
Pawnee Campground
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG, Colorado
Sold out? We check Pawnee Campground for cancellations and email you the moment a site opens.
Cancellation alerts
Sold out for your dates?
Free to start. Email alerts included.
As of October 2026, Pawnee Campground is a campground in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Colorado with 45 campsites. Pawnee Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.
- PermitSnag checks Pawnee Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
- Pawnee Campground is located at 40.1315ยฐ N, 105.5671ยฐ W.
- people allowed on 43 of 45 sites
- 8
- people allowed on each of the 2 largest sites
- 15
Pawnee Campground reservations and next available dates
October 2026
Stay and booking rules
- Changes allowed: 3 change(s) per reservation
- Maximum reservations at once: 4 reservations
- Reservations close: 1 day(s) prior to arrival
Published by Recreation.gov for Pawnee Campground, read on September 30, 2026.
Campsites at Pawnee Campground
- Standard 37
- Tent 8
- Accessible 2
Amenities
- restrooms
- potable water
At a glance: Setting: Mountain.
Things to do: fishing, boating, hiking, wildlife, climbing, photography, stargazing, horse riding.
All sites at Pawnee Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov
| Site | Loop | Type | Sleeps | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 002 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 003 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 004 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 005 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 006 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 008 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 009 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 010 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 012 | ELK | Standard | 15 | - |
| 013 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 014 | ELK | Standard | 8 | - |
| 015 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | Accessible |
| 016 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | Accessible |
| 017 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 018 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 019 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 020 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 021 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 022 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 023 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 024 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 025 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| Site | Loop | Type | Sleeps | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 026 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 027 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 028 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 029 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 030 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 031 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 032 | MOOSE | Standard | 15 | - |
| 033 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 034 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 035 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 036 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 037 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 038 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| 039 | MOOSE | Standard | 8 | - |
| W1 | WALK IN | Tent | 8 | - |
| W2 | WALK IN | Tent | 8 | - |
| W3 | WALK IN | Tent | 8 | - |
| W4 | WALK IN | Tent | 8 | - |
| W5 | WALK IN | Tent | 8 | - |
| W6 | WALK IN | Tent | 8 | - |
| W7 | WALK IN | Tent | 8 | - |
| W8 | WALK IN | Tent | 8 | - |
About Pawnee Campground
Overview
Pawnee Campground is located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, 35 miles south of Estes Park and the main entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing, canoeing and hiking opportunities.
Recreation
Brainard Lake is a popular destination for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Anglers cast for rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. Long Lake, Red Rock Lake and Left Hand Reservoir are nearby.
Several trails in the area provide access to the adjacent Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. Hiking is allowed on all trails; mountain biking is allowed outside the wilderness area. Rock climbing, snowshoeing and cross country skiing are often available, weather permitting.
Facilities
The campground offers several single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Natural Features
The campground lies at the foot of the Continental Divide, next to 25-acre Brainard Lake and the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area at an elevation of 10,350 feet. A scenic forest of spruce and fir trees covers the area. Summertime temperatures are warm in the day and cool at night. Afternoon thunderstorms are common.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Nederland is 14 miles south of the campground, offering grocery and hardware stores, restaurants, gas, a bank and a post office.
Rocky Mountain National Park's main entrance is 35 miles north in Estes Park. With lush valleys and craggy peaks reaching elevations higher than 14,000 feet, visitors are provided opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures. Scenic driving, hiking, backpacking, fishing, horseback riding and wildlife viewing are popular activities in the park.
Estes Park is a full-service community. Dining, shopping, rafting, fly-fishing, horseback riding and golfing opportunities are available there. Lake Estes offers boating, sailboarding and fishing.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.
Charges & Cancellations
Modifications for this campground must be made through Recreation.gov or by calling the call center at 1-877-444-6777 PRIOR to your reservation start date. Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.
Rules and notices at Pawnee Campground
Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 30, 2026. Check Pawnee Campground on Recreation.gov
Notices from Recreation.gov
Check in time is 2 pm. Do not arrive prior to that time as you are not able to access the campground until your site has emptied and the campground has been cleaned and sanitized. There is nowhere at Pawnee or nearby for you to wait or to turn around.
Visitors with a Pawnee Campground reservation do not need to purchase a timed ticket to enter, but must show proof of their campground reservation. Parking limited to Pawnee Campground for the duration of the reservation. A separate timed ticket is required to park at other lots in the fee area (including trailheads).
No RV water connections are available.
Be sure to reserve a site that will accommodate your equipment; check the campsite details. You may not move to another campsite.
