National Forest Campground Projects
Under contact with the National Forest Foundation (NFF) and in coordination with the USFS, SE Group was hired to lead the redesign of four campgrounds in Colorado on US Forest Service land, including three in the GMUG Forests (Little Bear Campground, Deer Lakes Campground, Lake Irwin Campground) and one in Pike-San Isabel National Forests (Monarch Park Campground). In collaboration with a local civil engineering firm, SE Group developed plans from the schematic level all the way through construction/bid documents for all four campgrounds. Although the campgrounds have their own specific site conditions and infrastructure challenges, they share a great deal in common: aging infrastructure in need of replacement, campground designs that do not meet current accessibility standards, layouts that do not address the requirements of today’s visitors (RV’s), negative ecological impacts, and increasing visitation from a broad demographic.
This multi-site planning effort focused on improving functionality, reducing resource impacts, and supporting long-term sustainability. SE Group developed tailored, site-sensitive design solutions to address degraded facilities, non-compliant accessibility features, limited RV capacity, and outdated circulation. Each site plan reflected its environmental conditions, visitor use patterns, and management priorities.
The Challenge
Each site faced outdated layouts, non-compliant accessibility features, insufficient RV capacity, and degraded infrastructure. SE Group developed tailored design solutions for each campground that:
- Accommodated modern RV use while preserving natural site features
- Integrated accessible campsites, paths, and amenities in accordance with FSORAG/FSTAG standards
- Reorganized circulation and parking to reduce user conflict and improve safety
- Protected sensitive resources by managing stormwater, limiting earthwork, and siting improvements around existing vegetation
- Balanced active use with passive enjoyment, offering a range of site types from walk-in tent sites to large RV pull-throughs
Through a combination of thoughtful planning, site-sensitive design, and seamless collaboration with USFS and engineering partners, SE Group delivered construction-ready plans that reflect long-term sustainability and operational feasibility.
Project Outcomes
- Four updated campground plans, each tailored to site conditions and anticipated visitor use
- Recommendations prepared to advance into final design and construction with agency support
- Improved accessibility, capacity, and visitor experience, all grounded in site feasibility and sustainability
- Reinforced agency stewardship goals through context-sensitive planning and resource protection
