New System for Red Rocks Camping

How does the new system work with reservations? Are you still able to show up, find a site and pay cash?

In the past I have always tried to find people to share a site with. Thoughts are that it would be harder to do this if I have to book ahead of time.

Trying to avoid Lovell canyon. The 40 minute drive and gas $ isn't worth the 10$ I save...

Thanks!
Dave

You could call the Red Rock branch of the BLM for an official answer.

From what I understand you can still walk on ... but you have to fight Kentucky Pete before they will let you have a spot. 

You're unlikely to get a site in the high season without a reservation. Camp hosts are on the lookout for people sharing sites but we were able to this past spring. There were several sites reserved but empty for several days so that was frustrating as well. The hosts overall were assholes.

Tyson Anderson wrote: You're unlikely to get a site in the high season without a reservation. Camp hosts are on the lookout for people sharing sites but we were able to this past spring. There were several sites reserved but empty for several days so that was frustrating as well. The hosts overall were assholes.

For real. The camp hosts there are some of the most unpleasant people I've ever interacted with. Always looking for a fight.

Colin Quinn wrote:

For real. The camp hosts there are some of the most unpleasant people I've ever interacted with. Always looking for a fight.

I spent about a month in red rocks last winter and they were fine.... Totally forget their names but one of the ladies drew me a map to Lovell canyon and apologized a million times as they were kicking us out due to government shutdown. She also agreed that removing the message board is a bad thing.  Buddy with the tracheostomy was also pretty friendly. 

Never heard of any of them having issues with sharing a site as long as your within the allowed number of vehicles etc... Maybe I've just been lucky though. 

Honestly have never had a problem with more than the allowed vehicles or people. Assholery begets assholery, just don't cause a scene, pay for your site, and don't poach an already booked site. I really have not had a problem, but DO reserve your site ahead of time under the new system. It sucks to wake up at 5am everyday to find the abandoned spots and then not find one. Just book ahead. The walk-in sites do not allow fires and are very strict on number of cars. 

The hosts were great towards us and even  jump started our car.
They were very compassionate towards a nearby camper who was having some kind of life crisis.
On the other hand, I can see that they might be less pleasant if they thought (even if incorrectly) that somebody was gaming the system.

Sounds like the only folks having problems with the campground hosts and the reservation system are those that don't obey the rules, don't want to be bothered with making reservations, and enjoy complaining about the glass being half empty. Very same folks that complained about the campground hosts at New Jack City, who were very pleasant and helpful, except to the aforementioned scofflaws. Plan head, follow the rules, and stop trying to get something for nothing and enjoy the camping experience.

There are both walk in and reservation spots.  If you want to be sure you have a spot, ​https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Red%20Rock%20Canyon%20Campground&entity_id=250877&entity_type=campground​​​

I have spent 10 to 15 weeks there over as many years. Spent one whole week doing rotating site shares. No problems with hosts. They may be quick to point out off-bounds parked cars and such. Still, we have always been allowed to park more than two cars at a site as long as they are off any bits of veg and off the road.