Pumphouse Recreation Area
Managed by Kremmling Field Office The Pumphouse Recreation Area is part of the Upper Colorado River Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA), providing opportunities for developed camping, river access and access to hiking trails. With over 100,000 annual visitors the sites facilities include 3 developed boat ramp sites, 12 vault toilets, day use and overnight parking, 18 Single Campsites and 2 Group Campsites. The campground has a seasonal potable water system that may be in operation between mid-April to mid-November (not available for trailer hookups or filling of Recreational Vehicle and Travel Trailer filling).
More like this: reservable in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · group sites in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 18 |
| Group sites | 2 |
| group shelter nonelectric | 1 |
Site guide
20 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | ||
| 2 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | ||
| 3 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | ||
| 4 | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | ||
| 5 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 6 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | ||
| 7 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | ||
| 8 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | ||
| 9 | Standard | 60 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 | |||
| 10 | Standard | 60 | Gravel | None | No / – | 10 / 1 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Max vehicle length | 20 ft |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | Fees are required for day use and camping between April 1 - November 30. Campgrounds are closed with no service between December 1 - March 31. • Single Campsites - $25.00 per site - maximum of 10 people. • Group Campsites - $75.00 per site - maximum of 30 people. |
| Accessibility | Site 11 is listed accessible |
For campsites 1-8, driveway parking is 35 feet or less in length and is back-in/pull-in. Additional vehicles may park along the roadway adjacent to the campsite if space allows or must park in the general parking areas. Campsites 9-18 are parallel parking and typically have space for two vehicles and small trailers. Additional vehicles must park in the campground overflow parking across from Group Campsite A. Potable water may be available May - October. There are no electric hook-ups and cell service is non-existent without a booster. There are three boat ramps with restrooms. Boat Ramp #2 adjacent to the Gore Canyon Whitewater Play Park is a boat slide with steps. Boat ramps have electricity.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
| Nearest town | Bond, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.9873° N, 106.5085° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Each campsite must be reserved through Recreation.gov and has varying space for parking (see parking size limitations for each campsite before completing your reservation), a picnic table, a fire ring
- Camping within vehicles outside of the assigned campsite driveway is not permitted.
- However, do not rely on this as the water source for your trip's needs as it is not always operational.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 24 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Marmot ↗ | 25 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Pumphouse Recreation Site, CO from Isabelle K.
Worth a stop
The town of Kremmling, CO is approximately 15 miles east of Pumphouse Recreation Area where visitors can get supplies. Rancho Del Rio – a private resort along the Colorado river, has a small store with supplies and is a river access point for those recreating on the river. Rancho Del Rio is located approximately 10 miles west along Trough Road. Trough Road, which accesses the BLM Recreation Areas and Rancho Del Rio (private river access – fee site) is the Colorado Headwaters National Scenic and Historic Byway. Originating just east of Grand Lake on Highway 34, the byway ends at State Bridge.
- 8.7 mi
- 10.6 miBarger Gulch Fishing Access ↗Fishing site
- 14.8 miKing Mountain Trailhead 131 ↗Trailhead
Public land it sits in
White River National Forest begins about 0.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 0.7 miWhite River National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,482,711 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
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- E. C. Yust HomesteadBuilding · Kremmling · 6.5 mi
- Rock Creek Stage StationBuilding · Toponas · 8.7 mi
- State BridgeStructure · State Bridge · 11.6 mi
Natural features
The Pumphouse Recreation Area is adjacent to the Colorado River between Gore Canyon and Hartman Canyon. The scenery within the area is a major component to the adjacent Colorado Headwaters National Scenic and Historic Byway and are important features that make this stretch of river Wild and Scenic Eligible.
Recreation
Pumphouse Recreation Area is the most heavily used access point for the Upper Colorado River between Kremmling and State Bridge. Those floating downriver access calm flat water to Class III whitewater rapids. The Gore Canyon Whitewater Playpark is located just above Boat Ramp #2 and provides a manmade wave that is popular for kayakers, stand up paddle boarders and other small watercraft. It is also an exciting splash feature for watercraft coming downriver from Boat Ramp #1. Hiking opportunities accessed from the Pumphouse Recreation Area provide ample access for wade fishing and exploring along the Colorado River. The Gore Canyon Trail is open to foot travel only providing access upriver for 1.5 miles. Keep an eye out for the historic retaining walls holding the trail in place that early surveyors of Gore Canyon and homesteaders developed to access this area of the river for finding a railroad route and efforts to divert water for irrigation. The Gore Canyon Ranch Trail is open to foot travel only and provides access downriver for 1.25 miles connecting to the Gore Canyon Ranch Trailhead and Parking Area.
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Pumphouse Recreation Area?
Sites at Pumphouse Recreation Area 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 Pumphouse Recreation Area?
Fees are required for day use and camping between April 1 - November 30. Campgrounds are closed with no service between December 1 - March 31. • Single Campsites - $25.00 per site - maximum of 10 people.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Pumphouse Recreation Area?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Pumphouse Recreation Area have?
21 sites, including 18 standard sites without power, 2 group sites, and 1 group shelter nonelectric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Pumphouse Recreation Area?
The longest site here provides 20 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 pets allowed at Pumphouse Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Pumphouse Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Pumphouse Recreation Area?
Site 11 is 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
What is there to do at Pumphouse Recreation Area?
Pumphouse Recreation Area is the most heavily used access point for the Upper Colorado River between Kremmling and State Bridge. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Pumphouse Recreation Area?
Bond, Colorado. The town of Kremmling, CO is approximately 15 miles east of Pumphouse Recreation Area where visitors can get supplies.
Source: Getting there
What if Pumphouse Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Radium Recreation Area (3.5 mi), Blacktail Creek Campground (6.7 mi, first-come), and Lynx Pass Campground (12.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby