U.S. Forest Service · Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands · Colorado

The Crags

Closed for the seasonFirst-come, first-servedDark skyPets okFires ok

Sites are first-come, first-served. Recreation.gov lists this campground for paying on site, and you may be able to pay with the Scan and Pay feature of its app.

More like this: first-come in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · dark sky in Colorado

The Crags
Photo from the area. Han Zheng (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
3fires
active
Rainbow Gulch Rx (prescribed burn) · 10 mi away · 912 acres
2 more within 50 miles
Incident details ↓

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Dark sky9.2 miles from Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusClosed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date.
SeasonLate May to Late September
ForestPike-San Isabel National Forests
BookingNo reservations.
Fees$25 fee per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $11.00 for a third vehicle. $11 fee for day use if not camping overnight. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. Self-servicing fee tube is available.
RulesDogs must be leashed at all times. No discharge of firearms or fireworks. Only licensed vehicles can operate inside campground. Camping is not allowed behind a locked gate.

Pike-San Isabel National Forests recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near The Crags20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.51 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.55 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.31 inches of precipitationApril: 1.67 inches of precipitationMay: 1.81 inches of precipitationJune: 1.77 inches of precipitationJuly: 3.20 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.43 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.71 inches of precipitationOctober: 0.89 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.57 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.56 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 24.3°F averageFebruary: 25.3°F averageMarch: 32.1°F averageApril: 37.4°F averageMay: 46.7°F averageJune: 57.8°F averageJuly: 62.3°F averageAugust: 59.7°F averageSeptember: 54.0°F averageOctober: 42.7°F averageNovember: 32.7°F averageDecember: 24.4°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Cripple Creek 3Nnw, 7 miles from the campground at 9,235 feet, station USC00051977 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 18 inches a year.

Getting there

Coordinates38.8720° N, 105.1236° W · Directions ↗

Fire nearby

  • Prescribed
    Rainbow Gulch Rx

    10 mi from the campground · 912 acres

  • Prescribed
    O'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx

    16 mi from the campground · 267 acres

  • Prescribed
    Harris Park Broadcast Rx

    49 mi from the campground · 390 acres

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗3.3 mi
Outdoor gearSouth Platte Fly Shop ↗9.2 mi
RV sales & serviceRVs of America Off-Road ↗21.5 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.1 mi
    The Crags
    2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.2 mi
    Crags Campground Connector
    0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Devil'S Playground
    3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Horsethief Park
    4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Raspberry Mountain
    1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.1 mi
    XC North
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Guidebooks for Colorado

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at The Crags?

No. The Crags is first-come, first-served. No reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at The Crags?

$25 fee per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $11.00 for a third vehicle.

Source: Forest Service

Is The Crags open right now?

Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Late May to Late September.

Source: Forest Service status

Are pets allowed at The Crags?

Yes, pets are allowed at The Crags. Leash rules apply.

Source: Forest Service

Can I have a campfire at The Crags?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 3 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Dogs must be leashed at all times.

Source: Fire nearby

Is The Crags good for stargazing?

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a certified International Dark Sky Park, is 9.2 miles away. Skies that dark carry for miles; a moonless night here should show the Milky Way.

Source: DarkSky International

What if The Crags is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Springdale (10.2 mi, first-come), Meadow Ridge (10.4 mi), and Thunder Ridge (10.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby