• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Colorado Brands
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Mine Tours
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Public Parks
      • Scenic Drives
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos with Lodging
    • Dude Ranches
    • Hot Spring with Lodging
    • Wineries with Lodging
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Sheep Posing on Mount Evans near Evergreen CO
Sheep posing on Mount Evans near Evergreen, CO. Photo: Barry Dale Gilfry

Camping near Evergreen and Mt. Evans

July 8, 2021 By //  by Randy Tucker

FacebookTwitter

Evergreen is among Denver’s closest mountain communities, full of desirable real estate in the thick of the mountains, yet close to the capital. There a few places to camp west of Evergreen near the 14,270-foot Mount Evans.

The Arapaho National Forest surrounds Evergreen and Mount Evans. Within it lies the Mount Evans Wilderness Area. If you’re looking for great hiking and backpacking opportunities nearby this area is a great option. There are only a few  campgrounds near Evergreen, all in the direction of Mount Evans.

List of campgrounds by Evergreen and Mount Evans, CO, in order of proximity:

Camping by Mount Evans near Evergreen

Mount Evans Meteor Shower Perseids from Mount Evans Colorado
Perseids from 14,000ft on Mount Evans; meteor shower view facing Denver, CO after midnight. Photo: David Kingham

From near the north end of Evergreen Lake you’ll take Squaw Pass Road leading toward Mount Evans. This will take you in the direction of our two listed campgrounds. The closest by milage to Evergreen is Camp Rock Campground, which requires a detour onto Bear Creek Road. The drive from Evergreen takes almost 45 minutes. The closer campground to Mt. Evans is at Echo Lake. There’s another option only for those possessing a current state fishing or hunting license because it’s a state wildlife area.

If you continue on Squaw Pass Road you’ll come to the Mount Evans Byway. This is a must-drive paved, seasonal road up over 14,000 feet. By the start of the byway you can camp at Echo Lake Campground, which we also included in our article on camping near Idaho Springs.  Take CO-103 12 miles northeast from Echo Lake to reach Idaho Springs. These Evergreen and Idaho Springs lie 60 minutes apart this back route, Or 30 minutes using I-70 instead.

Camp Rock Campground

A lightly used campground with few amenities offers a unique wilderness experience in the Colorado Rockies. Fly fishing in nearby Bear Creek offers anglers a chance at brook, rainbows and native cutthroat trout.

  • Closest town: Evergreen (14mi)
  • Specs: Tent camping only, vault toilet, no water, open June to November
  • Amenities:  Bear Creek runs through the campground
  • Recreation: Hiking, fishing on Bear Creek
  • Reservations:  No, first-come, first-serve
  • Address:  Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen, CO 80439 (Map)
  • Directions: From Evergreen take Bear Creek Road 9.8 miles. Follow the road to the left, go 4.7 miles to the campground.

*Mount Evans State Wildlife Area Campsite

A small campsite with easy access, and best of all, it’s free.  Minimal amenities create an atmosphere for tent campers that is truly a wilderness experience.

*A valid hunting or fishing license is required for everyone 18 or older accessing any State Wildlife Area or CPW-leased State Trust Land, effective July 1, 2020.

Public access is prohibited from January 1 through June 14. Use of the property is restricted to only fishing and hunting activities from the day after Labor Day through the end of the 4th regular rifle season (mid November)​.

  • Closest town: Evergreen (10mi)
  • Specs: 5 sites, vault toilet, no water, open June 15 to Labor Day
  • Amenities:  Free campsite, paved road until final 3 miles, Steel Creek, Bear Creek in walking distance
  • Recreation: Hiking, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing
  • Reservations:  No, first-come, first-serve
  • Address:  7824 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen, CO 80439 (Map)
  • Directions: From Evergreen take Bear Creek Road 9.8 miles west. Turn left and stay on Bear Creek Road .5 miles to the campsite.

Echo Lake Campground

A very popular campground with campsites for both RV and tent campers adjacent to five scenic byways.  Surrounded by a spruce forest, the smell of the wilderness is always on the coll afternoon breeze. Echo Lake Mountain Park is close to the campground.

