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Car Camp at Timber Creek Campground

Grand Lake, Colorado

3.0/5
based on 1 reviews

Description

Added by Ryan Mckinney

• Amazing wildlife viewing opportunities• Camp under the stars in Rocky Mountain National Park• Lots of hiking trails near by

This campground just 10 miles north of Grand Lake is a prime example of the amazing campgrounds you can find in Rocky Mountain National Park. Located along the Colorado River, Timber Creek has 98 campsites that are all first-come-first-serve. If you're on top of it and show up at a decent time, you're bound to get a site. It's still a National Park so get there as early as you can.

My personal opinion is that the West Side is the best side. Besides the fact that it is less crowded than the East Side of Rocky Mountain National Park there are great trails here too! One of my favorite hikes is to Big Meadows or continue past the meadows to Granite Falls(50' cascading waterfall).

Moose and elk frequently pass through this site so make sure you have your camera ready! You will also find mule deer, black bear, fox, and coyote to name a few.

If you trip happens to fall near a new moon keep your eye out for the Milky Way. I recommend taking a nap in the day and go for a night hike. The Milky Way photos in the ENO hammock and with the flashlight over the Colorado River were taken at the Bowen/Baker Trailhead(1.8 miles from the campground). I use an app called MoonCalendar and plan my trips around moonless nights.

I ran into an issue where I drove 3 hours from Denver and planned on staying at Timber Creek Campground but it was full. I was in a bit of a panic but remembered that Stillwater Pass was located just pass Grand Lake which had dispersed camping. Go to my profile and check out my writeup on Stillwater Pass. If you have the same issue I had, your weekend will not be ruined!

Note: there was a pine beetle outbreak in the area so some of the campsites lack the desired amount of shade. It may be wise to bring a canopy of sorts to provide your group some shade if you end up in one of these sites.

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Features

Camping
Fishing
Photography
Snowshoeing
Hiking
Bathrooms
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
River
Wildflowers
Wildlife

Car Camp at Timber Creek Campground Reviews

This was a gorgeous campground until the massive pine beetle kill. It's still a great place to spend the night though, and definitely a lot less crowded than the east side. If the campground is full ask about nearby national forest.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Photograph Moose in Rocky Mountain National Park

Hike to Timber Lake

Hike the Colorado River Trailhead Loop

Mt. Ida via Milner Pass

Backpack Alpine Terrain to Haynach Lakes

Hike to Big Meadows and Granite Falls