Can you reserve a site at Ansel Watrous?

Yes, Ansel Watrous is reservable through Recreation.gov.

What is the maximum RV length at Ansel Watrous?

40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Ansel Watrous?

Yes, pets are allowed at Ansel Watrous.

Ansel Watrous, Colorado — 17 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Ansel Watrous Campground is located on the Cache la Poudre River, 22 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., along Highway 14. Visitors enjoy the area for its great rafting, fishing and hiking opportunities.

Recreation

The Cache la Poudre River offers whitewater rafting and fishing. Anglers cast for brown, cutthroat and rainbow trout, among other species of fish.

Hiking, biking and horseback riding trails are in the surrounding area, including the 4-mile Young Gulch Trail.

Other popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the campground include birding and wildlife viewing.

Facilities

The campground offers accessible single-family sites, each equipped with a 12-by-15 tent pad, a picnic table and a campfire ring with grill.

Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Dead and downed firewood may be gathered in the forest or purchased from the campground host.

Natural Features

The canyon's vegetation varies from dense forests to open meadows and the campground is surrounded by steep mountains. The campground is situated among Ponderosa pines on the banks of the Cache la Poudre River, Colorado's first river designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.

Charges & Cancellations

A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees.

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.

The facts

17 bookable sites
13 accessible sites
Vehicles up to 40 ft
Up to 8 people per site
Loops: LOWER, UPPER

Site types

13 Standard Nonelectric
3 Walk To
1 Tent Only Nonelectric

Amenities

Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

17 campsites at Ansel Watrous

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
011	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	33 ft	8	♿ 🐾
012	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	33 ft	8	♿ 🐾
013	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	33 ft	8	♿ 🐾
014	LOWER	Tent Only Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	20 ft	8	🐾
015	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	33 ft	8	♿ 🐾
016	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	33 ft	8	♿ 🐾
017	LOWER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	33 ft	8	♿ 🐾
001	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	36 ft	8	♿ 🐾
002	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
003	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
004	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
005	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
006	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
007	UPPER	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	40 ft	8	♿ 🐾
008	UPPER	Walk To	—	Paved	—	8	🐾
009	UPPER	Walk To	—	Paved	—	8	🐾
010	UPPER	Walk To	—	Paved	—	8	🐾

Getting there

From Fort Collins, take Highway 14 northwest for 13 miles.

40.68971, -105.34916 · 40°41'22.9"N 105°20'57.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Low °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Precip in	0.4	0.6	1.2	2.1	2.6	1.8	1.8	1.5	1.6	1.4	0.8	0.7

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 4.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Ansel Watrous

Can you reserve a site at Ansel Watrous?: Yes, Ansel Watrous is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Ansel Watrous have?: 17 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Ansel Watrous?: 40 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Ansel Watrous?: Yes, pets are allowed at Ansel Watrous.

Also listed by

Ansel Watrous also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Ansel Watrous's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

Check detailed fee information on www.recreation.gov or see general fees on our campground table . Fees are discounted 25% when water is off. Interagency Senior, Interagency Access, Golden Age and Golden Access passes provide cardholders half-price for basic campground fees.

Restrictions:

A single site may hold up to eight people. Tents must fit on the pads provided. RVs, trailers or other vehicles must fit on the parking spur because driving or parking off road is not permitted. The parking length ranges from 25 to 45 feet in upper loop. In the lower loop RV size is limited to an ov

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Ansel Watrous

Stove Prairie 2.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Narrows (Co) 4.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Mountain Park 6.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Narrows Campground: Upper and Lower 4.3 mi · Campground
Dutch George Campground 5.2 mi · Campground
Mt. McConnel Trailhead Day Pass 6.1 mi · Activity pass
Mountain Park Picnic Site Day Use 6.1 mi · Activity pass
Kelly Flats Campground 7 mi · Campground
Cache la Poudre Wilderness 8.1 mi · Facility
Moody Hill Road (#513) 8.2 mi · Facility
Bennett Creek Picnic Site 9.2 mi · Facility
West White Pine Road (#100) 9.8 mi · Facility

Contact

Phone 970-295-6700
Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-08-11.

Ansel Watrous