Campground at Red Rocks

I heard they expanded the campground at Red Rocks. It's been 10 years since I've been there, and there were always sites open. What's the situation like now? Is it easy to find a site? How safe is it?

Yeah the campground is not that great. The first time I went the water came from a tanker truck up on the hill and tasted horrible. Now there's a dedicated tank and it tastes better. What you get for 10 per night is a fire ring, metal picnic table, tent platform, a bathroom and a view of all your neighbors. Bring your own firewood from out of state because there aint much in Nevada. Come prepared for cold, wind and dust. Hotels are nice but you would have to go into the chaos for that and you'll get soft. Although one time I stayed at the Red Rock Casino(split with another couple) and felt like a rockstar. You cant drink beers around a campfire at a casino though.

Thanks guys......The last time I was there the water came off a tanker and there were maybe 30 sites. I remember it kinda sucked ass. Are there alot of problems with the classic tweaker smash and dash?????

blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/bl…

This needs some new verses, but is never outdated:

Sung to "Camptown Races"

Da Campground Nazis sing this song, doo-dah, doo-dah,
Da Campground Nazis four pair strong, oh de doo-dah
day.

Drivin' round all night,
Drivin' round all day,
Campground Nazis sittin' in da truck,
Playin' da tool every day.

Friends showed up to ride along, doo-dah, doo-dah,
Nazis freaked and said 'be gone!', oh de doo-dah day.

Drivin' round all night,
Drivin' round all day,
Got out of da truck to chew my ass,
Why won't they just go away.

Campground Nazis came real late, doo-dah, doo-dah,
'Don't park crooked make it straight,' oh de doo-dah
day.

Drivin' round all night,
Drivin' round all day,
Shoulda been smart and got a group site,
Like NOLS or AMGA.

Campground small and nice and flat, doo-dah, doo-dah,
Nazis drive and stay real fat, oh de doo-dah day.

Drivin' round all night,
Drivin' round all day,
What a heinous waste of gas,
One for which we pay.

Rattlesnake curled near my hat, doo-dah, doo-dah,
Campground Nazis smash it flat, oh de doo-dah day.

Howling winds all night,
Howling winds all day,
Staked my tent down real good,
The others just blew away.

Had a tire over the line, doo-dah, doo-dah,
Campground Nazis said 'Big fine," oh de doo-dah day.

Climbing into the night,
Climbing 'round all day,
Bet you when we get back to the tent,
They'll have something to say.

Between the gun range and the mine, doo-dah, doo-dah,
13 Mile it's so fine, oh de doo-dah day.

Climbing into the night,
Climbing 'round all day,
Paid my money in a minute flat,
Still got harassed anyway.

Campground Nazis have their way, doo-dah, doo-dah,
Public lands yet we pay, oh de doo-dah day.

Climbing into the night,
Climbing 'round all day,
Red Rocks climbing is real good,
But it's 'pay to play.'

Flat and windy and Nazi zoo, doo-dah, doo-dah,
Worst campground I've been to, oh de doo-dah day.

Climbing into the night,
Climbing 'round all day,
Got back to my tent late one night,
But da Nazis took it away.

Da Campground Nazis ban dis song, doo-dah, doo-dah,
Da Campground Nazis never wrong, oh de doo-dah day.

Climbing into the night,
Climbing 'round all day,
Thought that I could take their crap,
But da Nazis scared me away.

Perfect.

Awesome and accurate.

man I hate that place, good thing the climbing makes up for it.

Jeez wouldnt it be nice if the campground was at the old sandstone quarry where it used to be, I think. The loop was open to campers only after dark, no tweakers or kooks allowed. I think they could of done that for the price of the new visitors center. Ah well at least like you all agree the climbing makes up for the current lame campground. See ya there in late March.

Reed Fee wrote:Jeez wouldnt it be nice if the campground was at the old sandstone quarry where it used to be, I think.

Nope. It was at Oak creek. The Old Campground was not accessed off the loop road.

Inbetween there was also a temporary campground located past Blue Diamond.

If you get into your WAY back machine you could camp anywhere...my Dad's boyscout troop used to camp at Willow Springs.

But there was never an established campground @ The Sandstone Quarry.

Cheers,

josh

I haven't been forced to use the campground in some years, and to be fair (is fairness necessary?) they say that the 'hosts' are better, but still, given what kind of campground could have been created, this thing is sad at best. At worst, well, there it is.
Camping above 5,000 ft. is legal (though of course there's a hoop or nine to jump through), so go up the Rocky Gap road and you'll find some great sites. Downside -- gotta get in the Loopy road before closure.
But I do enjoy that song alot and will take any chance to post it. Not my work, sorry to say, so drink a toast to the author (s).

Andrew Carson wrote:...but still, given what kind of campground could have been created, this thing is sad at best.

Never thought I'd miss the old Oak Creek site...

That new place is awful. Can't even see Red Rocks.

Shame they don't put one in ala the old Oak Creek location. Even if it was heavily restricted, be nice to have a spot to camp where you didn't need to drive. I'd hike the extra couple of miles.

Heck, they could put one way out on the dang highway but accessed outside the loop, perfect.

As it is, I try to find cheap lodging, or, someone who knows Andy...('preciate the floor space the time I was with Eric). Ha ha.

Cheers!

oh yeah, i spent two weeks at the old "temporary" campground once. Across from the Gypsum mine. Man that was nice and easy. Of course it lacked order with people camping anywhere and in plain sight of the road. Alas you knew when driving in it was only a matter of time before the man closed it.

Andrew, I heard too, that camping is legal above 5000 ft. On Rocky Gap Road there are many nice places to camp ( if you have high-clearance 4wd,) even one spot with a picnic bench under a ponderosa. What are those nine hoops you have to jump through to do that?

It's good to see that others feel the same way about the campground as I do. Although I wrote in letters against it, they decided to up the fees anyway.
Fees blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo/bl…
Follow the link above to see all price increases but the camping goes up to $15/day.

Hardly makes sense to camp there anymore - I agree with 'The Boodge' - they've made hotels the way to go.

9 hoops... maybe 8. Or 7.
No, just kidding. I am going on memory here, from a once-over reading of regs pertaining to camping in these areas, that I did a few years ago. It seems to me that there was a permit required, and maybe some other small items, to be fully legal. But, if someone's really interested they should go over the rules as maintained by the FS or BLM, whichever agency has jurisdiction for the site in question. It wasn't hugely onerous, but it's better to know exactly what land management agencies require so that you may act in full understanding, with those facts in hand.