Rocky Mountain National Park Timber Creek Campground
Timber Creek Campground is the only campground on the west side of the park. The campground is about eight miles (13 km) north of the Grand Lake entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. It sits along the Colorado River at an elevation of of 8900 feet (3000 m). A mountain pine beetle infestation caused most of the trees to be removed, so there is no shade at campsites. Camping in a trailer or RV? Please be advised, this campground has a total vehicle length limit of 30 feet (9 m). RVs and combined vehicles and trailers that exceed this limit cannot camp in Timber Creek Campground.
Some campsites at Timber Creek Campground are available to be reserved up to 6 months in advance on a rolling window. Any sites that are open are listed as "A" for available. A number of campsites are available to be reserved 2 weeks prior to your desired camping date. These campsites are currently listed as "NR" for Not Yet Released.
ATTENTION: If you plan on renting an RV or camping equipment and having it delivered to Rocky Mountain National Park, it is your responsibility to make sure that the individual or business that you are renting the equipment from has a valid permit to do business in the park. It is illegal to conduct business in a park area without a permit, contract, or other written agreement. Renting from a business or individual without a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) with the park may leave you without accommodations as the RV/camping equipment may be turned away upon delivery.
Timber Creek Camgpround contains single family tent-only sites, walk-to sites, and RV sites (30 ft/9 m or smaller in length) without hookups. There is no group camping at Timber Creek Campground. If you are looking for a group site, please check Glacier Basin Campground located on the east side of the park located off of the Bear Lake Road. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, and fire ring with grate.
During the summer season, a dump station is located in the campground and is open for use to all campers. Additional dumpsters and recycling areas are scattered throughout the campground for the camper's convenience.
Notifications and Alerts
ATTENTION: If you plan on renting an RV or camping equipment and having it delivered to Rocky Mountain National Park, it is your responsibility to make sure that the individual or business that you are renting the equipment from has a valid permit to do business in the park. It is illegal to conduct business in a park area without a permit, contract, or other written agreement. Renting from a business or individual without a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) with the park may leave you without accommodations as the RV/camping equipment may be turned away upon delivery.
Need to Know
Timed Entry Permits - For visitors who are camping at Timber Creek Campground, your Timed Entry Permit is included with your camping reservation. This campground reservation includes access to areas of Rocky Mountain National Park excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor.
- Campers will be able to enter the park beginning at 1 p.m. on the first day of their camping reservation, which is also the check in time for all park campgrounds. Campers who plan to enter the park earlier in the day or who wish to visit destinations located along the Bear Lake Road corridor will have to enter the park outside of the times when Timed Entry Permits are in effect (for example, before 9 a.m. for most areas of the park) or book a Timed Entry Permit Reservation.
- Learn more about Timed Entry Reservations at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Campsite Limits.
Each site is limited to eight (8) persons and one camping unit (i.e., a tent, RV, or trailer/tow vehicle) plus one additional tent per standard nonelectric site.
All tents shall be located on the tent pad. All additional camp structures must be self standing without impacts to vegetation or trees.
Parking is limited to two (2) vehicles per site. A vehicle is defined as one vehicle, one trailer, one RV, or one towed unit.
Each vehicle must be parked on the gravel or paved parking pad causing no resource degradation or encroachment onto the paved access road. Some sites will accommodate only one vehicle on the graveled parking pad. Extra vehicles must park in overflow areas.
Check in is at 1:00 p.m.
Entrance Fee. Campers must pay a separate park entrance fee of $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days, or present your annual or lifetime pass (such as the Senior and Access). You may pay the entrance fee upon arrival or in advance .
Pass Discounts for Camping. If you use a Senior or Access Pass for the 50% camping fee discount while booking a reservation, you must present the pass and photo ID upon check-in.
Camping space is extremely limited. Please ensure your camping unit or equipment will fit in the site as other options may not be available.
Length of Stay. The maximum length stay during peak season is 7 nights in the park per family or group.
Food Storage and Wildlife. Bears, deer, elk, raccoons and skunks frequent the area. All food, pet food, cooking utensils and other scented items must be stored in a vehicle or in food storage lockers located in the campground.
Prohibited Wheeled Devices. The use of skateboards, rollerblades, scooters and other similar devices is prohibited.
No Hookups. There are no water or electrical hookups. Generators may be run only between 7:30-10:00 am and 4:00-8:30 pm.
No Laundry or Showers. There are no laundry or shower facilities in the campground.
High Altitude. This is a high elevation facility (over 8,500 feet/2700 m). Please exercise caution when traveling from lower elevations and learn about the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness.
Dump Station. RV sewage and wastewater tanks must be emptied at the dump station. For tent campers, dishwashing must be done at designated comfort stations.
