In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Boulder over the Peak to Peak Highway to Estes Park, 3,700 metres high across the Continental Divide to Grand Lake and back through the mountains of Colorado.
The spirit of the route
Slide the door open in Allenspark in the morning and you smell pine resin and damp earth, with the peaks of the Front Range catching the first light above the spruces. The Peak to Peak Highway follows the slopes below the Continental Divide at 1,800 to 2,700 metres, past old mining towns, log cabins and lakes. Then comes Estes Park, moose in the meadows of Moraine Park, and the Trail Ridge Road, which climbs in long loops above the tree line to 3,713 metres. Up top there is nothing but tundra, marmots and wind, with the valley of the Colorado River far below. On the west side you reach the Kawuneeche Valley floor, where the forest is regrowing after the 2020 fire, and Grand Lake, the largest natural lake in Colorado. The route takes planning: time slots in the park, reservations, thin air and weather that turns quickly in the afternoon – in return you get mountain camping in a density that is rare elsewhere.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Boulder to Estes Park (approx. 105 km)
- The drive
- From Boulder up through Boulder Canyon (CO 119) to Nederland, then north on CO 72, known as the Peak to Peak Highway, via Ward to Raymer and on along CO 7 via Allenspark to Estes Park. Boulder Canyon is winding, with climbs and narrow rock sections; large motorhomes can instead take US 36 via Lyons to Estes Park and skip the Peak to Peak. On the Peak to Peak the road is two-lane, with bends and in places no shoulder. Driving time is about 2.5 to 3 hours; with breaks, allow a day.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Peak to Peak Highway between Nederland and Allenspark: viewpoints over the Indian Peaks and Longs Peak (4,346 m), old mining towns such as Ward and hiking trails in Roosevelt National Forest.
- Brainard Lake Recreation Area near Ward: lakes and trails into the Indian Peaks; access was tied to reservations or time slots in the summer season – check the Forest Service website before you go.
- Lily Lake on Highway 7 just before Estes Park: a loop around the lake on a flat path, views of Longs Peak, good for a short break.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Aspenglen Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park (Fall River Entrance) and Moraine Park are the obvious campgrounds of choice; both by reservation only via Recreation.gov, water at central points, flush toilets; according to the park, electric hookups are available only on a few designated sites. Check vehicle lengths and site facilities on nps.gov before booking. In Roosevelt National Forest there are Forest Service campgrounds such as Peaceful Valley or Camp Dick near Allenspark; check opening dates and length limits on Recreation.gov beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Dispersed camping is allowed on many areas of the National Forests along the Front Range, but fire bans and special rules change; check the Roosevelt National Forest map and current fire restrictions. In the national park and in Estes Park itself, overnighting outside designated campgrounds is prohibited.
- Insider tip for campers
- Stock up on fresh water and food in Boulder or Estes Park; there are hardly any shops on the Peak to Peak. If you drive from Boulder through Boulder Canyon, start early so that oncoming traffic does not get in your way on the narrow stretches in the afternoon. Parking in Estes Park is full in summer; leave your vehicle outside the centre and use the shuttle or walk.
2Stage 2: Estes Park to Estes Park (Bear Lake Road and Moraine Park) (approx. 40 km)
- The drive
- A day without moving on: from Estes Park on US 36 to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and on along Bear Lake Road to lakes and trails. Bear Lake Road is a dead-end road with limited parking; a separate arrangement applies there while permits are required. Find out in advance which time-slot variant you need.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Moraine Park and Sprague Lake: wide meadows where moose and elk can be seen during the autumn rut; keep your distance and follow the rangers’ instructions.
- Bear Lake and Dream Lake: short walks of roughly 1 to 3 kilometres, best done early, before the car parks fill up.
- Old Fall River Road: a one-lane gravel road, uphill only, open in summer only; vehicles over 25 ft (7.6 m) are banned there, so it is not an option for most campers.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Moraine Park Campground and Glacier Basin Campground in the national park (Bear Lake Road side): according to nps.gov, reservations up to six months ahead via Recreation.gov, hookups only on a few electric sites, dump station in the park. Glacier Basin is open seasonally only. According to the park, Timber Creek Campground on the west side has been closed since 10 August 2026 and is due to reopen in 2027. If you are looking for private sites in Estes Park, you can switch to municipal or private campgrounds; check selection and prices on the spot.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the park the rule is: overnight stays only on designated campgrounds and with a wilderness permit; parking up by the roadside is prohibited. Roosevelt National Forest east of the park and the area around Pole Hill offer dispersed camping; check the rules on campfires and length of stay beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- A timed-entry system applies to the park in 2026: from 22 May to 12 October you need a time-slot ticket between 9 am and 2 pm, with a separate variant for Bear Lake Road (Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road). Campers with reservations need the ticket too; check current rules, deadlines and fees on nps.gov, as the platform charges a processing fee. Visitors without US residency may have to pay additional fees from 2026 – check the current amounts on nps.gov.
