Saddlehorn Campground
Saddlehorn Campground is located within Colorado National Monument which preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Much more than a monument, towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 79 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
79 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | A | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | None | No / – | 7 / 2 | No | Yes |
| 03 | A | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | None | No / – | 7 / 2 | No | |
| 04 | A | 25 | Paved | None | No / – | 7 / 2 | No | ||
| 05 | A | 25 | Paved | None | No / – | 7 / 2 | No | Yes | |
| 06 | A | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | None | No / – | 7 / 2 | No | |
| 07 | A | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | None | No / – | 7 / 2 | No | |
| 08 | A | 35 | Gravel | None | No / – | 7 / 2 | No | ||
| 09 | A | 35 | Gravel | None | No / – | 7 / 2 | No | ||
| 10 | A | 35 | Gravel | None | No / – | 7 / 2 | No | ||
| 11 | A | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | None | No / – | 7 / 2 | No |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 59 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | The camping fee is $22.00 per night per site. This is in addition to the entrance fee to Colorado National Monument. You may pay the fee upon arrival or in advance. |
| Accessibility | Sites 02, 05, 70 are listed accessible |
- Saddlehorn Campground is located near the Saddlehorn Visitor Center, four miles from the west entrance (near Fruita, Colorado) and nineteen miles from the east entrance (near Grand Junction, Colorado), and is the only established campground within the Monument.
- There are 79 campsites with three camping loops within the Saddlehorn Campground (Loops A, B, and C).
- Loop A is typically open early April through the end of October.
- All "day-of" reservation sites open at 8AM mountain time on the day of.
- Loop B is open year-round. Outer loop sites are reservable 6 months in advance, inner loop sites are reservable 2 weeks in advance.
- Loop C is open early May through mid/late October, weather dependent. Sites 52-69 are reservable on a day of basis, while sites 70-80 are reservable up to two weeks in advance.
- All "day-of" reservation sites open at 8AM mountain time on the day of.
- Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
- Due to size of the campground, vehicles longer than 40 feet cannot be accomodated--this includes tow vehicle AND trailer. Restrooms have flush toilets and water available during the summer, and each site has a picnic table and charcoal-only grill. There are no electric hookups, fill or dump stations, or showers.
- There are three tunnels on Rim Rock Drive. There are two tunnels on the west side and one on the east side of the park; the campground sits between the east and west tunnels. Heights: The clearance above the lanes of traffic ranges from a low point of 10'6" near the edge of the curb to a maximum of 16' above the centerline of the road. Vehicles must be able to stay in their lane; vehicles may not
- For a group of 15 people or more, do not book through recreation.gov. Contact the park at 970-858-2800 or [email protected] to make group reservations.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Westbound on Highway I-70 towards Grand Junction: take Exit 31 (Horizon Drive). Follow signs through Grand Junction to the park's east entrance. The visitor center and campground are 19 miles (30 km) from the east entrance. Eastbound on Highway I-70 (Fruita): Take Exit 19.
| Nearest town | Fruita, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.1048° N, 108.7329° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Vehicles must be able to stay in their lane; vehicles may not For a group of 15 people or more, do not book through recreation.gov.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 3.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Bass Pro Shops ↗ | 7.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Centennial RV ↗ | 7.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Saddlehorn Campground | Colorado National Monument | Site by Site Tour | See all the Camps
Worth a stop
The cities of Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade boast many urban and agricultural attractions, but there are also abundant recreation areas surrounding the Monument. Among these are McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, James M. Robb Colorado River State Park, Highline Lake State Park, and many Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service areas.
- 1.9 miDinosaur Hill Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 2.7 miOpal Hill Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Public land it sits in
McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area begins about 2.8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2.8 miMcInnis Canyons National Conservation Area ↗National Conservation Area · Bureau of Land Management · 124,157 acres
- 4.5 miBlack Ridge Canyons Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 75,479 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Saddlehorn Caretaker's House and GarageBuilding · Grand Junction · 0.2 mi
- Saddlehorn Comfort StationBuilding · Grand Junction · 0.4 mi
- Saddlehorn Utility Area Historic DistrictHistoric district · Grand Junction · 0.4 mi
Natural features
The campground is nestled within large red rock formations, with pinyon and juniper trees providing adequate shade. There are spectacular views of the Grand Valley to the northwest, and some of the park's most scenic monoliths and canyons to the southeast
Recreation
Colorado National Monument is famous in cycling communities for its majestic views and challenging climbs, but Historic Rim Rock Drive is also a popular motor tour. Hikers flock to the miles of maintained trails, photographers come year round to capture the spectacular views, and geologists study the unique landscape for its scientific value. Climbers come for the towering sandstone, and wildlife lovers may spot Desert Bighorn sheep, golden eagles, collared lizards, and many other special creatures.
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 Saddlehorn Campground?
Sites at Saddlehorn Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Saddlehorn Campground?
The camping fee is $22.00 per night per site. This is in addition to the entrance fee to Colorado National Monument. You may pay the fee upon arrival or in advance.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Saddlehorn Campground?
Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Saddlehorn Campground have?
80 sites, including 79 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Saddlehorn Campground?
The longest site here provides 59 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Saddlehorn Campground?
Due to size of the campground, vehicles longer than 40 feet cannot be accomodated--this includes tow vehicle AND trailer. Restrooms have flush toilets and water available during the summer, and each site has a picnic table and charcoal-only grill.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Saddlehorn Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Saddlehorn Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Saddlehorn Campground?
Sites 02, 05, and 70 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Saddlehorn Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Saddlehorn Campground?
Colorado National Monument is famous in cycling communities for its majestic views and challenging climbs, but Historic Rim Rock Drive is also a popular motor tour. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Saddlehorn Campground?
Fruita, Colorado. The cities of Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade boast many urban and agricultural attractions, but there are also abundant recreation areas surrounding the Monument.
Source: Getting there
What if Saddlehorn Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are North Fruita Desert Campground (15.9 mi), Knowles Overlook Campground (16.1 mi, first-come), and Jouflas Campground (16.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby