Can you reserve a site at Saddlehorn Campground?

Yes, Saddlehorn Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Saddlehorn Campground have?

80 sites in total, of which 79 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Saddlehorn Campground?

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

Are pets allowed at Saddlehorn Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Saddlehorn Campground.

Are campfires allowed at Saddlehorn Campground?

Campfires are not allowed at Saddlehorn Campground.

Saddlehorn Campground

Campground · Colorado · 79 bookable sites ·

Managed by the National Park Service

Colorado National Monument (National Monument) · Open Access

79
Bookable sites: 59 ft
Max rig length: up to 7
People per site: 3
Accessible sites: 5,735 ft
Elevation

wide angle view looking north from Fruita Canyon overlook near sunrise — Photo: William Woodward · Recreation.gov

Overview

Saddlehorn Campground is located within Colorado National Monument which preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Much more than a monument, towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. You can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles.

Recreation

Colorado National Monument is famous in cycling communities for its majestic views and challenging climbs, but Historic Rim Rock Drive is also a popular motor tour. Hikers flock to the miles of maintained trails, photographers come year round to capture the spectacular views, and geologists study the unique landscape for its scientific value. Climbers come for the towering sandstone, and wildlife lovers may spot Desert Bighorn sheep, golden eagles, collared lizards, and many other special creatures.

Facilities

Saddlehorn Campground is located near the Saddlehorn Visitor Center, four miles from the west entrance (near Fruita, Colorado) and nineteen miles from the east entrance (near Grand Junction, Colorado), and is the only established campground within the Monument.

There are 79 campsites with three camping loops within the Saddlehorn Campground (Loops A, B, and C).

Loop A is typically open early April through the end of October. Loop A will remain on a "day of" reservation basis for the summer due to need for scheduled maintenance.

All "day-of" reservation sites open at 8AM mountain time on the day of.

Loop B is open year-round. Outer loop sites are reservable 6 months in advance, inner loop sites are reservable 2 weeks in advance.
Loop C is open early May through mid/late October, weather dependent. Sites 52-69 are reservable on a day of basis, while sites 70-80 are reservable up to two weeks in advance.

All "day-of" reservation sites open at 8AM mountain time on the day of.

Reservations can be made via www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Due to size of the campground, vehicles longer than 40 feet cannot be accomodated--this includes tow vehicle AND trailer. Restrooms have flush toilets and water available during the summer, and each site has a picnic table and charcoal-only grill. There are no electric hookups, fill or dump stations, or showers.

There are three tunnels on Rim Rock Drive. There are two tunnels on the west side and one on the east side of the park; the campground sits between the east and west tunnels. Heights: The clearance above the lanes of traffic ranges from a low point of 10'6" near the edge of the curb to a maximum of 16' above the centerline of the road. Vehicles must be able to stay in their lane; vehicles may not cross the centerline without a pilot vehicle.

For a group of 15 people or more, do not book through recreation.gov. Contact the park at 970-858-2800 or colm_campground@nps.gov to make group reservations.

Natural Features

The campground is nestled within large red rock formations, with pinyon and juniper trees providing adequate shade. There are spectacular views of the Grand Valley to the northwest, and some of the park's most scenic monoliths and canyons to the southeast

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (970) 858-2800.

Nearby Attractions

The cities of Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade boast many urban and agricultural attractions, but there are also abundant recreation areas surrounding the Monument. Among these are McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, James M. Robb Colorado River State Park, Highline Lake State Park, and many Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service areas.

The facts

79 bookable sites
80 sites in total, including non-bookable
3 accessible sites
Vehicles up to 59 ft
Up to 7 people per site
Loops: A, B, C

Site types

79 Standard Nonelectric
1 Management

Amenities

Picnic tables
Grills
Pets allowed
Water hookups — not available
Campfires allowed — not available
Shade — not available

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits.

