Best Free Camping Spots in Colorado

🏕️ Browns Canyon National Monument

Browns Canyon is a Historic Landmark in Colorado, having been designated as one of the Antiquities Act in 2015. The canyon, located on the Arkansas River between Buena Vista and Salida, is a Gold Medal Water segment. 

It is a famous spot for fishing and rafting on the Arkansas River. Outfitters and guides for these activities are easily accessible in Buena Vista and Salida. Salida offers fantastic mountain bike trails.

The Reasons You Should Camp here:

• Fishing
• Panoramic scenery of the Rocky Mountains
• Days of leisure around the fire ring

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Is Reservation Required: No

Best Time to Visit: Summer, Autumn

Is RV Hookups Available: No

Type Of Campground: Tent, small RV

FAQ: Is wild camping legal in Colorado?

There is dispersed camping in Rocky Mountain National Park and many of the other Colorado National Parks.

Like many of Colorado's other national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park allows dispersed camping. It's called "wild camping." Rocky Mountain wilderness camping has a distinct set of laws: Permissions are necessary, and there is a charge.

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🏕️ Escalante Canyon

The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, located south of Grand Junction, is a large piece of BLM territory. And if you're searching for solitude in a canyon, Escalante Canyon won't let you down. The views are spectacular, especially at night. Light pollution is blocked by the canyon walls, resulting in a breathtaking nocturnal scene.

• Trekking, swimming, bike riding, and mountain climbing are popular activities here.

The hiking trails and climbing paths here are untouched and should be done with care and expertise, so hire a guide or go with someone familiar with the area.

The Reasons You Should Camp here: 

In the valleys of the Western Slope Desert, there's an incredible hideaway.

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Is Reservation Required: No

Best Time to Visit: Spring, Summer, Autumn

Is RV Hookups Available: No

Type Of Campground: Tent, RV

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🏕️ King Creek Trailhead 131

It's no mystery that free camping in Colorado in Spring requires some research. King Mountain Campground, northwest of Kremmling, is well-known among hunters, although it seems obscure to most others. There are just a few camping places here, but it's never difficult to set a camp.

There are 13,000 acres of area to explore at King Mountain Recreation Area, several routes, and a summit trail up King Mountain. Hunting, trekking, and horse riding are common activities in this area.

The Reasons Why You Should Camp here:

It's one of Colorado's greatest free campsites for isolated backcountry camping, with rarely populated paths.

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Is Reservation Required: No

Best Time to Visit: Summer, Autumn, Spring

Is RV Hookups Available: No

Type Of Campground: Tent

🏕️ Jouflas Campground

Bikers, trekkers, rock climbers, rafters, and Atv riders all know that Colorado's Western Slope Desert is a center of activity for many athletes. The campsite is close to the Utah border, making it an ideal stop for road trippers discovering the west.

It is one of the few free campsites with electrical hookups, picnic tables, and restrooms, but only eight spots are available, so don't come too late.

The Reasons You Should Camp here: 

In Colorado's high desert, there are world-class Atv routes, trekking, and mountain biking.

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Is Reservation Required: No

Best Time to Visit: Spring, Summer, Autumn

Is RV Hookups Available: No

Type Of Campground: Tent, RV

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🏕️ North Sand Hills – Sage Campground

If you believe Alamosa's Great Sand Dunes have been the only desert in the state, think once more: The BLM manages North Sand Hills, which is relatively unknown owing to its isolation. Locals come here to ride their ATVs. It's the only place in Colorado where you may ride your ATV on the dunes.

North Sand Hills Park, located east of Cowdrey, has amazing views of the sand with the Medicine Bow Range in the background. Trails link the park to the Routt National Forest and the not-so-cleverly titled State Forest State Park, where wild deer are frequently seen.

The Reasons You Should Camp here: 

The only dunes in Colorado where off-highway vehicles are allowed.

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Is Reservation Required: No

Best Time to Visit: Summer, Autumn

Is RV Hookups Available: No

Type Of Campground: Tent, RV

🏕️ Loch Lomond

At the end of this 44-mile journey at Idaho Springs, you'll come upon Loch Lomond, the first of 5 lakes. You don't need an off-road vehicle to drive up this route, but having 4WD and good clearance helps. This camping area is a dispersed camping lake city in Colorado.

This location is popular for hiking and mountain riding since it links to the Continental Divide Scenic Trail. If you enjoy fishing, you won't want to miss out on catching rainbow trout or loudmouth bass.

The Reasons You Should Camp here: 

Off a 4WD trail among alpine lakes, primitive camp with mountain scenery.

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Is Reservation Required: No

Best Time to Visit: Summer, Autumn

Is RV Hookups Available: No

Type Of Campground: Tent, RV

🏕️ Rampart Range

Located 35 miles southwest of Denver, the Rampart Range in northwest Colorado Springs is an idyllic getaway destination, a natural area offering peace away from the noise of the city. The range is almost entirely public within the Pike National Forest and has a towering peak called Devil's Head, a rocky wonder that reaches 9,632 feet. It is one of the best free camping near Denver.

There are many free camping sites around the Rampart Range, and the roads, although winding and bumpy at times, are easily navigable and provide access to some of the most sublime scenery in Colorado.

The Reasons You Should Camp here: 

This is one of the simplest scattered camping locations to reach.

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Is Reservation Required: No

Best Time to Visit: Summer, Autumn

Is RV Hookups Available: No

Type Of Campground: Tent

🏕️ Alta Lakes Near Telluride

To get to the beautiful Alta Lakes — a well-known free camping destination in Colorado – drive through a neighboring ghost town. There are a couple of lakes around where you may pitch your tent.

There are three different lakes, each with several scattered campsites. Pit toilets are close (you can use them), which is unusual in Colorado's dispersed camping.

The Reasons Why You Should Camp here:

It has some of the greatest lakes in the state and some of the best warm-weather camping.

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Is Reservation Required: No

Best Time to Visit: Summer, Autumn, Spring

Is RV Hookups Available: No

Type Of Campground: Tent

🏕️ Forest Service Road 585

Along Forest Service Road are several designated campsites, such as Anvil and South Mineral Campgrounds. The "designated" areas are simple to recognize. Forest Service Road 585 has long been one of the best boondocking in Colorado. Here is the place to find the answer to "Is Boondocking allowed in Colorado?"

Some pull-offs are directly off the road, while others have little pathways leading to clearings hidden behind greenery for further seclusion. The tucked-away areas are a treasure, especially given how crowded this route can get during peak traffic season.

The Reasons You Should Camp here: 

Use as a base of operations for exploring the Silverton/Ouray region in southwest Colorado.

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Is Reservation Required: No

Best Time to Visit: Summer, Autumn

Is RV Hookups Available: No

Type Of Campground: Tent, RV

🏕️ Molas Pass in the San Juans

The Million Dollar Highway, one of Colorado's most gorgeous routes, leads to Molas Pass. Camp among the San Juans' picture-perfect summits with their trademark red peaks. There are several free camping areas along Lime Creek Road, Forest Road 584, and County Road 33. Keep in mind that camping has some limitations, so do your research before going.

The Reasons You Should Camp here: 

This is one of Colorado's most spectacular dispersed camping spots.

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Is Reservation Required: No

Best Time to Visit: Summer, Autumn, Spring

Is RV Hookups Available: No

Type Of Campground: Tent