OF NOTE: this review has nothing to do with the actual campsite, but rather my experience.
This past weekend I drove up to Telluride to catch the Aspen’s at their peak and get some cool hiking in. I planned on staying at Sunshine Campground, but knowing that it was first come first serve and I couldn’t make it until Friday night, I expected it to be full that night. I circled back around Saturday night and to my surprise found a spot! Or so I thought. Someone had written on their post that if they weren’t back by 7pm, whoever wanted the spot could have it. I decided to sit on the picnic table in the lot and enjoy the sun while I waited an hour for this person to show up (or not)! That’s when I was rudely greeted by the camp host. In an annoyed tone she asked me if I realized that this spot was taken. I told her that I had read the sign with the 7pm stipulation. She then asked if “I go around reading signs “(?). I told her that I’ve had luck in the past where people have abandoned their camp spot and I was able to score a cool place by asking/checking things out. She said that the person who had paid for that spot “didn’t have the authority to give it up,” which frankly doesn’t make sense to me considering they had already paid for it. She told me I needed to leave immediately and that it wasn’t “fair to her other campers if I just walked up and got this spot.” Keep in mind, this is a first come first serve no reservation campground. After she told me I needed to leave because I wasn’t allowed “to just hang out at this empty spot waiting,” a sweet old man told me I could just car camp at his lot if things fell through. Long story longer I did not feel welcome or comfortable around the camp host and ultimately car camped on the side of the road. I was surprised by this woman’s (camp host) demeanor and overall lack of understanding of the calm nature of camping. It’s just a camping spot, it’s not that deep. I did not have other motives at play, I just thought I got lucky with a cool spot! Hopefully you don’t have my experience and things run smoothly for you, but just be aware that this woman is VERY serious about how things are (or are not) done at her campground. Besides that, the views are amazing and you’re surrounded by Aspen trees so how much more could you want! Also only ~12 minute drive from down town Telluride. Porter potties and trash bins on site.