This page is part of our record of great campsites and spots we find along the way. We are hoping that the information below, accurate to the best of our knowledge, will help you in planning an awesome camping experience, and help us in remembering and recording some of the places we have been along the way.
Click on the links below to find more info about camping in each area
Dan and I have a history with Deerlodge Park Campground. We camped here before we were married (way back in 1998!) and again when our kids were just on the cusp of “young adult” and the idea of long-term camping/living was just starting to take hold. There is something about this remote but generous place that calls us back.
Deerlodge Park is on the eastern tip of Dinosaur National Monument in NW Colorado. It is part of the monument, but there are no rangers, visitor centers or entrance fees. The 7 sites are walk-in only and nestled under a gracious stand of cottonwood trees beside the wild Yampa River.
During peak rafting season (spring and early summer, I believe) this spot gets super busy. It is a put-in for those planning to raft down the Yampa and through the monument. In late summer and fall, it is generally pretty empty. We did run intro a team of USGS Geologists working out of here, and also a few other car campers who stopped in for a day.
There is a small fee to camp here ($10, self-pay) and there is water and pit toilet. The road leading up to the turn off for this spot is paved. The sites are spread out under the trees and there is a large dirt lot where vans or RVs can park. In the summer heat, there are plenty of swim spots– a wide sandy beach in fact– though the Yampa is pretty muddy as rivers go.
Down the river a bit, there is a beautiful hiking trail that climbs above then follows the Yampa river into the park. The trail leads down into a sagebrush bench with an old cabin. The walking is easy and although the trail ends after a few miles, it is easy to continue down the river and explore.
Another wonderful thing about this spot is the wildlife. We have seen elk, mule deer, eagles, coyotes, and a variety of smaller birds When we were here last, we heard elk bugling for days and saw quite a few of them.
And this spot is right on the edge of BLM land, with many close by day trips. We spent two days rockhounding (Well, I– Perri– rockhounded while Dan worked remotely) off Twelve Mile Mesa Road. There’s no end to the variety of agate and jasper spread out over this area. It is also possible to find petrified wood and marine fossils here. We also visited Cross Mountain, where the Yampa bisects a North/South running mountain.
Dinosaur National Monument has many other amazing spots to visit, though these are a good distance away. We enjoyed the Bull Canyon Rim Trail, which was about an hour away. When next we return, we will check out sites North and Northeast of the park.
If you are in the area, and want a remote and interesting spot to enjoy for several days, check out Deerlodge Park. Maybe we will see you there.
