Lake Pueblo State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Lake Pueblo State Park in southern Colorado attracts over two million visitors annually. Despite its popularity, this spacious park never feels overcrowded. Sailing, kayaking, water skiing, and stand-up paddleboarding are just some of the activities watersports fans enjoy here. Boating enthusiasts will appreciate the two full-service marinas at this park. This state park is a huge park with lots of space to hunt, fish, cycle, walk, and enjoy nature. There are 15 miles of trails to explore, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and nature programs to enjoy.
The park offers great year-round vacationing for RVers with a wide variety of campsites and recreational activities to keep visitors busy. Whether you're looking for an area to hunt in the winter or swim in the summer, Lake Pueblo State Park has got your back. There are over 393 campsites available at the park, including 281 campsites with electrical hookups.
The Lake Pueblo area is also a geological hotbed, attracting geologists from all over the world. The park has several layers of exposed rock, which hold the secrets of millions of years of history and geologic processes. The park contains over 130 prehistoric archaeological sites, so it's not uncommon to find fossils. Just remember to take pictures of your finds, and leave the fossils behind. The park also has a rich cultural history. Over the centuries it has been home to several groups of Native Americans and even early pioneer settlers. You could visit Lake Pueblo State Park in your RV a dozen times and still not learn all of the area's history or see all that it has to offer.
RV Rentals in Lake Pueblo State Park
Transportation
Driving
You can easily reach the park using I-25 to get to the city of Pueblo, and from there, it is about 10 miles to Pueblo Reservoir Road, where the park is located. The park's website has detailed directions and maps to navigate to all the campgrounds, so it's best to determine where you are staying before you plan your intended route. You shouldn't have any problems navigating the roads inside the park since they are all paved and fairly level. You don't have to worry about any major blockages or especially narrow roads. Still, you should take the usual precautions and drive slowly. Although the roads are in good condition, you probably won't want to unhook your RV to drive it around the park every time you want to go somewhere or do something, but the park is also much too large to travel entirely on foot. That's why many visitors choose to tow an extra car or bring some other way to get around the park, such as a bike, motorcycle, scooter, or hoverboard. Having some other way to get around the park makes it easy to park your RV, hook it up, and forget about it until it's time to leave the park.
Parking
There is plenty of parking throughout the park for both day visitors and campers. There is also lots of space for parking RVs.
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Lake Pueblo State Park
Campsites in Lake Pueblo State Park
Reservations camping
Pueblo KOA
The family-friendly Pueblo KOA campground is within easy distance of Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, Front Range, Royal Gorge, San Isabel National Forest, Bishop Castle, and downtown Pueblo. All sites include free Wi-Fi and cable; private sites feature a fenced area with a gas grill, patio, fire pit, picnic table, and sunshade. Campground amenities include a heated pool, an adults-only hot tub, playgrounds and a nature trail, a jumping pillow, bike rentals, a 24-hour laundry room, ice cream, a snack bar, pizza and wings delivered to your site, a fenced dog run and additional planned activities.
Northern Plains Campground
All of the sites at Northern Plains Campground, except the ones in Kettle Creek Loop have electric hookups, but no water hookups. Both vault and flush toilets are available depending on what loop you are camping in and dump stations are also available. This is a popular campground for fishers and boaters since it is located close to the north boat ramp and marina. If you want to stay in Northern Plains Campground, especially in an RV, you should make a reservation ahead of time. Some of the turns in this campground may be difficult for larger RVs, but not impossible to make. It is the largest of the campgrounds and likely to be the noisiest, but many visitors still flock to Northern Plains due to its very close proximity to the west fishing spot and bicycle trail.
Juniper Breaks Campground
Juniper Breaks Campground does not have any water or electric hookups, but can still accommodate RVs. Visitors love the quiet serenity this campground offers and its more primitive approach to camping. The campground features vault toilets and water faucets, but no dump stations. Reservations are the best way to ensure you get the campsite of your choice and can be made up to six months in advance. The campgrounds are fairly close to the lake, and only a short walk separates the campground from the north picnic area. Make sure to purchase your camping permit and park pass before setting up camp, which goes for camping at all of the campgrounds, not just Juniper Breaks.
Arkansas Point Campground
Arkansas Point Campground features 95 campsites, all of which have 50-amp electrical hookups, a paved, level parking spur, a sheltered picnic table, and fire ring, providing you with everything you need for an enjoyable RV camping experience. The campsites are spacious and well-spaced out, making it a popular choice for campers, so you should make reservations as early as possible. Many visitors also love the fact that it is close to the south boat ramp, and several sites offer great views of Lake Pueblo. The campgrounds are on the south side of the park and have centrally located restrooms, showers, and playgrounds. Since there are no sewage or water hookups, there is a dump station near the entrance to the campgrounds, and water faucets spread throughout the camping area. Some sites can accommodate RVs over 90 feet in length, but most have a max RV length between 35 and 45 feet.
