Ansel Watrous

Cache la Poudre River
Ansel Watrous entrance sign
Ansel Watrous Camp Site 15
Ansel Watrous road
Ansel Watrous Camp Site 15 Overview

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
River Access River Access

Sites & Rates

Average nightly rates

13 total sites

RV Sites

9 sites

Tent Sites

4 sites

About Ansel Watrous

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.

Number of accommodations: 13

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - May 1 to Sep 19

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
River Access River Access
Water Access

Water Access

  • River Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

13 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 002, Loop: UPPER RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 003, Loop: UPPER RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 006, Loop: UPPER RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 007, Loop: UPPER RV
No Hookups
Price not available
008, Loop: UPPER Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
009, Loop: UPPER Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
010, Loop: UPPER Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🚐 012, Loop: LOWER RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 013, Loop: LOWER RV
No Hookups
Price not available
014, Loop: LOWER Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🚐 015, Loop: LOWER RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 016, Loop: LOWER RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 017, Loop: LOWER RV
No Hookups
Price not available

Reviews (208)

What Guests Are Saying

Ansel Watrous campground offers a beautiful and well-maintained setting by the river, providing enjoyable camping experiences with friendly hosts and great access for fishing and hiking. Many guests appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities and the peaceful atmosphere, making it a favorite spot for relaxation and outdoor activities. However, some reviewers noted issues with site reservations and occasional road noise, but these concerns did not overshadow the overall positive experiences shared by most campers.

Review Summary

4.5
208 reviews
5
70.7%
147
4
16.8%
35
3
7.2%
15
2
1.9%
4
1
3.4%
7

Madison H

Verified

July 1, 2026 Stayed at: 015, Loop: LOWER

4

Beautiful spot! You can see and hear the river from this spot; it's so lovely. Not a lot of extra room for sitting right on the river to fish & swim; there's one main spot that has the most space, but you have to get there before your neighbors do. Camp host was great, site was clean & had easy access to dumpster. Potable water was a small walk away from our site. Bathrooms were relatively clean considering there is no running water or plumbing. Don't forget to bring hand soap or hand sanitizer as there's none provided. We could see rams on the cliff right across the river! Also saw deer and Rocky Mountain blue birds. We would definitely be back!

Charles B

Verified

June 30, 2026 Stayed at: 003, Loop: UPPER

5

Wonderful campsite! Grateful for water in the river, however low it was. Enjoyed camping and kayaking with my children over Father's Day weekend. Recommend hiking GreyRock and Young Gulch trails.

Cary Y

June 29, 2026

2

We reserved in December. When we arrived there were other campers in our spot and the camp host had no idea who we were when we arrived with our printed reservation. Fortunately he was able to retrieve the records and moved the other campers to a different spot. This was quite concerning as we drove all day to camp pulling a trailer only to almost not have anywhere to go. Print your reservations.

Brittany T

Verified

June 28, 2026 Stayed at: 009, Loop: UPPER

5

Excellent early season sites, host was cordial and helpful

Roxanne S

Verified

June 17, 2026 Stayed at: 009, Loop: UPPER

4

Basically, a quiet campground. There are hiking trails, white water rafting close by, and then there is Mishawaka, very close. You can eat there, and sometimes there is music. There is no cell service at this campground.

Stephanie H

Verified

June 14, 2026 Stayed at: 014, Loop: LOWER

4

This is a beautiful campground. Very clean, friendly people, and the river is so fun. We recommend you bring along some shade. The afternoon sun on most of the sites is pretty intense.

Frank B

Verified

June 10, 2026 Stayed at: 009, Loop: UPPER

5

Can’t beat being next to river.

Charles B

Verified

June 10, 2026 Stayed at: 017, Loop: LOWER

5

Lovely little campsite. Good weather. River level was good for kayaking. The other campsites were all reserved by old friends who were wonderful people to get to know. I felt so very fortunate!

Rachel S

June 7, 2026

3

Love being next to the river. The bathroom is a walk if you are near sites 1-4. At midnight a dog barked for 45 minutes straight and woke up our toddler. That part wasn't fun. Every site had a dog so hopefully you like them. Lots of hummingbirds.

Melissa L

June 1, 2026

4

Beautiful site backing up to the River. A little tricky backing into the site, but level once you get your camper in! It’s a bit of a walk to the restroom, but there are plenty of great sites closer if that is a concern.

Location Ansel Watrous

Address:
9054 U.S Hwy 285
Morrison, CO, 80465
United States

Highway access

The campground is accessible via Highway 14, which is a major road leading northwest from Fort Collins.

Elevation: 1780 feet

Distance to downtown

99 mi drive to downtown Morrison (about 1 hr 47 min)

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: September 1, 2026

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Managed by USDA Forest Service