North Fruita Desert Campground

Location

2815 H Road
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Policies

Check-in

1:00 PM

Check-out

12:00 PM

Max stay

14 nights

Pets

Allowed (per listing)

About

If your idea of camping includes rolling out a sleeping pad after a sunrise lap on world-class singletrack, North Fruita Desert delivers: the campground sits at the heart of the "18 Road" system just north of Fruita and provides immediate access to 33 miles of singletrack along the base of the Book Cliffs, plus roughly another 25 miles of mixed-use singletrack farther into the cliffs. Trails range from fast, flowy runs to tight, technical sections and the Edge Loop climbs up into the cliffs for long loops and wide views over the Grand Valley; many riders launch directly from their campsites and ride from dawn to dusk. The landscape here is open desert with scattered juniper and steep sculpted slopes to the north, and on clear days you can see the San Juan and La Sal ranges, the redrock canyons of McInnis Canyons and Colorado National Monument, Mount Garfield to the southeast, and the flanks of Grand Mesa to the west. Precipitation averages under 10 inches a year, temperatures swing from below zero in winter to around 105°F in summer, and spring and fall tend to be the most comfortable seasons for riding and camping. The broader area also connects to hundreds of miles of routes for motorized recreation from the Utah Colorado line to Grand Junction, and Fruita provides nearby services food, lodging and bike shops a short drive back down 18 Road. The campground itself contains 111 sites (all designated for both RVs and tents), grouped into eight loops: Loop A 14 sites, Loop B 12, Loop C 21, Loop D 11, Loop E 12, Loop F 12, Loop G 24 and Loop H 5. The facility is split into Upper and Lower campgrounds: the Upper has 58 sites including two group sites (D9 and D11) and generally offers graveled parking, concrete picnic tables and fire rings but no constructed tent pads; the Lower has 53 sites including one group site (G24), with the same basic amenities plus a 12' x 12' tent pad at each site and integration into an event staging area (expect occasional closures during races or festivals). Vault toilets are available within walking distance, but there is no potable water, electricity or trash collection come with plenty of water, trash bags and your own firewood. Camping is limited to 14 days; each site allows up to ten people and two vehicles. Fees are $20 per night (covers up to 10 people and two vehicles) plus an $8 non-refundable reservation fee; you can change reservations up to 24 hours before arrival, and receive a full refund minus the $8 fee if you cancel at least 48 hours before your first night, but you cannot alter your check-in date without canceling and rebooking. A volunteer host is usually on site in spring and fall near the north end of the campground, and for facility-specific questions call (970) 244-3000.