Nightly rate includes the vehicle fees ($6 for RV plus $6 for towed car) for a 30amp full hookup site at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk (site 269). This park is amazing. Our back-in site was right above a creek, with a soothing sound of running water. The view to the creek is obscured by hedges, and there is a pretty steep drop off behind the site down to the creek, but there is enough room behind the concrete pad to safely and easily move around the rig. Site 269 was 'special' in that the actual picnic table and grill were on a concrete pad on the driver side of the rig - i.e. awnings etc were useless - we walked around the back to sit down at the table. No big deal, just something to be aware of. It appears as if the pads for the tables for other sites were in the normal spot, on the passenger side. Even though, maybe because of the late season, we did not have any issues with this set-up, since the trees and hedges provided enough shade to comfortably sit around the table in the afternoon and evenings. Highway noise in our loop was pretty much nonexistent, and we slept with the windows open with the creek sounds in the background. Side tip: When visiting this area, do so in late September to get the full effect of the changing colors. And take an SUV or other 'back roads capable' toad; it'll be worth your while exploring the many dirt and gravel roads around Ridgway, Telluride, and Ouray (or rent a Jeep in Ouray). We camped here in a Motorhome.
We stayed in the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campground in loop G. We have stayed here many times over the years and have always enjoyed it and found the park well maintained. However, this year we found the park to be showing it's age. The vegetation around the sites isn't being trimmed as in the past. This has caused the bushes to overgrow the sites and makes it more difficult to park the RV. Trees have been cut down in spots and not replaced. The roads are in need of patching in some spots. All of this is probably the result of the state's financial condition. Hopefully they won't cut more of the State Parks budget and the economy will improve. It is still a beautiful area and the staff is always friendly and helpful. We will probably come again in the future. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We stayed in the Elk loop on top of the mountain and it is very nice. Quiet and scenic: this is the best loop for camping. The pull-through sites are a bit tight for a big rig, but they will work. Most of the back-in sites are better. Take a long hose to fill your tank with fresh water so you want have to haul it. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We stayed at a pull through, full hookup site on the F loop. Sites were level so of course they all puddle-up in the rain. Note: the rangers at the gate tend to give incorrect directional instructions for an RV needing to use hookups once at a site. As far as state parks go this one seems just average. An annual pass will save you $6 a day from the posted rate. The advertised beach and snorkeling is a drive away and the sand there looked dirty and disgusting. We chose this place as it's a good location for visiting Ouray, Silverton and Telluride with a tow car. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This is a review of the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk campground. This is the "full hook-up" campground that is at the north end of the park. The sites are nice and some have great views of the river and fishing ponds. There is not much shade so it might be too hot in the middle of the summer. However, stay in loop "G"! Loop "F" is too close to highway 550 and there is a lot of traffic noise there. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
We stayed in the very pretty Elk Ridge campground, and if you like trees and shade this is really the only campground to choose in Ridgway State Park. It is electric only. The playgrounds were relatively new and well kept up, and the hiking trails kept the kids busy. The pay showers were the biggest drawback at a dollar per 4 min shower. Some sites can require a lot of leveling, but most had nice privacy. If you have a boat or fish then the other two campgrounds in town may be more useful since they are right on the water. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
My family and I decided to stay at this park after reading many of the positive reviews. We booked a three night stay in the "upper" loop with full hook-ups. Our site had no shade at all and the area consisted of a dry prairie type of grass. It was out in the open, hot, and not very picturesque. After one night we decided to relocate to a campground in Ouray, which was much cooler and more scenic. All of the utilities at the site worked great and the area was very clean. All park employees were very friendly. My main complaint with this park has to do with the close proximity to Hwy 550 which was very busy and NOISY! It also bothers me that the state of Colorado charges entry fees for both the motorhome and toad. This tends to negate the "good deal" which is usually associated with state park facilities. We camped here in a Motorhome.
This review is about the full hook up section called Pa Co Chu Puk (or close to that). We had heard such wonderful things about Ridgway being the showcase park in the Colorado State Parks System. We ended up mildly disappointed. While the park itself has wonderful attractions like a marina, lake, trails, river and such, the camp sites in the full hook up section were dispersed amidst cheat grass and sticker weed and fully half the sites were way too close to Hwy 550 for any degree of quiet. It's largely a matter of where you end up but your choices are broadly: quiet but mosquito-city or noisy and lesser mozzies. Dog walking was tough on the little paws due to stickers - why is it that Colorado system affords the poorer sites to the campers who pay the highest fees? having said all that, the facilities were clean, campers were well behaved, it's a great base camp to explore Ouray, Telluride and other phenomenal places. Just wasn't quite the super duper park we had had hoped. We camped here in a Motorhome.
