The Best Camping In Colorado

Camping is a fun way to connect with nature, especially in the Rocky Mountains. And excellent camping is nearly everywhere in Colorado, with some of the best campsites around. Countless sites didn’t make this list, which is as good as any. So this list of best Colorado camping spots (in no particular order) probably will grow over time.

There is a mix of paid developed campgrounds and undeveloped primitive campsites that are free. Some are just suitable for car camping with tents while others can fit a full-fledged travel trailer. So feel free to rent an RV in Denver and head to the high country!

Remember to please leave no trace when camping.

1. Flat Tops Trail

It’s remote, yet easy to reach.

This national scenic byway connects Yampa (near Steamboat Springs) with Meeker to the west. Free dispersed camping is all over, and there are plenty of campgrounds too. The highlight is Trappers Lake, the third-largest natural lake in Colorado. There are several campgrounds down at Trappers Lake, but no dispersed camping around this “Cradle of Wilderness”.

Trappers Lake Lodge is open from late May through September and rents out boats, horses, and cabins. It also has a mini general store and restaurant/bar. The first half of the byway is a smooth gravel road, and the second is dirt. Most two-wheel drive cars will be fine.

Best Camping Sites:

• Chapman Reservoir CG (shown) – closest to Yampa, 12 sites, basic, non-reservable
• Vaughan Lake CG – another lake on the Yampa side, 6 sites, basic, non-reservable
• Himes Peak CG – Trappers Lake Rd on Meeker side, 11 sites, basic, non-reservable
• Trappers Lake Horse Thief CG – 7 sites, basic, livestock corrals, non-reservable
• Trappers Lake Shepherds Rim CG – 15 sites, non-reservable
• Trappers Lake Cutthroat CG – 14 sites, basic, non-reservable
• Trappers Lake Trapline CG – 12 sites, basic, non-reservable
• North Fork CG – closer to Meeker, 28 sites, basic, Reservations
• East Marvin CG – near Meeker, 7 sites, basic, non-reservable
• Marvine CG – near Meeker, 24 sites, 4 are horse camping sites, non-reservable

Dispersed camping is everywhere once you get going on the byway. Most dirt roads will yield a few campsites, with plenty of places right on the byway. The only exception is the Trappers Lake area.

Activities: Boating (wakeless), Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, OHV

Nearby Towns:

• Meeker – A small ranching town with plenty of places to eat and get supplies.
• Yampa – Another quiet ranching town, located south of Steamboat Springs. There are several places to eat in town, like the Antlers Cafe & Bar.

Getting There:

1. From Meeker just go east on Hwy 132 to access.
2. From Yampa, take Co Rd 17, on the north end of town, west toward the Flat Tops.

Learn more about Flat Tops Trail

2. Buffalo Pass

It’s pretty close to downtown Steamboat Springs and Strawberry Park Hot Springs.

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 to Highway 14. This historic route was once the main route to Walden. 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, a high-clearance 4×4 is recommended.

There isn’t a whole lot of space for travel trailers or big RVs, so camping on Buff Pass is best for tents and small tear drop-sized campers, vans, and rooftop tents. Both the Dry Lake Campground and dispersed campsites fill up quickly during the peak summer season, so don’t show up too late to claim your spot.

There are maybe 15 dispersed camping sites or so within thirty minutes of downtown, on the way up from Steamboat. They start at about 20 minutes out from downtown. There are a myriad of additional sites that further you go, but the pass is rutted.

Fishing and hand-powered watercraft are permitted on Summit Lake, which is at the top. There’s also fishing in town on the Yampa River. Off-high vehicles are permitted on much of the pass.

Best Camping Sites:

• Dry Lake CG – closest to town at the start of the pass, 8 sites, basic, non-reservable
• Summit Lake CG – top of the pass next to an alpine lake, 15 sites, basic, non-reservable

Dispersed camping is available shortly after the Dry Lake Campground, permitted 1/4 miles past it on the pass.

Activities: Boating (hand-powered watercraft), Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, OHV

Nearby Town:

• Steamboat Springs – There is a lot to do in this cowboy town, including tubing the Yampa River and hiking to Fish Creek Falls.

Getting There:

1. From downtown Steamboat, take a right on 3rd St, and the next right on Fish Creek Falls Rd.
2. Follow around the corner and make a left on Amethyst Drive toward Strawberry Park Hot Springs.
3. Follow for a few minutes to Co Rd 38 (it’s marked as National Forest access) and go right to the pass.
4. The first dispersed camping is probably 15-20 minutes from downtown, beginning a little bit past the Dry Lake CG.

Learn more about Buffalo Pass

3. Cottonwood Pass

It’s a short drive from Buena Vista and Cottonwood Hot Springs.

