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Cotopaxi / Arkansas River KOA
- 21435 US Highway 50
- Cotopaxi, CO 81223
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Located on US Hwy 50, 35 mi W of Canon City, 23 mi E of Salida, 1.5 mi E of Cotopaxi.
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Reserve(800) 562-2686
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2011 President's Award
KOA President's Award
Awarded to KOAs that meet exceptional quality standards and are recognized by their guests for outstanding service.
If you have difficulty making a reservation online or in finding an opening for the site type you want, please call our campground for assistance at (800) 562-2686.
A stay at the Cotopaxi/Arkansas River KOA puts you on one of the most popular stretches of the Arkansas River for fly-fishing, kayaking and whitewater rafting.
The last weekend in March, this KOA hosts the annual Royal Gorge Anglers fly-fishing school. From mid-April through mid-May, an amazing caddis hatch produces incredible dry-fly action. Arkansas River Tours can put you on tame stretches of water near the campground or take you for a wild ride through Royal Gorge, 23 miles east. After a day of action, relax at KOA's pavilion and patio overlooking the river. Swimming, hayrides, a game room with a pool table, mini golf, nightly movies and more keep kids smiling. Enjoy the new deluxe sites-overlooking and near the river-with concrete patios, fire rings and patio furniture. You're close to the old mining town of Cripple Creek, as well as the Royal Gorge Route excursion train.Meet Your Hosts
In May of 1999, James and Amy Burnham made the decision to have a child. This decision became a catalyst for them to purchase a KOA campground and work from their home. At the time, Jim was an attorney, and Amy was a landscape architect - stressful careers in a fast-paced corporate world. With this particular job change, both of them could now raise a family and build relationships at the same time.
The campground is located on the river, surrounded by vast mountains, and an ideal place for a weekend away from home. Each and every customer is important to James and Amy, and their KOA is often host to reunions, parties, and other large gatherings. "A lot of our customers have known us for years," said Amy. "When the same customers keep coming back, something is being done right." As a family-oriented campground, James and Amy focus on showing their campers a fun, safe experience while treating each of them like their own family.
In her free time, Amy likes to do crafts; she enjoys working on a pottery wheel and with ceramics. James is a hunter and owner of a new Harley Davidson Fat-boy Low. They spend their winters catching up on family time with their son Thunder, and they all love to ski.
Campground Amenities
- Motel and Kitchenettes
- Planned Activities Available
- Groups and Reunions: Loma Linda Motel
- Groups and Reunions: Kitchenettes
Campground Activities
White Water Rafting
The Arkansas River is number one in river rafting. More than 300,000 boaters took trips down the river in 1996, more than any other river in the U.S. or the world, for that matter. What makes the Arkansas River so popular are the: Number, size and technical nature of its rapids, length of season, length of river available for rafting, and unsurpassed beauty. Outfitters say the Arkansas offers more excitement per mile than any other river in the west. From family adventure to extreme adventure there is a trip waiting for you.
Fishing
The Arkansas River is a noted brown trout fishery. Dozens of creeks, streams and lakes and literally hundreds of smaller beaver ponds offer quality rainbow, cutthroat and brook fishing. Colorado’s Division of Wildlife stocks many streams and high mountain lakes with rainbow, cutthroat and other species of trout.
Gold Panning
Bring your pan and on a hot summer afternoon walk to the river, put your feet in the water and maybe you will find some gold. If you don’t know how, just borrow our "how to video" and you will be ready in 30 minutes.
Biking and Hiking
Mountain biking and hiking enthusiasts find: great trail variety, some of the top biking/hiking trails in the nation, mild climate and scenic beauty.
Hot Springs
The Salida Hot Springs Swimming Pool provides a variety of activities including lap swimming, water games and hot baths. Temperatures are adjusted for the large lap pool, soaking and kiddy pools. Soothing hot baths offer welcome relaxation after a raft trip, and a massage will relieve sore muscles for mountain bikers and hikers.
Horseback Riding
Pool Table Room
Mini-Golf
Art Shed
Each Saturday from 2-5 the art shed is open for ceramics. Watch the calendar or visit the front desk for other activities that may be planned!
Local Attractions
Royal Gorge Bridge
Plan to spend the entire day exploring Colorado’s Premier Scenic Wonder! Survey the breathtaking vistas of the magnificent Royal Gorge from the world’s highest suspension bridge, an amazing 1,053 feet above the rushing Arkansas River. Ride the world’s steepest incline railway to the bottom of the incredible canyon. Soar high above the chasm in the thrilling aerial tram. Enjoy fabulous shows, live entertainment, children’s attractions, restaurants, gift shops and, of course, some of the most spectacular scenery in Colorado. It all adds up to fun... and a day you and your family will never forget!
