Camping in the Rocky Mountains Part 2

Campground information is based on national park campsites.

Registration

If you reserve a site, you can go to the campsite on the day and register at the registration desk at the entrance. When you tell us your reservation information, we will give you some simple precautions and if you did not purchase a Fire Permit (you need this to light a fire) at the time of reservation, you can purchase one here. Sometimes the weather is dry and lighting a fire is prohibited when fire bans are in place. In this case, using wood to light a fire in the fire pit is prohibited.

After receiving an explanation of the registration site, receive a camping permit (paper), and proceed to the reserved site.

Registration. It’s at the entrance. You can register like a drive-thru restaurant.

Setting up a tent

There are no specific precautions regarding pitching a tent, and each site has restrictions on tents or parking vehicles. Please check carefully when making a reservation.

The tent just needs to be pitched so it doesn’t leak.

Making a fire at the campsite

If you have purchased a Fire Permit, you can light a fire in the Fire Pit located within your camping site. There will be a place where firewood is piled up on the way. From there, you can take as much as you want and light a fire.

Precautions when starting a fire: Be sure to extinguish the fire when you sleep or leave the campsite. Pour water thoroughly to extinguish even the smallest embers between the trees. If steam or smoke comes out, it hasn’t gone out yet. Pour more water and turn it off until no smoke comes out. If you leave without turning it off properly, you will receive a warning from the manager. At first it’s a warning, but if it happens repeatedly you may end up with a fine.

Meal

There is a picnic table at the camping site, so you can cook using brought-in ingredients and a burner and eat at the table. You can use the fire in the fire pit to barbecue, but since the fire is difficult to control, it is better to use the fire in the fire pit for roasting potatoes or sweet potatoes rather than for cooking.

There are precautions regarding food storage. Just as you must turn off the lights when you sleep or leave the room, you must store food ingredients and tools in an enclosed space (inside a car or RV). Wild animals may pick up the smell and eat it, so it must be stored in an airtight, odor-free space. So you shouldn’t store it in a tent.

Shower, Toilet

Unless it is a backcountry camping site, there are restrooms and drinking water facilities. However, some places do not have shower facilities (hot water provided). Most main campsites have shower facilities where you can take a nice hot shower.

The restrooms are cleaned every day, so they are relatively clean for public restrooms.

Campground Rules

There is a time when you shouldn’t make a fuss called Quite Hour. Normally 11PM-7AM, you should refrain from making noise during this time. At all other times, loud music must not be played.

Alcoholic beverages must be consumed only within your campsite. Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in public areas.

You must not feed wild animals. This applies to all wild animals, not just in the campsite.

You must only use the provided firewood for your fire. Do not light a fire by taking it from fallen trees nearby. Of course, you should not cut down a living tree.

Pets must not be left loose.

Other than that, if you apply common sense, there will be no problem.

It is difficult to make reservations for famous camping sites in national parks during the peak season (July-August), so if you look for camping sites a little further away or in state parks, you can make reservations even during the peak season.

Series Navigation

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