USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Pawnee
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 52
- Hookups
- 45 no hookups
- Season
- June 25 to September 11
- Max RV length
- 99 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 10,344 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- PAWNEE CG LOOP A (NFSR 112.A) · asphalt · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
- Nearest town
- Morrison
- Address
- 9054 U.S Hwy 285, Morrison, CO, 80465
- Phone
- 303-541-2500
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Winter Sports
47 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 7° | -20° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 28° | 7° | -15° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 33° | 12° | -6° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 40° | 17° | -4° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 47° | 26° | 15° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| June | 66° | 36° | 26° | 76° | 6 of 11 |
| July | 69° | 43° | 35° | 76° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 67° | 42° | 37° | 73° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 62° | 37° | 19° | 73° | 4 of 11 |
| October | 50° | 27° | -11° | 61° | 10 of 10 |
| November | 38° | 15° | -6° | 54° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 28° | 8° | -10° | 42° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Camp Dick · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 42 sites
- Rainbow Lakes Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 18 sites
- Peaceful Valley · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 16 sites
- Olive Ridge · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 56 sites
- Arapaho Bay · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 85 sites
All public campgrounds in Colorado · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-11. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.