EXPLORE · FREE CAMPING
Free Camping in Colorado
Colorado's 11 national forests open nearly the entire mountain west of the state for dispersed camping. The San Juan Mountains in the southwest have the highest density of accessible dispersed sites: Forest Road 550 between Silverton and Ouray (the Million Dollar Highway) and the surrounding network of mining roads have camping spots perched above 11,000 feet. The Gunnison, White River, Arapaho-Roosevelt, and Pike-San Isabel national forests all permit dispersed camping 100-300 feet from roads and water. The Arkansas River drainage near Buena Vista and Salida has river-bottom sites with mountain views. Colorado's 14er approach roads (Mosquito Range, Sawatch Range) are popular dispersed camping destinations for climbers. Most Colorado dispersed camping requires a self-issued free permit form during summer.
No reservations needed for dispersed camping. Check fire restrictions at fs.usda.gov before your trip — restrictions change frequently in summer. Stay limit is typically 14 days at any one location. Find free camping on the Trek4Free map →
Before You Go
Gear up for dispersed camping — no hookups, no camp store, no running water
Free Camping Sites in Colorado
A real jewel of a secluded campground overlooking a picturesque valley adjacent to the Uncompahgre Wilderness. Located near the junction of Soldier Creek and Bl…
This campground lies on the banks of Cebolla Creek in a spruce/fir landscape. It is located at 9200 foot elevation. It has 5 sites.
Cimarron Forks Camping Area is located at the confluence of the Middle and East Fork Rivers near Silver Jack Reservoir. This area provides dispersed camping opp…
This campground lies at the upper end of Taylor Park popular with off-highway vehicle users. A lengthy network of motorized trails leads from the Castle Creek V…
This campground provides access to hiking, horseback riding, fishing and four-wheel driving. The site lies next to the southeastern boundary of the Fossil Ridge…
The McClure Campground is located on Highway 133, on the south side of McClure Pass. The historic town of Marble is nearby and the campground sits at the head o…
The area is part of the mineral belt that extends into Leadville. Many of the four-wheel drive roads were created by miners over 100 years ago, which are now po…
Camping area up the Slate River drainage, close to Crested Butte. 17 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites. Each site has a fire r…
Elevation: 8830' Needle Creek Reservoir lies between Highways 50 and 114 in the Cochetopa Hills along the headwaters of Needle Creek. This reservoir was constr…
Slumgullion Campground is located southeast of Lake City, CO. Visitors who use this campground have access to motorized trails, fishing streams, hiking trails, …
Spruce Campground, located on Cebolla Creek, lies between the Powderhorn and La Garita Wilderness Areas. This area is popular with hikers, backpackers and angle…
Camping area in the Brush Creek drainage, close to Crested Butte. 13 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites. Each site has a fire r…
Undeveloped area popular for dispersed camping.
Designated camping area in the Brush Creek drainage, close to Crested Butte. 13 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites. Each site h…
Designated camping area in the Cement Creek drainage, close to Crested Butte. 23 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites. Each site …
East Dallas Camping Area is located on Ouray County Road 7, outside of Ridgway, CO. This area provides dispersed camping recreational opportunities. This area i…
Designated camping area with six sites and no amentities. Each sites has a fire ring and is marked with a unit marker. Sites 1-4 are accessible by high clearanc…
Designated camping area in the Gothic Corridor, close to Crested Butte and the Gothic Campground. 14 semi-primitive sites are available. Camping is allowed only…
Designated camping in the Kebler Pass/Lake Irwin area, close to Crested Butte. 31 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites. Each site…
Designated camping area in Poverty Gulch, close to Crested Butte. 7 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites. Each site has a fire ri…
Designated camping area in the Slate River drainage, close to Crested Butte. 19 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites, 4x4 recomme…
Designated camping area in Splains Gulch, close to Crested Butte. 5 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites. Each site has a fire ri…
FACILITIES: Sweetwater Campground has 9 partially shaded campsites with picnic tables, food lockers and fire rings. This campground has small sites. Six of the…
Designated camping area in the Cement Creek drainage, close to Crested Butte. 3 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites. All sites a…
Designated camping area in the Washington Gulch drainage, close to Crested Butte. 48 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites. Each s…
Designated camping area in the West Brush Creek drainage, close to Crested Butte. 8 sites are available and camping is allowed only in designated sites. Each si…
Corkscrew Camping Area is in the San Juan Mountains 8 miles outside of the town of Ouray, CO. This area provides dispersed camping recreational opportunities. C…
Situated among mature cottonwood trees along the Gunnison River, this campground has six campsites, including one ADA accessible site with an adjacent accessibl…
The North Sand Hills Campground was installed in 2011 to accommodate large RVs. The campground has two vault toilets and 13 individual pull-through sites, each …
Avalanche Campground has 6 first-come first-serve campsites. It is located adjacent to Avalanche Creek. Fishing is available in Avalanche Creek and in the Cryst…
BOSWELL CREEK (Campground)
EAST FORK DISPERSED (Camping Area)
MIDDLE FORK CIMARRON DISPERSED (Camping Area)
OWL CREEK PASS (Camping Area)
Campground closed and slated for decommission
WEST FORK CIMARRON DISPERSED (Camping Area)
ANTONE SPRING (Camping Area)
Roosevelt National Forest USFS. VERY SMALL. But nice view. Difficult to get your vehicle flat. Veer left at the fork in CR-47 (Larimer County) and it takes …
Near Woodland Park just off Rampart Range Rd, not far from Pikes Peak and Colorado springs.
