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Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area/Ruby Mountain Campground

The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Ruby Mountain Campground in Nathrop, Colorado is a great place to camp and explore the Arkansas River. The campground is located in the San Isabel National Forest and offers a variety of activities for all ages. The campground has over 100 sites, including tent sites, RV sites, and group sites. There are also several cabins available for rent. The campground is located near the Arkansas River, which offers great fishing, rafting, and kayaking opportunities. There are also several trails in the area for hiking and biking. The campground also offers a variety of amenities, including a playground, picnic tables, fire pits, and a camp store. The campground is open year-round and is a great place to get away from it all and enjoy the beauty of the Arkansas River.

Amenities

- Tenting

• Dedicated Tenting Area

- Recreational Facilities

• River
• Boating
• Fishing
• Ramp
• No Motors
• Body Of Water (Arkansas River)
• Nature Trails
• Rec Open to the Public

- Policies

• Folding Tent Campers Allowed
• Pets Welcome
• Day Max Stay (14)
• Tent Camping Allowed

- Other Amenities & Services

• Road Condition (Good)
• Road Type (Gravel)
• Pit Toilets

- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)

• Fishing
• Hiking
• Kayaking/Canoeing
• Boating
• Mountain Biking
• Rock/Mountain Climbing
• Snow Sports
• Watersports
• Whitewater Rafting

- Facility

• Type (State Park)

- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)

• Season: Winter,Spring,Fall

- On-Site Rentals

• 

- Sites

• Spaces Available (14)
• Width (30)
• Max Length (100)
• Gravel Sites (14)
• No Hookups (14)
• Only Self-Contained Units
• Pull-thrus (2)
• Pull-thru Size (30 x 100)
• Back-ins (30 x 55)
• Room for Slideouts (Yes)
• Site Length (100)
• Fire Rings
• Table at Site
• BBQ at Site
• Tent-Only Sites (6)

User Reviews

Mary Cernik

October 29, 2025

Freaking amazing river access, I love this place so much. Beautiful, serene, I found a piece of jasper!

Jason Frey

October 16, 2025

The location offers beautiful scenery and some truly lovely views, but unfortunately, that’s where the positives end. The noise level is overwhelming. From sunrise to sunset, there were constant sounds of quads, motorcycles (both on and off road), construction, and people driving in just to use the bathrooms. The campsites are arranged with little to no privacy; from my spot at site #1315, people frequently walked through or around my camp area. It felt more like a crowded rest stop than a peaceful getaway. The bathrooms were also in very poor condition. I understand that campground facilities can have a certain odor, but these smelled strongly of ammonia, as if they hadn’t been cleaned in quite some time. In addition, the campground is bordered by private property on both sides, which made it feel confined rather than remote or open to nature. Overall, while the views are nice, the lack of privacy, high noise level, and poorly maintained facilities made for a disappointing stay. I wouldn’t recommend this campground and won’t be returning.

Karen McGrath

September 22, 2025

If I could give a minus , I would. After driving 2.5 hours, my site was occupied! No people there, no host. Ridiculous. Went home. E mailed them to no avail. 😡

Lienna OLEKSIYENKO

August 18, 2025

Extremely clean and well maintained spot by the river, overlooking Mt Princeton and Mt Antero. Beautiful views and proximity to the water make it very convenient.

Alison Demzon

June 06, 2024

This has to be the most beautiful campground we have been at. The downsides are there is no hookups of any kind, so bring your own water and power, and there is no trash pickup, so pack it in, pack it out. Past that the views are the best I have seen, the sites are setup wonderfully, and there is the Arkansas River right there, and Brown's Canyon right next door.

Map for Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area/Ruby Mountain Campground

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