We stayed in the Pa Co Chu Puk - G loop. I usually resist giving a perfect score, but this area earned it :) The sites have concrete pads and are very level and clean. The sitting area, with a campfire ring, was also concrete. The views are fabulous we enjoyed ourselves a lot, there is a lot to do in the park and surrounding area. It does warm up during the day, but luckily in Colorado it cools off nicely at night. During the 4th of July weekend, we did have 1 night that we felt more comfortable in a lite jacket by the campfire. We were impressed with the thoroughness and quickness of the camp hosts during check-out time. They did a wonderful job! **Things to consider when visiting Ridgway** 1. Bring Mosquito repellant! 2. There are actually 3 camping areas, plus a walk in tent area. Pa Co Chu Puk is the furthest from the lake. 3. The Elk Ridge and Dakota Terraces campground roads are one way. Keep that in mind when reserving your spot because most sites are pull-thru and the hook-ups are on the driver side of your rig. 4. There is a swim beach. 5. There is a lot of fishing in the area, so bring your fishing supplies. 6. The showers are coin operated, with a 4 minute minimum. Count on paying $.25/minute and the showers do not give you a warning when your time is near, they will just turn off when your time is up. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we have already reserved our spot for Labor Day weekend too! We camped here in a Tent Trailer.
We spent a week here this summer (2008). It is a well maintained park and has a very pleasant and helpful staff. We do not boat but appears to be great area for boating and fishing. We found it well located for day trips to sites in all directions. Some of the camping loops are in the open, but several of the sites are in wooded areas with great views of the lake and surrounding mountains. If our future plans take us to Southwest Colorado we will consider this park again. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
This must be one of the best state parks in Colorado. Great location for touring Ouray, Telluride, etc. The CG itself is huge with a number of different camping areas not connected to each other. Sites are paved, level, and many have full hook-ups. Shade is somewhat limited but since it never gets too warm here that is not a problem. This state park puts most of the private RV facilities in the area to shame. Reserve early for the best riverside sites. We camped here in a Motorhome.
A State Park campground with RV Park amenities! Every site I saw had concrete or wood deck dining pads as well as asphalt drives. Most sites are handicap accessible and have electric or full hookups. Many pull-thru sites. The shower/bath houses were newer and quite clean. They even had a large coin laundry room that had a sink for washing dishes as well as vending machines. The park is in arid foothills. There is a lower loop close to the boat launch that is rather open/exposed. The upper loop is on top of a foothill and has great views of the lake and San Juan Mtn range plus more short/squatty pine trees for a tad bit more privacy and wind protection. Great location to explore the northern portions of the San Juan scenic loop and not too far from Montrose if you need some city conveniences. We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Ridgway State Park. We stayed in two of their campgrounds, mainly because their requirements for reservations are so confusing that we came in to one for one night and then transferred to another. The views of the mountains are spectacular, the river is close for fishing and there are numerous hiking trails around the park. This was a highlight of our three week trip to the West from Mississippi. We will plan to return to this State Park. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
This is a great state park! The sites are very large, level and easily accessible. The hosts were very friendly and helpful. Fishing is just a short walk away. The only negative is the lack of trees and shade. Don't stay in the sites with a drop off with kids or dogs, they are very narrow sites with a steep drop. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.
Having to pay an extra amount for pulling a vehicle is not acceptable. The workers were rude. One of our friends that were camping with us had car trouble and we pulled their vehicle back to the campground. We pulled it over out of the way of others and the campground workers made us move it. It was not running, so had to hook up and tow it about 3 feet. No view whatsoever! Just the backside of the dam. Will not stay there again. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Great place to camp!! There are nicely stocked fishing ponds, fantastic trails, and water galore! Rangers and volunteers kept everything under control over the busy 4th of July weekend. We're heading back again next month!! We camped here in a Travel Trailer.
Views are terrific. Water recreation available includes boating,swimming,paddleboat
rentals, fishing,etc. We would recommend you reserve ahead of arrival. Campsites were kept fantastically clean. This is one of the best campgrounds we have
utilized in 30 years of camping. We camped here in a Motorhome.
Review Rating
[ 8 / 10 ]
August 2004
$20
Our family camped here twice in 2004. I want to begin by saying that this is one of our favorite places to camp in the Ouray/Ridgeway area. It is a beautiful campground, with beautiful scenery! The staff is great and friendly! Our main objection is that the area in the campground where we camped on both occassions was over-run with rats and mice! They were so bad that it spoiled our time here to a large extent. The second time we were there in September we trapped 6 mice! We thought we had cleared them all out to find another rat in the cabinet under the sink in Albuquerque! We will try it again, but if the rodents are a problem, we won't stay there again. We camped here in a Fifth Wheel.