Pawnee

Always wonderful to spend time at this campground. Camp hosts are always busy keeping up with campers needs and keeping the area clean. Hiked to both Lake Isabel and Blue Lake, as well as round Long Lake and all the hikes are wonderful.

We love Pawnee campground, it is so nice and peaceful. Brainard is a beautiful place. We will be back.

Magical campground that is well kept and clean. Views are spectacular and the hiking trails are abundant. What a gem!

Site Moose 35 was gorgeous. We will be back. Had a great time and gorgeous pictures.

Beautiful, clean and well organized

Our campsite was given away by the campground host before we arrived. When we arrived, the campground was full and we had to return home after a 2 hour drive. We were unable to get to the campsite the first day of our reservation, but we called Recreation.gov to check on the status. The woman we spoke to told us that the site we had reserved was most likely no longer available, but that another site would be set aside for us. Without this assurance, we wouldn't have made the trip. I understand that miscommunications happen, however, the worst part of the whole event was how we were treated by the campground 'host' when we got to the campground. We knocked on the host's trailer door. He arrived at the door with his belt unbuckled and fly unzipped. He then laid into a angry tirade about how we were too late to meet our reservation, and the campground was full. All the while he continued to fumble with his unzipped fly. I find it difficult to express how rude this guy was, and have rarely walked away from any encounter with another human being so infuriated. He could have, at the very least, said there was a miscommunication, and the campground was full. Recreation.gov, if you read this, please take this review into account. That host is utterly unqualified for a 'hospitality' position.

arrived to discover our assigned site was scalped of trees. Tried to move to another site and was told we would have to pay all over and they could not refund my original payment. Absolutely ridiculous they couldn't just move the reservation over when there are open sites. So we paid all over again. Then we're told we have to pay to get a day pass to park at a trailhead - they're literally a mile from the campground. BUT, they can't sell the day parking passes; you have to hope you can get a signal from recreation.gov! How can they sell you another site but not a simple day pass?????? Extremely disappointing. Also, as campgrounds go this one is very expensive and provides only a pit toilet. No showers.

Great watching the moose at the lake.

Great campground in a breathtaking spot!

We've enjoyed camping at Pawnee Campground for many years. We were saddened some years ago when our favorite campsite was eliminated in favor of more parking at Brainard Lake but we understand the necessity of what was done. In the long, run everyone benefits. The restrooms are clean, the campground is well maintained, the scenery is spectacular and the weather was well, some days it was beautiful, other days it reflected the drama of this location at 10,300 ft! Wind, rain, hail and then sunshine. Unpredictable but nonetheless inspiring! If you have a day that the weather keeps you inside, take a short drive to Nederland for coffee, lunch, supplies or just visit this interesting little town.
The hiking in the area and up into the Indian Peaks Wilderness is some of the best anywhere. Between Mitchell and Blue Lakes (definite must sees!) we located a beautiful bull moose. We used to see more of these around Brainard Lake and Pawnee Campground but perhaps it is better that they are more challenging to locate these days. (Moose meat is very good and there are limited licenses allocated for this area that is open to hunting during the season) All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the 2 separate weeks we spent camping here this summer. The mountains, skies, trees and other flora and fauna are an amazing testament to our loving, powerful Creator!