Colorado / Grand County

Pumphouse Recreation Area

Closed — Closed for the season. Opens in May and operates through October. Reservations available via Recreation.gov.

About

The Pumphouse Recreation Area is part of the Upper Colorado River Special Recreation Management Area, positioned between Gore Canyon and Hartman Canyon along the Colorado River. This developed BLM campground features 18 individual campsites (requiring reservations) and 2 group sites that accommodate everything from tent camping to small trailers. Sites 1-8 have back-in/pull-in driveways up to 35 feet, while sites 9-18 offer parallel parking for two vehicles and small trailers. Each site includes a picnic table, fire ring, and proximity to vault toilets and trash receptacles. As the most heavily used river access point between Kremmling and State Bridge, Pumphouse offers three developed boat ramps serving floaters tackling calm water through Class III rapids. The Gore Canyon Whitewater Playpark above Boat Ramp #2 provides a manmade wave popular with kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders. Hikers can explore the Gore Canyon Trail (1.5 miles upriver) with its historic retaining walls built by early surveyors, or the Gore Canyon Ranch Trail (1.25 miles downriver). The adventurous Argentine Trail, accessed via the Gore Canyon Ranch Trail, features steep drop-offs and sections blasted into Hartman Canyon cliffs. The campground provides seasonal potable water (mid-April to mid-November, though not guaranteed), vault toilets, trash service, and firewood for sale. There are no hookups or reliable cell service. The setting along the Colorado Headwaters National Scenic and Historic Byway offers stunning canyon scenery in a Wild and Scenic Eligible river corridor.

Directions

From Kremmling, drive south on Highway 9 for about 1 mile. Turn west onto Grand County Road 1 (Trough Road) and continue for approximately 10 miles. Then, turn right onto the Pumphouse Recreation Area access road.

Nearby Campgrounds