The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is located in Gunnison County, Colorado, west of Colorado Springs. It consists of nearly 15,000 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The base of the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is managed by the city and county of Gunnison. People from all over the country visit the Hartman Rocks because of the plethora of outdoor activities available. For starters, there are nearly 50 roads of tracks and trails in the area for mountain biking, hiking, skiing, and more.
Many visitors bring their off-highway vehicles to see The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area in a thrilling way. If you're looking for a more laid back adventure, there is plenty of wildlife to view. You can also take photographs of just about everything you see. There are 50 dispersed camping spots in The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area. You will also have the option of staying at one of the nearby campsites, one is even on a lake!
The areas surrounding the Hartman Rocks are also fun to explore. There are mountains and forests all around you in this area of Colorado. If you enjoy outdoor activities and sleeping under the stars, consider visiting The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area.
One of the benefits of the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area being quite large is that it's easy to access. The main entrance and base area are located just off of Gold Basin Road and County Road 38 if you're coming from the east. This is by far the most popular entrance of the area.
There you will find a large parking lot, unloading area, restrooms, water, and more. This is the one area of the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area where camping is not allowed. There is also access from McCabe Lane and County Road 32 for those visiting from the west. You'll find a small gravel parking area just off the road.
If you're planning on going mountain biking or riding an off-highway vehicle, it's important that you remember to stay on designated roads and trails. You can find the roads and trails on a map of The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area. There is also private property around this area of Gunnison, Colorado, please stay on public land only. Lastly, all of The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is closed in the spring to allow the roads and trails to properly dry out before being used during the summer.
Next, we have Elk Creek Campground. When you're visiting the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area, Elk Creek Campground is just a hop, skip, and jump away. It is open all year round and offers 160 campsites in total. There are four different loops in this campground. Loops A and D require reservations at least three days in advance. Loops B and C have campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Elk Creek Campground has just about every modern amenities that you could be looking for. From mid-May until mid-September there is running water, flush toilets, showers, a restaurant, and access to the marina. At all times of the year, you will have access to vault toilets, a dump station, a visitor center, picnic tables and fire grates at each campsite, a fish cleaning station, and a boat ramp. This campground is beautiful and you'll be surrounded by rolling hills and bright blue skies.
You also have the option of staying at Lake Fork Campground. It is open from April until the end of autumn. There are 90 campsites in total, allowing you to not have to worry about the campground being crowded. There are flush toilets available and water from the middle of May until the middle of September. Lake Fork Campground sits at an elevation of 7580 feet. There are picnic tables and fire grates at each one of the 90 campsites.
Unfortunately, there are no hookups for RVs. However, there is a dump station and vault toilets. Reservations are required for the campsites that are in the upper and middle sections of the campground, and these must be made at least three days in advance. For the lower campground, campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Campers are allowed to stay 14 consecutive days in a row per month. This is a beautiful campground if you're wanting easy access to water activities.
Starting us off for peak season activities is mountain biking. This is a thrilling way to get around the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area. Mountain biking is quite different than your standard bicycling. Mountain biking at The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area will take you across several different types of terrain including flat gravel roads and rocky steep hills. Bring your mountain bike, a helmet, and a hand-powered air pump! You'll be set for a great day of riding!
You've likely seen an indoor rock climbing park in person or on the internet. While those establishments are quite popular, nothing beats the real thing. Rock climbing in The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is a thrilling activity for those looking for an adrenaline rush.
There are multiple rock formations to climb, hence the name of the area. With that being said, you'll want to make sure that you have experienced rock climbing and that you've brought the proper gear.
If you've never tried it, off-highway vehicle riding is a blast. It is one of the most popular peak season activities that are available to enjoy for visitors of The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area. Depending on the time of year you visit, you may need a permit for an off-highway vehicle in Colorado. Many people enjoy riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers all around the recreation area. This activity is an absolute must if you're traveling with children.
First, we're going to be talking about Gateview Campground. This is a small campground available for those visiting Hartman Rocks Recreation Area. There are just six campsites in total. Each of these campsites is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You'll find picnic tables and fire grates at all six campsites. Though there are no flush toilets, from mid-May until mid-September there is running water.
All year round you will have access to vault toilets as well. There are no RV hookups available at the gate for your campground. When you camp here you'll get the luxury of hearing the rapid waters as you fall asleep. There is a deep canyon and a reservoir that can be explored by adrenaline seekers. This place is truly an outdoorsman's paradise. It is recommended that larger RVs do not camp at Gateview Campground because of the narrow gravel roads. Smaller RVs and camper vans will be fine.
Hiking is an off-season and peak season activity that people enjoy when visiting The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area. There are plenty of trails to choose from, but you can also freely walk all around the area, just don't try to create new trails.
Hiking is a great activity for people who love the great outdoors. Remember to bring a pair of high-quality hiking boots due to the change of terrain around The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area.
Cross country skiing is a fun activity that just about anyone can enjoy. You may want to bring your own set of skis and gear to have the best experience possible. Cross country skiing is most often done on the trails and gravel roads around the rocks recreation site during the winter. Not only is this a cool way to see the sights, but it's also an amazing workout as well that can help burn off all the delicious foods of winter.
During the off-season, visitors of the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area enjoy spending time snowmobiling. Because rocks recreation area is so large, you will have plenty of room to ride. Later in the season there are established trails to make the ride a bit more interesting.
Snowmobiling is a unique way for visitors to see the recreation area when it's covered with snow. This is a fun activity for the entire family to enjoy, just be sure to bring your own snowmobile!
