Four Mile Road dispersed camping area sits at approximately 8,000 feet elevation in White River National Forest, offering primitive camping options west of Basalt, Colorado. The area features varying terrain conditions depending on season, with access roads becoming challenging during spring runoff or after heavy rainfall. Camping sites are distributed along County Road 117, requiring some exploration to find available spots.
What to do
Mountain biking access: The area around Avalanche Campground connects to multiple trail systems. "There is a nice trail up the mountain that forks into two other trails," notes Anthony S. The campground "sits in a small valley with plenty of trees and the sound of a creek in the background."
Hot springs visits: Located near Redstone Campground, natural hot springs provide relaxation options. "Free Hot spgs nearby busy after 8 am," reports Ronny D. The nearby town is "historically significant with 1880 Coal Barron Castle and nearby 1880 Marble Quarry."
Fly fishing: The Crystal River area provides excellent fishing opportunities within walking distance of several campgrounds. At Bogan Flats, "The Crystal River flows through the campground and you can fish right from many of the sites," according to Mitch K. The area is considered "a fly fisherman's heaven."
What campers like
River access: Many campers appreciate sites adjacent to moving water. At Little Maud Campground, "The lake is beautiful and is great if you have a means of getting on the water," shares Michelle M. Waterfront sites provide "a small valley with trees and a creek running nearby."
Wildlife viewing: The region offers opportunities to see native wildlife. At Little Maud, one camper reports, "We were totally thrilled that there was a mule eared deer doe who was not shy and casually grazed under the trees at the edge of our campsite." Another camper spotted "a bear and a fox on the tree line surrounding the campground."
Mountain views: Campsites throughout the area feature scenic vistas. At Mollie B Campground, Allison G. notes, "The campground is adjacent to the reservoir and is within walking distance of the marina grounds. With plenty of beachfront access, many campers were able to set up day tents by the lake."
What you should know
Bear precautions: Bear-proof storage is essential at dog friendly campgrounds near Basalt. At Difficult Campground, "There was a bear raiding vehicles at night so make sure you lock everything and use the bear boxes provided at each site," warns Megan A. Most campgrounds provide bear lockers for food storage.
Road conditions: Access to many sites requires careful driving. For Four Mile Road dispersed camping, Matthew V. notes, "The road was easy no need for high clearance or 4wheel drive," but others recommend "4wd for the last part of the drive to the sites." At Avalanche Campground, one reviewer cautions, "For those without AWD/4WD vehicles I would use caution/advise against since the drive requires a bit of off roading including crossing a creek."
Limited services: Cell reception and utilities vary widely. At Four Mile Road, "There is no ATT phone service beyond a certain point," and "This is all primitive camping with no facilities ie: Toilets, power, water or fire pits." Similarly, Little Maud has "No cell service! You need to drive 25 min into the town of basalt for service."
Tips for camping with families
Safety considerations: For pet-friendly camping near Basalt with children, choose sites with appropriate facilities. At Carbondale-Crystal River KOA, "The sites are fairly packed together, so privacy is not at a premium here," but "The bathroom facilities are small but very clean and modern."
Weather preparation: Mountain weather changes rapidly, requiring appropriate gear. One camper at Bogan Flats notes, "It did get coooold during early June, bring a good sleeping bag and warm clothes!!" At Little Maud Campground, another reports, "Cold nights, down to between 29 and 34 the first 4 nights were we there."
Activity options: Plan alternatives for different weather conditions. The area around Carbondale offers "the paved bike bath all the way into Carbondale." Sharon B. adds, "We also enjoyed playing pickleball in Carbondale with the friendly local club. They have 8 outdoor courts with gorgeous views of the mountains."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: For RVs, choose appropriate sites based on rig size. At Four Mile Road dispersed camping, VanRumschpringa V. explains, "The road became pretty rough for my AWD Ford Transit. Eventually I had to call it quits and pick a space." Chris C. recommends, "Four Mile Park is accessible by AWD/4WD/RVs with easy off-road access using County Road (CR) 300."
Hookup availability: Electric, water, and sewer connections are limited. At Carbondale-Crystal River KOA, "We stayed here while visiting Glenwood springs, which is only about 25 minute drive away," says Alex C., adding that "The campground was kept clean and the bathhouse was close to everything."
Space constraints: Some campgrounds have tight parking areas. Morgan notes that at Four Mile, "After about a 25 minute drive up that road, there are plenty of awesome spots for tents or RVs. They are quite spread out and appears to be plenty of them, even for arriving on a Saturday afternoon!"
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