Camp close to the river at private and Forest Service campgrounds along its course. Dutch George Flats Campground, just off State Highway 14, has 20 first-come, first-served sites in a meadow at the edge of the river, with fire rings, picnic tables and large parking areas with easy highway access suitable for RVs up to 33 feet. Tenters can camp in secluded areas among the pines. The campground has a wheelchair-friendly river trail with benches where you can sit and enjoy the natural surroundings. Mountain Park, about a mile away, has 55 forested campsites alongside the river, with electric hookups and hot showers as well as recreational amenities including basketball and horseshoes. Poudre River Resort provides year-round camping, with full hookups for RVs and tent sites near the river.
The Little South Fork of the Cache la Poudre flows 9 miles through the northern edge of the Cache La Poudre Wilderness in the Front Range. The Mount McConnel National Recreation Trail is the sole trail slicing through this wilderness, and you can explore further by rock scrambling along game trails and stream beds. You can camp anywhere in the wilderness you prefer, as long as you take care not to damage fragile vegetation with your equipment and you keep your camp more than a quarter-mile from the Cache la Poudre River and 200 feet from any other water source.
Your dog is free to join you at the Forest Service campgrounds, the Cache la Poudre Wilderness and most privately owned facilities in the area. Keep dogs leashed to stop them from becoming potential prey for mountain lions. Pick up after your pet, and remember to put its food away after eating to avoid attracting bears, skunks and other wildlife. Horses are welcome in the wilderness and forest, but are limited to dispersed campsites or equine-friendly campgrounds, such as Jacks Gulch. All public lands in Colorado require that you bring certified weed-free hay, pellets or steam-rolled grains to feed your livestock.
The ruggedness of Cache la Poudre’s canyons bring many hazards you should be prepared for. Temperatures can drop 30 degrees in a matter of minutes when afternoon thunderstorms roll in during spring and summer. High winds in early summer can put you at risk of hypothermia. Strong currents in the river make swimming dangerous in many areas. If paddling on the river, always wear a life vest and consider wearing a wetsuit to help hold in body heat should you be thrown into the cold water. Rattlesnakes are common in the rocky canyons, so be careful where you put your hands and feet, especially when rock scrambling. Check yourself nightly for ticks, especially in warm, moist areas of your body such as armpits, nape of your neck and groin.
