campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
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USFSArapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG · Colorado

Sleeping Elephant Campground

This campground is located adjacent to Highway 14 in an open ponderosa pine setting near its namesake, Sleeping Elephant Mountain.
Sites0all reservable
Elev.7,884ft
Comf.Jun-Sep4 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Fort Collins2h40real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 7,884 ft, Sleeping Elephant Campground has a 4-month comfortable window (Jun-Sep). Winter nights average around 16°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: 20 peaks, lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Reads strongest on cool nights and quiet. Softest on quiet.

Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.

When to go

02 · CLIMATE
JFMAMJJASOND
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Oct
Jun-Sep
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
66%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
May 30
Last spring frost; first fall frost Sep 27.
49°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Fort Collins
59 mi
2h40
02
Denver
126 mi
3h53
03
Colorado Springs
194 mi
5h06
04
Grand Junction
364 mi
8h22
By drive time
Fort Collins · 2h40Denver · 3h53Colorado Springs · 5h06Grand Junction · 8h22Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 0 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Trail segments
11
Peaks
20

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
0 mi
Method

We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →