USDA Forest Service · Colorado
Ansel Watrous
USDA Forest Service · Colorado, United States
- Sites
- 17
- Hookups
- 14 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Max RV length
- 40 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 5,830 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- ANSEL WATROUS CG (NFSR 215.0) · asphalt · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
- Nearest town
- Morrison
- Address
- 9054 U.S Hwy 285, Morrison, CO, 80465
- Phone
- 970-295-6700
- Activities
- Biking, Birding, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Rafting, Wildlife Viewing
17 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 18° | -19° | 55° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 41° | 18° | -17° | 61° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 47° | 25° | 7° | 72° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 59° | 32° | 2° | 78° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 41° | 27° | 79° | 2 of 11 |
| June | 80° | 52° | 45° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 87° | 57° | 46° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 83° | 56° | 50° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 78° | 50° | 27° | 91° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 38° | 0° | 77° | 4 of 10 |
| November | 53° | 28° | 6° | 69° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 41° | 22° | 3° | 59° | 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
- Stove Prairie · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 9 sites
- Narrows (Co) · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 15 sites
- Dutch George Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi
- Mountain Park · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 57 sites
- Kelly Flats Campground · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
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.