Ansel Watrous
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG — riverside, fishing, hiking
Location: Morrison, CO, CO
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (183 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.The campground offers accessible single-family sites, each equipped with a 12-by-15 tent pad, a picnic table and a campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Camp Host, Fishing, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/ansel-watrous to be notified when sites open up.
Ansel Watrous sits directly on the Cache la Poudre River with excellent access to whitewater rafting, fishing for brown/cutthroat/rainbow trout, and nearby hiking including the 4-mile Young Gulch Trail. At $29/night just 22 miles from Fort Collins, it's an affordable basecamp for outdoor recreation in the Front Range.
Wildlife alert: Mountain lions have been documented in the area via research-grade observations. Also watch for Northern Saw-whet Owls, Western Milksnakes, and Eastern Yellow-bellied Racers.
Insider tips for Ansel Watrous: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 17 sites and fills quickly during peak season Bring a self-contained RV or plan tent camping; there are no hookups available Firewood is available for purchase on-site, so you don't need to pack it in
Skip Ansel Watrous if: You need RV hookups (water, electric, sewer) — this campground has none. You're planning to visit November through April — seasonal closure.
Best time to visit Ansel Watrous: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Stove Prairie (Morrison, CO), Narrows (Co) (Morrison, CO), Mountain Park (Morrison, CO), Buckhorn Ranger Station (Bellevue, CO).
Cell Phone Coverage at Ansel Watrous
Cell signal at Ansel Watrous (Morrison, CO): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.For facility specific information, please call (530) 529-0578.The campground offers accessible single-family sites, each equipped with a 12-by-15 tent pad, a picnic table and a campfire ring with grill. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with only 17 sites and fills quickly during peak season
Bring a self-contained RV or plan tent camping; there are no hookups available
Firewood is available for purchase on-site, so you don't need to pack it in
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Fort Collins, take Highway 14 northwest for 13 miles.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Ansel Watrous cost per night?+
What season is Ansel Watrous open?+
Does Ansel Watrous have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Ansel Watrous?+
How do I make reservations at Ansel Watrous?+
What is the cell service like at Ansel Watrous?+
What season is Ansel Watrous open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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