Dispersed Camping CR 48, near Turquoise Lake, Colorado, offers a unique outdoor experience with stunning mountain views and a chance to immerse yourself in nature. This area allows for camping in a more open setting, giving you the freedom to choose your spot among the trees and enjoy the fresh mountain air.

Visitors have noted the beautiful scenery and the pleasant temperatures, especially when escaping the heat of Denver. While it can get busy, many campers appreciate the variety of spots available, with some even mentioning the nearby Bodfish Trail for hiking adventures. As one camper shared, “There are tons of hummingbirds,” adding a delightful touch to the natural surroundings.

Keep in mind that this location lacks amenities like drinking water, toilets, and trash disposal, so come prepared to pack out what you bring in. The roads can be a bit bumpy, but they’re manageable for most vehicles, and you’ll find a mix of tents and RVs among the campers. Just be ready to share the space with fellow outdoor lovers, as it can get crowded, especially during peak times.

Dispersed Camping CR 48

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Leadville, CO has a lot to offer. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Colorado camping adventure.

Leadville

The Best Camping Near Leadville, Colorado

There are three camping pull offs on the left of CR 48. The first of which is where camped. We later walked down the road toward Turqouise Lake and realized there were more spots, the furthest having the best mountain views. The roads to the dispersed camping spots was a bit bumpy but we saw rigs of all types and sizes here so it's definitely do able. About a 2.5 mile round trip walk/hike to turqouise lake from the farthest campground (the 1st pull off). This place was pretty busy but people kept their distance. We were there in late August and temps got cold at night. But it's a beautiful and quiet spot in the woods.

Beautiful free camping near Turquoise Lake

This is a weird construction site not camping 

Pin seems wrong 

Lots of broken glass, trash, and rusted cans. This does not lead you to the camp site :( 

Not sure where the actual site is but it isn’t here

What if you go past turquoise lake and you turn left by the big long white picket fence not sure of the name of the road followed around the corner take a right on half Moon Creek road follow that straight up and you will find hundreds and 
hundreds of camping sites spent most of the summer there and some of the winter got too cold had to leave we stayed down by the river 

Quite a hidden gem

While there are tons of spaces where one could camp out here, most spaces are taken. While there were a few spots where I could technically post up, there’d have been no privacy. Certainly, it looks like there are a few spots where one might maximize privacy, but folks look pretty settled in those spots. 

Way too busy

Spectacular scenery!!

It was 100+ at home in Denver and 77 degrees at the site. 

Relatively easy to find a spot because you can camp pretty much anywhere. You do have to know going in that you’ll be sharing it with lots of folks and most likely a bunch of 4 wheelers.

There’s a few really neat hikes too. One in particular is the Bodfish Trail over toward Molly Brown CG. 

Also, there are tons of hummingbirds.

We’ll come back. 

Photos of Dispersed Camping CR 48

Real photos from real campers