Best Camping near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Recent Reviews in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

1089 Reviews of 257 Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Campgrounds

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 15, 2024

  Blue Lakes Trailhead Dispersed

  Remote Wilderness

  Blue Lakes Trailhead Dispersed Camping, located near Mount Sneffels in Colorado, offers an incredibly remote and breathtaking camping experience. If you're looking to escape the crowds and immerse yourself in pristine wilderness, this spot is ideal. The campsites are dispersed along the trailhead, offering peace and solitude with stunning views of the surrounding peaks and alpine lakes.

  The beauty of this dispersed camping area is its complete immersion in nature. With no designated campsites or amenities, you get to choose your own perfect spot in the forest, whether it’s near the rushing creek or with views of the towering mountains. This is truly a wilderness experience, so you’ll need to be fully self-sufficient—bring your own water, food, and a solid plan for waste disposal.

  The Blue Lakes Trailhead offers some of Colorado’s most scenic hiking, including access to the famous Blue Lakes and a challenging ascent of Mount Sneffels. The hike itself rewards adventurers with awe-inspiring views of alpine lakes, wildflowers, and rugged mountain terrain. It’s perfect for those seeking an immersive backcountry experience.

  One downside of this dispersed camping is that the road leading to the trailhead is rough, so it’s best suited for high-clearance vehicles, and be prepared for the possibility of unpredictable weather, as storms can roll in quickly in the mountains.

  Overall, Blue Lakes Trailhead Dispersed Camping is an incredible option for experienced campers looking to enjoy the wild beauty of Colorado’s high country. It’s remote, peaceful, and surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in the state.

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 15, 2024

  Lost Lake Campground

  Tranquil Alpine Retreat

  Lost Lake Campground near Crested Butte, Colorado, is a hidden gem that combines serene alpine beauty with a peaceful camping experience. Tucked away in the Gunnison National Forest, this campground offers stunning views of wildflower-filled meadows, dense forests, and the pristine Lost Lake itself, which mirrors the surrounding peaks.

  The campsites are well-maintained, spacious, and thoughtfully spaced for privacy, with some offering lakefront views. There’s a charming rustic vibe, with basic amenities like vault toilets and picnic tables, but no hookups. The nearby trails, including the popular Three Lakes Loop, are perfect for hiking, fishing, and soaking in the mountain scenery.

  What sets Lost Lake apart is its tranquil atmosphere—especially if you’re visiting during the off-season. It’s the ideal spot to disconnect and enjoy Colorado’s natural beauty, whether you’re kayaking on the lake or simply relaxing by the campfire.

  Be aware that the road to the campground is a bit rough and narrow, so it’s best suited for smaller campers or tents. Also, temperatures can drop quickly at night, so pack warm gear even in summer.

  If you’re looking for a quiet retreat near Crested Butte with postcard-worthy scenery, Lost Lake Campground is hard to beat. It’s the perfect blend of solitude, recreation, and breathtaking views.

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 15, 2024

  Amphitheater Campground

  A Scenic Mountain Escape

  Nestled just minutes above the charming mountain town of Ouray, Amphitheater Campground is a true gem for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Surrounded by the breathtaking San Juan Mountains, this campground offers stunning views, a peaceful atmosphere, and convenient access to hiking trails, hot springs, and the iconic Million Dollar Highway.

  The campsites are well-spaced, offering a mix of shade and sun. Many sites provide spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and valley below. The facilities are basic but well-maintained, with clean vault toilets and potable water. While there are no hookups for RVs, the campground’s rustic vibe is perfect for tent camping or smaller camper setups.

  One of the highlights is its proximity to the Perimeter Trail, a scenic loop around Ouray, and other popular hikes like the Box Canyon Falls trail. You’re also a short drive from town, where you can enjoy the famous hot springs or grab a meal.

  A word of caution: the road to the campground is steep and narrow, so it may not be ideal for large RVs. Be sure to plan for cool nights, as temperatures drop significantly due to the elevation.

  Overall, Amphitheater Campground offers an unbeatable combination of solitude, accessibility, and breathtaking scenery. Whether you’re looking for a basecamp for outdoor adventures or simply a serene spot to relax, this campground delivers.

  Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 6, 2024

  Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch

  Amazing Campground, could use a refresh

  Located near Blue Mesa Reservoir, Thousand Trails Gunnison offers breathtaking views and outdoor activities like fishing, boating, and hiking. The campground features spacious sites, clean facilities, and a welcoming community vibe.

  While some amenities could use a refresh, the stunning location more than makes up for it. It’s a great spot for adventurers and nature lovers.

  Outdoor closes and activities die down after beginning of September.

  ASK other campers about the laundry facilities. Hopefully the dryers will be fixed by next season. They were taking more than 3 cycles to dry our clothes.

• 

  Kim L.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 27, 2024

  The Campground at Big B’s Delicious Orchards

  No amenities but next to orchard, restaurant, activities

  Campsites are a small piece of grassy area next to a pond or on an outside loop. Portable toilets only. Traffic noise at night. But was fun being next to a working orchard, a great restaurant with delicious food and a little store. Lots of outdoor seating. There are also special events on the property such as festivals, concerts, etc. it’s rather fun.

• 

  Kim S.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 27, 2024

  Angel Creek Campground

  Good campground with some bearboxes

  Stayed for 4 nights in early Oct 2024. Nice little campground with large bear boxes for food storage. I felt it's at a good location to venture off each day from.

  Not too many sites, had leveled tent areas, pit toilets, deer went through the campground adding to the nice views there and a river by it.

  The cons were there's no trash disposal there you need to go up the road to the other campground to get rid of it, cars were constantly going by looking for a campsite which was constant noise into the evening and they went really fast making the campground road not feel very safe to walk along, not the flattest of parking spots if using a rooftop tent or car camping without anything to level with

  Enjoyed the place.

• 

  Jeremy H.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 25, 2024

  Montrose / Black Canyon Nat'l Park KOA

  Nicest in town

  Tent camping is pricey but the amenities r almost with it. Close to black canyon and in town food and booze with in walking distance. What more could u ask for. A pool, they got that.

• F

  Fred E.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 24, 2024

  Three Rivers Resort & Outfitting

  Great location with easy access fishing

  Great location with full hookups for RVs. The description mentions back-in sites only, and while our electric hookup was conveniently on the same side, we had to run our water and sewage lines underneath the RV since those hookups were on the opposite side—this seems to be the case for all sites. The campground is perfectly situated at the intersection of the Gunnison, Taylor, and East Rivers, making it ideal for fly fishing. They offer cabins, RV sites, and long-term housing options. There's a small store with basic items, beer, and merchandise, plus a fly shop in the same building. There's also a restaurant, though it was closed during our stay, and coin-operated laundry facilities. Overall, a great stay!

• F

  Fred E.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 24, 2024

  South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

  Great Campsite and Beautiful Views

  We loved our stay at the South Rim Campground. It was the perfect spot to explore the national park and take in its stunning views. The drive down towards the East Portal Campground was amazing and led us right to the beautiful Gunnison River, where we enjoyed some great fly fishing. Highly recommend

• F

  Fred E.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 24, 2024

  BASECAMP 550

  Great Location and Atmosphere

  We had an amazing stay at Basecamp 550. The campground’s location is perfect, with easy access to Ouray, Montrose, Telluride, and other nearby areas. The amenities were excellent, including quarter-operated hot showers and laundry, restrooms, Wi-Fi, full hookups, and a clubhouse with coffee + tea, kitchen access, and a great workspace. Our site had a beautiful view and was right next to a ranch where cows would come right up to the fence. The communal fire pit was a nice touch, and the private, fenced-in setting made us feel safe and comfortable. They also offer glamping tents and casitas on the property. Highly recommend!

• 

  Jennifer C.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 20, 2024

  Orvis Hot Springs (Clothing Optional)

  Love it here. Be nice to it.

  This is my second time here and it is always such a great experience. I don’t even want to brag about it because I want to keep it to myself.

