Looking for a rustic and comfortable horse camping experience near Austin? Equestrian camping is an adventurous and unique way to experience the city. Search horse campsites and discover top-rated spots, as reviewed by other campers.
Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed on the GMUG National Forests. Please observe the guidelines on selecting a dispersed camping site on our forest. For comprehensive information on dispersed camping opportunities refer to the dispersed camping guidelines for the GMUG National Forest.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd576017.pdf
photo of new cement accessible fishing deck Lost Lake Campground is a great place for families to camp. Kids and parents alike will enjoy fishing and hiking around Lost Lake, Dollar Lake and Lost Lake Slough. Beckwith Pass provides breathtaking vistas of the Ruby Mountain Range. The wildflowers in this region are phenomenal during mid-July and early August. Campgound Brochure Moreon Lost Lake Campground
Please reserve on our website at www.keblercorner.com - we do not take reservations through DRYT.
Looking to get away and unplug? Come stay with us at Kebler Corner where you can unwind in convenient accommodations. We offer an array of 9 cabins of varying sizes, 22 full RV hook-ups and primitive tent sites. Enjoy the breathtaking views with a variety of on-site amenities including river access, fishing, hiking, general store (with grocery basics), liquor store, and wi-fi access.
Kebler Corner also allows guests to easily visit state parks and area tourist attractions. Relax at our campground or explore the nearby destinations that are ideal for hiking, kayaking, rafting, biking, wine tasting, fruit picking, hunting and so much more. If you are looking for a memorable vacation experience in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado– look no further!
$35 - $425 / night
Various recreation sites in the Soap Creek Area
$5 - $10 / night
Silver Jack Campground has 60 campsites around three loops - Chipeta, Ouray and Sapinero. Each loop is heavily wooded with Aspen and a few spruce trees and an understory of tall grass and wildflowers. The campground is convenient to the Silver Jack Reservoir and a network of trails around the Cimarron Ridge. One of the three loops is often used for groups while the other two are for individual campers. Drinking water is available. There are no close communities to get provisions so visitors need to bring everything they need. This is bear country; practice safe food storage techniques.
There are OHV trails nearby
$175 - $275 / night
The Dark Canyon Trailhead is located in the Erickson Springs Recreation Area, adjacent to Erickson Springs Campground. This trailhead accesses Dark Canyon Trail #830 which enters Raggeds Wilderness where Wilderness Regulations apply. The trailhead has hitching racks, hay feeders and a restroom located near the parking lot.
Located 6 miles up Slate River Rd, Musician’s Camp has 17 campsites. It accommodates RV’s, trailers, and tent sites.
Traveler
Easy to find with Google maps. Plenty of open space. 15min off 70.
Dirt road, a bit bumpy, but we easily pulled our 21ft Micro Minnie
and it was doable for almost any vehicle. We didn't go to far up into the sites so I can't speak to further in. Rolled in at midnight and was still simple to find in the dark.
TravelerApple map directions are spot on. Lots of room - I chose to go up a rutted road a ways, for privacy. There was one camper at the flat bottom. Check weather for rain chance if you don’t have 4x4.
GuideThis was a beautiful place to camp. There were a few places along the road you could stop and camp. We stayed at the farthest site out because there were other campers at the other sites. All sites could fit more that one camper if needed.
Beautiful sunsets and sunrises at this location. The road leaving up was doable for our low clearance Winnebago solis.
Scout
We stayed here Thursday through Monday over Labor Day Weekend. It is in an absolutely beautiful spot and the campground is kept immaculately. It is right on the river so my husband was happy to be able to fish right behind our RV. We stayed in#33 which is on the end so we had more privacy and room. It was a concrete pad so easy to level and fire pits were great. They have everything you could think of-ninja lines, playset, zip line, hammocks, jenga, frisbee golf, etc. There were tons of kids that had a huge time. Mine loved it! There is a trail to hike up to a beautiful meadow. They have a general store/liquor store on site with a really good selection of items. We were able to make a short drive to Black Canyon National Park as well as some really nice local produce stops. The town of Hotchkiss is 15 mins away and has propane/restaurants/etc. Highly recommend staying here.
Traveler
This is a great campground - the lake is beautiful and there are several trails that leave from here. Friendly hosts and clean / well maintained! We arrived midday on a Saturday in late August and there were still several open sites, plus there are a handful of dispersed sites along the road in which were all empty.
Guide
Not an actual site. Pin took me to a feild with horse/cows (pics attached for cuteness). The actual site is in the campground on Google Maps, but IT ISNT ALLOWED!!!
VERY CLEARLY SIGNED CAMPING IN CAMPGROUND SITES ONLY!!!
