Colorado West Outdoors

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Rating:

The Saddlehorn Campground is located within the Colorado National Monument and is open year around. To reach the campground you travel south out of Fruita Colorado about 2.5 miles until you come to the west entrance of the Colorado National Monument. You will have to pay the $10 entrance fee to the monument. Continue on Rimrock Drive for an additional 4 miles. The campgrounds are located on your left at the first available left turn after entering the monument and just before the visitors center. From here take another immediate left and follow the signs to the campground.

There are a total of 80 campsites available and all are on a first come first serve basis. You can pick your site then go to the self registration kiosk located at the entrance to the campgrounds and fill out the proper paper work. The camping fee is a steep $20 which I thought was a little excessive but is apparently pretty normal for this type of campground, you do get flushing toilets, running water and a camp host.

The sites are all pretty nice and are ideal for tents. There are a few pull through sites for vehicles of 40 feet or less and most of the sites had fairly large parking areas so that you can park a camper and another vehicle.

There is a seven person and three tent limit and you can have only two vehicles for each site. There are charcoal grills and picnic tables at each site. Unfortunately wood fires are prohibited so if you want s’mores you need to cook them over a charcoal or gas grill. You need to either re-register or check out by 11:00am.

The views of the area are beautiful and there are plenty of nice trails in the immediate vicinity you can enjoy. The temperature can get pretty hot during the summer months so be prepared if you come during those times. Be sure to check out the newly renovated visitors’ center located just outside the campground before you leave.

The close proximity to town makes it good for a quick overnight trip and also makes it nice if you forget something you really need. There are a number of bighorn sheep in the area as well as deer and a multitude of birds.