FORT COLLINS, Colo. (April 23, 2024) – Trailhead shuttles, glamping yurts, and paddleboard rentals … these are some of the exciting new possibilities coming to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland over the next five years thanks to a new public-private partnership with Vista Recreation.
Concessionaires like Vista Recreation operate and maintain developed recreation facilities on behalf of the Forest Service to better serve the public, maintain and improve Forest Service facilities, and meet public expectations for a high level of service. The Forest has been operating campgrounds and day-use areas through concessionaires since the mid-1990s. Concessionaire services include maintaining water systems, cleaning toilets, removing trash, managing reservations, removing hazard trees and protecting natural resources.
Vista Recreation will manage 90 sites across the Forests and Grassland, including 59 campgrounds and 31 day-use sites (trailheads, picnic sites, etc.)
In addition to these exciting opportunities, Vista Recreation will help the Forests and Grassland better manage some of its most popular sites year-round. This includes adding online reservation systems to campgrounds in Grand County, as well as implementing and updating fee systems at high-use recreation areas such as Crow Valley and Brainard Lake.
The public should expect to see some changes beginning Summer 2024. On the Sulphur Ranger District, online reservation systems will be implemented at Idlewild, Midland and St Louis Creek campgrounds. Day-use fees will be required on the Pawnee National Grassland at Crow Valley Recreation Area.
Beginning Winter 2024, fee programs will be implemented at several popular day-use areas. On the Canyon Lakes Ranger District, visiting Dowdy Lake Picnic and Boating Site, and West Lake Picnic Site will require a fee. On the Boulder Ranger District, a pilot winter fee program will be introduced at Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Visitors should expect to pay an estimated $10 per vehicle. These fees will ensure parking areas are properly plowed and facilities are maintained.
Vista Recreation has nearly 40 years of experience in public recreation management from campgrounds and day use facilities to marinas and stores. Concessionaires use a portion of the fees they collect to invest in improving facilities, amenities and operations at the sites they operate. Vista’s proposed actions for their five-year permit aligns with the Forest vision for the future to provide additional services and diversify recreational opportunities.
Vista Recreation honors interagency senior and access passes for day-use sites and has agreed to continue to honor the interagency annual pass at Brainard Lake Recreation Area for 2024.
To make a camping reservation, visit Recreation.gov. For more information, call the Forest Information Line at 970-295-6600 or email VisitARP@usda.gov. If calling, press 0 to speak to a Forest Service representative. To receive email updates or our weekly newsletter, join our email lists.