• D

  Dave K.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 18, 2024

  North Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

  High Altitude Beauty

  As locals, we love the North Rim of BCNP. It's closed from November through April/May. Can be surprisingly cold in May with temps below freezing. Lots of interesting fellow campers as many are big wall climbers from all over the globe. The nature trail in the campground offers nice viewpoints. The trail to Explanation Point is a level and very beautiful 5k hike, BUT no dogs. Same goes for Green Mountain trail past the point. The SOB trail starts from the road near the campground and is a difficult route dropping a few thousand feet, rocky, and steep with poison ivy to greet you near the bottom. Rewards are in store for the hearty hikers with great trout fishing a super river access. Campground is tight for spaces, some are not pull through. Gravel biking during winter closures on the roads in BCNP is full of wildlife and wonder.

• D

  Dave K.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 18, 2024

  Clear Fork Campground — Crawford State Park

  West Elk Views

  As part of Crawford Lake State Park, this campground offers great water access to a small reservoir for SUPs, motorboats and sailing. Decent fishing in the spring with some northerns, bass, and crappie. Excellent walking trails and a sandy swimming beach plus two boat ramps nearby. Rarely full capacity, it's a nice relaxing place to hang. The town of Crawford is right over the hill with a great coffee shop, ice cream parlor, and restaurants. Good jumping off spot to visit the North Rim of the Black Canyon NP (one of the gems of Western Colorado and much less visited than the South Rim near Montrose).

• D

  Dave K.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 18, 2024

  BLM Cottonwood Grove Campground

  Good Road when Dry

  This campground is a gem as other reviewers have cited, BUT the road in is dangerous when wet as there is a lot of exposure off the edge. An AWD would be ok but still dicey on the downhills. The fishing platform is really a good addition for those physically compromised. Brown and rainbow fishing (rainbows should be immediately returned to the river). Very peaceful and out of the way. Can be used all seasons as it rarely gets snow.

• U

  UT801

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 17, 2024

  Jumbo Campground — Jumbo Reservoir State Wildlife Area

  Nice but buggy in July

  Stayed in spot 18 which was close to vault toilets, but they were stinky and full of bugs. Very buggy in general, not all are mosquitos but there are some of those too. Sites 1, 2, 4, 18, 21, 23 were all decent looking with some shade in the afternoon and relatively level pads. Lakes in area, one adjacent to campground and one that is down a trail to a day use area that is covered by the camp fee. Good spacing between sites. Some have electric. A little warm for July, probably 80 degrees in afternoon. Lots of aspen trees in the area might be good for a fall visit. Bear cans available for trash.

• 

  Xavier G.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 17, 2024

  Black Canyon Dispersed Camping

  Gorgeous, close to National Park, plenty of sites

  It is a little bit of a maze of roads, some are gonna need vehicles with higher clearance, careful not to commit too much on a road if you're unsure about your vehicle's offroading capability.  If you get to a site, most have room for 1/2 vehicles and tents.  Beautiful trees, each spot feels pretty secluded from others.  Plenty of downed trees for firewood if fire danger is low.  Will definitely come back.

• 

  Alexia L.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 13, 2024

  Nine Mile Hill

  Great Views, Secluded

  Found this spot and was very happy with the setup. Like other reviews, the highway noise was a bit loud but nothing too crazy, especially really late. There were other campers spread out nicely, you wouldn’t even know they were there. The road is a bit iffy so snagging a spot at the front would be best if you don’t have 4WD (my Nissan car struggled, we had to back up & turn around). Overall great spot for tent camping! Remember to leave no trace 🫶🏼🏕️🌎

• G

  Grace S.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 10, 2024

  Black Canyon Dispersed

  Great spot, rough roads

  Some of the roads were really rutted out, but we were lucky and everything was dry so we were able to get thru in my forester. There are some spots at the beginning of the property but there are more if you follow the dirt road back another two miles or so. Beautiful views, quiet and secluded. We did find a few deer legs left behind, so keep an eye out for Mountain Lion

• 

  Erika R.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 10, 2024

  Alta Lakes Campground (Dispersed)

  LONG dirt road, but worth it

  The off road trail it get to Alta lakes took us about 40-50 minutes in my boyfriends F-150. The views were amazing so neither of us really minded. We enjoyed our 1 night stay and did not struggle to find a spot

• 

  Kevin S.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 6, 2024

  Black Canyon

  Extreme solitude close to Black Canyon National Park

  Easy to find BLM land with decent roads and lots of spots. I stayed here 3 days and never saw or heard another person. It’s only 5 miles from the North Rim of Black Canyon National Park. Crawford is about 8 miles away and has some restaurants with good home cooking.

