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Five miles north of Nederland, National Forest System Road (NFSR) 226, commonly known as Gordon Gulch, turns east off of Colorado Highway 72. NFSR 226 intersects other forest roads: NFSR 314, 228, 233 and their off-shoots. There are 15 numbered, designated campsites scattered along the road system within 1.5 miles east of Highway 72. Camping is permitted in designated sites only. Take care when driving in this area. Snow and mud can persist through most of the year. The free Boulder Ranger District Motor Vehicle Use Map displays National Forest System (NFS) routes open to motorized travel and is available online and at the Boulder Ranger District offfice.
Streams; treat water for drinking.
Camping is allowed at numbered designated campsites. No fee is charged. Practice Leave No Trace Principles.
Camping is limited to 14 days in one location. After 14 days, your camp must be moved at least three miles away.
Maximum stay is 28 days within a 60-day period. After 28 days, all property and people must leave the Roosevelt National Forest.
NOTE: Campers who build any fires face fines up to $5,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment for open fire violations.
Leave No Trace must be observed, as in any outdoor space.
In any season this area is prone to very strong dry winds that can pick up a hot coal from a campfire that has lain dormant for as much as three days and ignite dry vegetation, causing horrific devastation. People from outside Colorado may not understand how tinder dry this area can be. 197 homes in this area have been destroyed by wildfires. All of these fires were started by humans.
Local residents overlook this area and if they see visible flame or smoke they will call the Boulder County sheriff. Any campers who require a campfire are recommended to disperse camp near Sugarloaf Mountain where fires are permitted.
White Ranch Park is one of two Jeffco Open Space parks that allows for permitted camping. Sawmill and Sourdough Springs Campgrounds offer semi-primitive, tent-only, walk-in camping in designated sites is available by online permit. Required camping permits must be obtained at least 24 hours in advance. Permits are $12 per campsite, per night and valid for up to three consecutive nights. Camping is limited to a total of six nights within a 30 day period.
$12 / night
$12 / night
The Dutch Fred Trailhead is located south of Indian Creek / Rampart Range area. The trail enters into a system of 115 miles of motorcycle and ATV trails in the Rampart Range area. In order to use any vehicle on National Forest lands, it must either have a valid state license plate or be registered with the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Program. Contact Colorado State Parks at 303.866.3437 for OHV registration information. Registered OHVs may be subject to fines if used where they are not specifically permitted.
On the west side of South Foxton Road, hiker and equestrian trails allow visitors to climb to scenic overlooks. Mountain bikes are welcome to explore the east side of South Foxton Road and connect to the 10.1-mile North Fork Trail that originates at the parking lot and terminates at the South Platte River, allowing access to the Colorado Trail.
Reynolds Park is one of two Jeffco Open Space parks that allow for permitted camping. Semi-primitive, tent-only, walk-in camping in designated sites is available by online permit.
$12 / night
Traveler
Our stay at liberty ranch was so great, we ended up staying longer than we had planned and the hosts were super accommodating, friendly, and people we are very glad to have met. We loved being able to see all of the animals and the outdoor bathroom and showers were great, so were the activity options they had. We felt incredibly safe and liked the location as well, secluded but not far from Aurora at all. Bring extra padding if you do decide to tent camp on the concrete is our only advice. We would definitely recommend if you’re stopping through for a bit!
Legend
We were in the area to fish as much of the river as possible and this was a great site.
Cell service- none (t-mobile) Firewood- none Camp host- none Water - non Toilets- port a potty Fire ring- yes No leveled tent sites- generally flat land.
Can car/van/roof top tent camp in the parking lot, for the same nightly fee as listed on the notice board. However, no trailers.
Guide
Very open campground, we camped in a tent but probably better for an rv
Legend
This campground has a equestrian area and a tent camping area. The tent camping is to the right after you enter, there are two tent loops with bathrooms. Water spigots next to the bathroom. There are a few trails here, some are horse trails. Overall a beautiful spot with some shade!
Ranger
Awesome little campground for both RVs and tent campers. This time we chose to tent camp and it couldn’t have been more relaxing.
There are some great little lakes nearby to walk around and the bathrooms are clean. The camp host was friendly and the trees provide ample shade.
Do keep in mind if you are tent camping, it can be cold here at night- even in the summer!
Scout
I didn’t get to my tent site until almost 9pm so I really haven’t seen the place during the daytime. However, when driving around looking for the 3 tent sites I noticed how no one was out and with the truck headlights it seemed to look very nice.
ScoutNote there's a 3 day limit on tent camping.
Guide
if you pick a tent site it’s your best bet the electric sites are too close to RV’s
Scout
We had a blast and thanks to this site we plan on doing much more camping. Good tent sites, clean bathrooms, fire pits, and fun trails.
Ranger
Small campground with tent sites, RV sites, and cabins. Main building has camp store with a variety of items available for purchase. Nice bathrooms including showers available.
Guide
There are RV, Tent and Yurt camping sites. Bathrooms, showers, dishwashing area and laundry facilities but still in nature and beautiful views and trails, especially in the non-electric tent sites. Great staff at the check in area.
Scout
Site #7 was clean, maintained. One official tent site and a good spot for another two person tent. Partial sun depending on time of day. Between two other campsites so possibly noisy in the evening depending on your neighbors.
