Jumbo Campground

The Grand Mesa of western Colorado is said to be the largest flat-topped mountain in the world. Whether that is true or not, this 10,000-foot-high, 500-square-mile mesa is a wonder of nature and a summer and winter playground that is little-known outside of the nearby residents of the Grand Junction area.

There are at least 10 campgrounds on Grand Mesa, but one of the nicest (and the best for large RVs) is Jumbo Campground. With just 26 campsites, this gem of a campground is justly popular. It is set in a beautiful spruce and aspen forest adjacent to the wonderful Mesa Lakes Recreation Area. There are at least six lakes within a 10-minute walk and several more that involve a longer hike. In fact, there are over 300 lakes on Grand Mesa, many of which are accessible by car on paved or dirt roads. Lots of lakes means lots of mosquitos in June and July, and this is the biggest negative about Grand Mesa, but Jumbo Campground seems to be one of the least-afflicted campgrounds on the mesa.

There are 15 sites with electric hookups, and many (but not all) of the sites are available for reservation after July 1. Drinking water and vault toilets are available, but there are no other hookups or dump stations. There is a paved trail leading to Sunset Lake and several other lakes in addition to the Grand Mesa Lodge. There is also a dirt path only a few steps down to the oddly-named Jumbo Lake (it is one of the smallest in the area). Fishing in the lakes is excellent, and small boats are welcome and available to rent from the lodge. Being at 10,000 feet, the mesa campgrounds have a short season and will close after the first snow or October 15, whichever comes first.