  • Closest town: Idaho Springs (13mi), Evergreen (22mi)
  • Specs: 17 sites, 10 RV, 7 tent, water, vault toilet, open June 19 to September 7
  • Amenities: Trails lead directly from the campground, parking up to 55’
  • Recreation: Hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, biking
  • Reservations:  at recreation.gov
  • Address:  Colorado Highway 103 South, Evergreen, CO 80439 (Map)
  • Directions:  From Idaho Springs go west on Colorado Blvd .3 miles. Turn left on 13th Avenue, go .1 mile, continue on to Colorado Highway 103 South 13.2 miles to the campground.

Consider Morrison or Black Hawk

Fall Foliage on Chicago Peaks north of Black Hawk CO View of Mount Evans
Mount Evans in the distance, seen from north of Black Hawk, CO. Photo: David Herrera

The foothills region of the front range are situated close to Evergreen if you’re looking to visit. Morrison is home to the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, a bucket list landmark to see. Consider camping at Bear Creek Lake on the boarder of Morrison and Lakewood. It features a few lakes, so boating and fishing are in your front yard.

Both Black Hawk and Central City reside about thirty minutes from Evergreen. Central City has campgrounds in the Arapaho National Forest, and Black Hawk has easy access to camping within the Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Plus you have the casinos and a simple drive up Highway 6 or I-70 from the Denver front range.

Overlooking Mount Evans Road near Evergreen Colorado
Road up Mount Evans; Denver metro in the upper right distance. Photo: Barry Dale Gilfry

That’s a roundup of the camping available in the nearby vicinity of Mount Evans. Enjoy your campout and clean up after yourself please.

Randy Tucker

About Randy Tucker

Randy lives up in Wyoming but often comes down to Colorado to visit, explore and camp around. He enjoys writing about the best places to camp around the state.

FacebookTwitter

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Previous Post: «Monte Vista Crane Festival Top things to do in Monte Vista, Colorado
Next Post: Top things to do in Copper Mountain, CO Copper Mountain, CO»

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Nearby Colorado Camping

  • All Camping
  • Alamosa, Antonito, Crestone, Saguache and South Fork
  • Allenspark, Lyons and Longmont
  • Almont
  • Aspen, Basalt and Snowmass Village
  • Aurora, Brighton and Parker
  • Bailey, Conifer, and Pine
  • Buena Vista and Nathrop
  • Breckenridge, Copper, Dillon, Frisco, Keystone and Silverthorne
  • Cañon City
  • Castle Rock, Larkspur and Monument
  • Cedaredge, Collbran and Mesa
  • Colorado Springs
  • Cortez, Dolores and Mancos
  • Craig and Hayden
  • Creede
  • Crested Butte
  • Cripple Creek, Divide and Victor
  • Denver
  • Deckers and Sedalia
  • Dinosaur and Rangely
  • Durango and Bayfield
  • Eagle and Vail
  • Evergreen
  • Fairplay, Hartsel and Jefferson
  • Fort Collins and Loveland
  • Fort Morgan
  • Georgetown, Empire and Idaho Springs
  • Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Rifle
  • Golden, Black Hawk and Central City
  • Granby and Grand Lake
  • Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade
  • Greeley and Briggsdale
  • Gunnison
  • Julesburg
  • Kremmling, Hot Sulphur Springs and Parshall
  • La Junta and Lamar
  • Lake City
  • Lake George
  • Leadville and Twin Lakes
  • Limon
  • Littleton, Lakewood and Morrison
  • Manitou Springs
  • Meeker
  • Montrose and Delta
  • Naturita, Nucla and Gateway
  • Nederland, Rollinsville and Ward
  • Ouray and Ridgway
  • Pagosa Springs
  • Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford
  • Pueblo
  • Red Feather Lakes
  • Salida, Poncha Springs and Monarch
  • Silverton
  • Steamboat Springs, Oak Creek and Clark
  • Sterling
  • Telluride, Ophir and Rico
  • Trinidad, Walsenburg and La Veta
  • Walden and Gould
  • Westcliffe and Rye
  • Winter Park and Fraser
  • Woodland Park
  • Yampa

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 · Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise