MUELLER STATE PARK, DIVIDE, COLORADO

Our Opinion: Recommend, if you are willing to pay the high price. We would “rave” about this lovely state park if the fee structure was more equitable

Date of Stay: August 18 through 20, 2008

Weather During Stay: Typical summertime mountain weather - cool nights, sunny mornings, clouds and thundershowers in the afternoon.

Site Description: We are in site 4, with a great view of Pikes Peak out our front window, forest to the left and a meadow to the right (second photo). The roads and all of the 132 RV sites are paved. Most sites are back-ins, with some pull-outs and a few pull-throughs. All have 20/30 amp electric. All have picnic tables in good condition. No water at sites, but you can fill your tank at hose bibs scattered through the loops.

Most sites are large enough for larger rigs, but you need to keep an eye on tree branches and positioning. Sites are generally level, but some are way too sloped to level a motorhome. Deluxe dump station for arrival or departure. Several comfort stations, with pay showers. Large visitor center (top photo).

Rate: The rate for camping is $18/night. If you want to make a reservation on the internet, add another $8 per reserved period (not per night). To that, add a day use fee of $6 PER MOTORIZED VEHICLE. If you have a trailer, you pay a day use fee for your towing vehicle. If you have a motorhome and tow a vehicle, YOU PAY $6 per day per vehicle ($12 per day for the two), even though you will be camping in one vehicle and driving the other, no different than a trailer and towing vehicle. So, we paid $18/night to camp, $12/day for our vehicles, and $8 for a 3-day reservation, a total of $98, or over $32 per day for a site with 30 amp power, no water, no sewer.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon phone is working on 2 bars. Aircard is working on 1-2 bars, sometimes broadband, sometimes slower. Local NPR is on 90.5 (not the clearest signal). Nothing is blocking our TV satellite. Several campers had their local TV antennas up.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: The state park road climbs a steep hill to a ridge top, so the land falls away on both sides of the campground, which is at 9,600 feet. Lots of trees, several meadows. Most hikes are down-and-up, not easy strolls.

Lighting/Noise: Quiet and dark. Wonderful.

Favorite Sites: We like the Peak View spur (bottom photo), with views of Pike’s Peak and plenty of privacy (only 5 sites on the spur). Sites 4 and 2 work best for us; site 5 would not work. The sites in the Conifer Ridge Loop don’t have much privacy, but some have good views (41 and 42). The farthest loop, Grouse Mountain, is much more heavily forested - shade, but no views. Most of the pull-outs and pull-throughs are along “Revenuer’s Ridge”, the ridge road that links the camping loops/spurs.

Hiking/Walking: Miles and miles of hikes in this huge park.

Comments: This is our second stay here - it is a great park that receives heavy use due to the proximity to the urban areas of the front range - Denver and Colorado Springs. Don’t bother coming without a reservation during the summer vacation season. Like all Colorado State Parks, the price is high, and the extra fee for both motorized vehicles strikes us as very inequitable and annoying. We were visiting a friend near Colorado Springs, so paid the price for the proximity, beauty, and cooler high altitude. Watch out for mice here.