Pumphouse Recreation Area

Camping here was a very different experience, one that grew on me as I stayed four days. This campground’s hosts were very amicable, and the headwaters of the Colorado River flow the entire length of the camp. Nice to fish in, and nice to get into during the heat of the day.

If you are a train fanatic, this is the camp for you! About 6 times a day, a train goes by on the opposite shore, and winds it’s way along the curves of nearby mountains, and into a railway tunnel. If you are not a railway fanatic, you might seek a different camp.

I would have wished for more trees around the campsites, however everything was adequate. Got visited every night by either a raccoon or skunk, that left their paw prints on my food locker and cooler. I was glad that I have secured them to the concrete picnic table, well away from my tent. There are bear warnings posted in the camp, however I don’t believe one came a-visiting’.

We enjoyed our two days of fishing on the Upper Colorado and our one night out camping.

For 50 years, numerous times each season, I have gone to Pumphouse during the week on a first come first serve basis with no problem getting a campsite and usually spend days there with no one else around. Now, a reservation is required and the website to make a reservation is most difficult to navigate. When I finally did book a site i had to pay a reservation fee on top of the camping fee. Why if I/m making my own reservation do I have to pay that fee?
On one occasion, while trying to make a reservation for a future week, the website said no sites available. I have never in 50 years seen Pumphouse full during the week and highly doubt it was full for the week I was searching. on arrival I asked the camp host if the campground had been full two weeks earlier as the website indicated and they said no way.
In my opinion, recent BLM decisions are making access to the campground more difficult. Seems to me things are going a wrong direction. I've said my piece, I know it wont matter. I just don't get it!

Love the location! The hosts came by to check in and were great to talk with and had answers/suggestions for everything we asked.

the camp hosts were outstanding. the site with a flowing river very nice

This is my all time favorite place to be. My only and biggest complaint is, I have to pay to reserve my spot so when I arrive I should be able to set up upon arrival. Not the case this last time. When we arrived there were 2 vehicles parked in our spot. We arrived at 1 and was not able to set up till after 7 p.m. The camp host were very gracious and they did write a ticket but told us this has been a problem a lot lately. I feel something more needs to be done about the parking situation when a spot is reserved. We have a van with a tent that attaches to it, thats why parking is so important! We had campsite 7 and this Sunday I have booked campsite 8. Hopefully we wont have this problem again!

Fantastic Camp Hosts and BLM Dude. Very, very helpful. Thank you to them.

Camo Hosts are great. Bathrooms are very Clean.

Very good experience, but will definitely be overpriced if the rumors are true that that camp rate will go up next year by 250%, what a horrible plan that is.

Such a beautiful camp site. Close to the river and the clearest skies at night. I love all of the sage around the campgrounds.