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Free Camping Collection

Dispersed Camping

Elephant Rock Campground

5 Reviews

About

Bureau of Land Management

Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads.

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Location

Elephant Rock Campground is located in Colorado

Coordinates

38.884724 N
106.15178 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Available
AT&T
Good
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Dispersed

Features

For Campers

Phone Service
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

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Chris P.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 11, 2023

Everyone on top of each other

Elephant rock campground. It is free. It is designated sites. Everyone is right on top of each other. There is very little shelter or trees for screening. There are two Porta potty‘s. It looks like it’s somewhere where a bunch of people of just pulled in their RVs and basically set up life. It’s pretty ugly as far as the campground goes with everything right next to each other. A lot of RVs and Campervans have pulled in there. Elephant rock yourself is very cool. It looks like a big elephant.

Month of VisitSeptember

(18) View All

J M.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 26, 2021

Other Reviews are Wrong !

This site is USFS and AHRA managed not BLM. It requires human waste to be REMOVED ! NOT LEFT ON SITE!
As of 6\24\2921 there is NO CAMPING OR FIRES west of the railroad ! Day use there only.
Rangers patrol and enforce the above rules.

SiteGeneral, affects entire site.

Month of VisitJuly

Kim M.

Guide

Reviewed Feb. 27, 2021

Great but can get busy

I stayed here Memorial Day Weekend. I camp out of my 4Runner but there’s a lot of sites down near the water that you have to hike to (with all your gear). I believe there’s a two-week max.

When I showed up, it was desolate- maybe one or two other people/groups. By the end of the weekend, the lot was packed and all of the sites near the water were also occupied.

No toilets so you’d see a lot of people walking the railroad tracks north/south to do the do. Personally I hate being that packed in a dispersed area and knowing that... that’s just me.

Loved putting my feet in the Arkansas River and watching the kayakers and rafters. It was hot during the day and cold at night- to me, that’s good camping weather!

Katie H.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2020

Great stay other than no toilet

Free stay! But no toilet so there is some toilet paper scattered about. Beautiful river thats an easy walk, great neighbors, cool breeze otherwise!!!

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Steve & Ashley G.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2019

Dispersed Free Camping Near Buena Vista CO

Elephant Rock Campground is a free BLM dispersed camping just a few miles north of Buena Vista Colorado. The site is located on a dirt road along the Arkansas River. The site has about a dozen spots and can be crowded in the summer. The river is home to some of the best white water rafting in the Colorado with class III and IV rapids. The site also has some great rock climbing sites and hiking trails. The road is former railroad track from the Midland Railway Company. You drive through the rock cutouts from old railway. It’s a very cool area with lots to see and do. The camp is like many free BLM sites with few if any amenities. Buena Vista is very close and a great place for bars, cafes, and one good grocery store on the highway. The camp had a wide range of users including tents, vans, and trailers. The campsite can get very muddy after rain and is about 8100 feet in elevation. Leadville is about 20 minutes north along the main highway and well worth the visit.

(13) View All