Pawnee
FSU.S. Forest Service — Morrison · Colorado · Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG |
| Location | Morrison · Colorado · Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG · 40.13146, -105.56706 · Map |
| Sites | 45 public sites counted from the federal listing — 37 standard nonelectric; 8 tent only nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 45 sites Water hookups at 0 of 45 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 45 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 45 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 100 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 38 sites · 30 ft: 38 sites · 35 ft: 36 sites · 40 ft: 35 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 02:00 PM · Out 12:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 48 sites, as reported |
| Accessible sites | 2 marked accessible in the listing |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 303-541-2500 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-09-02.
From the official listing
Overview Pawnee Campground is located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, 35 miles south of Estes Park and the main entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing, canoeing and hiking opportunities. Recreation Brainard Lake is a popular destination for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Anglers cast for rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. Long Lake, Red Rock Lake and Left Hand Reservoir are nearby.
Several trails in the area provide access to the adjacent Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. Hiking is allowed on all trails; mountain biking is allowed outside the wilderness area. Rock climbing, snowshoeing and cross country skiing are often available, weather permitting. Facilities The campground offers several single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Natural Features The campground lies at the foot of the Continental Divide, next to 25-acre Brainard Lake and the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area at an elevation of 10,350 feet. A scenic forest of spruce and fir trees covers the area. Summertime temperatures are warm in the day and cool at night. Afternoon thunderstorms are common. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578. Nearby Attractions The town of Nederland is 14 miles south of the campground, offering grocery and hardware stores, restaurants, gas, a bank and a post office.
Rocky Mountain National Park's main entrance is 35 miles north in Estes Park. With lush valleys and craggy peaks reaching elevations higher than 14,000 feet, visitors are provided opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures. Scenic driving, hiking, backpacking, fishing, horseback riding and wildlife viewing are popular activities in the park.
Estes Park is a full-service community. Dining, shopping, rafting, fly-fishing, horseback riding and golfing opportunities are available there. Lake Estes offers boating, sailboarding and fishing. Charges & Cancellations Modifications for this campground must be made through Recreation.gov or by calling the call center at 1-877-444-6777 PRIOR to your reservation start date. Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.
Directions, from the listing
From Denver, travel north on Interstate 25 to U.S. Highway 36 West to Boulder. Continue on Colorado Highway 119 (Canyon Boulevard) for 22 miles to Nederland, then go north on Colorado Highway 72 to Ward. Turn left at the sign and travel 5 miles to Brainard Lake Recreation Area.
Nearest federal campgrounds
3 mi straight-line · Morrison ColoradoFSU.S. Forest ServicePeaceful Valley
3 mi straight-line · Morrison ColoradoFSU.S. Forest ServiceOlive Ridge
6 mi straight-line · Morrison ColoradoFSU.S. Forest ServiceMeeker Park Overflow Campground
8 mi straight-line · ColoradoFSU.S. Forest ServiceRainbow Lakes Campground
8 mi straight-line · Colorado
Trip Card — Pawnee
Morrison · Colorado · Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | Morrison · Colorado · Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 100 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 45 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232282 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.