Cripple Creek
If you and your family are tired of the same old ‘Tourist Traps’, come up to Cripple Creek where the adventure awaits you! Delight in the many sights, sounds and tastes of Cripple Creek. You’ll discover Poker, Blackjack and Slot Machines at our numerous casinos, video arcades for the kids, and fine dining for all. At Cripple Creek you can experience unique special events like Donkey Derby Days or Victor Gold Rush Days.
Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine
Take this Goldmine Tour 1000 feet underground. This tour is designed for all ages. No steps, ladder or climbing involved. You will enjoy the slow walking pace. You will receive a real gold ore specimen containing actual "Gold". Open daily at 9 a.m. for tours.
Bishop’s Castle
Bishop's castle is a three-story medieval-type castle being constructed by Jim Bishop. It is complete with buttresses and decorated with ornamental iron. It is located in the forest between Wetmore and Colorado City. There is no admission charge, but donations are accepted. A gift shop is located in part of the home of the builder. It can be reached by taking Colorado Highway 67 from Florence to Wetmore, then Colorado 96 and 165.
Family Rates
Our daily rates based on family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children 17 years old and under).
Location
We are situated in the lower Arkansas River Canyon, also called the "Grand Canyon of the Arkansas", granite boulder strewn mountains which form a spectacular back drop at every site.
Climate -- 300 plus days of sunshine
A semiarid climate means hot, dry summer days and cool evenings. Mountain breezes typically drop nighttime temperatures 30 degrees or more. The average precipitation -- including both rain and snow -- is less than 13 inches.
View Big Horn Sheep
It is the best section to view big horn sheep, deer and other wildlife as they come down from the cliffs to drink from the river.
Incredible Fishing
Best White Water Rafting in the nation
Base Camp for Central Colorado
The Gold Belt Tour
The National Back Country Byway leads the adventurous traveler through some of the most scenic and historically significant features in Colorado. The tour retraces three historic travel routes that connect Canon City and Florence to the mountain mining communities of Cripple Creek and Victor.
Monarch Aerial Tram
For a ride to above timberline on the Continental Divide, climb aboard the Monarch Aerial Tram. At Monarch Pass, the tram takes visitors on the world’s highest gondola. From enclosed cars, you get spectacular views of surrounding mountains, even Pike’s Peak.
Ghost Town
A trip out West is not complete without an outing to one of the region’s ghost towns. St. Elmo southwest of Buena Vista is the best-known in the region but others of note include Turret, Winfield and Vicksburg.
Upcoming Events
Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend:
- Nightly Hayrides
- Nightly Kid's Movies
- Ice Cream Social every Saturday Night
March 30, 31 and April 1: Spring Fling Fly Fishing Seminar Weekend
May 4, 5 and 6: Our Campgrounds 13th Anniversary Weekend!
Come and join us to celebrate our 13th year owning the Cotopaxi KOA and Loma Linda Motel. This weekend we will rollback rates to the year we bought the campground...1999! - See our Hot Deals!
May 11, 12 and 13: Come Kamp and Care With US Weekend & Mothers Day Weekend
May 25, 26, 27 and 28: Memorial Day Weekend
Kick the summer off at the Arkansas River KOA! We will Celebrate summer with the pool opening, Crafts and Relaxation!
July 6, 7 and 8: Independence Day Celebration
Join us to celebrate our nations birthday with a Parade, red-white and blue tie-dye, ceramic crafts and fireworks! The pool will be open and the hayride running with a special Americana Ice Cream Social!
August 17, 18 and 19: Wild West Weekend
Join us for a weekend of western fun. Bring your western duds and ten gallon hats! This weekend we will have the BB Gun Target Shoot, Bow-n-Arrow competition, Spitoon spitt'n contest, Cow Chip Bullseye Toss and the ever popular Hold ‘Em Up Hayride, Western crafts and Western Prizes! In the evening after the hayride we will have our Ice Cream Social and a campfire sing along with western songs and cowboy poetry!
August 31, September 1, 2, 3, : Labor Day Weekend
Celebrate the weekend surrounded by the beauty of the Arkansas River and the Bighorn Sheep Canyon. Hay ride, Ice cream social, tie-dye and other crafts!
September 7 & 8: Tenth Annual Pig Roast
October 19 & 20 and 26 & 27: Haunted Halloween Weekends
Get in the Halloween spirit with our Haunted hayride, scary campfire stories, Halloween themed crafts, games and prizes, trick-or-treat Treasure Hunt, and costume party. Usually these are great weekends to also see some beautiful fall color!
