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Wideawake Ranch and Waterhouse

91%
·
113 reviews
 · Black Hawk, Gilpin, Colorado
10 acres hosted by Wideawake Ranch W.
5 RV/tent sites · 4 tent sites
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Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
Wideawake Ranch and Waterhouse (formerly known as Uncle Charlie's Ranch) is an escape from the big city being only a 50 minute drive from Denver. Our property hosts the experience of Colorado’s nature and so much more! Our larger pond is paddleboard and swimming friendly, the property has easy access to National Forest trails, and we are a short drive from additional hiking/biking trails. While we do not offer fishing in our ponds, there are several locations nearby to fish. We also offer on-site natural spring water hot soaks (or cold plunges), warmed via our traditional wood burning stove, and fresh mountain spring drinking water available for sale. Check out our website for additional details on our Waterhouse. We look forward to hosting yourself, your family and friends, and your fur babies for a fun camping trip! Check out some of these reviews left by happy campers from our first camping season: Quentin O. – September 2024 We had a great time at the ranch. The hosts are awesome. We walked from the campsite to a few national park trails that came right to the property. We enjoyed learning about the history of the property - from an old mining town to a ranch. Mr. Bill W. – August 2024 Just what we needed. Very cool place with awesome hosts. The hot soak was amazing! Birds, squirrels, and a chipmunk were our camping buddies. Incredibly quiet at night. We will definitely be back for camping AND more of the amazing spring water. Eleah M. – July 2024 My son and I have camped here three times now. We love it and always have the most awesome neighbors. The hosts Gwen and Matt are so kind and helpful! Stacy H. – June 2024 This experience by far exceeded my expectations. The hosts were so kind and gracious, doing all they could to ensure that I felt comfortable and taken care of. Really down to the earth sweet humans. The property was gorgeous! I chose to do the natural spring water soak and that was an incredible experience. I would highly recommend it. Don’t hesitate to book this property, everything about it was perfect! Kerry B. – May 2024 Great stay! We booked last minute and Matthew was quick to respond. Showed us to our site and even chopped us some wood! Such a unique property that we were fortunate to experience. Hiked with the dog in the woods.
Natural features
Forest
Lake
River, stream, or creek
Swimming hole

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Tent sites

4 sites
  • Picture of the site
Instant book

Pond Meadow #7

100% (3)
Tent site · Sleeps 8
Pond Meadow #7 is beautifully situated very close to our largest pond. There is a fire pit and close access to a portable toilet. This site is nestled along the National Forest tree line - plenty of great places to hang a hammock!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No showers
No picnic table
from
$63
/ night
for NaN guests
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
Instant book

Pond Meadow #4

100% (1)
Tent site · Sleeps 8
Pond Meadow #4 is beautifully situated very close to our largest pond. There is a fire pit and close access to a portable toilet. This site is nestled right next to the National Forest tree line - plenty of great spots to hang a hammock!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No showers
No picnic table
from
$63
/ night
for NaN guests
  • Picture of the site
Instant book

Pond Meadow #2

Booked 9 times
Tent site · Sleeps 8
Pond Meadow #2 is beautifully situated right next to our largest pond. There is a fire pit and close access to a portable toilet.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No showers
No picnic table
from
$63
/ night
for NaN guests
  • Picture of the site
Instant book

Pond Meadow #5

Booked 5 times
Tent site · Sleeps 8
Pond Meadow #5 is beautifully situated very close to our largest pond. There is a fire pit and close access to a portable toilet. This site is nestled along the National Forest tree line - plenty of great spots to hang a hammock!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No showers
No picnic table
from
$63
/ night
for NaN guests

RV/tent sites

5 sites
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
High demandInstant book

Pond Meadow #3

90% (5)
RV/tent site · Sleeps 8 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Pond Meadow #3 is beautifully situated right next to our largest pond. There is a fire pit and close access to a portable toilet. You will have the option to choose a shady spot right next to the lake or tuck away in the tree line with this versatile site!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$63
/ night
for NaN guests
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
High demandInstant book

Pond Meadow #1

100% (2)
RV/tent site · Sleeps 8 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Pond Meadow #1 is beautifully situated right next to our largest pond. There is a fire pit, a picnic table and close access to a portable toilet. This site is a camper favorite being directly next to the water!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$63
/ night
for NaN guests
  • Picture of the site
Instant book

Pond Meadow #9

100% (1)
RV/tent site · Sleeps 8 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Pond Meadow #9 is beautifully situated very close to our largest pond. There is a fire pit, a picnic table and close access to a portable toilet. This site is also close to a small runoff stream, you will be able to hear the trickling water!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$63
/ night
for NaN guests
  • Picture of the site
Instant book