ScoutVery wooded area, lots of vaulted toilet and water access. If you are tent camping you can set up your tent anywhere in your space (not restricted to just a pad) Can easily camp 2 families (limit of 2 tents and 8 people) Close walk to a lovely little pond for fishing and plenty of beautiful trails and hikes nearby.
Traveler
Probably best for an overnight stay en route to a destination. Right off of I70, so there is constant highway noise. Train heard faintly in the distance, but not bad. Under the flight paths for Denver airport, so the occasional overhead plan noise. Sites are cramped but clean. Stayed in site 81, which was a bit uneven sloping down to the front of the pull through site. Connections are a little far for some RV models, so make sure you have extensions for cords and hoses just in case. The campground advertises a lot of conveniences like pizza orders delivered to your site. Did not use any of those services during the 2 night stay. Local saloon across the frontage road from the park entrance if you are up for soaking in some of the local color. About 30 miles from Aurora and the outskirts of Denver.
AT&T signal is OK. Verizon is better.
RangerStayed at a tent site one night and wish we had planned for two. Beautiful facilities and well-kept sites. Would love to explore all the trails next time. A place to go back to.
Guide
$22 for a very unlevel parking spot, a picnic table and a fire pit. The campground is very quiet midweek and is best suited for tent camping. A lot of one night camping traffic while we were there. Zero service on AT&T and Verizon. 17mi to nearest services.
Guide
We camped here after a Red Rocks show. The spot is a great area. About 20 minutes off of I-70. There are many pull offs along this road that could theoretically be good camp sites. However there are “no camping” signs, which is why I gave it 3 stars. Everything is great besides that: beautiful stars, good tent site, safe parking area.
The spot we chose is a bit farther down the road than the one listed here. It’s in between the bend in the road. We parked at the pull off and walked down a small hill to find a good tent site and a fire ring.
Also be aware it’s pretty chilly compared to just a few miles up the road. It was in the mid 30s at night.
Guide
Large campsites, clean bathrooms with mountain/water views just outside the city. Great no matter if you tent camp or pull a trailer. Just a short hike to the water for paddle boarding or a picnic with a view. Some people need to be in the mountains to enjoy nature but Chatfield is the perfect getaway for us.
Scout
I’d give it a 5 but the vault toilets need a little care. Also wasn’t stocked with TP so we ran out.
Everything else was very good for a large group. Plenty of tent sites. Good water supply. Bear proof storage containers.
TravelerWe used a tent site, but the site they assigned to us was not the best for a Tent Trailer, but we made it work by moving the picnic table and pushing the trailer into the site. It was a small space, really close to the other tent spaces, small parking space.
We really needed showers, but realized you have to pay separately.
Guide
Beautiful, but really need a compact 4x4 to get into and out of parking lot and there are tent sites only. We almost didn’t make it out with our 24 ft van (checked it out but didn’t stay overnight). Very crowded on a Saturday at 4:30pm.
Guide
This is a somewhat typical NF rustic campground, but with seating and meeting sites for large groups (like scouts, youth groups, etc.). Recreational opportunities nearby (e.g. fishing) are limited, but some hiking is adjacent to the campground, Tent sites are well-marked and level, and the campground is very quiet at night.
Legend
This site is on an awesome stretch of river.
Park and walk to site. No camp host. No firewood availability. No water. Port-a-potties in lot (10/13/21) Cell service: zero (T-Mobile)
According to the camp host at Lone Rock you are allowed to car/van/ roof top tent camp in the parking lot for the same nightly fee as posted on the board. However, no trailers allowed.
Traveler
First class camper services with hot showers and clean campsites. We were tent camping in space 7. This campsite loops is located in a mature portion of the campground with NICE shaded trees. The Camper Services bldg was located about 50 yards away with v clean facilities and hot showers. A vault toilet was about 20 yards away.
The only Con to report was the heavy roadway noise pollution from nearby I-25. In a tent, earplugs are definitely needed.
TravelerGreat! Great! Great! Big campground but still peaceful. Not far from Denver but a world away.
Generously sized tent sites accommodate a variety of tent sizes. Be aware you cannot hang hammocks.
Bathrooms were clean. Showers cost $1. There are facilities for washing clothes and dishes and even vending machines.
There is some great hiking in the park and a couple of trailheads right out of the campground.
TravelerNice campground, well kept. Without a reservation you put your name on a list that they start going through at 1pm to assign sites. As someone tent-camping this is no problem, just takes some time (site assigned ~1.5hours after arrival at 13:20). But be wary if you need certain hookups. that being said, there are no ‘tent only’ sites. The minimum has electric ($26). There are 3 different areas - each has multiple bathhouses, which have coin-laundry available. Showers are coin-operated as well.
Scout
was just beautiful all the staff was wonderful and made our first in Co wonderful I would deffiantly recommend this place for sure beautiful views the yurt was awsome and we tent camped last night please come visit and see for yourself they have archery, a beach, horse stables and ring, large lake to fish, clean bathrooms and courthouses will stay again if we are ever in co again😁😍❤
Tent camping near Aurora, Colorado offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the stunning landscapes of the region. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, you can find the perfect spot for your outdoor adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Aurora, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Aurora, CO is Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area with a 3.6-star rating from 49 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 25 tent camping locations near Aurora, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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