Poudre Canyon and Red Feather camping: reservations and cancellations

How do Poudre Canyon and Red Feather campground reservations work?

All six campgrounds are booked on recreation.gov. The Forest Service says reservations across the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests open six months ahead, but that's a forest-wide statement from Jan 2023 and none of the campground pages repeats it. Dowdy Lake's own page, checked Oct 29, doesn't state a window, so we list it as none posted. Check which dates are on sale before you plan around a release day.

Sizes run from Ansel Watrous, with 17 sites, to Mountain Park, with 54 numbered sites and a group site for up to 75. West Lake has about 36 sites, Bellaire Lake about 26 and Dowdy Lake 70. Chambers Lake's total isn't stated. The Forest Service's Mountain Park page says sites 33 to 54 are first-come, but recreation.gov doesn't name first-come sites, so confirm before you drive up.

Which Poudre Canyon and Red Feather campgrounds can I book, and when?

Rules verified Nov 4, 2026 against recreation.gov for Dowdy Lake, recreation.gov for West Lake, recreation.gov for Bellaire Lake, recreation.gov for Mountain Park, the Mountain Park page, recreation.gov for Chambers Lake, recreation.gov for Ansel Watrous and a Forest Service notice posted by the Town of Nederland (Jan 2023). Rules change: check before you book.

What are conditions like in Poudre Canyon and Red Feather right now?

Our conditions board tracks inclement weather, wildfire, smoke, air quality and closures for Poudre Canyon and Red Feather. Set a watch and we also keep an eye on conditions around your trip, and email you if they turn bad, with nearby campgrounds that look clear.