Primitive camping near Calhan, Colorado centers on Pike National Forest land at elevations between 7,000-9,500 feet, with most dispersed sites concentrated in the Rampart Range area. Access roads vary from moderately rough to challenging, with steeper sections requiring high-clearance vehicles. Multiple offshoot forest service roads provide more secluded camping options beyond the main routes, though weather conditions can change rapidly with snow possible even in spring and fall months.
What to do
Hiking to Rampart Reservoir: The Rainbow Gulch trail offers a relatively easy trek to Rampart Reservoir through wooded terrain. "We took this hike and it was absolutely fantastic, a majestic walk through the woods brings you to flowing creek that you follow all the way down to the reservoir," notes a visitor at Cascade-Chipita Park/Woodland Park.
Waterfront activities: Rampart Reservoir provides fishing, kayaking and swimming opportunities a short distance from many camping areas. A camper at Rampart Reservoir Recreation Area mentions, "You need to buy your access pass to the reservoir ahead of time online or pay for it cash at the entrance. Cellular Service is weak before entering the reservoir area and none inside the recreation area."
Winter adventures: Some southern portions of camping areas remain accessible year-round for winter camping and snow activities. One winter visitor at Dispersed Camping - Pike National Forest Divide shared: "There were a lot of options for us to pull off and camp. We had gone the day after a snow storm and the road was decent. I guess snow plows go through often since there's nearby residential."
What campers like
Wildlife encounters: Beyond the commonly mentioned deer and bears, campers report diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. "We saw fish in stream, a couple of deer and tons of chipmunks," reports a visitor at Seven Lakes Road Forest Service Road 376 Dispersed. Another camper mentioned: "We had a fox as a neighbor!" at Mount Herman Road.
Creekside camping: Several dispersed areas feature sites alongside flowing creeks, providing natural white noise and water access. "We walked a bit to find a good spot right next to the creek with a mini fire pit and enough flat ground to pitch a tent. The spot was gorgeous and the sound of the creek completely drowned out any noises or people," notes a camper at Seven Lakes Road.
Cell service availability: Many dispersed sites surprisingly maintain connectivity despite their remote feel. "I talked to some locals who said grabbing deadfall was fine for fire wood. I had great phone service," mentions a camper at Rampart Range Road - Dispersed Camping. Reception tends to be strongest at higher elevations and varies by carrier.
What you should know
Road condition challenges: Access roads frequently require high clearance and can deteriorate rapidly with weather. A visitor to Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping notes: "Beautiful views, ~50 minutes of rocky gravel road to reach the top but doable in any vehicle depending on the weather. Tons of spots and easy to be secluded."
Weekend congestion: Weekday visits offer substantially more solitude than weekends, especially during summer. "Quite a few people on a weekday night, but not bothering. Very good network coverage (T-mobile). Aprox. 1 mile of the road was bad, other quite good," reports a visitor at Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite.
Trash issues: Pack out all waste as trash accumulation remains problematic. "Looked at 3-4 different sites all had a decent amount of broken glass so be careful with pets/little ones," cautions a camper at Mount Herman Road Dispersed Camping. Another adds: "This place is beautiful with lots of great sites available along mt. Herman rd."
Weather unpredictability: Mountain storms can develop quickly, bringing rapid temperature drops. A camper at Rampart Range Area noted: "We woke up with few inches of snow. Nothing of that down in town."
Tips for camping with families
Site selection for safety: Choose areas with natural barriers to help contain children. "We chose to drive off road a bit and set up camp on the edge of a rocky overlook. Given we went in October, but we were the only campers around our area," shares a visitor at Cascade-Chipita Park/Woodland Park.
Wildlife precautions: Teach children proper food storage and wildlife behavior. One camper at Mt. Herman Road Dispersed Site 2 witnessed "a fox friend all weekend" but also warned about "broken glass everywhere" requiring careful supervision of children.
Timing considerations: School breaks significantly impact site availability. "We arrived on a Sunday in late September around 2:00pm. This site has an amazing sunset view every night. The nights were cold some lows 32° and it snowed the first night which we were hoping for," shares a family who camped at Cascade-Chipita Park.
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller trailers and campers only. "The road up is rough but totally doable with pickup truck with slide in camper. This campsite was nice and level," notes an RVer at Mt. Herman Road Dispersed Site 2.
Turning challenges: Limited turn-around space exists on narrow forest roads. One RVer at Mount Herman Road cautions: "I recently purchased a 26ft sustainable travel trailer and decided to take it out for the first time. Well the road up is very tight. Very skinny switchbacks. About half way up looking for a way to turn around. We got lucky and found a space just barely large enough to back in to carefully."
Level site scarcity: Many sites feature uneven terrain challenging for RVs. "It wasn't level enough so I don't think I will be back but I loved it, I spend 10 days and I have no complaints with temp of 65-45," mentions an RVer at Seven Lakes Road Forest Service Road 376.
