Tent camping sites near Bellvue, Colorado range from 5,300 to 8,500 feet in elevation, with seasonal conditions affecting accessibility primarily from May through October. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during daylight hours but frequently drop below 50°F after sunset, creating significant temperature swings that require appropriate gear. Winter camping requires specialized equipment due to snowpack that can persist through early June at higher elevations.
What to do
Hiking to panoramic viewpoints: Horsetooth Mountain Open Space Backcountry provides access to trails with views of Horsetooth Reservoir. According to visitor Miranda K., "The site is off the main trail and is secluded enough so you don't see hikers or bikers. It has a nice view of Horsetooth Reservoir and you are surrounded by the trees/rocks." This location serves as "a perfect base for exploring Horsetooth rock/Horsetooth falls!"
Wildlife observation opportunities: Canyon Lakes Ranger District Dispersed Camping areas offer remote forest environments where visitors can spot native wildlife. The limited development helps maintain natural habitats, though one camper noted, "It was pretty rough driving in, there were so many 'private' lands even when you hit the national forest."
Stargazing in dark sky areas: Allenspark Dispersed Camping provides excellent night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. A camper described the experience: "About 1 hour from Boulder. Was super simple to access... Lots of spots available. Just keep driving along Ski Road and pick one that looks good. Lots of fire pits already built and most camp spots are along the creek."
What campers like
Secluded backcountry experiences: Lory State Park Backcountry Campsites offers isolation after regular park hours. One camper reports, "At night, you've basically got the park to yourself because it closes at dark to all other users. We hiked to the top of Arthur's rock to watch the supermoon rise and it was pretty special!"
Accessible backpacking for beginners: Backcountry Campground — Horsetooth Mountain Open Space provides an entry-level backpacking experience close to town. A camper shared, "This would be a perfect first backpacking trip for beginners! Once you park, you sign in to the backpacking log to the right of the main entrance by the kiosk. The sites are first come first serve. From the parking lot, it's only about a mile and a half."
Natural water features: Many tent sites position campers near running water. At Allenspark Dispersed Camp Spot, a visitor mentioned, "Visited the national park nearby and needed a place to camp. Kind of confusing at first because you go through a neighborhood first & then hit the camping spots. Right next to a creek, nice to have a water feature."
What you should know
Fire restriction variability: Rules about campfires change seasonally and by location. At Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area, campers need to check current regulations. One visitor noted, "It was a close 1 night get away spot. Pretty area, the sites we saw were numbered. The only disappointing thing was right before dusk was about an hour of shooting, constant and annoying. After dark, very quiet even though it was close to the road."
Bear activity considerations: Bears are common throughout the region. At Allenspark Dispersed Camping, a camper warned, "Beautiful, secluded and right next to a creek. BUT a huge bear got into my tent while I was gone for 2 hours and absolutely destroyed it. So I had to leave and didn't get to enjoy the night under the stars."
Road conditions and accessibility: Many of the best tent camping near Bellvue requires appropriate vehicles. Regarding Forest Road 119, a visitor explained, "Road is pretty rough and high clearance is recommended. A Subaru needed our help a little bit. We camped on a weekend and the road and other sites got pretty busy."
Tips for camping with families
Shorter hiking distances: Longs Peak Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park offers family-friendly tent camping with reasonable access. According to reviews, it's "Less busy than the Estes Park campgrounds" while still providing the national park experience. Families appreciate that "The spaces are small but accommodate an RV or a single tent. Bear boxes and toilets close to everything."
Water-based recreation options: Boat In Sites — Horsetooth Reservoir provides unique family experiences accessible only by water. A camper shared, "We took up 3 spots for a large family. It was the best time we had all in 2020 during the pandemic. There was a toilet of sorts, but due to the pandemic and it being boat-in spots, was not well maintained. We had a camping toilet and we're fine for 7 days. It was our own island paradise."
Multiple hiking trail options: Sites near trail systems allow families to choose appropriate difficulty levels. At Backcountry Campground — Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, campers mentioned, "This backcountry site is a hidden gem just off of the commonly used Horsetooth Rock trail. Awesome panoramic views and plenty of wildlife."
Tips from RVers
RV access limitations: Many tent camping areas near Bellvue restrict larger vehicles. When attempting to access Allenspark Dispersed Camping, one RVer cautioned, "This is not meant for travel trailers, pop ups, or anything except tents. Even then, while the 1 area was tiny, the second was large and open but the ground was all dust-ash. Super filthy and made a mess of everything. Also, that road is wicked and jagged. 4x4 and smaller trucks only."
Generator restrictions: Noise limitations affect power options at most sites. Canyon Lakes Ranger District Dispersed Camping prohibits generators to maintain the natural setting, requiring RVers to have alternative power sources or go without electricity.
Limited turnaround areas: Forest roads often lack adequate space for larger vehicles to turn around. One camper at Forest Road 119 warned, "We just hauled our trailer down this road to find out it's closed and had no where to turn around. Ended up having to back way down the hill before finding a spot and it still was a mess."
