Rainbow Lakes Campground
in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
The managing agency’s description mentions a closure. Read it below and confirm before you drive out.
The numbers that decide it
Recreation.gov publishes no site-level detail for this campground, so we cannot say what length of rig it takes. Call the managing office before committing to it in a large vehicle.
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero. See it on Recreation.gov
Rainbow Lakes Campground
This campground is open mid-June through mid-September and located at 10,000 feet at the end of the Rainbow Lakes Road and adjacent to the Indian Peaks Wilderness . This road is closed for winter and typically reopens in June. Before traveling to this area, check the Road Status Table . There are 18 first-come, first-served campsites that accommodate tents (on 14x16 foot tent pads) and small trailers. A maximum of eight people are allowed per site. Campsite 8 is oversized and accomodates up to 15 people. Campsites 15 - 18 are walk in sites for tents. Picnic tables, fire grates, vault toilets and trash services are provided at each campsite. 14-day stay limit. This campground does not feature drinking water, electricity, hook-ups, dump stations, or showers. Please remember to bring water. All campsites with a tent pad have a bear locker. Rainbow Lakes Campground is normally full for the weekend by Friday morning so plan to arrive early. No reservations are accepted. View a campground map .
Before you go
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
Check the campground table for fee information. Interagency Senior, Interagency Access, Golden Age and Golden Access passes provide cardholders a 50% discount on campground fees (this discount only applies to single campsites).
Restrictions
Pets must be on a hand-held leash at all times. A maximum of eight people are allowed per site. RVs, trailers or other vehicles must fit on the parking spur. Fishing is regulated by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife .
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.