Rocky Mountain National Park Timber Creek

Summary

Timber Creek Campground is located along the Colorado River in Rocky Mountain National Park, featuring RV and single family sites without hook-ups. Visitors can explore 350+ miles of hiking trails, scenic drives, visitor centers, and an array of wildlife. Grand Lake is 8 miles away for dining, shopping, and other recreational activities.

Overview

Timber Creek Campground is the only campground on the west side of the park. Located at 8900 feet (3000 m) along the Colorado River about eight miles north of the Grand Lake entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. A mountain pine beetle infestation caused most of the trees to be removed, so there is no shade at campsites. There is also a limit on vehicle length of no longer then 30ft allowed in Timber Creek Campground.

Recreation

Rocky Mountain National Park has over 350 miles of hiking trails that range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain peak climbs. Visitors enjoy the park's various lake trails (Bear Lake, Cub Lake, Mills Lake), waterfall trails (Adams Falls, Alberta Falls, Ouzel Falls) and summit trails (Deer Mountain, Twin Sisters Peaks, Flattop Mountain).  

The park also offers some unforgettable scenic driving routes, including Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. Trail Ridge Road reaches 12,183' above sea level and is the highest continuous paved highway in the United States. It climbs above the park's evergreen forests to its windswept alpine tundra, where visitors enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.  

Driving along the historic Old Fall River Road is like motoring through an earlier era. Constructed in 1920, this steep, one-way, uphill, gravel road punctuated by switchbacks quietly leads travelers from Horseshoe Park through the park's wilderness to Fall River Pass, 11,796' above sea level.  

Several visitor centers are located within the park, offering ranger-led activities, education and history about the park, and seasonal nighttime programs.

Facilities

Timber Creek Camgpround contains single family tent-only sites, walk-to sites, and RV sites (30ft or less) without hookups. There is no group camping at Rimber Creek Campground. If you are looking for a group site, please check Glacier Basin Camground located on the east side of the park located off of the Bear Lake Road. Each campsite is equipped with a picnic table, and fire ring with grate.  

During the summer season, a dump station is located in the campground and is open for use to all campers. Additional dumpsters and recycling areas are scattered throughout the campground for the camper's convenience. 

Natural Features

Timber Creek Campground has been impacted by both mountain pine beetle infestation, which killed many of the trees, but also by wildfire. This results in almost no shade in the campground, but it provides for an opportunity to see forest regrowth. Wildflowers can fill sounding meadows and a mix of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and ponderosa pine are all around as you explore the park. 

Wildlife is plentiful in Rocky Mountain National Park. Mule deer and the majestic Rocky Mountain elk are commonly seen. Black bear, coyote, bighorn sheep and moose also inhabit the area, but are less common to see.

Nearby Attractions

The town of Grand Lake lies just 8 mies outside the parks west entrance. Dining, shopping, and other recreational activities can be found there.

Charges & Cancellations

Please refer to https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies for information regarding changes and/or cancellations.