Willows Campground (CO)

Willows Campground sits on the north shore of Green Mountain Reservoir in the White River National Forest, a setting for visitors seeking a multitude of recreational activities both on water and on land. The reservoir is a popular spot for boating, kayaking, fishing, water skiing and windsurfing. Anglers will find populations of rainbow and brown trout, as well as kokanee salmon when casting their lines out into the water. Spring Creek, at the northern end of the Gore Mountain Range, is a popular off-roading area: a network of roads open to off-road vehicle use meanders through lodgepole pine and spruce/fir forests, and viewpoints of the surrounding mountains open up along these roads. The campground has 21 standard sites suitable for tents, trailers and RVs, and vault toilets are provided. All motorized watercraft must be inspected for Aquatic Nuisance Species and must launch from a monitored launch ramp. The Heeney Marina, below the Town of Heeney on the west shore, is open during daylight hours throughout the season. In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million-acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting eight wilderness areas, four defined seasons and ten peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. Long before the forest was established in 1891 as the White River Plateau Timber Reserve, the area was home to the Ute Indians, who followed herds of elk and bison on their seasonal migrations. Wildlife in the area abounds: bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk, scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout, and alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. Rocky Mountain National Park is worth some time for its interpretive programs and exhibits on the diverse landscape and history of the area. In summer, visitors may want to traverse Trail Ridge Road from one side of the park to the other, reaching alpine vistas boasting elevations of more than 12,000 feet.