Free camping begins only about ten minutes west of BV. Camp out for the night, and enjoy the close access to town, while still being in the middle of the Rockies.

Cottonwood Pass connects Buena Vista with Almont on the other side of the Divide. There is one campground near Buena Vista and the rest are on the west side near Taylor Park Reservoir. The Taylor Park Marina rents out boats and has a bait shop and deli.

The road is paved to the top from Buena Vista and then turns into a dirt road. Most 2WD cars will do fine.

Best Camping Sites:

• Collegiate Peaks CG – close to BV, 56 sites, basic, Reservations
• Lakeview Gunnison CG – next to the reservoir, 65 sites, basic & electric, Reservations
• Dinner Station CG – north of the lake, 22 sites, basic, Reservations
• Lodgepole CG – near the reservoir, 22 sites, basic, Reservations
• Rosy Lane CG – near Almont, 22 sites, basic & electric, Reservations
• One Mile CG – near Almont, 28 sites, basic & electric, Reservations

Dispersed camping places can be found minutes out of Buena Vista on CR 306 (the pass). There are several creek-side spots, and plenty of camping on the other side of the pass too, especially around the Taylor Park Res.

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Activities: Biking, Boating (wakeless), Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, OHV

Nearby Towns:

• Buena Vista – This town has a lot to offer. Two hot springs, Cottonwood and Mount Princeton, plus numerous ghost towns (St Elmo, Winfield), and rafting the Arkansas River make this an enjoyable spot.
• Almont – A tiny town with a few places to eat, and close to Gunnison.

Getting There:

1. Take County Road 306 west from BV to pass.
2. From Almont, take County Road 742 east.

Learn more about Cottonwood Pass

4. Maroon Bells

It’s next to downtown Aspen and probably the most photographed scene in Colorado.

The Maroon Bells are a twin set of 14ers that mirror Maroon Lake. Due to the Bell’s demand, access to Maroon Creek Rd is only open to motorized vehicles twice a day, from 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm in the summer. Between 9 am and 5 pm, the only way in is by shuttle, which allows dogs.

There are three campgrounds, all located in the woods by West Maroon Creek. The walk-in sites at Silver Bell and Bar are nice for tent camping. There are no dispersed camping places at the Bells, but sites are found in the Aspen area near the ghost town of Lenado.

Best Camping Sites:

• Silver Bar CG – 4 tent-only, walk-in sites, Reservations
• Silver Bell CG (shown) – 14 sites, 2 RV/tent, 6 tents only, 6 walk-in tents, Reservations
• Silver Queen CG – 6 sites, can accommodate RVs, Reservations

Activities: Fishing, Hiking

Nearby Town:

• Aspen – It’s Aspen, so there’s plenty to do. Eat and shop in town, or explore local ghost towns like Ashcroft and Independence.

Getting There:

1. Take Hwy 82 west from downtown to Maroon Creek Rd (near Aspen Highlands).
2. Follow that 10 minutes to the Welcome Station.

Learn more about Maroon Bells

5. Vasquez Ridge – temporarily closed to camping

Free camping is only a few miles from downtown Winter Park.

Enjoy Winter Park’s beautiful setting in the Rocky Mountains and Vasquez Ridge. Dispersed camping is the main draw, with hiking, fishing, and off-highway-vehicles other common activities.

There aren’t any campgrounds back at Vasquez Ridge, but there are some in the area. Nearby Saint Louis Creek offers two, and they connect with Vasquez via forest service roads. There’s also one right on Highway 40 before town, near Berthoud Pass.

Best Camping Sites:
Dispersed camping is all that’s available back at Vasquez Ridge. It’s everywhere once you reach the Arapaho N.F.

• Saint Louis Creek CG – a few miles north in Fraser, 16 sites, basic, non-reservable
• Byers Creek CG – near Saint Louis Creek, 6 sites, basic, non-reservable
• Idlewild – on Hwy 40 south of Winter Park, 23 sites, basic, non-reservable

Activities: Biking, Fishing, Hiking, OHV

Nearby Town:

• Winter Park – This town is fun year-round. The resort features a summer alpine slide and bike park. Lake Granby and Grand Lake are also easy trips north.

Getting There:

1. From downtown WP, take Vasquez Rd a few miles back to the national forest.

Learn more about Vasquez Ridge

6. Guanella Pass

Dispersed camping (only on the Grant side) and three campgrounds on this national scenic byway.

This stunning byway summits at 11,669 feet, twelve miles outside of Georgetown. The views are incredible, especially during autumn. There is lots to do, including fishing at Clear Lake near Georgetown, and a chance to hike an easier 14’er, Mount Bierstadt.

