Summer camping has it all. There’s nothing like escaping daily life to experience the freedom of the mountains. Leave your worries and trendy food behind so you can eat s’mores and get stoned around a campfire. Go ahead and live your truth by smoking an uplifting sativa and taking artsy selfies with trees. Plus, there’s usually no cell phone service so all your friends are forced to pay attention to you.
If you’re planning a summer of camping around Colorado, remember that it’s still technically illegal to smoke on federal or state land, which rules out most campsites. The good news is there are a handful of campsites on private land that do allow marijuana consumption, as well as some lodges that encourage it. I’ve yet to visit these places, but here’s a round-up of what I’ve found on the internet:
Wilderness Bud and Breakfast
San Juan National Forest, Pagosa Springs, wildbandb.com
Included with your stay is a continental breakfast of organic and local delicacies. They also have a 420 Happy Hour, served daily between 4:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. that features a selection of organic flowers, cannabis-infused edibles and extracts from southwest Colorado. For lodging, there are teepees and tent sites nestled along the banks of the Rio Blanco. Campground accommodations include a camp kitchen with a propane stove, sink, pots, pans, utensils and a charcoal grill; an outhouse with an eco-friendly composting toilet; a shower facility with an on-demand gas water heater; and a common campfire area.
Teepee with single beds: $70 for one person, $55 for each additional person/night
Teepee with double bed: $125/night
Campsites: $45/night
First Inn
Pagosa Springs, firstinn.com
Here, you’ll have access to dozens of the best hiking trails in the San Juan National Forest. If aimlessly walking around the woods isn’t your thing, there’s also a ton of fishing, rafting, climbing and mountain biking nearby. When you’re finished being hardcore outdoorsy, soak in the Pagosa hot springs and naturally hot therapeutic mineral pools. At the First Inn, there are two pet-friendly rooms available, but animals must have prior approval, so make sure to contact them before booking your room.
King and Queen rooms available: $90/night
Fort420 Campground
Fort Garland, fort420campgrounds.com
This campground manages to stay on the right side of the law by classifying itself as a cannabis club, which means that no one under 21 is allowed on the property. But they have primitive campsites, basic campsites and teepees, and you are free to burn on site. No RV sites yet, but apparently they are in the works. They have carnival-style games and activities for stoners, including something called Puff Puff Putting, where you can win more than just stuffed animals. At night, it’s fun to get high and stare into space since the San Luis Valley is a major UFO hotspot, with sightings reported since the 1600s.
Primitive campsite: $35/night
Basic campsite for (4): $60/night
Large Teepee site: $125/night
Rustic River Cabins
Estes Park, rusticrivercabins.com
Rustic River Cabins are tucked away on the Big Thompson River, but close enough to enjoy all that Estes and Rocky Mountain National Park have to offer. They have seven all-seasons, pet-friendly cabins across 16 acres of land. The cabins sleep 2-8 people and feature a kitchen, fireplace and 26-inch flat screen TV. Five of the cabins feature a private hot tub. They were built in the mid-1940s, so you will definitely experience those rustic vibes you’ve always wanted. You can use a vaporizer inside and smoke joints on the porch. There’s also a path down at the river with a bench to enjoy that morning coffee and a buzz.
Cabin rentals: $99-$179/night
Pet Fee: $25 per pet
Travel THC
Everywhere in Colorado, travelthc.com
If you want to do your own thing completely, consider booking through Travel THC, which is basically Airbnb for potheads. They offer a variety of weed-friendly cabins, ranches, estates and vacation rentals, so you can be as basic or bougie as your budget allows.
