The Ute Meadows Backcountry Campsite is a one-site camping area suitable for llamas at 9,450 feet along the Ute Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. The site is located in a sandy area among white pine, spruce, and fir trees. It sits southwest of the trail 2.7 miles from Upper Beaver Meadows Trailhead. The site makes a good stop for backpackers and llama packers trekking over Trail Ridge. No privy is found at the campsite, so practice proper sanitation by burying human waste and toilet paper. Get water from a stream between the trail and campsite. Boil or treat water before using. The Ute Trail is a historic Native American footpath used first by ancient peoples and then the Ute and Arapaho Indians for thousands of years. The trail was used to easily cross the Continental Divide in search of game.
Pro Tips
The Ute Meadows Campsite lies between Upper Beaver Meadows Trailhead and Ute Crossing Trailhead on Trail Ridge Road. Upper Beaver Meadows Trailhead is about three miles east of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. From the trailhead, hike 2.7 miles and gain 990 on strenuous Ute Trail to the site. Look for a wood sign pointing the way to site about 150 yards from the trail. From Ute Crossing Trailhead, hike southeast on the Ute Trail to Timberline Pass, then descend to the campsite, losing 1,990 feet from the upper trailhead. Allow three to four hours to hike to the campsite.A backcountry permit is required for overnight camping in Rocky Mountain National Park’s backcountry. Obtain a permit at the Park Headquarters Backcountry Office next to Beaver Meadows Visitor Center west of Estes Park or at Kawuneeche Visitor Center north of Grand Lake, and at the park website.To obtain a permit you agree to obey all National Park regulations for backcountry camping. The Backcountry Use Permit must be with you at all times and a tent tag must be displayed on your pack while hiking and on your tent. You must follow your planned itinerary so campsites aren’t overused or crowded. You also receive a tag to place on the dashboard of your vehicle, allowing you to park overnight at trailheads without being towed or ticketed.Use a Leave No Trace ethic when staying at Ute Meadows Backcountry Campsite. Pitch your tent in a designated area and don’t dig a trench around it. Secure your food and garbage. Black bears are in the park so bring your food in a bear-resistant canister, which is required May to October in all campsites below timberline. Keep all food, trash, and scented items in the container and store it 200 feet from the campsite. Don’t camp below dead trees; wind storms blow branches off them. Use the pit toilet at the trailhead, otherwise dig a six-inch deep hole and bury your waste and toilet paper. Make sure you’re at least 200 feet from the campsite, water sources, and trails. Fires are not permitted.Recommended season(s): Year-round.
—Stewart M. Green
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