Pawnee
Campground · Colorado · 45 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Roosevelt National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 45
- Bookable sites
- 100 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 15
- People per site
- 2
- Accessible sites
- 9,664 ft
- Elevation
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.
The facts
- 45 bookable sites
- 52 sites in total, including non-bookable
- 2 accessible sites
- Vehicles up to 100 ft
- Up to 15 people per site
- Loops: ELK, MOOSE, PAWNEE, WALK IN
Site types
- 37 Standard Nonelectric
- 8 Tent Only Nonelectric
- 7 Management
Amenities
- Campfires allowed
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits.
52 campsites at Pawnee
Check-in 02:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Access | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 002 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 42 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 003 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | Drive In | 90 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 004 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 005 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 006 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 007 | ELK | Management | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 008 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 33 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 009 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 010 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 33 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 011 | ELK | Management | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 42 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 012 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 51 ft | 15 | 🐾 |
| 013 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 42 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 014 | ELK | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 52 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| H1 | ELK | Management | — | — | — | — | — | |
| H2 | ELK | Management | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 015 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Parallel | Paved | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 016 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Paved | Drive In | — | 8 | ♿ 🐾 |
| 017 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 62 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 018 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 019 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 36 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 020 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 021 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 022 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 023 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 024 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | Drive In | 45 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 025 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 100 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 026 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 60 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 027 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | Drive In | 60 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 028 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 100 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 029 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 60 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 030 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | Drive In | 100 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 031 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 60 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 032 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 45 ft | 15 | 🐾 |
| 033 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 034 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 035 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | Drive In | 90 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 036 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 037 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | Drive In | 90 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 038 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 48 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 039 | MOOSE | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Drive In | 40 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| H3 | MOOSE | Management | — | — | — | — | — | |
| H4 | MOOSE | Management | — | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX | PAWNEE | Management | Back In | Gravel | — | 99 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| W1 | WALK IN | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| W2 | WALK IN | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| W3 | WALK IN | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| W4 | WALK IN | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| W5 | WALK IN | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| W6 | WALK IN | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| W7 | WALK IN | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| W8 | WALK IN | Tent Only Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | Hike In | — | 8 | 🐾 |
Getting there
From Denver, travel north on Interstate 25 to U.S. Highway 36 West to Boulder. Continue on Colorado Highway 119 (Canyon Boulevard) for 22 miles to Nederland, then go north on Colorado Highway 72 to Ward. Turn left at the sign and travel 5 miles to Brainard Lake Recreation Area.
40.13146, -105.56706 · 40°7'53.2"N 105°34'1.4"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 5.4 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 4.2 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 1.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Pawnee
- Can you reserve a site at Pawnee?
- Yes, Pawnee is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Pawnee have?
- 52 sites in total, of which 45 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Pawnee?
- 100 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Pawnee?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Pawnee.
- Are campfires allowed at Pawnee?
- Campfires are allowed at Pawnee. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.
Camping near Pawnee
- Camp Dick 2.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Peaceful Valley 3.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Olive Ridge 5.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Middle Saint Vrain Trailhead Day Pass 1.1 mi · Activity pass
- Pawnee Campground 3.6 mi · Campground
- Meeker Park Overflow Campground 7.9 mi · Campground
- Pierson Park Road (#119) 7.9 mi · Facility
- Johnny Park Road (#118) 8.2 mi · Facility
- Rainbow Lakes Trailhead Day Pass 8.4 mi · Activity pass
- Rainbow Lakes Campground 8.5 mi · Campground
- Gordon Gulch Dispersed Camping Area 9 mi · Campground
- Bright Extension Trailhead 9.5 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 303-541-2500
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-08-11.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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