Taking children to the wilderness can be a unique experience because their curious and perceptive minds often detect things that we overlook. Nevertheless, embarking on adventures with young children also demands a considerable amount of energy. California and Colorado have family campgrounds that have been chosen as the top destinations for camping with kids, ensuring non-stop excitement and engagement—fulfilling the primary rule for camping with children: Bring them to places where there is an assurance of constant activity.
Colorado Sites
Mesa Verde National Park
The archaeological sites of the Ancestral Pueblo people, who constructed semi-permanent rock shelters that are still visible today, are conserved within Mesa Verde National Park. The cliff dwellings constructed in the 12th-century are particularly noteworthy as a major point of interest.
By offering a glimpse into the past through agricultural systems, ceremonial structures, and artifacts, this vacation becomes an exhilarating experience for both you and your children.
Morefield Campground
This campground, located inside Mesa Verde, is four miles away and is always spacious with its 267 sites. The landscape is filled with vast views, native Gambel oaks, and wildflowers. Many of the sites come with fire pits and picnic tables, making it an ideal spot for playing cards.
The trails in Southwestern Colorado are well maintained and offer must-see options for visiting the cliff dwellings. Families will find this camping location perfect for their needs.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park offers a range of mountain environments that inspire awe and provide an ideal location for an outdoor family adventure. The campgrounds in the park provide access to inspiring rock-climbing routes, trails, and lakes.
Cub Lake Backcountry Campsite
If you are enthusiastic about hiking with your children, choosing to camp in the backcountry at Cub Creek is an excellent choice. To reach the camp, you will need to hike for 2 miles from the Moraine Park trailhead, which makes it a suitable outdoor activity, especially for those who are camping for the first time. The campsite, although limited to only two, is conveniently located beneath the pine trees close to the eastern side of Cub Lake.
During the autumn season, there is a gathering of significant numbers of elk in the adjacent meadows for grazing. The presence of wildlife such as coyotes, bobcats, and raptors will keep you alert in the vicinity.
Moraine Park Campground
This campground, which has been in operation for a long time, can be found near the Estes Park entrance of the national park. It provides stunning views of the 14,000 ft mountains and enables visitors to partake in various Moraine Park activities such as hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing. The beautiful expanse of meadows and majestic Ponderosa pines create an ideal environment for a weekend getaway.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
In the San Luis Valley at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, climb up and admire the tallest dunes in North America, reaching heights of up to 700 feet. For a thrilling adventure, you can rent a sandboard outside the park and slide down the slopes. Car access is provided to the campground tucked away in a peaceful part of the valley. The park offers picturesque landscapes with forests and rivers that are perfect for engaging in outdoor activities.
California Sites
Elk Prairie
A remarkable 14,000-acre park is home to a small herd of Roosevelt elk that wander freely. There are plenty of opportunities to take photographs, particularly along the highway and access roads where a group of approximately five elk can often be found. Elk are commonly found in meadows, making this location one of the top spots in California for wildlife sightings. It is important to keep in mind that these are wild animals and they are both large and unpredictable. Therefore, it is best to appreciate them from a distance and avoid harassing or approaching them too closely.
The park includes old-growth coastal redwoods, prairie lands, and a 10-mile stretch of scenic, open beach known as Gold Bluff Beach. To access the park’s interior, there are 70 miles of hiking, biking, and nature trails, with a trailhead for cycling starting at the visitors center. In addition, there are several other trailheads and a stunning tour of giant redwoods along the Drury Scenic Parkway.
Lake Siskiyou Resort & Camp
This beautiful lake, located at the base of Mount Shasta at an elevation of 3,181 feet, is the perfect destination for the best family campsite. It is considered the most stunning lake on the I-5 corridor in California. The lake is always at a high water level since it was specifically designed for recreational purposes rather than water storage. It provides a wide range of high-quality recreational activities such as swimming, boating at low speeds, and fishing. Despite the large size of the campground complexes, they are cleverly situated in the forest to ensure that visitors have plenty of space and their privacy is not compromised.
The lake is clean and fresh and covers an area of 435 acres. A great beach and swimming area are present, and there is a buoy line protecting the swimming area. During spring, trout fishing is good, and as the water warms up, smallmouth bass fishing becomes favorable. There is a well-built boat ramp and boat rentals available. To maintain the tranquility and cleanliness of the lake, a speed limit of 10 mph is enforced strictly. The City of Mount Shasta hosts its Fourth of July fireworks display above the lake. The campgrounds are vast and frequently reach maximum capacity on weekends and during summer holidays.
Historic Camp Richardson Resort
Camp Richardson Resort is conveniently located just minutes away from various recreational activities such as boating, biking, gambling, skiing, and snowboarding during the winter season. Affectionately known as “Camp Rich,” this renowned destination offers a multitude of options. The resort features cabins, a restaurant, and live music, often performed every night during the summer. With all of these amenities bundled together, Camp Richardson Resort provides an all-inclusive experience. Although the campsites are situated in the woods rather than directly on the lake, they are just a short walk away from the water’s edge. This location allows easy access to an exquisite three-mile bike route that subsequently loops around the lake for an additional three miles, most of which is on flat terrain and offers stunning views. Moreover, an effortless and picturesque ride to Fallen Leaf Lake is also possible. The resort further boasts a marina for boating, waterskiing lessons (I have personally experienced this!), an ice cream parlor, and year-round recreational activities, making Camp Richardson Resort a highly popular destination. Situated at an elevation of 6,300 feet, guests can revel in the breathtaking surroundings.
Lake Alpine Campground
Lake Alpine, located at an elevation of 7,300 feet amid pines and Sierra granite, is considered one of the most beautiful lakes accessible by car. The campground at Lake Alpine is highly sought after due to its size and convenient amenities. Situated right next to a boat ramp, campers can easily access the lake. In addition, there is a small grocery store within walking distance where necessary supplies can be obtained. During the evening rise, campers often have the opportunity to witness jumping trout from their campsites. Additionally, a trailhead at nearby Silver Valley Camp offers a two-mile hike to the picturesque Duck Lake and beyond into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness.
Silver Lake West
Access to three excellent lakes, Lower Bear River Reservoir, Caples Lake, and Silver Lake, is provided by the Highway 88 corridor. Silver Lake, in particular, is difficult to ignore due to its cabin rentals, picturesque campsites, decent trout fishing, and outstanding hiking opportunities. The lake is situated at an elevation of 7,200 feet in a classic granite cirque just below the Sierra ridge. This campground is located on the west side of Highway 88, directly across from Silver Lake. A wonderful hike commences at the trailhead on the east side of the lake, a two-mile trek to little Hidden Lake, which is one of several enjoyable hikes in the vicinity. Additionally, Plasse’s Resort offers horseback riding in the nearby area. It is important to note that bears are frequent visitors to this campground, so proper food storage and avoidance of scented products are essential.
