet paper but no soap so be sure you bring some. The sites contain bear boxes, picnic tables, fire pit and pad for your tent. You can always park your car close to any of the sites. There are designated paths that lead to the water and very small beach area. A ton of paddle boarders, a few boats and jet skis but, mostly people just enjoying the water close to the beach area.

I hate to give them gem away, but it is an amazingly beautiful campground!…read moreCons: booking a site on line costs $9 on top of the nightly fee - which you pretty much do, since it is usually booked. This year the walk in tent sites are closed due to hazardous trees (sound funny - but i went over and looked and yeah, trees down everywhere It costs $5 extra dollars to get into the lake per night. So a weekend is an additional $10 on top of your site fee and reservation fee. Snow - there was still some there in july and it could come again as early as august.. you never know! Bring layers and big boots for hiking! Pros: It is within walking distance to the lake. The views are absolutely amazing. All the peaks! The clouds and fog did seem to descend right on top of you, so be prepared to be wet occasionally Tons of hiking trails! Beautiful - did i mention that? Sites are well maintained, flat Fire pits are nicely maintained The roads are paved, potable water, vault toilets, but plenty around and they don't smell terrible! See you there soon!