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Gates of Lodore Campground is located 106 miles north of the Canyon Visitor Center. It is located on the Green River at the boat ramp at the head of Lodore Canyon. There are 17 sites, some with shade. The sites have tables and firepits. There is running water and vault toilets, but no showers. The campground handles tents and RVs (but there are no hook-ups). Camping fee is $8 per site, per night. The water is turned off from mid-September to mid-April, and there is no camping fee at that time. Gates of Lodore Campground is open year-round, but winter access can be difficult due to snow.
From Maybell, Colorado, take US Highway 40 west for approximately 1/2 mile to CO Rounte 318. Take CO Route 318 west for 46.2 miles. Turn left onto Moffat County Road 34N and follow for 1.7 miles, then turn left on County Road 34 and follow for 4.5 miles.
Remote for a NP. Good swimming in the Green River. Nice campground with large trees for shade. Amusing to watch the 100 people a day that have float permits that put in here. A famous historical spot.
First off, Gates of Lodore is the name for the canyon at this section of the Green River. In 1869 Andrew Hall, a member of John Wesley Powell's expedition, named The Gates of Lodore after a poem called, "The Cataract of Lodore," by Robert Southey. So there's your history lesson.
Second, the campground is quite nice with plenty of spots, plenty of parking and plenty of bathrooms. The ranger station is right there too if you need help.
Third, rafting is great here. If you're a private boater make sure you have your permit. The beach to the water can be quite long and the sand is bad, vehicles get stuck in it. Luckily the place has a moon rover looking thing you can use to load your boat on and take to the water. Check the photo to see what it's like.
Fourth, there's a short hike here that takes you closer to the Gate of Lodore canyon and it's really pretty. So there's that to enjoy as well.
An amazing place to camp with some pristine views, can be quite quiet; ranger and ranger house so there is someone there to help answer your questions. The boat ramp can get quite busy, but the trail to see the Gates is fairly easy, bit of vertical at the beginning, otherwise quite flat. At night, and especially during new moon, look up, stars, stars, and stars like you’ve never seen!
