Best Campgrounds near Arboles, CO

This was honestly the perfect spot while I was visiting Pagosa Springs (about 30 min drive from town).

The road coming in was mildly steep/curvy, but not at all difficult.

Verizon was spotty and only available a little higher up, but I was still able to get my work done and stream Netflix, with a little patience.

I spent almost a week there and hardly saw anyone. Spots are spaced well apart and its nice and quiet.

The views are great!

Getting up there was not possible in my Travato (in my opinion). I've got some Falken Wildpeaks so traction was not so much the issue as the uneven path up.

Large campground that is part of the San Juan county grounds.

Great location between Durango and Santa Fe, just south of Pagosa Springs. Forest Service road, well maintained. I stopped at about 8300 feet. Great site nestled in pine grove with gambrel oak. Several of the sites are pull through so easy to come in with a trailer. Nice view of snow capped mountains to the west. There is no one here. Road continues up to Navajo Peak. There is sign of cat activity, relatively recent scat and elk femur.

We stayed here for a chilly winter night and had a lovely time. The campground is clean, quiet, and well taken care of. Close to the river, reservoir, and great adventure access.

We generally stay off-grid but this no-frills offering is perfect for resupply. Full hookups for $40 night after senior discount.

Convenient RV Park. Clean bathrooms, good laundry room. Just a stop over for the night for us.

Only free place near Durango in the winter. We called and asked the BLM & Forest Service. Easy access, lots of space. Bumpy access road and highway noise.

Flat, very clean pit toilets, picnic tables with shade and a great trail. 100%!

We spent a few nights here and will gladly go back!!! We were able to set up by a stream with a nice fire ring. There are NO facilities so be prepared. Clean up your trash and please don’t take glass bottles. There is also reservoir where several guys were ice fishing. They were at the day camping area where there were toilets. There are paid camping areas but they were all closed while we were there.

We arrived in the dark and left in the dark in late December 2024.  The pull-off was flat and about 150ft from highway 160.  There was a gate near our spot that was closed, presumably for the winter.  Although we could hear road traffic it didn't keep us awake. There was about 4" of snow on the road.

Madden Peak dispersed camping is a fantastic option for those seeking a peaceful and scenic camping experience near Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez, and Durango. This area is big rig accessible, with relatively flat camping spots, though the access roads can be bumpy at times . Campfires are allowed, making it a cozy spot for evenings under the stars.

The location offers stunning views of the La Plata Mountains and the surrounding wilderness, providing a serene backdrop for your stay. For outdoor enthusiasts, nearby hiking options include the Madden Peak Trail, which spans 4.5 miles and can be extended to summit Parrot Peak and Gibbs Peak. It's an ideal choice for campers who enjoy combining relaxation with outdoor adventure​.

Had no issues, pretty close to town, highly recommend. T-mobile works from here

There were about 4 spots clustered together right after the second bridge (a little over 2 miles from the main road). i took the right fork after that towards the rainbow springs trailhead and didn’t find anything else, but there might be more spots if you take the left fork after the second bridge instead. at the end of october the paid campground you pass by is closed for the season, no water and vault toilets are locked

Reasonable prices & open during the winter.

The lake is beautiful and a great trail network around the camp, good for trail running.

area is pretty rocky so i would be careful with a ground tent. We stayed in our van and it was great.

Easy drive up 160 from Pagosa. Pitched the tent in the afternoon and headed to town for a soak.

Room for a couple cars and several tents. Not PERFECTLY flat for the tent-folk.

View is killer - we hit it at about peak color.

We thought it would be great to check out Tico Time last weekend, but our experience was disappointing. We had reservations for Friday and Saturday night, but when we arrived, there was no one to help us find our campsite. After driving around aimlessly, we finally found our spot. 

However, the place gave off a rundown, homeless camp vibe with old camp trailers, a hippie bus, and even a car on blocks, and another trailer had two motorcycles in various stages of being dismantled.

The zip line was a letdown, and there wasn't much shade due to the lack of trees. We wished we could have gone to the river to cool off. After just one night, we decided to move on and found a better spot further up the road in the mountains north of Durango.