There is a small fire ring by the trailhead, as description says, but the signs on the road are VERY clear. Also lots of rangers patrolling, so don't risk it!!
So, unless you wanna pay a RIDICULOUS fee for a night, not worth it at all. Would've given it one mark, but figured someone later might find a touch of value.
Guide
Not too far outside Crested Butt CO. (About 25 mins) The road is ok , but not great getting there. Campsites and view of the mountain range is great. Peaceful area but some traffic on the road coming in and it free range area for cows. Always a few walking around. Some sites are in open area and some sites are under the trees. Would stay there again. A few disbursed campgrounds in the area.
TravelerThis campsite was a nice creekside getaway! It had community bathrooms that included a sink with soap and even a shower! They had a general store that was accessible and had any goods that you may have forgotten. Overall this was a very clean and safe campsite with beautiful scenery. About an hour out from Crested Butte, this was great for a weekend getaway.
GuideWe stayed in a camper van over a busy holiday and loved it! We were hoping for a peaceful getaway for us and our dog and found it at Kebler. Yes, some of the spaces are close together but everyone there made it work well. The angled spots and strategic landscaping help too. Plenty of grassy common areas to stretch your legs and your pup’s (on leash), so much so we didn’t feel like we missed out on anything by not being parked with the big coaches along the river. Even better since the large river spots had little/no natural shade (most seemed to have their own awnings that our van didn’t so no worries there I think for them). The tent spots were in a different area on the other side of the property a little away from the busier parts. They also had less shade but had level pads and but seemed closer to the bridge (and hiking). The community vibe was respectful and friendly and it was lovely to stroll about and enjoy it all. Families were out and about, playing with their children and trying different things to do. There was a little playground and some activities in a covered space like velcro axe throwing and corn hole. There were soccer goals set up at one of the grassy areas too. There was also a frisbee golf course, hammocks and picnic tables scattered around the property. A sign by the bathrooms invited camp guests to go gentle group hike if you meet at the bridge at the posted time in the morning. The general store was open during the day and had more than I expected (came for stickers and snacks, left with a game of Bananagrams and more). There wasn’t cell service but wifi worked well for what we needed. The bathrooms were clean and the water was warm. On a busy weekend you might need to use the portable toilets near the tent sites if the regular ones are occupied at a busy time. In the future, splitting the shower and toilet facilities might help with that long term, but I am not sure how hard (and expensive) that is to do in places that are tucked away into the mountains like this. We did use the coin laundry and that worked well. At the time of our visit it was $2 for the washer and $3.50 for the dryer. There was a variety of cute cabins for rent with a good range in size and cost - and some have own their bathroom and even little patio spaces. The hosts and staff were friendly and helpful, even doing trash pickup in the morning if you left it out at a certain time by your site. Kebler is in a beautiful setting, has thoughtfully-designed spaces and is carefully maintained. We would definitely come back - hopefully in a camper van / travel trailer or even just to stay in one of the cabins.
ScoutPulled in around 10pm and followed up the rutted road to a campsite. There were some folks camped on the lower lot, but being on top of the hill gave great morning views. Definitely recommend for a pitstop from Denver to Zion.
Go right at the sign for the range after ~4 miles off 70 and some rutted gravel roads. You can pull off there, or we drove up a bit (prob wouldn't recommend if you're in a sedan). Fire rings were available, but it was quite windy and we got there late.
TravelerLong road with lots of options like the other reviews say. We drove in at 10 pm and there were at least 7 other people staying on the road. Road has lots of ruts and some of the pull off areas are pretty rutted, too. We weren't too sure if our van could handle those, so we had to pick one that was a little smoother. Perk, is that we both had really good service (Verizon)!
GuideIf you have ATVs, dirt bikes, horses, etc. this is a great place for you. It’s just 4 miles off of I-70 but still secluded. It is a designated OHV area so no worries about people stopping you from ripping around and exploring.
That said - I’m a quiet camper and prefer to avoid OHV areas calling them Obnoxiously High-noise Vehicle areas. I’m kidding, obviously. Seriously, everyone enjoys the outdoors in their own way and I don’t begrudge anyone their enjoyment. I took the chance and it was very quiet while I was there. Only one couple other than me that I’m aware of.
The weather was mild in mid-April during my stay - got to about 70 during the day and around 40 at night. It was windy during the day but it is a very open space and it is western Colorado. When the wind died down, the mosquitoes came out and they were persistent. I hiked around and they weren’t just at my campsite. There is a water treatment facility in the area and just down from the main camping is a treatment pond so I’m guessing that’s the culprit.
