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Established Camping

Lyons Gulch Campground & River Access

6 Reviews

Lyons Gulch Campground & River Access, near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is a fantastic spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors without breaking the bank. This place offers a handful of private campsites right next to the river, making it a peaceful retreat for tent and RV campers alike.

The campground features clean pit toilets and picnic tables at most sites, which are just a short walk from your vehicle. Visitors rave about the stunning views and the opportunity to jump into the river for a refreshing swim. One camper noted, “It was so nice to jump in the water in the morning!”

If you're into water activities, there's a boat ramp nearby, perfect for canoeing or rafting adventures. Just keep in mind that some sites can get a bit windy, so securing your tent is a good idea. The area is also home to some wildlife, so be sure to store your food properly to avoid any unexpected visits from curious bears.

Lyons Gulch is conveniently located about 30 minutes from Glenwood Springs, giving you easy access to local attractions and dining options. Whether you're here for a weekend or just passing through, this campground offers a great base for exploring the beautiful Colorado landscape.

Description

Bureau of Land Management

BLM Land — Colorado River Valley Field Office

Lyons Gulch is a free BLM site featuring a boat launch, which includes a toilet and five campsites. Campsite #1 can accommodate larger groups. The restroom is closed November 15th to May 15th. Cat holes are not permitted due to the proximity to the river. Do not camp in this location during heavy rains due to mud slides and flooding. For more information, please contact the Colorado River Field Office.

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Location

Lyons Gulch Campground & River Access is located in Colorado

Directions

Take the Dotsero exit off I-70 (exit 133). Head north on the Colorado River Road. Lyons Gulch Recreation Site is 3.8 miles up on the right.

Coordinates

39.69857475 N
107.0724508 W

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The Dyrt Alerts

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Connectivity

Presented by T-Mobile Satellite

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

T-Mobile
No Coverage
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
AT&T
No Coverage

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Picnic Table
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

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Contact

General Info

Drive Time

1 hr 43 min from Grand Junction
2 hrs 25 min from Denver
2 hrs 34 min from Boulder
3 hrs 10 min from Fort Collins

Melanie S.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 28, 2025

Beautiful but busy

There's a great pull off area that is pretty level. We stayed one night in our RV. There was some pretty heavy traffic and train tracks on the other side of the river. This area stays pretty busy with rafting and kayaking even during the week. There is a little parking area closer to the river and walk-in camp spots for tents. It's not a far walk. There are vault toilets. We played in the water in the late afternoon and it was great.

Siteroadside

Month of VisitJuly

Hayley H.

Scout

Reviewed Oct. 22, 2023

AWESOME

Beautiful spot! Right on the river, BATHROOM (which was clean). Would come here again! Arrived at 9pm, a couple spots left in October.

Site3

Month of VisitOctober

Ben R.

Ranger

Reviewed May. 18, 2023

Perfect

This site is awesome. Private campsites, around 5-6, probably could find a few more if you searched. Right next to the river, beautiful and peaceful little area. There is a pit toilet that is well kept, plenty of toilet paper and very clean for a pit toilet. There’s a boat ramp, not that we have a boat, but it would be a great spot to go canoeing or rafting. The sites are all walk-in, you don’t have to walk very far probably the farthest is like 30 feet. Most sites have picnic tables as well. We spotted an RV using a site along the road, so RVs can park on the road it seems, but not in the normal parking spots. This place was fantastic and gets 5 stars because it’s free!!!

Site1

Month of VisitMay

(9) View All

Blanche K.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 10, 2020

A decent option

I was excited to find this free site so close to Glenwood (30 minute drive). We arrived on a Thursday afternoon and all the sites were taken up, except for one really nice and open one we took. There was no shade at our site, so it would be unbearable to stay there during the day. Our site was on sand, right next to the water so it was very windy and we had to tie our tent down to the shrubs surrounding our tent (so be prepared.) The view was stunning, BUT the site was soooooo dirty. It was depressing to see toilet paper everywhere (there is a bathroom at this site!) and trash all over. Please clean up after yourselves ♥️. My husband and I had no cell service and we are on two different carriers (sprint+T-Mobile) which is something to consider. I woke up at 6:30AM and just outside of our tent there was a black bear in our campsite watching us. It was a really cool experience but the bears are definitely coming for all the food trash left behind. STORE your food- keep yourself and the bears safe. Pretty buggy, but no mosquitoes.

Kate R.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 15, 2020

Beautiful and private

Super nice location right on the river. We picked this one because it was almost exactly in between Glenwood Springs and Eagle to explore both. Just 10 minutes off I-25, but you don't hear any traffic. Only complaint is that they allow cows to graze there and there are cow pies all over. And not many places to hang a hammock!

Site1

Month of VisitJune

Isabelle K.

Legend

Reviewed Jul. 22, 2019

Great spot on the river

Camped here after a day floating along the Colorado River. Awesome views and really nice campsites. Only a few sites and each offers great seclusion right along the river. It was so nice to jump in the water in the morning! We were surprised to find most sites open even getting there on a Sunday afternoon. Will definitely come back and stay for a weekend next time. Super basecamp location for enjoying a weekend on the river.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are fires allowed at Lyons Gulch Campground & River Access?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Lyons Gulch Campground & River Access, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Is there cell phone reception at Lyons Gulch Campground & River Access?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is no coverage for AT&T, no coverage for T-Mobile, and some coverage for Verizon.

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Lyons Gulch Campground & River Access

Description

Location

Directions

Coordinates

The Dyrt Alerts

Access

Connectivity

Site Types

Features

For Campers

FREE established camping

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

Contact

Drive Time

Reviews

4.5

Beautiful but busy

AWESOME

Perfect

A decent option

Beautiful and private

Great spot on the river

Are fires allowed at Lyons Gulch Campground & River Access?

Is there cell phone reception at Lyons Gulch Campground & River Access?