Dispersed camping places are no longer available on the Georgetown (north side). There are only dispersed campsites allowed on the south side of Guanella Pass, which is on the Grant. There are also two reservable campgrounds closer to Georgetown and one near Grant.

Best Camping Sites:

• Clear Lake CG – 10 minutes out of Georgetown, 8 sites, non-reservable
• Guanella Pass CG – close to Georgetown, 18 basic sites, Reservations
• Geneva Park CG – closer to Grant, 26 basic sites, Reservations
• Burning Bear CG – closer to Grant, 13 basic sites, Reservations

Dispersed camping is easy to find just out of Grant on the byway, but not permitted on the Clear Creek County side by Georgetown.

Activities: Biking, Fishing, Hiking

Nearby Towns:

• Georgetown – A happening place in the summer, especially while the Georgetown Loop Railroad is running. Food and shopping can be found in the historic district.
• Grant – A tiny town with a few places to eat. Try the roadside BBQ shack at the Grant end of the byway, Al’s Pits Barbecue.

Getting There:

1. Take Guanella Pass Road from downtown Georgetown.
2. From Grant, take Co Rd 62/Guanella Pass Rd.

Learn more about Guanella Pass

7. Cache La Poudre Scenic Byway

Campgrounds run nearly the entire length from Fort Collins to Walden.

This national scenic byway follows the Cache La Poudre River for most of the way, so the scenery and recreation are spectacular. Rafting is common in parts, and there are plenty of other activities to do in the Roosevelt National Forest.

The 101-mile byway is fine for all cars and takes about 3 hours, so any bargain car rental will do. If you rent a car for your trip, most 2WD cars will be fine for driving around Colorado’s scenic summer roads. However, if you’ll be enjoying the forest roads, pay attention to its ground clearance the most, and opt for something higher.

There is lots of dispersed camping if you know where to look. There aren’t any sites on the byway itself, but numerous side roads hold campsites in the Roosevelt N.F.

Best Camping Sites:

• State Forest SP – by Walden, 4 campgrounds, dispersed/backcountry camping, Reservations
• Chambers Lake CG – midway to Walden, 51 sites, basic, Reservations
• Aspen Glen CG – close to Walden, 9 sites, non-reservable
• Big South CG – next to Aspen Glen, 4 sites, non-reservable
• Sleeping Elephant CG – closer to Walden, 15 sites, non-reservable
• Big Bend CG – closer to Walden, 8 sites, non-reservable
• Kelly Flats CG – closer to Walden, 29 sites, non-reservable
• Bellaire Lake CG – off the byway closer to FC, 26 sites, basic & electric, Reservations
• West Lake CG – near Bellaire Lake, 35 sites, basic & electric, Reservations
• Mountain Park CG – 56 sites, basic & electric, Reservations
• Dutch George Flats CG – 20 sites, non-reservable
• Narrows CG – 15 sites, Reservations
• Stove Prairie CG – 9 sites, Reservations
• Ansel Watrous CG – closest to Fort Collins, 17 sites, basic, Reservations

Dispersed camping is a bit tricky on this byway since there are no sites directly on the highway. But there is still plenty. South of Walden, there are lots of free sites, minutes from the mostly ghost town of Gould. Take CR 21 a mile or so back to the national forest.

Check out this Roosevelt Ranger District PDF map of Canyon Lakes North to identify more dispersed camping (see legend).

Activities: Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, OHV, Rafting

Nearby Towns:

• Fort Collins – A fun place to be year-round. Take one of several brewery tours offered (Budweiser, New Belgium, Odell), or rent a boat at Horsetooth Reservoir.
• Walden – A quiet, western town with enough amenities to get by, and endless recreation.

Getting There:

1. Take Highway 14 out of Fort Collins or Walden.

Learn more about the Cache La Poudre & North Park Byway

8. Twin Lakes

Lakes, high mountains and lots of camping.

Twin Lakes is located next to the biggest mountains in Colorado: Mount Elbert and Mount Massive. So in addition to hiking 14’ers, there’s boating and fishing in the lakes and driving over the breathtaking Independence Pass to Aspen.

Two campgrounds are reserved at Twin Lakes and one on the Aspen side of the pass. Dispersed camping be found in the hills above Twin Lakes.

Best Camping Sites:

• White Star CG – near the lake, 66 sites, basic, Reservations
• Lakeview CG – near the lake, 35 sites, basic, Reservations
• Difficult CG – West side of the pass, closer to Aspen, 47 sites, basic, Reservations

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 (a cool ghost town).

Activities: Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding

Nearby Town:

• 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.
• Twin Lakes – A general store and another restaurant called this semi-ghost townhome.
• Aspen – Almost a good hour from Twin Lakes, but the drive is the reward. It’s at the end of Independence Pass.

