Dispersed camping near Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland provides numerous options at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 11,000 feet. The area experiences wide temperature fluctuations with summer daytime highs typically in the 70s-80s°F but dropping to the 30s-40s°F at night. Weather patterns often include afternoon thunderstorms during summer months that develop quickly at higher elevations.
What to do
Fishing in small lakes: Meadow Creek Reservoir offers productive fishing opportunities with easy access. "We could hear anyone else, saw a couple moose and got to fish right off our campsite!" notes a visitor to Meadow Creek Reservoir Fishing Site.
Mountain biking on single tracks: The West Magnolia area near Nederland provides access to multiple trail systems. "Great spot for mountain biking, hiking, and camping," mentions one camper at West Magnolia, noting the established sites make for convenient base camps for outdoor activities.
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings and evenings offer the best wildlife spotting times throughout the forests. At Stillwater Pass Dispersed Campsite, one visitor reports: "We took a left at the fork and found a site with the best view and a porta-john at the end of the driveway. The site appears to have been freshly cleared."
Short backpacking trips: For those wanting a small taste of backpacking without major commitment, Ceran St. Vrain Trail offers approachable options. A camper notes, "A short hike downhill to many dispersed campsites along the creek. Beautiful and easy! A must-see."
What campers like
Creek-side camping options: Many campsites throughout the forest allow camping near flowing water. At Allenspark Dispersed Camping, a camper describes: "It was gorgeous! Lots of spots, and also lots of people. Some folks coming in late night. It's definitely a bumpy ride in."
Privacy between sites: Several areas feature naturally separated camping areas. "This dispersed site is pretty and is close to the highway, the road seemed a little sketchy in the snow but my RAV4 AWD made it just fine to most of the sites," reports a winter visitor to Gordon Gulch.
Established fire rings: Most popular dispersed areas have pre-existing fire rings that comply with regulations. A camper at Hell Canyon Dispersed observed: "Great spot for dispersed camping. Maybe 6 spots total going all the way up the road. 4x4 recommended. Fires allowed in established rings only."
Proximity to trails: Many camping areas connect directly to hiking and biking networks. "Lots of lovely spots close to Boulder. Most sites have well established firings, which is great," notes a camper at Gold Lake Area.
What you should know
Road conditions deteriorate quickly: Many forest roads start smooth but become progressively rougher. At Beaver Park Reservoir, a camper warns: "Road was bumpy but most cars could manage. Lots of wildlife; squirrels, rabbits, and a moose that walked right by our campsite."
Weather changes rapidly: High elevation camping means unpredictable conditions even in summer. "It snowed on me overnight and the road was still very passable. The last few sites felt just a little too sketchy for my driving skills," shares a winter visitor to Gordon Gulch.
Wildlife precautions required: Bears are active throughout the area, particularly during summer and fall. One camper at Allenspark Dispersed Camping reports: "The second day staying there we ran into a bear and scared him off. Two hours later he can back and we scared him off again. He's afraid of humans but he did try to get into the car while we were sleeping."
Limited cell service: Connectivity is spotty or non-existent in most areas. A Beaver Park Reservoir camper notes: "I also was able to get some service with Verizon periodically. Was able to send some texts but no pictures."
Tips for camping with families
Choose areas with bathroom access: A few free camping areas have basic facilities. "Fee area for day/multiday pass. It was $5 for day pass. Beautiful area to camp or spend the day kayaking, SUP, fishing, etc.," shares a visitor to Meadow Creek Reservoir.
Look for smaller hiking loops: Several camping areas connect to family-friendly trails. A camper at Ceran St. Vrain Trail Dispersed Camping suggests: "We parked in the parking lot and walked into the valley. After a while we found quite a lot of options with fireplaces already there."
Plan for cold nights: Even summer camping requires warm sleeping gear for children. "It was pretty windy in early August. Pretty good views. Moderately busy. Road in was not too bad," notes a visitor to Beaver Park Reservoir.
Avoid holiday weekends: The most accessible sites fill quickly during peak periods. "We went on a Sunday, the weekend after the 4th of July. It was quite easy to find a campground for dispersed camping with other sites marked," reports a Gordon Gulch visitor.
Tips from RVers
Scope roads before committing: Many forest roads become impassable for larger vehicles beyond initial miles. "We have a 25 foot camper and feet nicely in. Road in was good as well (May 2025). Some pots are close to each other and others have more space," notes an RV camper at Gold Lake Area Dispersed.
Use higher clearance vehicles: Standard RVs may struggle on many access roads. "We have a 38ft travel trailer and we were able to go only about 3 miles up but found a great off the road spot by a creek," shares an RV owner at Meadow Creek Reservoir.
Arrive early on weekdays: Finding suitable RV spots requires timing and strategy. One camper at West Magnolia observes: "Arrived at 5:30 to find all of the spots were full aside from one (#18), possibly because of the negative review of it on this app? High clearance vehicle recommended to get to a lot of the sites, but not all."
Bring leveling blocks: Most free camping sites lack perfectly flat parking areas. "The spots we saw were numbered. The only disappointing thing was right before dusk was about an hour of shooting, constant and annoying," reports an RV camper at Gordon Gulch.