Silverthorne, Dillon campsite.
Arapaho NRA campsite, in the national forest
Gunnison or Grand Mesa National Forest, Rd 3100, Hotchkiss, Austin, CO.
Gunnison National Forest, FS/CR 721, near Curecanti NRA, Spinero, Cimarron, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
San Juan National Forest, CR 302, easy access to Pagosa Springs.
San Juan National Forest, Not far from Mesa Verde and Mancos, FS 316
Pike National Forest USFS Rampart Range Rd. We parked at this pulloff overnight in the winter (down to 10 degrees!). There may be different regulations in the…
Known as Cathedral Campground and it is one of the only free campgrounds in the area! It is sponsored by a private entity but is located on national forest land…
Small little campsite on National Forest land on Crown Point Road towards the Brown Lake and Zimmerman Lake trailheads. Has a running stream next it to, and is …
Northwest on Hwy 550 out of Silverton, Colorado. For the first mile or so there are turn-outs that lead right to the river, many of them have enough places for…
Antero Reservoir State Wildlife Area. 60 Primitive Campsites right on the water. Pit Toilets, trash cans, fire rings. RV friendly. Great fishing and boating. …
Camping all along the east side of Dolores Canyon. Highway 141 travels the bottom of Dolores Canyon from Highway 50 near Grand Junction down to US491 near 4 cor…
close to Jefferson lake, the nearest town is Jefferson, it is in pike national forest, the camping is 100% free, u have to pay to get into the lake, it isnt rv …
Easy access just off the Million Dollar Highway and there are an abundance of good "sites" to choose from, although no amenity's such as picnic table or fire ri…
Cozy camp spots nestled in a canyon next to a river. There are no amenities or toilets. There are around 10 spots that consist of semi-level ground and a few ro…
4wd accessible. I pulled my popup to this site, but while I didn't need 4wd, I would not recommend a 2wd vehicle, in case it got sloppy. Only one spot, at end…
Laura's Overlook - Head south on Hwy 285 from Fairplay, CO, 3.65 miles from the stoplight. Turn west (right) on CR 20. Go 2.15 miles to a right turn onto a gr…
SE of Steamboat Springs, CO, between the summits of Rabbit Ears Pass. On a ridge, with a very nice overlook to the east. While next to the Forest Service road,…
Free camping near the Shirley Site / Marshall Pass road. Plenty of spots, very heavily used on summer weekends by ATVs and mountain bikers.
Exit I-70 at Rabbit Valley and head south on dirt/gravel road to to Knowles Canyon Overlook, located in Mc Innis Canyons National Conservation Area. About 16 mi…
Exit I-70 at Rabbit Valley and head north towards the Walk Through Time trailhead. Turn left and follow the gravel road up a fairly steep ascent to the top of …
Pike National Forest dispersed camping along Gold Camp Road, the old Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railway grade converted to a scenic forest drive.…
LOWER NARROWS (Campground)
Pike National Forest dispersed camping off Mount Herman Road (FR 320) near Monument, CO — about 25 minutes north of Colorado Springs. The road climbs into the f…
SPRADDLE CREEK RANCH (Horse Camp)
The Thompson Creek Recreation Management Area is located just a few miles southwest of Carbondale and provides beautiful, remote recreational opportunities. On …