Getting There:

1. Take Highway 24 south from Leadville for 15 miles and make a right onto CO 82.
2. The lakes will be on your left almost right away.

Learn more about Independence Pass

9. Silver Thread Byway

Beginning at the Blue Mesa Reservoir to the north, camping can be found the whole way to South Fork.

This remote and unspoiled byway sits near the start of the San Juan Mountains. It connects Gunnison and Highway 50 (north) to South Fork (near Pagosa Springs) and Highway 160 (south).

If you have the time, this is a cool trip. Both Lake City and Creede are national historic districts with lots of character and fewer crowds. There are numerous attractions on the byway, including giant lakes, natural landmarks, rugged 4×4 roads, and many ruins.

While in Lake City, rent a boat on the 340+ acre Lake San Cristobal. And/or rent a Jeep (if you own no 4×4), and drive the Alpine Loop in Lake City (to Ouray and Silverton and back).

During your road trip, make sure you limit your child’s (and your own) use of cell phones while exploring the great outdoors. You can install a parental control app on their phone to limit the use of certain apps and other phone restrictions. This way everyone can best enjoy nature while camping.

Best Camping Sites:

• Stevens Creek CG – Blue Mesa Res, 17 sites, basic, Reservations
• Elk Creek CG -Blue Mesa Res, 75 sites, basic, Reservations
• Lake Fork CG – Blue Mesa Res, 64 sites, basic, Reservations
• Slumgullion CG – south of Lake City, 21 sites, basic, non-reservable
• Silver Thread CG (shown) – Within steps from S. Clear Creek Falls, 10 sites, non-reservable
• Marshall Park CG – 6 miles from Creede, 15 sites, basic, Reservations
• Thirty Mile CG – close to the Rio Grande Reservoir near Creede, 35 sites, basic, Reservations
• Palisades CG – south of Creede along the Rio Grande River, 12 sites, non-reservable

Dispersed camping can be found in much of the national forest land around the byway. Just look for dirt roads and access signs. There are spots near Trappers Lake, the Alpine Loop, and a ton around Creede.

Activities: Biking, Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, OHV

Nearby Towns:

• Gunnison – The biggest town in the county.
• Lake City – Historic mountain town with ample restaurants, hotels, and shops. Enjoy a day at Trappers Lake, the 3rd largest natural lake in Colorado, located on the south end of town.
• 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.
  South Fork – Plenty of places to eat and get supplies.

Getting There:

1. Start either to the north at Blue Mesa (Hwy 50) or to the south at South Fork (US 285), and take Highway 149 for 117 scenic miles.

Learn more about Silver Thread Byway

10. Great Lakes of Colorado

The largest natural lake in Colorado, and five other great ones.

There are water sports galore and even more to explore in the surrounding wilderness. Campgrounds surround Lake Granby and free camping can be found in the Arapaho National Forest.

Rent a boat on Grand Lake through the Grand Lake Marina. Or rent one on Lake Granby, through the Highland Marina.

Best Camping Sites:

• Arapaho Bay CG (shown) – hidden away near Monarch Lake, 84 sites, basic, Reservations
• Stillwater CG – lakeside, 107 sites, basic & electric, Reservations
• Green Ridge CG – south end of Shadow Mountain Lake, 75 sites, basic, Reservations
• Willow Creek CG – secluded next to Willow Creek Reservoir, 35 sites, basic, non-reservable

Dispersed camping can be found across Hwy 34 from the south end of Shadow Mountain Lake. Take County Road 4, (right after Grand Lake Tap House), back a few miles to the Stillwater Pass area. Sites are evident.

Activities: Biking, Boating, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, OHV

Nearby Towns:

• Granby – Ample places to eat and shop. Have fun at the bike park at Granby Ranch.
• Grand Lake – A lakeside town with a picturesque main street. It’s the western gateway to the Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park.

Getting There:

1. From Highway 40 in downtown Granby, go west briefly to Highway 34.
2. Take north to the lakes.

Learn more about Arapahoe National Rec Area

Honorable Mentions

It’s tough to stop at ten.

Southwest Colorado – Aside from the Silver Thread Byway, this section of Colorado was absent from the list. You really can’t go wrong camping and exploring anywhere in the Southwest. From the archaeological sites at Mesa Verde and Hovenweep to the mountain wonderland around Durango, Telluride, Silverton, and Ouray.

Prewitt Reservoir – Only dispersed lakeside camping is available in this state wildlife area. It’s 1.5 hours northeast of Denver and open to those with a valid hunting or fishing license.

Those are among the top places to camp in Colorado. Please leave no trace.