Best Places To Camp In Colorado For Free

Additionally, if it’s rainy season you may need a 4×4 to access. However, if you want to experience the most beautiful spot in Telluride…Alta Lakes is the place to be. Altitude adjustment can be a little rough so take your time if you’re arriving from out of town. If you’re camping in the alpine, storms typically roll in every afternoon. Those free camping websites you find are often disappointing and they never really deliver you the best free camping out there. It’s no secret that finding free camping in Colorado takes a little bit of research.

Dispersed camping – Look for sites on dirt roads off CO-82 in Twin Lakes. If most sites are taken, there are plenty more than ten miles south on Hwy 24 at Clear Creek Reservoir. There is 1 campground at that lake, non-reservable, and a bunch of dispersed campsites on the road 12 miles west to Winfield . With the tallest sand dunes in North America taking the place of the snowcapped mountains you might expect to see, there’s a range of outdoor activities to enjoy. And Pinon Flats is the best camping spot in the park from which to access the hiking trails that cross the dunes.

Angel Of Shavano Campground, Salida

This area is part of San Isabel National Forest, one of the best areas to camp for free in Colorado. Located in a surreal and remote landscape in the south-central section of the state, this national park is a hidden gem, and certainly one you’ll be glad you took the time to get to. Image via campendium.comIf the Grand Canyon is on your travel bucket list — and let’s be honest, it probably is — you definitely don’t want to skip a trip to Flagstaff. While you’re perched here, be sure to keep fire regulations in mind. Fires are allowed on national forest land, but fire bans are often in effect during peak summer months. And while there aren’t modern amenities here, you’ve got a stream nearby to gather and filter water and plenty of big mountain views to take in.

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There are over 200 modern lakeside sites, and 25 walk-in sites on a forested hillside. Eleven Mile State Park – An 11-mile long lake, open to motorboats, sailboats, canoes, but no water/body contact sports like jet skiing or swimming. Boat rentals are available at the lake and also next door at Spinney Mountain Reservoir, another state park open for day use.

Dispersed Camping Colorado

Most dirt roads will yield a few campsites, with plenty right on the byway. There are several free dispersed camping sites at the parking area. Take Hwy 9 south for 2 miles to Trough Springs Rd/CR 1. Follow for 13 miles to Co Rd 11, and a sign for Radium. Both allow for free boondocking, so long as you don’t stay in one place for more than fourteen days.

From the circle, before Maroon Creek Rd, take CO 82 north for 7 miles to Woody Creek. Take a right on Woody Creek Rd. and follow 8 miles back to Lenado, a ghost town. Clear Creek Reservoir – Intersection of Hwy 24 and County Rd 390 (b/w Leadville and BV). The lake and campground are located at the start of the drive, and then it’s dispersed camping with a few ghost towns. These primitive sites are generally marked by a fire ring and don’t provide amenities, like restrooms or tables. If you’re lucky there will be a vault toilet at a nearby trailhead.

If you’d prefer to avoid the hassle of having to make a campsite reservation or the expense of paying site fees, don’t worry. Free camping in Colorado is easy — if you know where to look. You won’t get the amenities of a paid site, but being able to avoid the crowds can be totally worth it. A number of kid-friendly, ranger-led activities and a junior ranger program are available.

Top 8 National Parks And Monuments In Colorado

For a very different camping experience travel to the Great Sand Dunes National Park in the southern part of the state. This is a destination that resembles the Sahara more than the Rocky Mountains, with towering dunes standing in for snowcapped peaks. You can reserve a campsite online and use the filters to locate available areas that have the amenities or accommodations you need. There are five different campsites that are wheelchair accessible in Piñon Flats. If you’re camping on a budget, or simply prefer to not worry about reserving campsites, there’s plenty of free camping in Colorado to be found. Venture outside of national and state park boundaries, and you’ll find campsites on National Forest or BLM land that have equally stunning Rocky Mountain views and often more seclusion.

The first dispersed camping is probably minutes from downtown, beginning a little bit past the Dry Lake CG. Sunset over Buffalo Pass.Buffalo Pass leads northwest from Steamboat to Highway 14 near Walden. It’s 11 long and rough miles to the top from Steamboat and 32 miles all the way to Highway 14. Most 2WD cars will be fine to camp lower on the Steamboat-side of the pass. Further up near the top and the rest of the pass, high-clearance 4×4 is recommended.

