Camping and Golf

Colorado offers several perfect ways to combine pristine fall camping experiences with great courses nearby

By David Yang

It’s a cool Colorado morning as I crawl out of my sleeping bag, greeted by an electric sunrise that illuminates the purple mountains on the horizon to my west.

I put some coffee on the camp stove and set to making a camp breakfast to fuel my day. Unlike most of my fellow campers, I’m not hiking, fishing, or even four-wheeling today; I’m headed to Arrowhead Golf Course to play golf.

While most campers don hiking boots and sweat-wicking T-shirts, I lace up my golf shoes and tuck in a golf polo. Colorado is home to some of the most scenic courses in the country, but most golfers retreat to a hotel room or VRBO and miss the best part of the day: being outside at dawn and dusk.

Colorado’s one of the best places for golf-and-camping experiences—where tee times meet trailheads and campfires. Golfers love playing courses with spectacular views in Colorado, yet miss the joy of combining camping with a day on the links.

For your next Colorado golf trip, consider turning a round of golf into a full outdoor weekend complete with camping and chipping by the campfire. By combining tee times and campsites, golfers can turn a round of 18 into an overnight or weekend outdoor adventure, pairing golf and the great outdoors.

In some instances, camping near the course makes it easier to get to and from your early tee times and enjoy the mountains all evening as the stars come out. By camping rather than retreating to a hotel room, it is easier to add in fishing, fire pits, and a local Colorado post-round beer or craft whiskey. Below are a few of our favorite camping destinations paired with some great Colorado golf courses.

BEST CAMPING & GOLF ITINERARIES

Close to Denver
Dino Tracks. Elevated Fairways.
Golf: Fossil Trace Golf Course
Camp: Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Located in Golden and dubbed “Colorado’s Home Course,” this camp-golf combination is perfect for a quick overnight escape from Denver. Fossil Trace is a unique course featuring dinosaur fossils right along the fairway. Golden Gate Canyon State Park is just 30 minutes from Fossil Trace and offers great camping and a nearby home base in a nice alpine environment without having to drive deep into the mountains.

Other nearby activities: Mountain Biking, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Great Local Breweries

Red Rocks Weekend
Iconic Rocks. Incredible Rounds.
Golf: Arrowhead Golf Course
Camp: Chatfield State Park

Another perfect option if you’re coming to Denver and want some easy camping and scenic golf. Arrowhead offers stunning fairways set against jagged rocks, making it seem at times as if you are golfing in an ancient amphitheater. Less than 15 minutes from the tee box, Chatfield is a great spot to pitch a tent or bring the camper, close to water, and a great place to cool off after a hot round.

Other nearby activities: Fishing, Paddleboarding, Red Rocks Hiking

Steamboat Adventure
Wild Views. Unforgettable Golf.
Golf: Rollingstone Ranch
Camp: Steamboat Lake State Park

Head north to check out some great golf and camping around Steamboat. The Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones II, features a winding course along Fish Creek overlooking the Yampa Valley. Watch out for wildlife such as moose and bear as you tee off on the Audubon International Certified course. The campsite at Steamboat Lake is about 40 minutes north of Steamboat and is a great home base for campers. With nearly 200 campsites on 2,800 acres, the lake is an ideal base for golfing in the region.

Other nearby activities: Paddleboarding, Hiking, Hot Springs

Summit County Send It
Alpine Golf. Endless Options.
Golf: The River & The Ranch
Camp: Peak One

Located in Keystone in the heart of Summit County, The River and The Ranch courses offer challenging mountain golf with scenic backdrops. The River features more elevation changes and parallels the river at times, while The Ranch is more open, set in a valley around an old ranch. Less than 30 minutes away, Peak One is a scenic campground along Dillon Reservoir near Frisco. Set at the base of Swan Mountain with the Gore and Tenmile Ranges as a backdrop, it’s an ideal place to unwind and enjoy the sunset after a long round.

Other nearby activities: Keystone Gondola, Horseback Riding, Breckenridge Brew

Northern CO Getaway
Pines, Lakes, and Long Drives.
Golf: Fox Acres
Camp: Dowdy Lake

Located in Northern Colorado in Red Feather, Fox Acres is a 6,481-yard, Par 71, 18-hole golf course meandering through ponderosa pines and several lakes. The setting is full of challenging shots and some elevation gain. Just down the road from the golf course is Dowdy Lake Campground, which provides nice shaded camping adjacent to the lake, with plenty of fishing, paddleboarding, and hiking in the area.

Other nearby activities: Redfeather Lakes, Fishing, 4-Wheeling

Tee off. Set up. Explore.

GOLF & CAMP GEAR TIPS

Tee off. Set up. Explore.

Great golf leads to even better adventures.

A few key pieces of gear can make golfing and camping go smoothly. Here are our must-haves for the course, the campsite and everything in between.

Water Bottle: Stay hydrated on the course and at camp. Dometic Travel Tumblers keep drinks cold (or hot) all day and are built for adventure.

Gear Box: Keep your gear organized with the Gregory Alpaca Gear Basket. It holds 70L of gear and packs down easily when not in use.

Solid Tent: A good night’s sleep leads to a better round. The Marmot Tungsten UL Tent is lightweight, easy to set up and built for Colorado conditions.

Club Case: Protect your clubs on the road and at camp. The Vessel Travel Case Pro features durable ballistic nylon and an integrated Club Armor System for peace of mind.

Camp/Cart Chair: A versatile chair works on the course, at camp and beyond. The YETI Trailhead Camp Chair is durable, comfortable and easy to take anywhere.

Camping Fan: Stay cool on hot days and nights. The OGERY F11 Portable Camping Fan delivers powerful airflow, integrated LED lighting and long battery life.

Same fairways. New horizons.