Stay Out a Little Longer.
What to ExpectPitch a tent, park the camper or settle into a mountain cabin. However you camp, Clear Creek keeps you close to trails, mountain towns and the next day’s adventure.
Developed Campgrounds
Start with an established campsite and access to amenities that vary by location. Check each campground before arriving.
Dispersed Camping
More solitude means more responsibility. Camp only where permitted, follow current Forest Service regulations and arrive prepared to be fully self-sufficient.
RV Camping
Find room for your home on wheels, then use Clear Creek as your base for hiking, biking and exploring nearby towns.
Save Your Spot Under the Stars
Some campgrounds accept reservations while others may be first-come, first-served. Check opening dates, fees, vehicle limits, amenities and current notices before leaving home.
Before the Tent Goes Up
Check Fire Restrictions
A fire ring does not always mean fires are allowed. Check current restrictions before lighting anything, keep permitted fires attended and extinguish them until they are cold to the touch.
Store Food Properly
Secure food, coolers, trash and scented items according to current land-manager rules. Never leave them unattended or inside your tent.
Prepare for Mountain Weather
Pack for cold nights, afternoon storms and fast-changing conditions. Bring enough water, warm layers, rain protection and a basic first-aid kit.
Know Where You Are
Download maps before leaving, tell someone where you are going and do not rely on cell service. Make sure you are camping on land where overnight use is permitted.
Know Before You Camp
Many Clear Creek campsites are located on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Rules can vary by campground, season, weather, fire conditions, and whether you are staying at a developed campground or a dispersed site.
Before you leave, check current conditions, fire restrictions, closures, fees, and reservation requirements.
Read the Forest Service Know Before You Go Guide
Read the Forest Service Responsible Recreation Guide
For local questions, contact the Clear Creek Ranger District at 303-567-4382.
A Few Rules to Know
Use a designated campsite or an existing, durable site. Do not create new campsites.
Keep campsites, vehicles, and washing areas at least 200 feet from rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands.
Use existing fire rings when fires are allowed. Check restrictions before lighting anything.
Bring local firewood or purchase it near your destination. Do not cut standing trees.
Store food and trash securely, and never feed wildlife.
Keep dogs leashed where required.
Pack out trash and leave historic sites, plants, rocks, and natural features where you find them.
Where restrooms are not available, follow Forest Service guidance for human waste and stay at least 200 feet from water.
Big Ideas, Real Impact.
Stewardship Is Part of the Stay
A good campsite should feel like you were never there. Keep your footprint small, give wildlife room, and leave the morning as clean as you found it.
Choose a Durable Campsite
Use established sites and camp on bare ground, rock, or gravel when possible. Keep tents, chairs, and vehicles in one compact area so surrounding plants can recover.
Keep the Wild Wild
Secure food, wash dishes away from water, and watch wildlife from a distance. A quiet campsite is better for animals, your neighbors, and your own night under the stars.
Leave a Clean Morning
Pack out food scraps, trash, and personal items. Check beneath tables, around fire rings, and under vehicles before you leave. Take only photographs and bring home a story.
Find Your Place Under the Stars
Echo Lake Campground
Settle into the spruce forest near Echo Lake, with hiking, fishing, and mountain views close by. Located south of Idaho Springs, this campground offers tent and RV sites without hookups. Pack warm layers for chilly mountain nights. Reserve your campsite.
West Chicago Creek Campground
Make camp among the aspens and lodgepole pines, with nearby trails leading into the Mount Evans Wilderness. This campground southwest of Idaho Springs welcomes tents and RVs, with no hookups. Bring all the water you’ll need, as the campground’s well is currently unavailable. Reserve your campsite.
Guanella Pass Campground
Spend the night high in the mountains along the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway, about seven miles south of Georgetown. Tent and RV sites offer a starting point for hiking, fishing, and scenic drives. Expect cold nights at elevation, and check your campsite’s vehicle limits before booking. Large RVs are discouraged. Reserve your campsite.
Idaho Springs RV Campground
Pull in, plug in, and settle into your mountain basecamp. Located on Stanley Road with easy access to I-70, Idaho Springs RV Campground offers full-hookup RV sites, showers, and Wi-Fi. Head into town for a meal or spend the day exploring Clear Creek County. Reserve your RV site.
Cottonwood RV Campground
Find a place to settle in along Highway 103, just outside Idaho Springs. Cottonwood RV Campground puts you close to town and the mountain roads beyond. Call 303-567-2617 for reservations, rates, availability, and length-of-stay requirements. Explore Cottonwood RV Campground.
Indian Hot Springs RV Parking
Pair your mountain getaway with a visit to Indian Hot Springs. These boondock-style RV spots sit along Soda Creek on the north side of the resort in Idaho Springs. This option is for RV stays only; tent camping is not permitted. Reserve your RV spot.
Vacant Land on the Clear Creek
Keep things simple with a private creekside campsite in Silver Plume. This tent and RV site accommodates up to four guests and offers a place to unwind beside the water. Bring drinking water and a camp toilet, pack out everything you bring, and plan for a stay without hookups or campfires. Reserve through Hipcamp.
Let Someone Else Cook
Camp meals have their charm. So do hot pizza, local brews and a table you do not have to unfold.
Prefer Four Walls?
Trade the sleeping bag for a hotel, cabin, inn or riverside retreat without giving up your mountain weekend.
Pack It In. Pack It Out. Stay Awhile.
Leave your campsite better than you found it and make a little more room for adventure.