Pawnee
Pawnee is a national forest campground in Colorado. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- Colorado
- Coordinates
- 40.13146, -105.56706
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Winter Sports
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 303-541-2500
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Pawnee
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 va
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- Larimer County Open Space · 17 mi
- Water fill
- Crystal Spring · 4.8 mi
- Propane
- AmeriGas · 24 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 235 designated routes (162 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Dick Campground | Private campground | 2.5 mi | — | — |
| Camp Dick | National forest campground | 2.6 mi | — | No hookups |
| Beaver Reservoir Dispersed Camping | Private campground | 2.9 mi | — | — |
| Peaceful Valley Campground | Private campground | 3.2 mi | — | — |
| Peaceful Valley | National forest campground | 3.2 mi | — | No hookups |
| Peaceful Valley | National forest campground | 3.3 mi | — | — |
Open Pawnee 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.