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Pilot program allows last-minute reservations at 6 Colorado state parks

Six state parks are part of a pilot program that allows campers to reserve their campsite online within three days of their trip (rather than show up and hope one's available). Plus, one state park is allowing camping for the first time.
Credit: Ershov_Maks
CPW has announced a 24/7 online reservation system for six state parks, including Staunton, where camping had previously not been allowed.

You know when you show up at a campsite -- tent, foil meals, s'mores and family in tow -- only to find out one isn't available?

Colorado Parks & Wildlife hopes that will be a thing of the past with a new reservation system it is piloting at six state parks, including Staunton State Park. This is the first time camping has been allowed in Staunton.

The system allows people to book a site within three days of when they arrive. Before, any sites available within that three-day window would be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Campers can book a site up to six months in advance.

Campers can use the system to reserve their site at:

  • Cheyenne Mountain
  • Eleven Mile
  • Staunton
  • St. Vrain
  • Trinidad Lake
  • Ridgway

"They will no longer need to gamble by waiting until they arrive at the park hoping to stay at a first-come, first-served site, only to find that there isn’t one available," CPW said in a news release.

The program launches July 1 at all the parks except Ridgway, where it will start Sept. 15 and apply only to sites in the "F" and "G" loops.

"It's meant to mimic the private industry," said Travis Duncan, a spokesperson for CPW. "We're doing it at these six state parks in the hopes this will iron out any kinks we have."

Campers who want to take the risk and show up to see if a site is available can still do so, Duncan said.

According to CPW, any campers occupying a reservation-only campsite will be subject to a citation.

Sites can be reserved online here, or by calling 1-800-244-5613.

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