Ansel Watrous
Ansel Watrous is a national forest campground in Colorado. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- Colorado
- Coordinates
- 40.68971, -105.34916
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Biking, Birding, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Rafting, Wildlife Viewing
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 970-295-6700
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Ansel Watrous
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
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- Larimer County Open Space · 24 mi
- Water fill
- Crystal Spring · 35 mi
- Propane
- AmeriGas · 20 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 179 designated routes (215 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ansel Watrous | Private campground | under 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Ansel Watrous | National forest campground | 0.3 mi | — | — |
| Ansel Watrous | Private campground | 0.3 mi | — | — |
| Stove Prairie | National forest campground | 2.5 mi | — | No hookups |
| Stove Prairie Campground | Private campground | 2.5 mi | — | — |
| Narrows (Co) | National forest campground | 4.4 mi | — | No hookups |
Open Ansel Watrous in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.