3Stage 3: Estes Park to Grand Lake (approx. 80 km)
- The drive
- On US 34 over the Trail Ridge Road: about 48 miles (77 km) from Estes Park to Grand Lake, with the highest point at 12,183 feet (3,713 m). The road is two-lane, climbs in hairpins (Many Parks Curve, Rainbow Curve) and runs for a long way above the tree line. It is open in summer only, usually from late May to mid-October, and closed by snow otherwise; in thunderstorms, hail and gales it can be shut at short notice. Driving time is two hours without stops; with stops, allow half a day to a full day.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Forest Canyon Overlook and Rock Cut: views into glacier-carved valleys and a short tundra trail at around 3,600 m; the air is thin, so walk slowly.
- Alpine Visitor Center at Fall River Pass: café, information and views; open in summer, check nps.gov for the latest dates.
- Kawuneeche Valley and Colorado River Trailhead: moose in the meadows, a forest regrowing after the East Troublesome fire of 2020, and the starting point for the source of the Colorado River.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: On the west side, Timber Creek Campground is, as of the latest information, closed in 2026 (culvert work, from 10 August). Alternatives are on Lake Granby in the Arapaho National Recreation Area, such as Green Ridge Campground and Stillwater Campground (both Forest Service campgrounds with lake views, usually bookable via Recreation.gov); check opening dates, electricity and vehicle lengths before booking. There are also private RV parks in the town of Grand Lake.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): On the west side of the park, parking up outside campgrounds is prohibited; in Arapaho National Forest and Roosevelt National Forest, away from the roads, dispersed camping is possible in many places, but fire bans and areas closed after the 2020 fire need to be observed.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up with fuel and water before the climb and check your brakes: on the descent you brake in a low gear. At 3,700 m the air is thin; if you get a headache, walk slowly and drink plenty. The timed-entry ticket applies to the Trail Ridge Road; early in the day or after 2 pm you do not need it (status: check nps.gov).
4Stage 4: Grand Lake to Granby (approx. 30 km)
- The drive
- From Grand Lake on US 34 along Shadow Mountain Lake and Lake Granby to Granby, mostly flat, with lake views, speed 55 to 65 mph. Driving time is around 30 minutes; the rest of the day is a lake day. The detour to Arapaho Bay on the east shore of Lake Granby uses a minor road (CR 6) that is only partly paved; for large vehicles, check the road surface and length limits.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Grand Lake Village: boardwalks, old shopfronts, walking trails along the lakeshore; the lake is the largest natural lake in Colorado.
- Shadow Mountain Lake and Lake Granby: kayaking, fishing and water sports; the wind in the afternoon is often strong.
- Granby Lake Overlook: views over the lake district and the mountains of the Never Summer Range; small parking bays, for short stops only.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Arapaho National Recreation Area (Arapaho NF): Green Ridge, Stillwater, Willow Creek and Arapaho Bay Campground with sites by the water, some with reservations via Recreation.gov; check facilities and length limits for each site. The town of Granby also has private RV parks with hookups.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Dispersed camping is allowed in Arapaho National Forest, usually for up to 14 days at the same spot; observe posted fire bans and forest damage after 2020. On the lakeshore within the Recreation Area, wild camping rules are restricted; read the signs.
- Insider tip for campers
- On Lake Granby, boats need an inspection for invasive mussels (zebra and quagga mussels); follow the park authority’s instructions. In Granby there are supermarkets, propane and filling stations; fill up with fresh water there.
5Stage 5: Granby to Idaho Springs (approx. 95 km)
- The drive
- Via US 40 to Fraser and Winter Park, then over Berthoud Pass (3,446 m) down to Empire and onto I-70 as far as Idaho Springs. The pass is a snow-pass road with hairpins and climbs; in winter and in snowfall, check CDOT for chain and closure information. Driving time is about 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Berthoud Pass: viewpoint on the Continental Divide and hiking trails, flower meadows in summer, golden aspens in autumn.
