Free Camping Collection
Dispersed Camping
Canyon Lakes Ranger District Dispersed Camping
Canyon Lakes Ranger District Dispersed Camping is located in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland. The terrain consists of forested areas and open grasslands. Temperatures range from lows in the 30s Fahrenheit in spring and fall to highs in the 80s during summer. Nearby attractions include Horsetooth Reservoir and the Cache la Poudre River, offering opportunities for water activities and hiking.
Description
You may camp within 300 feet of most Forest Service roads and some Larimer County Roads as long as you are on National Forest System lands. Note that many popular locations are closed due to the Cameron Peak Fire impacts. Check the closure information here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/arp/alerts-notices/?aid=60887 Contact the Canyon Lakes Visitor Center at 970-295-6700 for a free Motor Vehicle Use Road Map (MVUM) or view it here . The MVUM shows roads where dispersed camping is allowed. Also view the CLRD Dispersed Camping map that shows areas where camping is restricted or prohibited. Find out if there are any Forest campfire restrictions during your trip. If fires are allowed, use established fire rings where they exist. Put out your fire until it is cold to the touch. When camping near the very popular Manhattan, Long Draw, and Peterson Lake roads, camp only at sites marked with numbered posts. These designated sites protect the roads from overuse. There is no camping within ¼ mile of Highway 14, within ¼ mile of lower Stove Prairie Road, or within ¼ mile of upper Pingree Park Road. Your vehicle must be within 300 feet of the road and at least 100 feet away from water or meadows. You may not camp at trailheads, picnic areas or day-use parking areas. Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) are limited to open Forest Service roads (no closed gates) that have numbered signs. The CLRD Dispersed Camping brochure (pdf 453KB) lists all of the guidelines and restrictions.
Location
Canyon Lakes Ranger District Dispersed Camping is located in Colorado
Coordinates
40.57122588 N
105.34839497 W
Detours Nearby
Backcountry Campground — Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
20 min away
Paradise on the River
57 min away
Drive Time
- 37 min from Fort Collins
- 51 min from Greeley
- 1 hr 7 min from Boulder
- 1 hr 14 min from Cheyenne
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
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 Canyon Lakes Ranger District Dispersed Camping needs a permit.