• S

  Steven D.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 3, 2024

  Ouray KOA

  Quiet and clean

  Friendly staff. Clean restrooms and showers

• S

  Steven D.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 3, 2024

  Ouray KOA

  Clean facilities

  Very friendly staff. Easy access

• 

  Kiet D.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 2, 2024

  Black Canyon Dispersed Camping

  Great for visiting Black Canyon.

  Visited the first week of October 2024. Had beautiful weather, no bugs and few campers. Sites are dirt so I can see it be being messy when wet. Only few sites at entrance for larger campers. We got into with a Bean teardrop np.

• 

  Daniel S.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 30, 2024

  Cedar Creek RV Park

  Not bad

  We stated here one night arriving without a reservation. The office was closed and no one was answering the phone but we were able to register for a site online. That worked reasonably well and we had a quiet relaxing evening. The RV sites are all on gravel but there is a large grassy area near the office. The site is on the edge of town but was fairly quiet.

  Nice clean laundry and restrooms. Good base for exploring Black Canyon NP.

• 

  Daniel S.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 30, 2024

  Uncompaghre River Resort

  Good Find!

  This place had great reviews and lived up to them. Nice and quiet area along the river with plenty of shade and grass. The manager was very friendly and helpful. Close to town but it mostly a small farming town with few shops or restaurants. There is nice trail along the river to stretch your legs.

• P

  Paul K.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 30, 2024

  Shady Creek RV Park

  Great little spot

  Kathy (the owner) was awesome. Cedaredge is a great little spot, really quiet. Not a big RV park, don’t bring truckloads of kids and your off road vehicles. Really happy with what we had here.

• T

  Tim K.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 28, 2024

  McClure Campground

  Beautiful well maintained campground.

  I came down to Marble, CO from Carbondale with the intention of staying at the Marble campground on a Wednesday but it was full so I went up the road about 10 miles to the McClure campground and was very pleasantly surprised at how much nicer it was than the Marble campground. While Marble did have showers and some sites with water and electricity it was much more crowded and uneven than McClure. McClures sites were all nice and level and several were pull through that could handle fair sized rigs. McClure was a dispersed site at one time but now costs $14/night compared to Marbles $40+ fee. Of course Marble has showers which are worth the extra price to some but McClure had the most important item which was a clean vault toilet. When I got to the campground there were only a couple of other sites occupied so I picked a beautiful level spot only about 150' from the toilet, which is very important to an old man with artificial knees and a weak bladder. By Friday night all the sites were taken and as most other campgrounds were also full there were lots of campers coming through the campground looking for a spot to camp. I had only planned to stay a couple of days but I liked the site so much I stayed for 5 nights. I used it as my base to drive the Crystal River trail which is about 10 miles down the road at Marble. Let me warn you right now, don't do the Crystal River trail unless you have a strong heart and a very sturdy mid sized or smaller vehicle or off-road vehicle because it is very narrow and extremely rough. I've driven some rough country and have a big 4x4 pickup but that trail was all my rig could handle and I left lots of paint on the rocks and trees at the narrower spots. I'm sure half my tires on the drop-off side were in mid air at times and since it is a single track trail if you met someone coming from the other direction one of you would have to back up to a spot that you could pass each other. Very scary. Anyway, back to McClure. The nearest place to get cell service and supplies is Carbondale which is about 20 miles away but if you are self contained and don't need to be on the internet every few minutes this place is great. There was lots of wildlife sharing my site which was fun to watch. I had a doe deer and her boyfriend show up before I even got my tent set up and squirrels and chipmunks were everywhere as were the hummingbirds. I had hummingbirds buzzing up to a foot away from my face to check out my red cap thinking it might be some kind of giant exotic new flower lol. The only reason I didn't give the camp 5 stars is that it is right next to route 133 which it turns out is a main road through this area and traffic noise is sometimes pretty loud, especially early in the mornings on week days. If I am back near that area I will definitely stay in this campground. Almost forgot one other thing. The elevation is high enough that it gets pretty cool most nights, even in July and rain showers came through almost every early morning but the rain never amounted to anything and by mid morning it was beautiful. Camp fees are on the honor system and you need to have cash or checks.