Colorado Campgrounds: The 100 Best and All the Rest

We have lived, and extensively camped, in Colorado for more than 25 years, so we speak from experience when we say this is a must have reference to Colorado's BEST PUBLIC CAMPGROUNDS (BLM, City and County, Forest Service, State and National Parks, and State Wildlife Areas). "Colorado Campgrounds: The 100 Best And All the Rest" is by far the most informative guide you can buy! It divides the state into 9 geographic regions and covers 434 public campgrounds with inside information and ratings on the author's "Top 100". For each of these select campgrounds, you will find a listing that opens with a color photo, the campground's general location, elevation, number of sites, recommended RV length, season, maps, and phone numbers. Directions, a discussion of the campground's distinguishing features (usually including specific site recommendations), a "heads up" on the campground's popularity (with comments on reservable sites), a brief listing of facilities, special notes for RVers and for tenters (often with more site recommendations), and information on recreational opportunities. As if all that weren't enough, the book also rates each of the "Top 100" for scenery, desirability as a destination for RVers and for tenters, shade and privacy. The ratings are on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Admittedly, this is not the campground guide for the RVer seeking the sorts of facilities available only in commercial campgrounds. If swimming pools and full hookups are at the top of your list of campground priorities, you will be better served by other guide books. For the rest of us, this one is simply the BEST!

As the other reviews have noted, this is an outstanding book. While I can't say I have seen every other colorado campground book out there, I still feel comfortable saying you will have a hard time finding anything better. While there are many outstanding aspects to this book, one of the top highlights would be the full color photos of each of the top 100, while not always a complete representation of the campgrounds (ie, a view from/of one site can't do any campground justice) they are nice to get some idea of the place, and books with pictures are always nicer! The text includes very good and detailed info about each of the top 100 (includign facilities onsite and somtimes nearby, like where to find showers), and details of the other (non top 100) campgrounds are still fairly adequate. Again, I think if you are looking for a colorado campground book, this should be all you'll need.My one and only suggestion for readers of this book would be to not take the "top 100" designation all that seriously. While I don't think you will be disappointed by any of the author's top 100 selection, just remember they are from his point of view and your ideas of what makes a top 100 might be different (I believe the author mentions this as well). There have been several occasions where I would have rated campgrounds in a certain area differently (ie of 4 campgrounds in an area, 1 made his top 100 and 3 others different, I would have picked a different one). From what I have noticed, the author seems to give priority to the campgrounds with the best views (which isn't a bad thing), but I would probably give more weight to those with the most privacy, but to each their own! So again, its a great book for info, you won't be disappointed, but just don't be afraid to try some others that didnt' make the top 100 cut, as on several occasions I have found them more appealing to me than a top 100 selection nearby.

This is the book that every state should have! Our family is a transplant to Colorado and would have had to spend much time learning the best spots to go. This book has saved us a great deal of time in planning for our very valuable weekends. We have been following it since we got it and have not missed yet on getting the best camping spots. Details are specific down to which sites to choose. This is your book if you like to avoid the big RV parks.

This is THE book if you are going camping in Colorado just once, or for the whole summer. Many guidebooks are out of date or are reprints of Forest Service information. This guy obviuosly VISITED these campgrounds. If your like a lot of us and barely have one or two weekends per summer to go camping, get this book. It will allow you to pick a new place without the risk of "trail and error".

This book really has been what I have been looking for in a camping book. It not only lists campgrounds with ratings, but also the best campsites. I highly recommend this book to anyone camping in Colorado.