Marvine Campground

First, I would like it to be known that I have camped at the Marvine Campground for at least 9 days each fall for thirty (30) years. The group meeting this fall has camped in the Marvine Campground for the past thirty-six (36) years. This year is the first year we have ever had any conflicts with the US Forest Service, their concessionaire or the camp host. Let me address the camp host issue. Ted did his job of keeping the toilets clean and stocked while I was there. In the beginning he was very personable but as the week wore on, he became more and more demanding because (I believe) of the pressure from his supervisor on how to handle some questions he was either not trained on how to deal with rentals of camping spaces plus corrals or he was given poor guidance from his supervisor. As the sign below clearly shows a single campsite is $27.00 per night or if you have a Senior Pass, it is $11.00 per night. Then it goes on to state if you have a campsite at $27.00 per night and you want a corral your fees are $32.00 per night or with a campsite a corral rental is $5.00 per night. If you have a Senior pas and rent a campsite for $11.00 plus $5.00 for a horse corral your daily fee would be $16.00 per day. For some reason neither the camp host’s supervisor or the camp host could seem to get that message. They repeatedly told us that if we wanted a corral, we would have to rent an additional campsite outside the main campground for $11.00 plus the $5.00 corral rental for an additional $11.00 per night. I called the Blanco U.S. Forest Service Ranger District and talked with District Recreation Specialist about this and he stated that our interpretation of the rental fees was correct. Later that day the American Land and Leisure area supervisor came to our camp and stated that we would have to rent two camping sites if we wanted a corral or move our camp outside the main campground. As for the price to camp in Marvine Campground, it is ridiculous. For the average family the cost is $27.00 per night and if they are meeting some one it is $8.00 for every car over one, even if they are all safely parked in the same campsite area. Twenty-seven dollars is a ridicules fee for a campsite in a campground with a hand pump for water (in the summertime only) and no water after October 15th. The time we spent at the campground there was no potable water available unless you hauled it in from Meeker or some other location. The fees should have been adjusted downward based on the number and quality of services provided. There are 2 - two seat vault toilets for 23 camping sites. Think about it, if there are only 2 people per campsite that is 46 people for 4 toilets seats. One of our campsites had 5 people in it. As I stated earlier, they were clean and stocked with toilet paper while we were there. However, there were only six campsites occupied. In the past I have seen the campground full and lines waiting outside both sets of vault toilets. My final issue in this review is that the campground was closed to the public at noon on Sunday, November 3 with the gate being closed and locked. The problem with this is that the Colorado 2nd elk season didn’t end until November 4th at sundown. So, between American Land and Leisure and the U.S. Forest Service all Colorado elk hunters staying in Marvine Campground were cheated out of their one day of hunting, or had to postpone getting their game out one more day because they had to tear down and reset up their camps by November 3. One would have thought that the closing of the campground could have been delayed until at least November 5th or 6th to accommodate the public. As for Colorado hunters in the third and fourth seasons, I have no idea where they would be allowed to camp to hunt the Marvine area. Therefore the management of this U.S. Forest Service Campground gets a review rating of 1 star because I cannot give it a lower rating.

Vault toilets were clean and well stocked. The sites have enough room and trees for privacy between sites. Dogs are mandatory on leash at all times and horses are around the campground. Overall great spot!

This was a sweet spot! Was not over charged and camp grounds and bathrooms were in great condition. Lots of fire wood and endless hiking! Loved this spot. Friend of mine went horseback riding and absolutely loved it!

New management company again this year. Its hit and miss if there is a camp host, camp fees or if the campground gate is even open late in year. This is why it gets 3 stars and not more. My family has hunted out of here for 30+ years and wish this campground was more consistent with open/closure status through at least 3rd hunting season. The pay for 2nd vehicle at a spot is not ideal. And fees for use of corals is confusing and seems like a lot for sometimes Un maintenance corals. Also two vault toilets and No Running Water for an entire camp ground is not great.

Hand pump water was available but very hard to get enough to water horses. Creek behind corrals is straight down and too far to haul water from. Each campsite only has 1 pen instead of 2 as advertised.

Loved it! Nice corrals for the horses. Great trails with all the beauty and splendor of CO.