Sleeping Elephant Campground Introduce
Welcome to Sleeping Elephant Campground, a peaceful and secluded camping destination nestled in the Roosevelt National Forest, near Fort Collins, Colorado. This campground offers a primitive camping experience, ideal for those seeking a tranquil escape into nature.
Campground Environment:
Sleeping Elephant Campground is located adjacent to Highway 14 in an open ponderosa pine setting. The campground is named after the nearby Sleeping Elephant Mountain, which is visible from the campground. The Cache la Poudre River is in close proximity, although it is mostly on private land within the immediate vicinity. The campground's natural environment provides a serene and picturesque setting for your camping experience.
Services and Amenities:
Sleeping Elephant Campground offers a range of basic amenities to enhance your camping experience, including:
- Designated campsites with picnic tables and fire rings
- Vault toilets
Please note that this is a primitive campground, so there is no potable water, hookups, or dump station available. Campers should bring their own water for drinking and cooking. The campground is also not suitable for large RVs.
Campground Features:
Sleeping Elephant Campground is known for its:
- Peaceful and secluded atmosphere, ideal for a quiet getaway
- Beautiful natural surroundings, with views of Sleeping Elephant Mountain
- Primitive camping experience, allowing for a closer connection with nature
- Proximity to the Cache la Poudre River and other outdoor recreation opportunities
Activities and Attractions:
Guests at Sleeping Elephant Campground can enjoy a variety of activities and attractions, including:
- Hiking and exploring the trails in the Roosevelt National Forest
- Fishing in the Cache la Poudre River (license required)
- Scenic drives along Highway 14 and other nearby roads
- Wildlife viewing
- Stargazing under the clear night sky
- Relaxing and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere
Campground Promotion:
Escape to Sleeping Elephant Campground for a truly primitive camping experience in the heart of the Colorado wilderness. With its secluded location, beautiful natural surroundings, and proximity to outdoor recreation opportunities, this campground is the perfect destination for those seeking a tranquil retreat. Come and discover the beauty of the Roosevelt National Forest.
Contact Information:
Address: CO-14, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
Phone: (970) 295-6600
Mobile Phone: +1 970-295-6600
Additional Information:
Sleeping Elephant Campground is operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Reservations are not accepted at this campground, and campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the campground, including availability and regulations, please contact the Roosevelt National Forest or visit their website.
Location
Customer Reviews
First time camping here! Currently costs $16.50. The vault toilets were very clean and the campsites were nice and clean too. I really like the bear locker each site has. Some of the campsites are closer to the road and had less trees around them for shade during the day. The sites also vary in size, with some have a much smaller area to set up a tent. You have to drive to another campground to purchase bundles of fire currently. $9 per bundle. The river is on the other side of the road. We ended up driving to a free day use area to check out the river though (some day use areas cost money). Overall nice campground, especially for the price.
This is a nice, smaller Forest Service campground featuring a spectacular view of its namesake Sleeping Elephant Mountain (elev 9600') to the east. The sites are best for tents, pop-ups or smaller RVs or vans, as the campground road is narrow and most of the site parking spots are short and unlevel. There is access to the Poudre River across the road for fishing. Note that it is a fee area and the campground and pit toilets are well maintained.
What an absolutely beautiful place! One of my favorite mountains! There’s nothing special about it, nothing that separates it to much from other Mountains except it’s shaped like a sleeping elephant! About an hours drive from Fort Collins up through Poudre Canyon, you can’t miss the sign lol! I however couldn’t find a trailhead to this beauty! If there is someone please comment! I bushwhacked the majority of it and followed a few elk trails and crossed the poudre to get to the top! So route finding is a must! During summer the waters rip through here, us caution crossing, as for winter ice is thick and solid, use caution and know what to look for when walking on ice. The peak is roughly 9,100 ft. With an isolation of 1.7 miles its quad peak is Boston Peak.
Campground has been closed since the 2020 fire. But the sleeping elephant is always worth a stop.
This canyon was way busier than we expected and we ended up driving a bit further in than we intended. This was the only campsite we could find with space and we took the last possible spot. The fee was a bit steeper than I would expect from public lands, probably due to a for-profit third party managing the area. The campground is nice and arranged in such a way that your neighbors seem not to be there. There are ticks in the area due to the closeness of the river. Overall, this was what I expected and it was an enjoyable overnight and a wonderful drive up and back down the canyon.
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