Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights3 sites open for every nightA forested campground near trout fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Most campsites have no hookups, and RV fit varies by site.
Pawnee Campground sits at about 10,350 feet on the shore of 25-acre Brainard Lake, at the foot of the Continental Divide and bordering the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The site is reached from the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, roughly 14 miles north of Nederland and about 35 miles south of Estes Park and the main entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.












Length limits vary by campsite.
Check dates on Recreation.gov. Showing 40 of 45 sites.
| Site | Fr 13 | Sa 14 | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 018 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 034 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 015 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 014 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 009 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 004 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W6 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 013 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 019 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 030 standard nonelectric |
Hookups (individual campsites): 45 no-hookup individual sites.
9054 U.S Hwy 285
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Official facts link to their source; “Listing” facts come from the Recreation.gov listing. Anything we can't source says so.
Themes from recent written reviews on Recreation.gov. Quotes are verbatim.
“The campground and restrooms are kept meticulously clean.”
Verbatim from guest reviews on Recreation.gov ↗ (244 reviews, ★ 5.0). Not written or edited by us.
“We always use the Walk In sites. They are more secluded, quiet, no RVs & generators. The camp hosts this summer were from Colorado and so nice & friendly. It is an easy walk to Brainard Lake. Beautiful area. It's a wonderful mountain getaway for us. ”
“The campsite was beautiful. All facilities were very clean Loved the easy access to trails ”
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights3 sites open for every night
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights14 sites open for every night
Available Nov 13–15 · 2 nights1 site open for every night| – |
| – |
| $29 |
| 020 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 001 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 016 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 003 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 023 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 033 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 031 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 021 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 038 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 002 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 008 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W7 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 005 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W4 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 025 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W5 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 037 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 035 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 029 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 017 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 022 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W3 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 026 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 036 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 010 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 039 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| W1 tent only nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 028 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 006 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
| 024 standard nonelectric | – | – | $29 |
✓ available · R reserved · X not available · C closed · W first come, first served · N not yet released
An idea to start from, built from this campground's listing and real tours nearby. Times, openings and prices change, so check each before you go.
Longer tours — plan travel time before and after.
Explore the Holzwarth Historic Site, the spot where the Never Summer Ranch, Holzwarth Trout Lodge, and homestead was operated from the 1910s to 1970s. The grounds are open 24 hrs. Historic cabins are…
Source: National Park Service. Tours are in the free NPS App.
Rentals that may deliver here and whose listed length fits sites up to 62 ft. Delivery may be available — confirm fees and dates with the owner before you book.

Travel trailer · 25 ft · sleeps 4 · 36 mi from campground
$125/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available
View rental
Travel trailer · 21 ft · sleeps 6 · 36 mi from campground
$180/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available
View rental
Camper van · 19 ft · sleeps 2 · 36 mi from campground
$215/night listed · RVshare · Delivery may be available
View rentalPaid experiences on Viator. Distances are from this campground when the tour lists its own start point.

Estes Park area · 4 hr–6 hr · from $139/person

Estes Park area · 3.5 hr · from $125/person

Estes Park area · 3.5 hr · from $125/person

Estes Park area · 3 hr–4 hr · from $140/person
For September weekends, book about 184 days ahead. Three in four September Friday and Saturday arrivals were booked later than that, and half were booked 184 days or less before arrival. Past timing is guidance, not a guarantee of what is open now.
| Arrival month | Fri/Sat arrivals: half booked at least | A quarter at least | Other days: half booked at least | A quarter at least |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 181 days ahead | 182 days ahead | 124 days ahead | 174 days ahead |
| July | 181 days ahead | 182 days ahead | 117 days ahead | 181 days ahead |
| August | 181 days ahead | 183 days ahead | 114 days ahead | 181 days ahead |
| September | 184 days ahead | 184 days ahead | 137 days ahead | 183 days ahead |
Months with fewer than 30 reservations of that kind are left blank. Sites where nearly every booking was made the day of arrival (pay on arrival) are left out. Closed seasons, windows not yet released for booking, and currently unavailable nights are separate from this history.
Based on Recreation.gov reservations, FY2015–2025 (11,109 reservations in the years scored). Counts reservations made, not nights actually camped: cancellations aren't in the data, and nights a site was closed count as not booked. FY2020–21 (COVID) are left out of the scores.
45 individual reservable campsites from Recreation.gov, checked Nov 7. Rates are the listed nightly rates.
Tent, van or small RV, no power
37 sites · $29, $58/night
0 open Nov 13–Nov 15
Tents only, no power
8 sites · $29/night
Loops: WALK IN loop (8)
0 open Nov 13–Nov 15

Estes Park area · 3 hr · from $166/person

Estes Park area · 3 hr · from $166/person

Estes Park area · 2 hr · from $110/person

Estes Park area · 2 hr · from $110/person

Estes Park area · 7 hr–8 hr · from $200/person
Ranger programs, trails and park activities — typically free. Separate from paid tours above.

Junior Ranger Headquarters at Hidden Valley is closed for the winter season. Open from late May to mid-August, Junior Ranger Headquarters at Hidden Valley is a great place for…

Built between 1913 and 1920, a drive up Old Fall River Road is an incredible 9.4-mile scenic drive. This unpaved road begins next to Endovalley Picnic Area and ends at the summit…

2-2 Hours
Enjoy a scenic drive across Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail Ridge Road is 48-miles one-way and connects the towns of Grand Lake and Estes Park during the…

Snowshoeing

Fishing

Wildlife Viewing Tips
Source: National Park Service (Rocky Mountain National Park). Photos link to nps.gov and are credited to their photographers.