- Winter Park and Fraser Valley: cycle routes and walks, mountain scenery with old railway lines.
- Idaho Springs: a mining town on Clear Creek with mine tours and hot springs; parking for motorhomes near the centre is scarce.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: In Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest there are several simple campgrounds near Fraser and Idaho Springs; in the town of Idaho Springs, private RV parks offer sites with hookups. Check access, electricity and length for each site beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Dispersed camping is allowed in the surrounding National Forests; watch for signs, closed areas and fire levels. In the towns, overnighting on streets and car parks is prohibited.
- Insider tip for campers
- Idaho Springs lies at 2,300 m: top up your cool box and fresh water, and take acclimatising to the altitude seriously.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Free camping in Colorado is generally allowed on federal land (National Forest, BLM) for up to 14 days at the same spot, but not in national parks, in town car parks or in towns such as Estes Park or Boulder. The areas in the forests around Rocky Mountain National Park have fire levels and some closures; before every night, check the current map and fire restrictions.
- On federal land, campfires are allowed only in existing fire rings and only when the fire level permits; breaches can lead to heavy penalties. Use gas or charcoal stoves only according to the current rules.
- Apps: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt; for reservations Recreation.gov. Road conditions and closures at COtrip (CDOT), park notices at nps.gov.
- Wildlife: moose, elk, black bears and mule deer – keep at least 25 yards (23 m) from moose and elk, 100 yards (91 m) from bears. Lock food in the vehicle at night and leave no food scraps outside; bear spray makes sense on hikes.
- Altitude: altitude sickness can occur from as low as 2,500 m; do not raise your daily targets too quickly, drink enough, and descend if symptoms are severe.
Waste disposal & supplies
- There are dump stations in Estes Park and Granby and on some campgrounds in the park; check location and fee beforehand, and see the selection on sanidumps.com.
- Drinking water: tap water is drinkable; in national parks there are taps on campgrounds and at visitor centers; filter water in the backcountry.
- Empty grey water and chemical toilets only at disposal points, never into streams or onto the ground.
- Propane in Estes Park, Granby and Boulder (filling stations and specialist dealers); European gas bottles need adapters and are mostly not filled.
- Shopping: supermarkets in Boulder, Estes Park, Granby and Idaho Springs; there are no shops on mountain-pass roads, so shop beforehand.
- Electricity: sites with hookups mostly 30 and 50 A; sites in the national park have no hookups.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits in mph: highways mostly 55 to 65, in towns 25 to 35, on mountain roads lower values as signed. Trail Ridge Road and Bear Lake Road have tight parking areas and limits for large vehicles; Old Fall River Road is prohibited for vehicles over 25 ft.
- There are no tolls on the route described; on I-70 and around Denver there are paid express lanes (billed by licence plate or transponder).
- Timed entry for Rocky Mountain National Park: compulsory from 22 May to 12 October 2026, 9 am to 2 pm; check details, fees and the Bear Lake variant on nps.gov.
- Dimensions: Colorado allows up to 13 ft in height; watch the signs at tunnels and bridges; many campgrounds have length limits in the range of 30 to 40 ft, which need to be checked before booking.
- Reservations: national park and Forest campgrounds via Recreation.gov, up to six months ahead; they go quickly in July and August.
- Weather: afternoon thunderstorms at altitude are common; Trail Ridge Road can be closed at any time in May and October because of snow, so check the park’s current notices.
- Traffic law: a right turn on red after stopping is allowed where no sign prohibits it; open alcohol containers in the vehicle are prohibited; child seats and seat belts are compulsory in a motorhome too.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Wheel chocks and levelling wedges: many campgrounds in the mountains are sloped, and a hillside pitch calls for secure parking.
- Warm layers, a rain jacket and a hat: at 3,700 m temperatures are often below 10 °C even in summer, and below freezing at night in autumn.
- Binoculars for moose, elk and marmots; bear spray and bear canister for hikes and tent sites.
- Offline maps and printed reservations: there is often no mobile signal on the Trail Ridge Road and in the Kawuneeche Valley.
- Water bottle, sun cream and sunglasses: UV radiation is strong at altitude.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
