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Free Camping Collection

Established Camping

McClure Campground

McClure Campground, near Marble, Colorado, is a straightforward spot for those looking to escape into nature without the frills. With ten spacious sites, it’s a great place to pitch a tent or park your RV, but be ready to pack in your own supplies since there’s no drinking water or firewood available.

Visitors have noted the beauty of the area, though some have mentioned that it can get a bit noisy due to the nearby highway. Each site comes with a picnic table and fire pit, perfect for evening gatherings under the stars. One camper shared, “Spent one night here, besides being right off the highway this place is amazing!”

While it’s a free camping option, it fills up quickly, especially on weekends. If you’re planning a trip, arriving early is key to snagging a spot. The campground is surrounded by stunning natural scenery, with opportunities for wildlife spotting, including deer and other animals. Just remember, it’s a pack-in, pack-out situation, so leave no trace behind.

If you’re up for a little adventure, the remote location means you’ll need to drive a bit to find gas or cell service, but that’s part of the charm for those seeking solitude. McClure Campground is a solid choice for a night or two of camping, especially if you appreciate a quiet, rustic experience.

Description

National Forest

The McClure Campground is located on Highway 133 on the south side of McClure Pass. The historic town of Marble is nearby and the campground sits at the head of Lee Creek. Each campsites has a picnic table and fire rings/grills. This quiet campground is surrounded by aspen that provide excellent shade during the summer and there are beaver ponds near by for trout fishing.

Fee Info

FREE

Reservation Info

No reservations - first come first serve

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Location

McClure Campground is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Paonia, travel east on Highway 133 for approximately 26.7 miles. The campground is on the right just south of McClure Pass.

Coordinates

39.12390732 N
107.312643 W

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Access

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

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

FREE established camping

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


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if McClure Campground needs a permit.

Contact

General Info


Reviews

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5 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 28, 2024

Beautiful well maintained campground.

I came down to Marble, CO from Carbondale with the intention of staying at the Marble campground on a Wednesday but it was full so I went up the road about 10 miles to the McClure campground and was very pleasantly surprised at how much nicer it was than the Marble campground. While Marble did have showers and some sites with water and electricity it was much more crowded and uneven than McClure. McClures sites were all nice and level and several were pull through that could handle fair sized rigs. McClure was a dispersed site at one time but now costs $14/night compared to Marbles $40+ fee. Of course Marble has showers which are worth the extra price to some but McClure had the most important item which was a clean vault toilet. When I got to the campground there were only a couple of other sites occupied so I picked a beautiful level spot only about 150' from the toilet, which is very important to an old man with artificial knees and a weak bladder. By Friday night all the sites were taken and as most other campgrounds were also full there were lots of campers coming through the campground looking for a spot to camp. I had only planned to stay a couple of days but I liked the site so much I stayed for 5 nights. I used it as my base to drive the Crystal River trail which is about 10 miles down the road at Marble. Let me warn you right now, don't do the Crystal River trail unless you have a strong heart and a very sturdy mid sized or smaller vehicle or off-road vehicle because it is very narrow and extremely rough. I've driven some rough country and have a big 4x4 pickup but that trail was all my rig could handle and I left lots of paint on the rocks and trees at the narrower spots. I'm sure half my tires on the drop-off side were in mid air at times and since it is a single track trail if you met someone coming from the other direction one of you would have to back up to a spot that you could pass each other. Very scary. Anyway, back to McClure. The nearest place to get cell service and supplies is Carbondale which is about 20 miles away but if you are self contained and don't need to be on the internet every few minutes this place is great. There was lots of wildlife sharing my site which was fun to watch. I had a doe deer and her boyfriend show up before I even got my tent set up and squirrels and chipmunks were everywhere as were the hummingbirds. I had hummingbirds buzzing up to a foot away from my face to check out my red cap thinking it might be some kind of giant exotic new flower lol. The only reason I didn't give the camp 5 stars is that it is right next to route 133 which it turns out is a main road through this area and traffic noise is sometimes pretty loud, especially early in the mornings on week days. If I am back near that area I will definitely stay in this campground. Almost forgot one other thing. The elevation is high enough that it gets pretty cool most nights, even in July and rain showers came through almost every early morning but the rain never amounted to anything and by mid morning it was beautiful. Camp fees are on the honor system and you need to have cash or checks.

SiteSite #4 but there are no really bad sites and they are far enough apart.
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of McClure Campground by Tim K., September 28, 2024
  • Review photo of McClure Campground by Tim K., September 28, 2024
  • Review photo of McClure Campground by Tim K., September 28, 2024
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Oct. 12, 2023

Excellent!

Spent one night here, besides being right off the highway this place is amazing! Close to Marble which worked well for me. Several sites available when I stayed but I can see how it would fill up fast.

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of McClure Campground by Samuel H., October 12, 2023
  • Review photo of McClure Campground by Samuel H., October 12, 2023
  • Review photo of McClure Campground by Samuel H., October 12, 2023
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 1, 2023

Far from everything, but the busy highway

They have 10 spacious sites, and a pit toilet. Pack it in, and out. No cell for 30 miles and no gas either.

It's beautiful but noisy and it fills up quickly

 Don't expected to roll in on a weekend and find a spot, and it is a LONG drive to find out.

But if you get lucky it's a great secluded spot for a night or two.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are fires allowed at McClure Campground?

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