The road in is unpaved once you leave the small town but very easy. I base those sorts of claims off of the VW Jetta Scale - the vehicle I had for 8 years before my current vehicle. There are a few low creeks crossings but the beds are small and both were dry when I came through. Even if they had water, I still would have crossed if I were still in my Jetta. The roads were washboarded so don’t bring the nice china.
The pull offs are plentiful and large. Most could hold a few trailers or several vehicles and some have fire rings. I did not have a fire because the fire danger was too high (ALWAYS CHECK BEFORE HAVING A FIRE). The road is a loop so just follow it around until you find the spot you want.
The space is wide open and surrounded by 360 views of mountains. Sunset and Sunrise were great but - for you photographers - the light changes really fast so scout the compositions you want ahead of time.
No wildlife that I was aware of aside from birds and our mosquito friends. I didn’t hear coyotes, I didn’t even see deer tracks. Just horse and tire tracks.
Oh, on the way in there was a sign that said “Private Property, No Trespassing” and it looked like it was for the road going in; however, the other signs revealed that it was for the area around the water treatment plant. There isn’t a lot of signage, just one saying it’s an OHV area and one saying it’s a Limited Use area. Other signs are just to protect the sensitive areas.
Guide
We had this campground all too our selves in late May as it was still rather cold out in the area but it was a great spot for tent camping. Lots of trails near by to explore.
TravelerThe road was smooth coming in. I parked right below the marked spot because the road got a little more rough to get up there. But there is plenty of dispersed camping before and after the marked spot.
ScoutWe towed a 35 FT 5th wheel heading west on 105 until we discovered the perfect campsite by turning south at the intersection with 108. The road was very rough but doable by moving along very slowly.
Our site was hidden by trees off a short dirt drive which wasn’t too bad. There was plenty of space for us to turn around, and a fire pit had been constructed of large rocks (with a resident chipmunk hanging out among them).
We loved being surrounded by tall trees on one side and having a long distance view across the meadow on the other side, watching storm clouds approaching every day. We were far enough from the road that we barely heard any traffic passing. However, the sound of cattle lowing was frequent, and there was evidence of their presence all over the ground! One bull approached and stood there bellowing at the camper before finally moving along, and another morning we looked outside to see several cows munching on the remains of our campfire. Apparently they like to eat ashes and charcoal for the minerals because it happened twice!
We camped there 6 nights and hated to leave. Our only reservations were driving on the long bumpy roads and cattle manure being everywhere. Otherwise, it was the best boondocking place we’ve stayed because of the scenery and remoteness. It was very quiet except for the cattle lowing.
We rode our bikes down 108 one day and discovered that it was way too rough to drive with our dually pickup. Another day we rode all the way down 105 and then back on 100 which is Land’s End Road. There are lots more dispersed campsites further down 105, but many have huge potholes turning into them. Some are located next to reservoirs and have lovely views, but we were happy with our site because we didn’t have to drive that far to reach it. If you had a smaller rig, it would be worth trying those places.
GuideOne of our best campsites so far. It’s a bit of a long road in and first come first serve sites. Nice tree shaded spots
LegendAshley here with The Dyrt! I'm happy to welcome Emily, your host, to our platform. This property offers 9 cabins of varying sizes, 22 full RV hook-ups and primitive tent sites. Close to State Parks. Book today and leave your review here!
Guide
This is a great spot tucked away behind the reservoir and along a sweet little creek. I didn’t stay because no one was there this time of year and I had no cell service. Good to know about and will be back!
GuideWe spent two weeks near vela resevoir. No fish but lots of mushrooms. The first trees are inoxicating. We are disappointed in the virtual take over by atvs. There are only 4 hiking trails dedicated for hiking. The atvs are allowed everywhere and even sig s stating no motor vehicles are ignored. They ruin meadows, roads, boat ramps. Noisy and stinky. We had to Bushwack to get quiet. It rained alot but we love rain.
LegendThe drive here is amazing and there are plenty of wildflowers to photograph in and near the campground.
Guide
We stayed here the first day it opened in June of 2022. Only the middle loop of the campground was open at that time. Big sites, lots of pull through options. Very clean bathrooms. The hosts were friendly and informative. The short hike out to the overlook is worth the stroll. The views are amazing. Closest store is 45 min away so come prepared with everything you’ll need.
GuideThis is for "Soap Creek Corral/ Coal Mesa Horse Camp" dispersed camping not the actual Soap Creek Campground. There were spots at the formal campground but they were small, unconcealed, and within close proximity to all other sites. However, there were true dispersed spots near the horse corrals where lots of horse trailers and off roaders park to ride the trails.
Off of HWY 50, we turned on to HWY 92 and then took FR 721 to FR 721 E where we turned and went right down to the proper campground before looping back out. We went out the same way in (FR 721) but split off onto the side road to find the horse corral area. Bear country. Pros/Cons: no mobile service, primitive, right next to a creek, lots of OHVs, milky way visible, mountain views, shade, creek sounds at night.
