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Arapaho-Roosevelt/West Chicago Creek
Overview
Overview
The West Chicago Creek Campground, situated within the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, provides a quintessential high-altitude escape for outdoor enthusiasts. This rustic, serene forest setting offers a classic tent and small RV camping experience, emphasizing immersion in nature rather than luxury services. The park is nestled deep in a mountain valley where the crisp air and the sound of the nearby creek define the atmosphere, making it a perfect spot for those looking to disconnect from the modern grid.
Location & Surroundings
Located just a few miles south of Idaho Springs, Colorado, this campground serves as a gateway to the high Rockies. Accessing the area involves navigating scenic, winding mountain roads that reward travelers with breathtaking alpine views. The surrounding landscape features a dense canopy of spruce and fir trees, providing ample shade. Because it is positioned at a high elevation, visitors should be prepared for cool mountain evenings and the unique beauty of the Clear Creek watershed.
Amenities & Park Features
Consistent with its primitive status, the facility focuses on the essentials to protect the natural integrity of the forest. The sites are generally small and best suited for tents or smaller camper vans and compact travel trailers. Visitors have access to vault toilets and drinking water, along with designated fire rings and picnic tables at each site. This is a dry camping environment, so campers should arrive fully prepared with all necessary supplies and water reserves for their stay.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The area surrounding Idaho Springs is an outdoor playground for active travelers. Guests often spend their days hiking the local trailheads that lead into the Mount Evans Wilderness, known for its rugged terrain and frequent wildlife sightings. For history lovers, the nearby historic mining district offers a glimpse into the regional gold rush heritage. Additionally, the park provides easy access to excellent fly fishing spots along the winding creek, which remains a popular draw for anglers.
Who This Park Is Best For
This campground is ideal for the self-sufficient traveler who prioritizes solitude and direct access to mountain trails over modern RV park amenities. It is a fantastic choice for those camping in tents or small adventure rigs who appreciate a quiet, dark sky experience. Those looking for big-rig sites or full hookups will likely find this rustic location unsuitable, but nature lovers seeking an authentic wilderness basecamp will find it a rewarding destination.
Features & Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
Reviews
Stevie Gregory
A true hidden Colorado gem of a campground. Small campground nestled amongst the trees short walk to clear ice cold creek. Tents or small rvs
L W
Beautiful, but come prepared! Make sure you come fully aware that there is no washroom, shower, electricity or water available. There is no cellular service. It gets very cold at night. I camped in a tent and was well equipped for these challenges, and enjoyed my stay. Being so disconnected from the modern world for a night made me feel like a real adventurer! The roads are winding and narrow as you get closer to the campsite. Drive slowly, be prepared to move / slow your vehicle to accommodate oncoming vehicles, and keep a GPS to consult. My Garmin GPS had no trouble guiding me to the campsite.
Kali L
Nice campground! Camp site was spacious and had a fire ring, picnic table, and bear proof storage. Trail nearby for a nice hike. Camp host has firewood for sale.
Victoria Joseph
Campground was very nice, no complaints there. Unfortunately, our visit was turned sour by an unpleasant interaction with the camp host. I don’t know this woman’s name but she has quite the attitude. We rolled in kinda late looking for an open camp ground. We found a site that said open so we pulled in. We began setting up when the host came over telling us we had to leave because that spot was actually reserved. From the start she had an I own nature attitude that rubbed me the wrong way. This was unfortunate but we agreed right away and started thinking of alternate plans. We decided to ask a nice couple with a big site if we could set up our tent in a corner of their site and they were happy to have us! Just as we start taking out our tent the camp host comes over yelling “no, no, no ladies” over and over. I chat with her explaining we discussed this with the couple there, the guy walks over to confirm. She will not hear it and just says that if we had asked her before setting up our tent it would have been fine but now we HAD to leave. Ended up camping on the side of the road and not feeling super comfortable. Would have loved for a camp host (some one who should love access to nature) to treat us with a little more kindness 🤷🏻♀️
Larry North
Definitely worth the drive