How To Find Free Camping In Colorado

And in those results, you might be wondering about the differences between established campgrounds and dispersed campsites, and what’s included in each type of camping. With our 300 days of sunshine comes a lot of dry conditions. Wildfires are a serious threat and it isn’t uncommon to have fire bans in effect.

Pets are not allowed in the backcountry campsites at Rocky Mountain National Park, and you cannot stay at one camp area for more than three consecutive nights. You can find free, dispersed camping in each of these National Forests. They are also the perfect place for outdoor recreation such as mountain biking, climbing, backpacking, fishing, and paddling. In the Bighorn Basin, city parks like Lander City Park and Riverside City Park lure campers in from all over, while Ayers Natural Bridge Park and Elgin Park Trailhead offer something a bit more rustic. Let us get back to what really shines about Washington though, shall we? Utah, especially the southern half of the state, is one of the most stunning places in all of the U.S.

Along this scenic stretch of tarmac, you’ll find several first-come-first-serve free campgrounds. Alternatively, you can pull off on one of the many dirt roads to snag a hidden free campsite. There are thousands of campsites in Colorado’s state park and public land systems and hundreds more private sites. You simply need to find the part of the state you want to visit, choose a site with the amenities you need and make a reservation.

How To Find Free Camping In Colorado

Camping for free is generally referred to as dispersed camping, which is camping in approved areas other than campgrounds. The best part about dispersed camping, aside from the cost, is the privacy. And sites are usually right next to the road, so it’s perfect for car camping. We accessed further down the road with our mountain bikes.

But be conscious of your neighbors while camping in campgrounds. There are so many amazing campsites in Colorado, it can seem a little overwhelming. I tend to prefer dispersed camping, and I’ve amassed an amazing list of incredible camping in Colorado as a result. Dream of spending the night under the stars without a noisy campground? Learn the secret method to finding picture-perfect FREE camp spots in all of your favorite locations.

Sarvis Creek Wilderness

Check out Lime Creek Road, Forest Road 584, and County Road 33 for a selection of free camp spots. Keep in mind camping is somewhat limited, so do your homework before heading out. For a quick outing right near Colorado Springs, check out Tarryall Road.

Seriously, this area is one of the most scenic spots in Colorado. The U.S. Forest Service manages 14 million acres of land in the state’s 11 National Forests and two National Grasslands, while the Bureau of Land Management oversees an additional 8.4 million acres. Both agencies have campsites that range from developed areas with restrooms, fire rings, water and other amenities to remote areas — with no amenities — that are reached only by horse, mountain bike or backpacking. Forty-one parks all over the state are administered byColorado State Parks.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Most dispersed camping areas have little to no cell phone service. Locating a dispersed campsite in Colorado can be intimidating without the ease of plugging a campground address into a GPS. The easiest way to find dispersed camping in Colorado is to use The Outbound Collective’ssearch feature. You can filter by activity and features such as waterfalls and wildlife watching.

The United States Forest Service oversees 20 National Grasslands and 154 National Forests. National Forests are easy to find on Google Maps, they’re usually the green shaded areas covering large swaths of land. When preparing for your boondocking trip to Colorado, consider your destination. Some areas like Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Denver have many attractions nearby to visit while others are in more remote locations. Always prepare for unexpected weather as the weather can change rapidly in many parts of the state. Consider the topography where you are going because water runoff from the mountains can flood some areas easily in the spring, and you may not be able to reach other areas in the winter.

Spot Terrain And Open Spaces

Just 40 minutes from Denver along Highway 40 you’ll find yourself immersed in a sea of wildflowers and picture-perfect mountain scenery. Only embark on a dispersed camping adventure if you know how to properly dig a hole and poop in the woods (unless you have a self-contained camper). Pack out all of your toilet paper and pick up dog waste before you leave.

While Pingree Park Road camping might not provide the best views, it does provide easy access to the many trails in the area. Trails such as Browns Lake, Little Beaver Creek, and Emmaline Lake are worth checking out if you have extra time. It’s also a popular spot to camp for people rafting or kayaking the Cache La Poudre River. In fact, Pingree Park Road is popular with nearly everyone – it’s one of the best free campgrounds in Colorado. This area connects to the Continental Divide Scenic Trail, making this a popular hiking and mountain biking area.

Colorado is home to four amazing national parks most of which have a few campgrounds for you to enjoy. Before camping at a National Park in Colorado, be sure to read up and see if you can make advanced reservations. Most spots in Rocky Mountain National Park are full up to a year in advance, so plan accordingly.

Today the historic cabin is a comfortable getaway for guests seeking r… Guffey Gorge, also known as Paradise Cove, is a half-mile scenic hike that follows a mountain stream leading to a small cascading waterfall surrounded by a natural granite gorge. Use at the site has increased dramatically in recent years resulting in parking issues and visitor conflicts.

Gordon Gulch Dispersed Camping

Highway 24 north of Tennessee Pass in White River National Forest, this is a great place to spend a summer weekend. The road is good for passenger cars up to the last mile to Homestake Reservoir, with numerous good pull-off sites. This is on the edge of the magnificent Holy Cross Wilderness, so if you’re not there to boat or fish in the reservoir, there’s great hiking trails for you to explore. There is ample free camping east of the Cascades in Washington, some of the best of which can be found outside of the Old Wild West towns of Winthrop and Twist.

This is especially true if you are camping over a holiday. Our community provides the best free camping information available. We give you a simple, map based search engine to find free and cheap camping areas. Community reviews and ratings provide you with up to date information and help you select the best camp site for your next camping trip. At the very end of the road is a large campground and the trailhead to Ice Lake Basin. Silverton is very popular for OHV-riding in summer snd backcountry skiing in the winter, and the incredible man-made ice climbing park in Ouray is a short drive away.

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee Ng

If you don’t mind a little drive, though, God’s Valley in Nehalem gives you epic amounts of privacy in exchange for a really gnarly, and long dirt road to get back in there. On the southern end of the coast, three campgrounds–Sunshine Bar, Butler Bar and Laird Lake–put you similarly far out and back long forest roads. There are at least five legit spots to boondock, for free, in this national preserve. If it’s cell service you’re after, and want to be within the literal bounds of MNP, give Dharma Tower a go.

What Is Colorado Is Known For?

Our parks make the perfect setting for affordable, family-friendly vacations. Weekdays offer your pick of prime campsites, cabins or yurts and allow you time to explore and discover Colorado’s diverse landscapes and attractions. Dispersed camping is allowed on public land for a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. The 28 day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location on public lands. The 14 day limit may be reached either through a number of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation during the 28 day period. After the 14th day of occupation, the camper must move outside of a 25 mile radius of the previous location until the 29th day since the initial occupation.

Angel of Shavano Group Campground is considered one of the area’s best kept camping secrets. It is situated next to the North Fork South Arkansas River and offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, biking and fishing. Reservations are REQUIRED at this facility.Angel of Shavano o… The Ruby-Horsethief section of the Colorado River runs through beautiful red rock canyons and has many day hike opportunities offering both solitude and exploration. This section of the canyon, from Loma, Colorado, to Westwater, Utah, is a 25-mile stretch of mostly flat water with sections of Class …