All sites, including same day sites, must be reserved on recreation.gov. Reservations can be made through the recreation.gov app, website, or by phone (1-877-444-6777). Exceptions include groups and administrative purposes (i.e. visiting volunteer work crew), who need to contact the monument to make reservations.
Sites are on one of 3 different reservation windows: 6 months in advance, 2 weeks in advance, and day of. Please see the campground map or recreation.gov for further details.
Overnighting in overlooks, picnic areas and other pull-offs is not permited. Free backcountry camping permits are available for people planning overnight backcountry trips.
Sites are $22.00 per night. Senior and Access Pass holders pay an $11.00 camping fee per night.
Quiet hours are from 10pm to 6am.
No wood fires are allowed at any time. Charcoal and propane only.
There is no dump station in the monument. The Fruita Welcome Center, located off I-70 at exit 19, has a free dump station and water refill station available year round.
All vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas and shall not interfere with roadways.
Hanging anything (hammocks, clothes lines, clothing, food, etc.) on trees or vegetation is prohibited.
Checkout time is 11:00 a.m.
Pets are allowed at campsites, but must be on a leash 6 ft. in length or less, well behaved, and attended at all times. Please clean up your pet waste and place in garbage receptacles. Also remember that pets are NOT allowed on hiking trails but ARE allowed on paved surfaces.
In any calendar year, campers are limited to 14 overnight stays, whether occurring consecutively or in any combination of separate visits.
Alcohol is permitted in the campground and picnic areas only for people who are 21 and over. Marijuana is prohibited in the park.
Cell service is intermittent depending on the provider. A pay phone and free wi-fi are available at the visitor center. The wifi password is bighorn1
Drone use is prohibited in the monument.
Loops A & B Specific Information
Site #5 is accessible and can be reserved for use by campers who have one or more individuals in the group with mobility impairments. Monument accessibility information.
B-Loop is open year round.
A Loop is open for the 2024 season and is on a same-day reservation system for the summer. Rotating campsite closures will occur in this loop for the construction of new tent pads at each site.
Seven (7) person per site limit, three (3) tents per site, and two (2) vehicles per site. Park extra vehicles in the Saddlehorn Picnic Area parking lot.
Sites are suitable for tents and smaller recreational vehicles, with some pull-through sites.
Generator use and idling engines are permitted from 8am to 8pm.
The length limit is 40 feet. If you're towing a vehicle and the total length is longer than 40 feet, disconnect the towed vehicle before entering the campground. The length limit for trailers is 40 feet total for the vehicle and trailer combined.
C Loop Specific Information
C-Loop is the oldest loop in the campground and as such has tighter turns and smaller campsites. C Loop is open from April 15, 2024 through the end of September.
Site #70 is accessible and is reserved for use by campers who have one or more individuals in the group with mobility impairments. Monument accessibility information.
C-Loop is limited to tent camping and those in small vehicles such as single vehicles with top mounted camper shells or tents, and small vans or small RVs. Length limit is 19 feet, no trailers.
Seven person per site limit, three tents per site, and one vehicle per site allowed. Extra vehicles can be parked in the Saddlehorn Picnic Area parking lot.
Sites 52-69 are reservable on a day of basis, while sites 70-80 are reservable up to two weeks in advance.
Generators and idling engines are not allowed at any time in Loop C. Please be mindful of other equipment which may produce continuous noise like heaters or air conditioners.
Group Camping in Loop C
Starting for booking in 2025, we will accept group reservation requests up to 6 months in advance. Please send emails no earlier than 6AM mountain time on the day that you are making the request. Requests will be taken via email ONLY, and the timestamp of the email will be used to determine the order we will address requests (first come, first served).
The email address for group reservations is colm_campground@nps.gov
If the day that you’re requesting falls on the 31st, and there is not a corresponding 31st six months before, you can make the request on the last day of the month.
Reservable sites can be used for groups and occasionally for administrative purposes (i.e. visiting volunteer work crew). Group camping has a limit of 63 people total (max 9 sites, 7 people per site).
Groups of 15 or more people make reservations through the monument by calling 970-858-3617 Ext. 332 or e-mail us.
Saddlehorn Campground doesn't have group sites, so groups will be divided into adjoining sites in Loop C.
Walk-ins: Rim Rock Drive features tunnels in which pedestrians are not allowed. Campers who plan on walking into Saddlehorn campground either must arrange a ride to the campground or walk in using Little Park Road outside the southeast end of the park. Campers walking/hiking in need to make reservations on recreation.gov.
Backcountry camping is also permitted. A free backcountry permit is required and may be obtained at the visitor center. All water must be packed in. The plants and animals of the monument need all water that is available to them and there are no reliable year round water sources. One (1) gallon (4 liters) per person is recommended per day in the summer months. Have a fabulous stay in red rock country!
