A well-maintained Forest Service road climbs through pine groves and gambrel oak to reach this free dispersed camping area in San Juan National Forest, sitting at roughly 8,300 feet along County Road 663. The road is gravel, mildly steep in sections, and handles trailers without much difficulty. Several pull-through sites make it accessible for rigs up to at least 17 feet, and campers report finding open spots even on busy holiday weekends.
Sightlines open toward snow-capped mountains to the west, and the surrounding forest shows signs of active wildlife, including elk and deer. Spots are spaced well apart, and the area draws few visitors even during peak season. Jeff P. notes the road is "Forest Service road, well maintained," and the road continues up toward Navajo Peak for those wanting to explore further. A vault toilet and fire pit are available near the Buckles Lake trailhead, where a short hike leads to a lake and open meadow.
Verizon cell coverage is spotty lower on the road but improves with elevation. Campfires are permitted, pets are welcome, and there is no fee. The Forest Road 663 dispersed area lies just southeast along the same corridor for campers wanting nearby alternatives, and Kenny Flats Dispersed Camping provides another option a few miles to the northwest for those exploring campgrounds around San Juan National Forest.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsBuckles Lake Rd is located in Colorado near Chromo
Dispersed CampingCoordinates
37.080296151107426 N
106.84210072527434 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 9/10/26- VerizonNo Coverage
AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 9/10/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 9/10/26
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 9/10/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- Phone Service
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Big Rig Friendly
DISPERSED CAMPING
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.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Buckles Lake Rd needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 1 hr 57 min from Farmington, NM
- 2 hrs 10 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 2 hrs 58 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 3 hrs 42 min from Pueblo, CO