Pond Meadow #10

Booked 7 times
RV/tent site · Sleeps 8 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Pond Meadow #10 is beautifully situated very close to our largest pond. There is a fire pit and close access to a portable toilet. This site is also close to a small runoff stream, you will be able to hear the trickling water!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$63
/ night
for NaN guests
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
Instant book

Pond Meadow #6

Booked 10 times
RV/tent site · Sleeps 8 · Vehicles under 18 ft
Pond Meadow #6 is beautifully situated very close to our largest pond. There is a fire pit, a picnic table and close access to a portable toilet.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$63
/ night
for NaN guests

Reviews

91% Recommend142 ratings · 113 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
Pond Meadow #7
This was such a lovely stay! We enjoyed the lake so much, especially with the paddle boards we were able to use. The site was flat and fit our two tents comfortably. I wasn’t quite sure where to park at the site with our two cars but it worked out just fine. This was a good site for a hammock.
Avatar
Kelsey O.
3 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Amazing Campsite!
Tent · Group trip ·
Pond Meadow #9
This was an amazing place to camp! We loved swimming in the pond and they have paddleboards out that all the campers can use. The hosts are very friendly and even helped us when we locked our keys in the car. These guys are really cleaning up the property from the last owners and it's an amazing place to stay!
R
Rachel C.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2025
Awesome!
Tent · Group trip ·
Pond Meadow #3
Great place to stay! Peaceful and beautiful views!
E
Erica R.
1 review
Mixed feelings
· June 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Pond Meadow #3
We live in Central City. We decided to camp close to home because it was our first camping trip with our 10mos old infant and 2.5 year old son. We had our friend, his 2.5 year old daughter, and anoth friend from Colombia in tow also. None of them had ever been camping in CO. We wanted to offer them an authentic Colorado mountain camping experience. We reserved the Pond #3 campsite. It looked beautiful in the photos and we loved the idea of being waterfront. We saw that the reviews in Wideawake Rnavh were mixed but mostly favorable so we decided to take a chance. When we arrived, we were disappointed to find that the pond was very small, and the campsite was basically in someone’s front yard. The property is riddled with junk, old cars, trash, run down building, etc. it looks like a junkyard. We checked in with one of the hosts, Matt. He was very nice. We explained that we were from the area and that this wasn’t exactly the camping experience we were looking for. He was very understanding and offered us another more secluded campsite tucked up in the woods. He led us to this site. Although it was better, there was an old water tank and beat up camper sitting about 200ft away. Another eyesore to distract from the beautiful mountain views. This place has so much potential but needs a ton of work and clean up. There are old buildings, tires, glass, trash, random scrap metal, etc. I would not recommend this place if you want a clean, quiet, serene, place to camp. Keep looking.
C
Courtney P.
1 month on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent ·
Pond Meadow #4
Beautiful camping spot. Owner escorted us to our site, kinda closer to others than we expected but everyone was respectful. Dirt road to property but not bad in a Crosstrek. We thought the pond would be bigger for paddle boarding/kayaking, but still very pretty. Would recommend!
G
Grace D.
2 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Magical place
Tent · With kids ·
Pond Meadow #9
Beautiful and quiet, host is great. Pond is great for paddling and there's beautiful walks and a creek to play in. Stars are also magical!!
K
Kayla F.
3 reviews
Recommends
· May 2025
Great camping experience
Tent ·
Pond Meadow #1
I loved camping here! The location was gorgeous, and the hosts were super friendly during check in.
W
Wesley B.
1 month on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
Tent ·
Pond Meadow #3
This was a nice location and the owners were kind!
A
Ashwin B.
2 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Pond Meadow #7
Awesome spot! Nice folks running the place and very accommodating. We’ll be back.
K
Kevin L.
1 month on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2024
Great escape!
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
We had a great time at Uncle Charlie’s Ranch! Such a beautiful escape from the day to day, and relatively close to Rocky Mountain National Park if that’s something you’re interested in. The trails on the property are great too!
E
Emily B.
8 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2024
Quite and relaxing
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
This is my second year one camping here and it absolutely amazing. Tod is super nice and and even took the time to show me to my spot. Highly recommend to anyone and more so those that live close to the Denver area.
L
Leslie P.
2 reviews
Recommends
· October 2024
Second visit-keeps getting better!
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Second stay at Uncle Charlie’s was better than my first-which was great. Got lucky enough to stay next to the pond. The sound from the brook going into the pond was soothing. It was awesome watching the sunrise and sunset from camp. My pup loves the camp as well! I will be back again!
F
Frederick W.
5 reviews
Recommends
· October 2024
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
gorgeous spot to getaway for the weekend... the lake is beautiful but we camped in the woods on the other side of the property and it was so quiet and peaceful! definitely coming back here :)
S
Sruthi G.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
