Twin Lakes View Dispersed

Breathtaking views of the Twin Lakes and tons of spots to pull into with campfire rings. The only downside is because there are so many spots you can see/hear other campers.

Definitely already known so I’m not ruining a spot here but there are probably 200ish dispersed camp sites around here the twin lakes area, a handful of campgrounds you can pay for and plenty of spots you can hike to. Definitely need an AWD/4WD car at some points in the roads but most are easy for an RV or sprinter. Just try to find a fire ring already established. Lots and lots of folks on the weekend, but you can probably still find a spot on Saturday or Friday morning. I wouldn’t try past 3-4pm but ya never know there are a bunch of spots.

Went and stayed for a few day, it was beautiful! I would definitely go again there were plenty of camps sites

So we stayed directly above the Mt Elbert trail head. Plenty of space for our large tent. We loved walking to the reservoir less that 10 minutes from us or the quick drive to twin lakes.

We caught several small trout in twin lakes and they have vaulted toilets, went into the small town and had some of the best pizza around and stopped in the little convenience store and the employees were great.

It was a little busy and some louder groups but overall super respectful.

It was our first dispersed camping experience we will definitely go back to this area but head up the path a bit for a more secluded spot

People were very loud, mosquitos were terrible , but the location was ideal for where I needed to be, some spots have great views and some dont. Fairly busy but had a good time.

We lucked out with a spot with an epic view. However, this area was overrun with people (4th of July weekend). It was a loud into the late evening and we had very little privacy. Also, multiple aggressive dogs & careless dog owners. It’s a 20 minute walk down the mountain to the campsite & facilities. Windy! I would go back but not during peak season.

Trail was easy to access! A little rutted in the beginning but evens out. Nice view of Twin Lakes and surrounding mountains. Will definitely camp here again

Absolutely loved this spot. It was very windy but that’s expected this high. Easy to get to. Paved road. lots of places to pull over and camp. just pick one!! Very very cold at night it got to 27 degrees but that’s nothing if you have the right gear!

My dog and I stayed two night and three days. Late September and the weather was prefect for car camping. During the day it was nice and warm but did get chill at night hit about 35°. During the week not many people but enough not to feel long. Also not to many that you can hear others conversations.  The coordinates the app gives you. It’s just an estimate.  Definitely keep driving around to find a spot you’re comfortable at. 

Absolutely loved staying out by twin lakes. There was tons and tons of dirt roads to find spots along. Went 4th of July weekend so it was super busy but we still got a great spot. Some roads are much harder to pass than others but overall did fine with my awd.

As others have mentioned, it’s quite windy in this spot and most of the campsites are completely exposed (no trees) We stayed 1 night, was very windy. On a clear night the stars really pop! Note- the upper reservoir here is not for swimming/paddling.

Tons of dispersed camping, though many sites are on top of each other. If you have a capable vehicle and can make your way back toward the water tower, there is a large private camp area with beautiful views. Very windy! Definitely a rough road.

Great camp sites with possible view of the lake and Mt. Elbert. First come first served and reservation. We drive up on Wednesday and snagged one of three sites.

I travelled to Twin Lakes the weekend after Memorial Day weekend to explore more of Colorado. The drive from Denver was beautiful and the Twin Lakes topped it all. Sitting at the base of several 14'ers this campground featured dispersed camping with options for walk-in, drive-in, and drive-in 4x4 camping. We found ourselves on the North side of the upper side of the neighboring lake since we arrived late Friday afternoon. We found 4-5 sites without anyone around, a quiet spot nestled in the trees for shade. 

Bears were reported to be active in the area but we didn't see any. Some camp sites, as we walked around, were littered with people's waste and trash. Sad to see but not everyone follows the leave no trace attitude.

This campsite is my favorite, and at my favorite location in Colorado. Great location, clean campsites. If you are going in without a reservation in a Friday, be sure to get there early.

We stayed here last August on the way to the Aspen area. We had hoped to find dispersed camping near the entrance. However, these spaces were all taken up by long stay buses and vans. We opted for the Lakeview campsite instead. It‘a large campsite with multiple sections and loops located below the access road. The lakes are actually two large dam reservoirs. Our site was somewhat below par compared to other Colorado campsites. We had rainy weather and the lake was not visible during our stay. The camp host was a fellow Texan and assisted with the self checkin process. Most of the campers were either visiting Leadville or traveling over the Union Pass which is incredible and a somewhat scary drive even in the summer. This would not make my list of recommendations based on the overall condition and layout of the campsite and lack of activities.

There are a lot of non-reservable sites in loop D and E. we were in loop E10 which provided an amazing view and lots of privacy. There are currently fire bans so just be aware. Nearby you can drive through Independent Pass to Aspen, then take the gondola to the top for Bluegrass music from 1:00 PM, a great day trip!

We didn’t get too much time here. We arrived at night and took off early the next morning. It was a pretty place to camp. A whole bunch of sites were vacant when we got there.

This campground is a high altitude spot - make sure you drink LOTS of water and bring the appropriate gear for unpredictable weather. It can get cold some nights, bundle up! The tallest mountain in Colorado is close by; I highly recommend the hike to the summit of Mount Elbert if you have half a day and nine miles in ya! It is an easier 14er, just long. Twin Lakes is a great get away and usually pretty secluded. Bring your sunscreen!