Pawnee
Book this listing through our partner Recreation Gov
About Pawnee
Overview
Pawnee Campground is located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, 35 miles south of Estes Park and the main entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing, canoeing and hiking opportunities.Recreation
Brainard Lake is a popular destination for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. Anglers cast for rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. Long Lake, Red Rock Lake and Left Hand Reservoir are nearby.Several trails in the area provide access to the adjacent Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. Hiking is allowed on all trails; mountain biking is allowed outside the wilderness area. Rock climbing, snowshoeing and cross country skiing are often available, weather permitting.
Facilities
The campground offers several single-family campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.Natural Features
The campground lies at the foot of the Continental Divide, next to 25-acre Brainard Lake and the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area at an elevation of 10,350 feet. A scenic forest of spruce and fir trees covers the area. Summertime temperatures are warm in the day and cool at night. Afternoon thunderstorms are common.Nearby Attractions
The town of Nederland is 14 miles south of the campground, offering grocery and hardware stores, restaurants, gas, a bank and a post office.Rocky Mountain National Park's main entrance is 35 miles north in Estes Park. With lush valleys and craggy peaks reaching elevations higher than 14,000 feet, visitors are provided opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures. Scenic driving, hiking, backpacking, fishing, horseback riding and wildlife viewing are popular activities in the park.
Estes Park is a full-service community. Dining, shopping, rafting, fly-fishing, horseback riding and golfing opportunities are available there. Lake Estes offers boating, sailboarding and fishing.
Pawnee Reviews
Have you stayed here? Be the first to leave a review!
Top Spots in or near Ward
Backpack to Red Deer Lake, CO
Lyons, Colorado
4.0
6.4 mi
/ 1900 ft gain
This is an excellent place to take your family backpacking. It is a fairly easy trail and definitely a great one for kids. Take in the beautiful scenery while hiking through meadows, aspen and pine with incredible mountain views in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. 6.4 miles to Red Deer Lake with an elevation gain of 1900 feet.Starts out a couple miles down the Middle St. Vrain Road off of Peak to P...
Camping at Brainard Lake
Nederland, Colorado
5.0
Pawnee Campground has 47 sites for suited for tents, RVs, or trailers with eight that are walk in and tent only. These can fill up quick so get there early if you don't have a reservation, which can be tough to come by but will be well worth it.Brainard Lake has been one of the most popular hiking destinations in the front range for but more recently has become more popular as a camping destina...
Hike to Mitchell Lake
Ward, Colorado
4.0
4 mi
Located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, Mitchell Lake is a good quick hike for an afternoon getaway. With just two miles to go till you reach the lake itself, it's easy for the whole family and the pups (the recreation area is super popular, so this is assuming the lots are full and you have to park in the day use area).
From the parking lot, follow the signs that say "lake access." This...
Pawnee & Buchanan Pass Loop
Ward, Colorado
5.0
26.98 mi
/ 6978 ft gain
Before you start your trip, get a camping permit from the Boulder Ranger Station. Plan to spend your first night in the Crater Lake BZ (Backcountry Zone), and your second in Buchanan BZ. If you're feeling particularly sedate, you can easily spend a third night in Coney Creek.
Start early in the morning, as the parking lot tends to fill up quickly. From the Long Lake trailhead follow the Pawnee...
Blue Lake via Long Lake Trailhead
Ward, Colorado
4.6
6.2 mi
/ 1076 ft gain
Located in the Brainard Lake Recreational Area (west of Nederland, CO in the Indian Peaks Wilderness), this gem isn’t exactly a well-kept secret, but it has all the beauty that you could ask for in a relatively easy Colorado hike.
To get the full effect of the lake, you may want to plan your hike in late summer, as the lake can remain partially frozen through much of July. And while I wouldn’t...
Shoshoni Peak
Ward, Colorado
5.0
10.61 mi
/ 2470 ft gain
Hike one of the most scenic 12ers in Colorado's front range, Shoshoni Peak, with an elevation of 12,967 feet. You can easily combine a summit of Pawnee Peak for wonderful views of multiple alpine cirques. Enjoy wonderful views of the Long Lake Valley, Isabelle Glacier, and Pawnee Pass regions. For the more adventurous there is a class 3 route that ascends its northeast face.
THE HIKE Starting ...
Camping and Lodging in Ward
Lyons, Colorado
Camp Dick
Overview
Camp Dick is the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp that was established in the 1930s. It is located just off the Peak t...
Allenspark, Colorado
Olive Ridge
Overview
The Olive Ridge Campground is located within the Roosevelt National Forest, situated near the southeastern corner of Rocky Mount...
Granby, Colorado
Arapaho Bay
Overview
Arapaho Bay Campground is located on Lake Granby, southeast of Grand Lake, in north central Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area fo...
Larimer County, Colorado
Glacier Basin Campground
Overview
Glacier Basin Campground (8,500 feet) is adjacent to Estes Park in the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. F...
Rollinsville, Colorado
Kelly Dahl
Overview
Kelly Dahl Campground is located adjacent to the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway, near the historic mining towns of Nederland, Rollins...
Grand Lake, Colorado
Green Ridge
Overview
Green Ridge Campground is located on beautiful Shadow Mountain Reservoir, southwest of Grand Lake in north central Colorado. Vis...
Unfortunately, we don't have up-to date pricing data for this listing, but you can check pricing through Recreation Gov.
Book NowAdd your business today to reach The Outbound's audience of adventurous travelers.
Community
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy