Browns Creek

Pros:

1. Easy access (we drove an Elantra here)
2. Beautiful views of the mountains.
3. Cows grazing around our campsite in the morning (it was adorable).
4. Good places to hang up a hammock.
5. Sites were spaced out really well.

Cons:

1. Noisy neighbors (a gamble when camping anywhere near RVs).
2. Dirty campground. The previous people left trash in the fire pit and TONS of unburied toilet paper in the woods very close to the campsite (which my friend and I cleaned up. You’re welcome).

It's a great place for dispersed camping. Each campsight has lots of space between each other.

The drive from the app was spot on. Open cattle coming through the campground was a surprise, but overall nice spot we had near the creek. Bugs were a little much but that’s okay.

We came down from Boulder to find a great little spot off of 274A! Off of HWY 285 between Poncha Springs and Buena Vista, we took County Road 270W for ~ 1.5 miles to a 4-way intersection and continued .... the road changes to FR 272 and we stayed on for another few miles until FR 274 split to the right. Our site was off 274A and had great views.

I stopped at Browns Creek for one night on my Way to Salida. I set up in the dark because I got there so late but was still able to enjoy a bright full moon lit sky the coyotes chirping in the background and woke up to some incredible views

This isn’t one of those horribly loud OHV spots. There are tons of dispersed spots along these trails and many are spread out from one another. Didn’t get to camp next to water, but this is the next best.

I camped two sites back from the trailhead loop. Hiked both days and enjoyed the access and privacy of the sites. Some atv activity along the access road, but not bad really. Clean vault toilet @ Brown Creek TH.

....but couldn’t get in. Closed Dec 1-June 1 for wildlife management. Watch out in the wet weather-road super muddy a bit difficult to get through. Road is not steep though.

There are extensive sites in the area for all sizes of rigs.  There is plenty of room and easy access for large rigs or tent camping.  FR 272 is the main road in but there are several spur roads, 273 and 274 that have plenty of options also.  One problem is that this area is well known and is becoming very popular.  On weekends, there may be more than 50 campers in the area.

Because of the overuse some sites are getting, the forest service is starting to fence some sites in so they don't grow in size.  The are working towards camping in designated sites only because so many campers are just trashing the area.

The hiking is good with several trailheads and easy access to the Colorado Trail.

The first spots you'll find will be filled with massive RVs and big rigs and large groups looking for a party in the forest since it is so easy to get to. If you want to push on further, take the road to the left and keep going just past the Browns Creek Trailhead and over the creek. It gets quieter and prettier (and a little harder to get to). Great MTB rides near here and quick into Buena Vista and Salida.

Nice dispersed camping in a national forest near browns Creek Falls Trailhead. There is a ton of spots to pull off and camp nestled in a beautiful pine forest. The spots were pretty level and the road out there was gravel but nice. Great cell service and spots were pretty far from each other. If it looks full keep driving chances are there's more spots further down the road. Best part is it's FREE! Definitely suggest brown creeks falls as a hike very beautiful!

Located in the middle of Salida and Buena Vista, there are a lot of spots in this area. Most of them are very large and can accommodate RVs and trailers. I loved this spot, they are spaced out from each other which makes it quiet and there is plenty of room for multiple cars, trailers and tents. 

This is dispersed camping, no facilities, tables or fire pits but free. Spots are managed by the forest service and follow all NFS rules, keep a look out for fire bans as this area is prone to dry spells. Camp spots are easily accessible via a dirt from off of the main highway. Road is in great shape and any car can make it. 

Close by you will find great hiking trails and mountain biking and not far from the spots are some 14ers to hike. Browns Creek trail is right off of the road and a very pretty hike. Salida and Buena Vista are about 20 minutes away if you need to go into town for food or to check out some great breweries.

Lots of spaces, super spread out, well maintained road, seems like all sites have great shade coverage. The best part of our trip though was identifying these crazy noises at dusk to be nighthawks look them up! They make this crazy sounding jet plane sound when they are dive bombing for insects. You’re sitting there quietly enjoying the evening and the out of nowhere...vroom! And they are so stealth it’s hard to even see them. Also saw mountain bluebirds

We arrived about 30 minutes after sunset on a Friday night but were still able to get a spot. The gravel road is well maintained and easy to access for any vehicle without 4x4. The location is perfect, situated right between Salida and Buena Vista.

Gorgeous, remote. Dispersed campsites are spread out so you can’t see or hear your neighbors. Great proximity to trailheads and easy to get to. 4x4 not required for the closer sites.

I camped here on 5/23/20.

Beautiful long road through San Isabel National Forest. There is a 6 mile hike (Brown Creek Falls) down the road as well. The spots near the river were taken so we continued on farther down the road.

I like this area because there are spots in wide open fields and there are also spots secluded in dense woods.

Our spot had beautiful sunset and sunrise views.

This was a great area to go camp in for the beginning of peoples camping season. There are a ton of disperses campsites which is good but it also gets very busy. The trailhead nearby is a great hike but extremely busy. If you want something quieter do not bother with this area, but if you don’t mind see other people around it’s a good spot.

Lots of sites in scattered ponderosa pine and open meadow area along the foot of the Sawatch mountains, just as the Arkansas valley begins its upslope to the mountains, so landscape is pretty level. A pretty dry area because you’re still in the valley, and for that same reason likely to be pretty warm to hot in midsummer, but during an unusually warm early May weekend it was ideal. Some spots have nice views of the peaks. This is a great early season spot because the southern Sawatch tend to melt out sooner. Browns Creek trailhead has some nice early season hikes. Main road in is easily driven dirt road, no 4x4 required. Also note that in addition to Browns Creek there are 2 other roads that intersect it that frankly I think had even better sites - Eddy Creek and Raspberry Gulch.

Great place for dispersed camping in San Isabel. We chose a tent site up 274 at the end of the road late Friday evening. Still plenty of spots available! Recommend the hike to browns lake nearby. Vault toilets at the trailhead if needed.

Our spot was right off the Colorado trail, lots of thru hikers going by. Originally we had wanted to stay at iron city campground (first come first serve) but all spots were taken. It was a happy mistake because we liked dispersed camping here better 🙂

Had a blast dispersed camping! Quiet and spaced out plenty of fire rings along the road. Road leads to the Browns creek falls trailhead. At the trailhead there are vault toilets if you’re too good to dig a hole. Awesome hike and amazing time camping.

Very popular in July, but there are plenty of spots. everything is very spread out.

I was able to get my 25ft rig pretty far up the mountain on road 274A. there was 30-40ft class A in the spot closest to me. lots of vIews of Mt Princeton and Antero

only thing I didn't like is the cows. they roam freely and will come and poop in your campsite.

Dispersed camping up at the lake. I say anything next to water is a bonus!

For Night 1 we hiked in stayed somewhere off the trail, at what seemed like a horse camp stop. Night 2 we stayed up at the lake campground. Got there early afternoon and was able to claim a prime spot. There is not much access to the water, so those spots get taken up rather quickly.

Great views, awesome sunrise.

Dispersed and a great hike to Browns Creek. The farther you drive in the rpigjer the road but still doable. 14ers in view, Mt Princeton and Mt Shivano