Hammocks. Hammocks are not allowed
Respect the area! NO trenching, putting nails in trees, collection of flowers, or building rock structures is allowed in the campground.
Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site.
ATTENTION: If you plan on renting an RV or camping equipment and having it delivered to Rocky Mountain National Park, it is your responsibility to make sure that the individual or business that you are renting the equipment from has a valid permit to do business in the park. It is illegal to conduct business in a park area without a permit, contract, or other written agreement. Renting from a business or individual without a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) with the park may leave you without accommodations as the RV/camping equipment may be turned away upon delivery.
Natural Features
Timber Creek Campground has been impacted by both mountain pine beetle infestation, which killed many of the trees, but also by wildfire. This results in almost no shade in the campground, but it provides for an opportunity to see forest regrowth. Wildflowers can fill surrounding meadows and a mix of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and ponderosa pine are all around as you explore the park.
Wildlife is plentiful in Rocky Mountain National Park. Mule deer and the majestic Rocky Mountain elk are commonly seen. Black bear, coyote, bighorn sheep and moose also inhabit the area, but are less common to see.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Grand Lake lies just 8 miles outside the park's west entrance. Dining, shopping, and other recreational activities can be found there.
Recreation
Rocky Mountain National Park has over 350 miles of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain peak climbs. Visitors enjoy the park's various lake trails (Bear Lake, Cub Lake, Mills Lake), waterfall trails (Adams Falls, Alberta Falls, Ouzel Falls) and summit trails (Deer Mountain, Twin Sisters Peaks, Flattop Mountain).
The park also offers some unforgettable scenic driving routes, including Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. Trail Ridge Road reaches 12,183 feet (3715 m) above sea level and is the highest continuous paved highway in the United States. It climbs above the park's evergreen forests to its windswept alpine tundra, where visitors enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.
Driving along the historic Old Fall River Road is like motoring through an earlier era. Constructed in 1920, this steep, one-way, uphill, gravel road punctuated by switchbacks quietly leads travelers from Horseshoe Park through the park's wilderness to Fall River Pass, 11,796 feet (3595 m) above sea level.
Several visitor centers are located within the park, offering ranger-led activities, education and history about the park, and seasonal nighttime programs.
Changes & Cancellations
Please review the Reservation Rules and Policies for details about changes and/or cancellations.
Contact Information
Mailing
16018 US HWY 34 Grand Lake CO 80447
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 970-586-1206
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Grand Lake, Colorado: head north on US Hwy 34/Trail Ridge Road. 8 miles (approx. 13 km) from the park entrance, follow signs to Timber Creek Campground. The campground will be on the left.
Available Campsites
- Site Site 88, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 6, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 74, Loop Loop D, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 85, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 82, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 23, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 79, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 52, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 99, Loop Loop D, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 96, Loop Loop D, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 76, Loop Loop D, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 5, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 95, Loop Loop D, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 11, Loop Loop A, Type Walk To
- Site Site 32, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 87, Loop Loop D, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 28, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 35, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 92, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 90, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 36, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 31, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 91, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 59, Loop Loop C, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 41, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 20, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 14, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 57, Loop Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 18, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 60, Loop Loop C, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 40, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 94, Loop Loop D, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 84, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 10, Loop Loop A, Type Walk To
- Site Site 97, Loop Loop D, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 13, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 22, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 93, Loop Loop D, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 4, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 24, Loop Loop B, Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site Site 61, Loop Loop C, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 44, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 55, Loop Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 9, Loop Loop A, Type Walk To
- Site Site 64, Loop Loop C, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 39, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 66, Loop Loop C, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 43, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 15, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 30, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 72, Loop Loop C, Type Walk To
- Site Site 17, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 34, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 8, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 16, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 75, Loop Loop D, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 68, Loop Loop C, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 80, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 78, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 37, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 71, Loop Loop C, Type Walk To
- Site Site 86, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 38, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 25, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 73, Loop Loop C, Type Walk To
- Site Site 45, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 77, Loop Loop D, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 21, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 3, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 63, Loop Loop C, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 70, Loop Loop C, Type Walk To
- Site Site 62, Loop Loop C, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 53, Loop Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 29, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 81, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 12, Loop Loop A, Type Walk To
- Site Site 56, Loop Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 27, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 67, Loop Loop C, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 51, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 98, Loop Loop D, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 65, Loop Loop C, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 50, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 1, Loop Loop A, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 33, Loop Loop B, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site Site 58, Loop Loop C, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 26, Loop Loop B, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site Site 89, Loop Loop D, Type Walk To
- Site Site 7, Loop Loop A, Type Standard Nonelectric