Book on Recreation.gov

80 campsites at Saddlehorn Campground

Check-in 11:00 AM · Check-out 11:00 AM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Grade	Max rig	People
01 Host	A	Management	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	59 ft	7	🐾
02	A	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	25 ft	7	♿ 🐾
03	A	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	25 ft	7	🐾
04	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Paved	Slight	25 ft	7	🐾
05	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Paved	Moderate	25 ft	7	♿ 🐾
06	A	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Moderate	25 ft	7	🐾
07	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	21 ft	7	🐾
08	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Moderate	36 ft	7	🐾
09	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	36 ft	7	🐾
10	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	36 ft	7	🐾
11	A	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	25 ft	7	🐾
12	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	36 ft	7	🐾
13	A	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Moderate	25 ft	7	🐾
14	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	25 ft	7	🐾
15	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Moderate	40 ft	7	🐾
16	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	21 ft	7	🐾
17	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Moderate	40 ft	7	🐾
18	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	25 ft	7	🐾
19	A	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	—	36 ft	7	🐾
20	A	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	28 ft	7	🐾
21	B	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	40 ft	7	🐾
22	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	40 ft	7	🐾
23	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	25 ft	7	🐾
24	B	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Moderate	25 ft	7	🐾
25	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Moderate	25 ft	7	🐾
26	B	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Severe	25 ft	7	🐾
27	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Moderate	25 ft	7	🐾
28	B	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Moderate	25 ft	7	🐾
29	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Paved	Moderate	30 ft	7	🐾
30	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Moderate	40 ft	7	🐾
31	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Moderate	25 ft	7	🐾
32	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Severe	40 ft	7	🐾
33	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	30 ft	7	🐾
34	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	40 ft	7	🐾
35	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Severe	40 ft	7	🐾
36	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	20 ft	7	🐾
37	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Severe	25 ft	7	🐾
38	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	30 ft	7	🐾
39	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Severe	40 ft	7	🐾
40	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	33 ft	7	🐾
41	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	35 ft	7	🐾
42	B	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Moderate	40 ft	7	🐾
43	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Severe	35 ft	7	🐾
44	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Slight	40 ft	7	🐾
45	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Severe	30 ft	7	🐾
46	B	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Severe	40 ft	7	🐾
47	B	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Severe	35 ft	7	🐾
48	B	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Severe	40 ft	7	🐾
49	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Moderate	40 ft	7	🐾
50	B	Standard Nonelectric	Pull Through	Gravel	Slight	40 ft	7	🐾
51	B	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	Moderate	40 ft	7	🐾
52	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
53	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
54	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
55	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
56	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
57	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
58	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
59	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
60	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	20 ft	—
61	C	Standard Nonelectric	Parallel	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
62	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
63	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
64	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
65	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
66	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
67	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
68	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
69	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
70	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Paved	—	20 ft	—	♿
71	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
72	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
73	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
74	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
75	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
76	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
77	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Moderate	20 ft	—
78	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	Slight	20 ft	—
79	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—
80	C	Standard Nonelectric	Back In	Gravel	—	20 ft	—

Getting there

Westbound on Highway I-70 towards Grand Junction: take Exit 31 (Horizon Drive). Follow signs through Grand Junction to the park's east entrance. The visitor center and campground are 19 miles (30 km) from the east entrance.

Eastbound on Highway I-70 (Fruita): Take Exit 19. Turn south on Highway 340 to the park's west entrance, which is approximately three miles (5 km) from Fruita. The visitor center and campground are four miles (6 km) beyond the west entrance.

39.10481, -108.73286 · 39°6'17.3"N 108°43'58.3"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 93°F in Jul, down to 39°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	39	45	56	63	74	87	93	90	80	66	51	39
Low °F	21	25	34	39	49	59	65	62	54	41	31	22
Precip in	0.8	0.6	0.9	1.1	1.2	0.7	0.8	1.0	1.3	1.3	0.8	0.8

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 0.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

The camping fee is $22.00 per night per site. This is in addition to the entrance fee to Colorado National Monument. You may pay the fee upon arrival or in advance. Colorado National Monument also honors valid America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands annual or lifetime (interagency) passes (e.g., Senior, 4th Grade, Military, etc.), Access and Senior Pass holders receive a 50% discount for the camping fee (you must enter a valid pass numner at the time you book and must preset it to campground staff). You may purchase the passes upon arrival at either entrance station during Operating Hours.

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

More photos

Rainbow and clouds above Monument Canyon — Photo: JT Dudrow · Recreation.gov

Independence Monument, a tall red rock pillar, rises above a blanket of clouds — Photo: Randy Langstraat · Recreation.gov

Member photos

Add a photo

Common questions about Saddlehorn Campground

Can you reserve a site at Saddlehorn Campground?: Yes, Saddlehorn Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Saddlehorn Campground have?: 80 sites in total, of which 79 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Saddlehorn Campground?: 59 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Saddlehorn Campground?: Yes, pets are allowed at Saddlehorn Campground.
Does Saddlehorn Campground have hookups?: No hookups are recorded here.
Are campfires allowed at Saddlehorn Campground?: Campfires are not allowed at Saddlehorn Campground.

Camping near Saddlehorn Campground

Ruby Horsethief Canyon Permits 10.7 mi · Permit · we watch it
North Fruita Desert Campground 15.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Saddlehorn Visitor Center 0.3 mi · Facility
Dinosaur Hill Trailhead 1.9 mi · Facility
Opal Hill Trailhead 2.7 mi · Facility
Devils Canyon Trailhead 2.8 mi · Facility
Fruita Paleo Area 3.6 mi · Facility
Pollock Bench Trailhead 4.3 mi · Facility
Hawkeye Trailhead 10.4 mi · Facility
Rabbits Ear Trailhead 14 mi · Facility
Wildhorse Mesa 16 mi · Facility
Jouflas Campground 16.2 mi · Campground

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-08-01.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.