Colorado’s outdoors is becoming a haven for the rich, but it doesn’t have to be

When was the last time you got outside, and how much did you spend to do it?

This is a question I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. Especially after I tallied receipts from a few statewide camping trips, I can’t help but wonder: Is it just me, or do rising costs for outdoor recreation seem to be everywhere you look these days?

For starters, state campground fees have gone up in recent years. A basic campsite now costs between $22 and $28 per night and a single, full site costs up to $41 per night. The cheapest option, a primitive site, still ranges between $14 and $18. 

These nightly fees add up quickly. They are the equivalent of somewhere between $420 and $1,230 per month, enough for monthly rent in some cases, depending on your campsite choice. Yet unlike a…