This is bear country! For bear and human safety, keep a clean campsite and do not place food or other attractants in your tent. For more information about visiting bear country, contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife at http://wildlife.state.co.us
Due to the unpredictable snow drifting you may be moved to another site at Pawnee Campground up until mid-July.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/arp for more information on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest
Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Check for hunting season dates. https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/HuntingSeasonDatesAndFees.aspx
All campsites must be occupied within 26 hours of the beginning of the reservation. If not present the site will be rented by first come first serve basis.
EXTRA VEHICLE FEES: One vehicle is included in your reservation. Any additional vehicles will be charged $8.00 per vehicle per night and will be collected by the camp host if you did not pay for the Extra Vehicle Add On. One vehicle consists of one camper being towed by vehicle, or any other vehicle towed behind camper. One van or one truck with camper attached counts as one vehicle. Extra vehicles must fit on the parking spur at your site.
Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed.
Modifications for this campground must be made through Recreation.gov PRIOR to your reservation start date. Customers and contact center agents cannot modify reservations on or after the check-in date.
FF site listings do not automatically mean a site is available. This Facility does not have the ability to mark sites that were paid for at the campground as reserved.
Check-Out is at 12 P.M.
Check-In is at 2 P.M.
Pawnee Campground FAQ
How hard is it to get a campsite at Pawnee Campground?
Pawnee Campground is rated "Moderate to Book" based on historical demand. With 45 sites available, you have good chances of finding availability, especially on weekdays.
How do I find last-minute availability at Pawnee Campground?
Cancellations happen frequently at Pawnee Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.
How many campsites does Pawnee Campground have?
Pawnee Campground has 45 campsites.
More campgrounds in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Same forest, same drive. Set an alert on any of them alongside this one.
- Echo Lake campground availability18 sites
- Ansel Watrous campground reservations17 sites
- is Bellaire Lake Campground open27 sites
- Buckhorn Ranger Station availability3 sites
- Crow Valley campground reservations15 sites
- is Guanella Pass campground open18 sites
Campgrounds
Browse Campsites
Monitor campsite availability across federal and state parks. Get alerts when sites open up at sold-out campgrounds.
Colorado
8 popular campgrounds
- Rocky Mountain National Park Aspenglen Campground
- Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground
- Rocky Mountain National Park Timber Creek Campground
- Bear Lake Campground (Co)
- Black Canyon Of The Gunnison South Rim Campground
- Blue Lake Campground - San Isabel NF (Co)
- Chalk Lake Campground
- Echo Lake Campground
California
8 popular campgrounds
- Atwell Mill Campground
- Buckeye Flat Campground
- Canyon View Group Sites
- Cold Springs Campground (Ca)
- Crystal Springs Campground (Ca)
- Crystal Springs Campground Mid-Sized Group Sites
- Death Valley Backcountry Roadside Camping
- Indian Cove Group Campground
Oregon
8 popular campgrounds
- Little Crater Lake Campground
- Cave Creek Campground
- Acorn Woman Lakes Campground
- Big Lake West Campground
- Bolan Lake Campground
- Cavitt Creek Falls Recreation Site
- Clearwater Falls Campground
- Cultus Lake Boat In - West Campground
Utah
8 popular campgrounds
- Canyonlands National Park Needles District Campground
- Devils Garden Campground
- Natural Bridges Campground
- North Campground (Ut)
- South Campground (Ut)
- Sunset Campground (Ut)
- Watchman Campground
- Anderson Meadow Campground (Fishlake NF, Ut)
Ohio
8 popular campgrounds
- Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Grand Lake West Bank Marina
- Kiser Lake State Park Kiser Lake Grandview Area Tie Ups Campground
- Lake Logan State Park Lake Logan Marina Beach 1-18 Campground
- Lake Loramie State Park Earls Island Dock Back Campground
- Pike Lake State Park Pike Lake Cabins and Day Use Shelters
- Scioto Trail State Park Stewart Lake Campground
- Buck Creek State Park G Dock Campground
- Buckeye Lake State Park Fairfield Beach a Docks Campground
Minnesota
8 popular campgrounds
- Cass Lake Loop Campground
- Fenske Lake Campground
- Glacial Lakes State Park Lower Campground
- Jeanette Lake Campground
- Lake Bronson State Park Lakeside Extension Campground
- Lake Maria State Park Backpack Campsites
- Lake Shetek State Park Prairie Campground
- Maplewood State Park Grass Lake Campground: Hollow Loop
One tick helps us more than youโd think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our campground pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Takes less than a minute.