Legend
Great BLM campground at higher cool elevation, 8400 elv. 2.8 miles of graded washboard gravel County road from end of pavement. Lots of aspen trees here. Friendly Host on site. Clean vault toilets, 13 sites, $10/$5 senior, 14d limit. All sites are first come, no reservations. Sites are mostly back in and not real big for larger TTs or RVs. Two group sites and a nice large picnic area loop sometimes used for overflow camping. Limited cell signal for Verizon, Att, but no TMobile. No trash and although normally water is available, it was not working in Aug 2021 due to drought. Update Aug 2024 visit..water system is working.
GuideSilver Lake July 4th holiday What a great campground! There are three loops with one dedicated to group camping. Lots of great views and decent site separation. The elevation is 9,100 feet. There are trails to an overlook of the reservoir and down around the reservoir. The entire campground (except groups) is all first come first served. It’s posted to select your site and the host will find you... eventually. It’s not like you are leaving anytime soon. The hosts Kathy and Jeneen are awesome. Very laidback and easygoing, creating a relaxed and stress free environment while staying on top of their campground tasks as needed. If they don’t catch up to you by dinner time, they will the next morning... relax! Interesting not to see a single chipmunk the entire week. Saw deer and a fox, lots of Monarch butterflies, but no chipmunks. No one has seen a bear this
GuideCrested Butte (wisely) decided to control the previously out-of-control dispersed camping situation around the region. This NFS region was heavily impacted with people cutting trees, trampling region, etc. etc. The NSF decided to take the bull by the horns and convert it into an official campground with 17 sites divided (geographically) into about 7 tent (only) and 10 RV (or tent) sites. The RV sites (#s 4 - 13) are just basically parking lot style in a big circular parking lot without trees near the only two toilets (clean) of the CG. I don't RV and those sites were super basic so i won't review them (they would earn a 2/5 * max if i were to review them… 2* because they are free and no hassle and no reservation… otherwise lame but an important conservation effort for the area). The tent sites (#s 1,-3; 14-17) are also separated somewhat with sites 1-3 decidedly less impressive than the 14 - 17 ones.
NOTE: the two tent sections have two distinct drive-ins. The better sites (14 - 17) require you to enter at the second driveway off slate road and go through the RV section (past the toilets) to the back (creeksite).
All sites(all) have a fire pit, and designated(although still confusing) parking area and nothing else(no table, bear boxes, no garbage, water, etc.). The creek rushes past(down a steep slope offering water(you can purify) and a great cold-water swimming hole. All have super easy access (simple drive into your spot… no issues).
Okay, now for the best sites (tent sites 14 - 17). Of these, 17 and 16 are the best with 16 taking the prize by a longshot. Sites 14, 15, and 17 are bit cramped (designed based on previous uncontrolled usage patterns and still under active design and improvement). 15 and 17 are creekside and while 17 is big and you can spread out (room for several tents and tarps) it's firepit feels like you are on top of site 15. 15 is a smaller site with room for about 2 -3 tents… (creekside as well) and is nothing spectacular but, hey, it's free and easy access… and, i think still one of the best front-country options in this valley.
Site 16 is a "walk-in" site (walking less than 15 seconds) to a wonderful private large knook within the crook of the rushing creek which surrounds the site on the back side. It's got great morning sun (earliest of all the tent sites) and space for many tents … and away from all the others. I wouldn't be surprised if they someday split it into two… but for now (with the CG just starting out)… it's the cream of the crop.
Lastly, the CG is currently free as the main motivation is to mitigate uncontrolled camping impact rather than generate income. We loved the spot as it felt super rustic and was a quick easy 10 - 15 min to town and 3 - 5 minutes to Oh Be Joyful TH.
We were there late-mid July (2021) and there were a few spots available. However, during our three days there, the place was full (at night) and we had to lend out space to late-arriving folks (raining hard) as no other options existed on the slate-river road.
GuideThe campground was closed this weekend but we Disperse anyway, lovely area and fishing is great at the lake. Great place beautiful scenery elk bugle in the mornings. Quiet not to many people out on memorial weekend.
ScoutBeautiful area around Silver Jack Reservoir with scrub brush low turning to pine forest and huge aspen glades as you climb. Highly suggest taking 858/Cimarron road over the pass to highway 50/Cimarron Colorado in the fall due to the extensive Aspen population. This is where I grew up so camped in the area dozens of times at least.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Austin, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Austin, CO is Grand Mesa FS 105 Dispersed Camping with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Austin, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Austin, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
