If you’re a Thousand Trails member or if you’ve read some of our articles about this network of campgrounds, you know that most of the locations are along the coasts. There are very few options in the Mountain West and Midwest. However, Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch was recently added to the Thousand Trails network. This Colorado campground is one of the only options in this region of the U.S. Today, we’re diving into the pros and cons of this RV park so you can decide if it’s worth visiting the next time you’re traveling through western Colorado. Let’s dive in!

Thousand Trails is a network of campgrounds across the U.S. and Canada. There are over 200 locations when including the optional Trails Collection add-on. Currently, there are four membership levels: the Camping Pass, Elite, Elite Connections, and Adventure. Depending on which membership you have will determine how many days you can stay at a Thousand Trails campground.

We love how this network provides free camping for members. We have saved thousands of dollars by staying in Thousand Trails parks over the years. There’s no nightly fee for members, and we can hop from one location to another without spending time out of the system. Camping Pass members can’t do this, but upper-level members can essentially pay nothing for campsites all year long if they only stay in Thousand Trails campgrounds.

Pro Tip: Before checking out Western United States, be sure to read Photos That Prove Colorado National Parks Are in a League of their Own for inspiration!

Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch is a newer addition to the Thousand Trails network. It’s in Gunnison, Colorado, near the Curecanti National Recreation Area. ​Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is to the west, the West Elk Mountains are to the north, and the San Juan Mountains are to the south. It’s a beautiful setting in central-western Colorado with easy access to plenty of outdoor recreation.

This property wasn’t always part of the Thousand Trails network of campgrounds. Thousand Trails acquired the campground in the last couple of years and added it to its offerings.

You don’t have to be a member to stay at Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch. Like all Thousand Trails locations, retail sites are available for non-members. Currently, it’s the only Thousand Trails campground in the Rocky Mountain State.

Our friends who recently stayed at Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch offered their opinions about the overall campground. Two things they loved the most were the location and amenities.

Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch sits in the heart of Curecanti National Recreation Area. Plenty of boating, fishing, paddling, and hiking opportunities are nearby. The mountains rise from every side and surround the landscape. It’s a truly beautiful spot in Colorado.

The location is also convenient for a home base. RVers who want to visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park can stay at Blue Mesa for a few days and make the hour or so drive to visit this lesser-known national park. The Gunnison National Forest, Uncompahgre National Forest, and San Juan National Forest are also nearby.

The popular towns of Ouray, Telluride, and Silverton are about two hours from the campground. They offer plenty of shopping and dining experiences. In addition, you can hit the Million Dollar Highway and enjoy this magnificent drive.

Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch offers comfortable amenities that most travelers will find sufficient. After spending a few days boondocking in western Colorado, our friends appreciated the on-site laundry facility. There’s also an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, a hot tub, a library, a clubhouse with WiFi, a mini golf course, and a rec room with arcade games, billiards, and air hockey.

Even though it’s a newer park to the Thousand Trails system, Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch isn’t a new campground. Our friends told us that although the scenery is stunning and the campground amenities are decent, this location needs some serious TLC.

The amenities were appreciated but outdated. All the games in the rec room were broken when our friends stayed at Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch. The campground could also use a clean-up. It just looks dated and weathered. Some sites weren’t available because the power or water needed repairs.

Some reviewers also mentioned how unclean their cabins were. One woman shared, “We stayed at an amazing RV Site, but we had family stay in the cabin, and it was horrendous. It looked like it had not been cleaned in ages.” A little maintenance could go a long way to making campers’ stays more enjoyable.

While some people go camping to escape their phones and devices, others have to work on the road. There is zero cell service at Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch. Our friends couldn’t even make phone calls to their families.

As a result, you have to work at the clubhouse where WiFi is available, or you must have Starlink for the internet. Many travelers, especially full-timers, have Starlink. But if you don’t and need connectivity, don’t stay at Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch.

Finally, the sites in working order had power pedestals and water connections in the rear of the sites, far beyond where many RV connections are located. Some campers reported having to go buy sewer hose connections and longer water hoses just to reach the hookups. Reviewers also complain about the power tripping and the insufficient amperage for a campground this size.

If you’re a Thousand Trails member and want to take advantage of free camping, Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch is your only option in Colorado right now. We suggest having lower expectations because of the dated facilities and needed maintenance. But the area can’t be beat. The location is beautiful, and you’re so close to hiking trails and water recreation. The town of Gunnison offers everything you need, too.

But be prepared for some frustrations with amenities and have a plan for internet connectivity if you need to work or complete online classes. Our friends said they would return to Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch because it’s a free place to stay for a couple of weeks. But if you can afford to book a reservation at another nearby campground, you’ll probably find a more updated option elsewhere.

Have you ever stayed at this Colorado Thousand Trails location? Would you recommend it to other RVers?