Saddlehorn Campground

The drive up from Grand Junction is gorgeous but not for, ginormous rigs, the faint of heart or those with fear of heights. My gps told me to go through Fruita to Saddlehorn CG. I should have listened to her but decided to go through east entrance. If you are staying more than a night or 2, best to go around & through Fruita to cg. Then set up and drive rim road at your leisure minus your rig. My site, B50 was spacious but table & grill on opposite side of door due to one way drive in through loop B. Noticed this was case for a number of sites. Especially a few really crappy ones that were bump out pull-through, barely big enough for folk's truck & trailer plus with the door right on the road opposite from table. Mist sites were nice so just double check yours. Loop C is tents & driveables only, no trailers. No wood fires, charcoal only in the grills. Some sites with killer views of the valley. Loops A & B allow generators 8am to 8pm only. By the way, easy drive to Fruita for supplies and kayaking or other River activities. Cute Town with brewery and cafes.

We have a wheelchair lift equipped class A and site 5 accommodated our RV, tow dolly and wheelchair accessible van. Well designed site with hard surface around table and grill. Clean accessible restrooms next to site. Great helpful host brought us a cone to alert drivers to our site.

In our loop, pull through sites have a 7% grade. You’re probably not going to get level. No fault of NPS but the only item not 5*. No hookups in this campground. Back in sites and tents seem to have flatter camp areas

Sites nestled in junipers. Some sites is C loop have awesome views. Beautiful place. Well done NPS!

I came on short notice and was able to reserve a site one day in advance. It seems that they hold a few sites for walk-ins. Many of the the sites are pull-ups along side the road and mine was not very level but with lots of blocks it was acceptable. Its a windy drive up to the monument through a couple of small tunnels. Its tempting to look at the vistas instead of the road. Like all national parks there is always something worthwhile to see. In the last part of Sept. it was pretty hazy from the California fires.

The campground sits right in the Colorado National Monument, so the views getting to and from the campground are stunning. Most sites on A & B loop have views looking over the valley and town of Fruita. Some sties on loop C (tent only, no trailers, RV’s less than 20 feet, 1 vehicle per site) had views back of the monument.

Site B24 was a pull-out, not a pull through, as described on recreation.gov site. We had to back into the site, down the one way road, in order to have our door open to our campsite, otherwise your door is opening onto the road. Site was not very level, but not the worst. This site also has community water spigot right behind it, so folks have to walk pretty much into your campsite to get to water.

We didn’t use the toilet facilities, so can’t comment on them. Nice big dumpster with recycle bins. Good TV with out antenna, cell service was very patchy. At some times it worked Greta and then nothing.

We were told by another Campendium supporter that if driving this route, you need to stop for the night. Thanks AGAIN Campendium for this wonderful night on top of the Monument. We also had the added benefit of seeing the comet Neo Wise. The campsites ate really nothing to brag about. But! The views and being in the Monument are worth every penny. If you are a bike rider, do the loop! Or even just ride part of it. Spend a bit of time driving past the campground to the various pull offs to see the sites. Really a Colorado Treasure. If you have a choice try and reserve campsites on outer loop of B loop. They are just pull offs from the road but the views are worth it.

Sandlehorn campground (Colorado National Monument)..June 8-10, 2020
I encourage anyone who is traveling around the United States or going on an extensive family vacation to invest in an annual national park pass. Most national parks charge between $25-$35, an annual pass $80 (its a no brainer)gets you into every National Park or Monument for one year!
plus, a campground inside of a national park usually has more spacing and, dude, you’re inside the National Park!
** Tbone camping scale: (0-10) “0”=horrendous “10”=phenomenal
—getting there: “3” (take the west entrance! Only 4 miles to campground, hug the yellow line going through the tunnels (only 10’3” clearance 2’ out from edge of road) the east entrance is 19miles on “white knuckle road”
— bugs: “9”(some ants, no bites)
— temps: “10”(day mid 80’s/night 60’s with breeze—slept like a baby, no AC)
—bathrooms: “7” (flush toilets, very clean, plenty of hand soap. no showers)
— yahoos: “9” (no one up past 9:30, no generators)
— supply access: “6”(Grand Junction 13 miles, Fruita-7miles)
—things to do: “7” (if you have a road bike this is the best 23 miles of scenery in America. Well over 20 miles of hiking trails. Every overlook is a photographer or artist dream.
* little gem: looking for a good way to cool off? Go to “the potholes” swimming hole see link: https://www.visitgrandjunction.com/blog/hidden-gems-miracle-rock-and-potholes