Colorado entices travelers with tons of astoundingly beautiful places and epic hiking trails, so it stands to reason that the Centennial State has extraordinary camping, too. Snoozing under the stars beside ancient rock formations or gazing up at a cover of leafy green trees sounds stellar to us.
Before packing your bags, there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, we actually can’t recall a time in recent memory when so many people were prioritizing outdoorsy vacations. That means state and national parks, nature preserves and campgrounds are more packed than ever. So it’s essential to make reservations in advance or risk having your dreams of dozing in a tent dashed.
Something else that needs to be said, and bears repeating, is the importance of treating campsites—and, more broadly, any outdoor area you plan to visit—with the utmost respect.
Communing with nature is a privilege, not a right. If every person who steps foot on the soil (or, in some cases, sand) doesn’t do their part, these incredible places will cease to exist. Imagine a world without Maroon Bells or Rocky Mountain National Park. That’s pretty darn bleak, right? Exactly. It’s all about respecting the land, the wildlife and the people (in addition to having fun and enjoying the great outdoors, of course). Like the Boy Scouts of America always say, “try and leave this world a little better than you found it.” In other words, when it comes to camping (or even just visiting the state of Colorado), your guiding principle should be to leave no trace.