We had a great time out at the ranch. The hosts are awesome. We walked from the campsite to a few national park trails that came right to the property. We enjoyed learning about the history of the property - from an old mining town to a ranch. Lots of cool old artifacts were scattered around!
Q
Quentin O.
9 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Great time tent camping at Uncle Charlie’s ranch. Beautiful property!
Avatar
Nicholas J.
9 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Felt like a private, wooded oasis. Easy to access, but tucked-away in a way that makes you feel disconnected from society in the best of ways. Lovely little creek we slept next to that sounded so nice, but high enough not to be too buggy. Enjoyed it and would definitely come back!
S
Samy M.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Loved car camping next to the lake with my dogs! The land is beautiful, forests amazing! It was so nice being able to wake up and only have to walk a few feet to kayak. Uncle Charlie’s Place is quite a hidden gem!!
S
Sarah N.
3 reviews
Recommends
· September 2024
Amazing place!
Tent · With pets ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
The campsite was amazing! We (and our pups) enjoyed our time there and especially the pond! The hosts were really friendly and made finding the site easy. Would highly recommend and will definitely be back!
K
Kelsey H.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent · With pets ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
A great spot! Out there, but not too far out there. The pond was great for swimming and floating around on the boats, and the trampoline was a bonus!
Avatar
Cody B.
11 months on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· September 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
The hosts recently took over this property and it's clear they are making improvements - the property itself has a lot of great potential with lake, some open field, plenty of dense woods. We stayed in the campsite close to the small lake, which was nice, but overall the site didn't give you the peaceful sense of being out in nature because it also overlooked the main building/check in area several hundred yards up the dirt road. There were a lot of trucks and other equipment in disrepair surrounding the building, and we were also awakened by 4 wheelers and other large vehicles quite early in the morning. I have high hopes for this Hipcamp, but it will take some work for it to live up to it's full potential.
H
Hannah B.
10 months on Hipcamp
Not recommend
· September 2024
Will never stay again
Tent · Group trip ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Pretty sure they charged us $170 to stay on public dispersed camping sites for two days— full of bullets, broken glass, trash (clothes, tampons, etc.)— which honestly was better than staying at the actual “ranch.” The ranch was a very small area filled with people- you camp right next to other people and it’s basically in a front yard. Gun shots, people on atvs and dirtbikes and 4x4s driving constantly through. Basically a horrible experience. Go anywhere else!!
L
Liv B.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Hipcamp Labor Day weekend!
Tent · Group trip ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
It was good :) very nice staff and very nice place
S
Simia J.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Amazing property and great hosts. Nice spots by the lake or up in the trees. We had a great time relaxing, walking the grounds, and stargazing.
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Lily G.
4 reviews
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent · With pets ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Very clean and beautiful mountain views.The host Matthew was great 👍
D
David F.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
The host was nice, and it’s a beautiful area! We loved seeing the stars at night, they were so bright and gorgeous. Would definitely recommend.
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Danielle S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Nice hosts. Big property!
Tent · With pets ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Cool place to stay. Lots of individual campsites, so we weren’t on top of other campers. Hosts were great. Easy check in and check out. Matthew is a super nice guy with good tips regarding things to do. Dogs loved the site. Will visit again. First time using hip camp. Great app as well.
F
Frederick W.
5 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Very welcoming host, easy to find and great location, would definitely recommend to anyone wanting a peaceful place to set up camp!
S
Sam M.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
New favorite place to rejuvenate
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Just what we needed. Very cool place with awesome hosts. The hot soak was amazing! Birds, squirrels, and a chipmunk were our camping buddies. Incredibly quiet at night. The pine needles provided a great cushion under the tent. We will definitely be back for camping AND more of the amazing spring water.
M
Mr Bill W.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
Clean beautiful place! My friends and I enjoyed staying at this campsite!
I
Irvin M.
10 months on Hipcamp
Not recommend
· August 2024
Lot’s of potential but overall it
Tent · Group trip ·
Uncle Charlie’s Ranch
It’s a pretty spot but not well taken care of, to a point where not even the ground on our campsite was level enough to set our tents/canopy and be comfortable. The grass was growing as high as the seat on our picnic table so we couldn’t really seat on the bench which was frustrating. The porta potty was extremely neglected as well, to an unsanitary point. Very unfortunate as we found the area beautiful
A
Ana Gabriele S.
11 months on Hipcamp

Location

Black Hawk, Gilpin, Colorado, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Wideawake Ranch W.

Joined in April 2024

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