First-come first-served
Northern Plains Campground
Located on the northwest side of the park, the Northern Plains Campground has lots of space for RVs, trailers, and tents, and it offers easy access to the north-side marina. Individual campsites are spacious and offer beautiful views of the mountains or the lake.
Together, the three loops of this campground, Kettle Creek, Prairie Ridge, and Yucca Flats, have 214 campsites. Prairie Ridge and Yucca Flats both offer 50-amp electrical hookups, water hydrants, excellent restroom facilities, and a dump station. Kettle Creek does not offer electricity or a dump station but has water hydrants and restroom facilities.
Juniper Breaks Campground
The Juniper Breaks Campground is popular and often booked up despite not having electricity. There are water hydrants and vault toilets but no dumpsite. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis but reservations are recommended as it stays pretty booked up between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Arkansas Point Campground
Arkansas Point Campground in the south end of the park has 95 campsites with 50-amp electrical hookups, water hydrants, excellent restroom facilities, and a dump station. Sites that have not already been reserved are available on a first-come, first-served, basis. You may be able to get a site without a reservation during the week or in winter months, but a reservation is the best way to secure your spot.
Seasonal activities in Lake Pueblo State Park
Off-Season
Exploring the Visitor Center
The Visitor Center at Pueblo State Park is packed full of useful information and is open to visitors all year long. Staff at the Visitor Center are very enthusiastic and eager to help park guests. Their knowledge of the eco-zones and the plants and animals that live in the park is incredible. They will point you in the right direction if there is something specific you'd like to see or do. If you need to purchase wildlife licenses, park passes, registrations, and state park memorabilia, the Visitor Center is the place to stop. Although it is open year-round, many people find more time during the winter months to really explore and see all that it has to offer since it isn't as crowded during the colder season. You will find the Visitor Center on the south side of the park at the end of Juniper Road.
Hunting
Hunters are welcomed to the park between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Pack your bow and arrow or birdshot-loaded shotguns in your rig and see what kind of game you can snag. A large chunk of the park is designated for hunting, particularly in the south where you will find small game and waterfowl. Hunting is prohibited during the in-season months, but while it is permitted, hunters may be able to spot deer, ducks, and several other avian species. Make sure you follow all rules and regulations regarding hunting in the park to avoid getting in trouble or upsetting the balance of nature.
Boating
Visitors to the park can take advantage of the two full-service marinas, one on the north side and one on the south side of the reservoir. There are also boat ramps in the same areas of the park as the marinas. These are the perfect place to launch your boat and enjoy the beautiful scenery around the lake. Big rocks surround the shoreline with mountains framing the water in the distance. Be sure to get your boat inspected before setting off to ensure you aren't bringing any invasive species or nuisance marine creatures into the lake.
In-Season
Biking and Hiking
Although the lake and all the recreational water activities the park offers are the focal point of the park, don't skip out on exploring the 15 miles of hiking and biking trails. All the main roads have paved paths alongside them. Many trails are rated for bikers according to a level of difficulty but are not difficult to walk. They are well maintained and fun to walk. The trail system behind Arkansas Point campground has a variety of trails for bikers of all ages with varying degrees of difficulty.
The trails running through the park offer the best chance to see wildlife you otherwise wouldn't see on the beach area or the lake. Some animals you might see include mule deer, lizards, snakes, burrowing owls, and several birds of prey. A map of the trails can be downloaded online, or found at the Visitor Center, to help guide you along the way. So get ready to head out of the rig and hit the trails.
Swimming
Although it may be tempting to jump in Lake Pueblo, the lake is only for fishing and boating, and swimming is prohibited. However, if you're looking to cool off and take a dip, head over to the Rock Canyon Swim Beach in the northeast area of the park, it's the only place in the park where swimming is allowed. The swim beach is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the nearby picnic area makes it a great spot to spend the day. Charcoal grills are provided next to some of the picnic tables, and gas grills are allowed in specially designated areas. The restroom facilities are very nice and include hot-water showers.
Fishing
You can fish in Lake Pueblo State Park year-round, but the fish are abundant in the summer months, practically begging to be caught. There are several easy access points for anyone wanting to fish from shore, and the lake's coves are also great fishing spots. You can fish anywhere in the park that is open to the public except the boat docks and boat ramps, which is why many fishermen love exploring the park trying to find their special secret spot. Amateurs and seasoned fishers love fishing in the lake and seldom walk away empty-handed. Common catches at Lake Pueblo State Park include bass, walleye, rainbow and brown trout, sunfish, and crappie.
Picnicking
Pack a picnic basket and enjoy the day outdoors. Day visitors and campers will find an abundance of picnic tables in the various sections of the park. Many of them are shaded, and in areas where charcoal grill or gas fires can be used. Group picnicking facilities are also available for groups of various sizes, one on the north side of the lake and two on the south. Complete with eight-foot tables, barbecues, a fire pit, a volleyball court, and a horseshoe pit, they are close to electrical points and restroom facilities. These pavilions need to be reserved in advance. There is also a covered picnic pavilion at the Rock Canyon Swim Beach, which is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
