For maximum amenities where RVers can have hookups and kids the widest range of activities, choose a private campground in communities such as Woodland Park, Divide, Florissant or Cripple Creek. The Lone Duck campground in Cripple Creek has a rustic feel tucked away in the woods, while providing family-friendly amenities that include a heated pool, video games and a trout pond in addition to shady sites, hookups, showers and laundry. Spaces in private facilities can be reserved in advance, and some facilities have spots that are open year round, although amenities may be reduced during winter months.
While camping is not available at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, two of Colorado’s state parks that allow camping lie within Teller County. Mueller State Park and Eleven Mile State Park lie 30 miles apart in the northwestern portion of the county. Eleven Mile Reservoir is known for its fishing, with kokanee salmon, pike and several types of trout to reel in. Mueller is a "watchable wildlife area" with more than 50 miles of trails to explore on foot, horseback or bike. Both parks have multiple campgrounds, with electrical hookups and dump stations available in some. Camper services buildings provide coin-operated showers and laundry, while more primitive campsites have vault toilets and water spigots.
For the most primitive camping experiences, check into a campground in the Pike National Forest. As a rule of thumb, RVs 30 feet or less will be able to park in the campgrounds, but if your rig is larger and you want to camp in the forest, you can set up at a dispersed site along a forest road. There are no hookups, flush toilets or showers at the campgrounds, but some have cold water available from hand pumps. You can expect to find a fire ring, level tent pad and picnic table in the developed campgrounds.
National Forest Campgrounds are open during warm months when ground is free of snow and mud, usually opening in April or May and closing for the season in late September or mid-October, depending on each campground’s elevation and exposure to the elements. The state parks have an additional winter camping season with reduced amenities which runs from October through April. Spring months can be windy, usually calming by mid-June, when wildflowers break into profuse bloom. Look for autumn foliage to be its most brilliant in mid-to-late September.
Damage by pine bark beetles combined with years of drought has left the forests dry and especially susceptible to fire. Fire restrictions are not uncommon in the Pike National Forest and state parks, so check with local rangers upon your arrival to see whether campfires are allowed and be prepared with a propane stove for cooking in case they aren't. June 2013 wildfires may have damaged sites in the northern and eastern portions of the county. The fires disrupt the natural food supply of bears, mountain lions and other wildlife, making them more likely to visit your camp looking for a food source. Be especially vigilant in properly storing food to avoid attracting bears, and keep pets and children close by to prevent an attack by a mountain lion.