Top Locations For Boondocking In Colorado

Thanks to the Division of Wildlife and Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests’ joint management efforts, the trout fishery here is excellent. On Yamcolo Reservoir, you’ll find a boat ramp for larger vessels, while Bear Lake welcomes hand-powered and electric craft users. River Run Campground in Granby is a very new facility that’s described as a cabin rental, glamping, camping, and RV resort. Creede – A Wild West town at the base of a stunning canyon. A must-visit attraction is the Bachelor Historic Loop, an hour-long auto tour around Creede’s old mining country. Twin Lakes – A general store and another restaurant call this semi-ghost townhome.

We loved each and every one of these sites and want to share them with you. The campground is the only one at this end of the lake and is at an elevation of around 10,000 feet. From here, you can hike out into the wilderness areas of Mount Massive and Holy Cross or take the Colorado Trail, which passes conveniently right by the entrance to the campground. From here, you can hike a short trail that takes you to the dam, which connects with the six-mile Coulton Creek Forest Service trail. There’s also a boat ramp at the southern tip of the lake. Note that motorized boats are not permitted on the lake, and wakeless boating only is allowed.

Hickory Hammock Campground

Dispersed camping can be found minutes out of Buena Vista on CR 306 . There are several creek-side spots and plenty of camping on the other side of the pass too. Dispersed camping – can be found on Hefferman Gulch Rd and West Chicago Creek Rd, both located north on CO 103 toward Idaho Springs. In Denver, it’s technically legal to sleep in your vehicle, but people can end up in trouble if they violate other parking laws or stay in one spot too long. Even in places where there’s no ban on sleeping in cars, people living in them are often visited by police, sometimes late at night. Our reporters create honest, accurate, and objective content to help you make decisions.

If you’re willing to drive deep into the backcountry searching for a place to yourself, you’ll find it at King Mountain. The National Forest Service manages many public lands around Colorado with thousands of acres of camp-able land. Information on specific campgrounds in particular locations is available on the NFS webpage. Colorado National Parks are beginning a phased reopening at the end of May 2020. Dispersed camping is still car camping, just away from established campgrounds and common amenities. If, on the other hand, you want to hike off into the woods and find your own campsite, we’d call that backpacking.

If you do hike around the area, be bear-aware as bears are often seen in the area. The campground provides bear-boxes for safe food storage. So we’ve compiled a list of some of the coolest waterfront campgrounds — as well as some unbelievable hidden gems — to help narrow down your options. Except for the occasional thunderstorm, Colorado summers have a reputation for being some of the sunniest, hottest, and driest.

Horsetooth Reservoir South Bay

Pearl Lake State Park Campground is situated close to the town of Hahn’s Peak, north of Steamboat Springs. The peaceful lake is named for Pearl Hartt, who was the wife of John Kelly Hartt, a pioneer sheep rancher. Colorado, also known as the Centennial State, is located in the west of the U.S. The state takes in the north-eastern part of the Colorado Plateau, most of the southern Rocky Mountains, and the western border of the Great Plains. Leadville – 20 minutes north of Twin Lakes, Leadville is a national historic district with a certain charm. Take a ride on the Colorado & Southern Railroad in town.

Family-friendly and with plenty of amenities, space, and options, there’s something for everyone here. One great perk of camping near town, you can always just pop in for some great food or the local breweries such as Odell and New Belgium for some post-outdoor activity brews. In Gunnison National Forest near Crested Butte, you can “get lost” at Lost Lake’s campground. This is a very small campground where you cannot reserve sites, but don’t be deterred! Lost Lake is very much a hidden gem and you will likely find a spot on arrival.

This locale is perfect for anglers looking to reel in some Colorado trout. The nearby Cucharas River provides excellent opportunities to do just that, luring in both casual and serious fly fishers looking to spend some time on the water. This campground also provides easy access to the 14-mile long Indian Creek Trail too, which is open not only to hikers and mountain bikers, but also ATVs and horses as well. Bear Lake campground does not have any designated accessible camp sites. Situated along the 486-mile Colorado Trail, Angel of Shavano offers excellent hiking and mountain biking, as well as fishing in the North Fork Reservoir. The thickly-wooded national forest is also a beautiful retreat, offering plenty of solitude and tranquility for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life.