Tent camping around Calhan, Colorado offers access to the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains at elevations ranging from 6,500 to 9,000 feet. The area experiences typical mountain weather patterns with afternoon thunderstorms common in summer months and nighttime temperatures that can drop below 50°F even in July. Most campgrounds in this region sit within Pike National Forest, where ponderosa pine and aspen groves provide natural shelter at primitive campsites.
What to do
Fishing at Rampart Reservoir: Located about 20 miles west of Calhan, this area offers catch-and-release fishing opportunities in a mountain setting. Camper Liliána S. noted, "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."
Off-road trails for OHVs: Dispersed Camping - Pike National Forest Divide has multiple trails for off-road enthusiasts. According to Linnell B., "Wanted to stay for two nights but only did two days, because a mountain lion tore a deer to shreds about a day or two prior to my arrival by my campsite and i was spooked. Had two dogs but had an eerie feeling and left early but it was gorgeous. Loads of OHVs tho."
Wildlife watching: Many tent campsites near Calhan, Colorado provide opportunities to spot local wildlife. At Mt. Herman Road Dispersed Site 2, camper Amanda D. reported, "Found a great little campsite and had a fox as a neighbor! Only downfall was there was broken glass everywhere."
What campers like
Tent platforms at group sites: Turkey Roost Group Camp at Cheyenne Mountain State Park offers dedicated tent platforms with amenities. According to 'Chelle S., "Wonderful tent pads and facilities with space to wash dishes and store goods from wildlife."
Privacy between campsites: Many campers appreciate the spacing between sites at dispersed camping areas. Brianna K. shared about Pike National Forest Divide: "This dispersed camp site has numerous spots with rock fire pits. Each spot is far away from another, especially if you drive further down. We didn't hear anyone late into the night due to the distance."
Level camping areas: Finding flat spots for tents can be crucial. Alyson M. noted about Mt. Herman Road, "Endless sites on this road. If you feel like spending some time searching you are bound to find the perfect site. Only saw one site taken on a cold Thursday morning in May, not sure what it's like in warmer months. Big and small spots!!"
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Many tent camping locations near Calhan require driving on forest roads. At Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite, Bernie D. shared, "There aren't many sites and everyone was taken except the turn around at the end of the road. Wasn't sure if you were able to camp here but there is a fire pit so setup camp for the night."
Navigation challenges: Finding some dispersed sites can be tricky. Wild Berries B. advised, "We were going from direction Divide town using provided coordinates. All went fine until we ended up in a dead end road with private residence... make sure you follow the 'Rampard Range Road Reservoir' to get there and it looked using Apple Maps for this part was better than Google."
Weather changes quickly: The mountain elevation means rapid weather shifts. Chris P. noted, "There are amazing views of Pikes Peak from up here. Other than the ohv noise, there is also a lot of target shooting in the area so you will hear gunfire."
Tips for camping with families
Consider private campgrounds for amenities: Lone Duck Campground and Cabins offers family-friendly facilities. Tessa S. mentioned, "The staff was super friendly and helpful! The facilities were always very clean. They had breakfast for you in the morning if you wanted for $5. We woke up one morning at our tent site with deer walking and eating down the creek right next to us."
Plan for wildlife encounters: Children often enjoy wildlife sightings, but preparation is important. Cam P. shared about Pike National Forest Divide, "Lots of camping spots and fairly easy access. The road gets rougher the further you go in but no problem for a 4x4. Even a small car could get to some nice sites."
Look for tent-specific areas: Some campgrounds offer areas designed specifically for tent camping. Chester R. noted about Lone Duck Campground, "We have stayed here twice once in campsite 46 very nice 47 even nicer two best lots here for us cuz we like being the by the water. The rush go by all night let's just sleep so good."
Tips from RVers
Know the fire pit situation: Dutch Fred Trailhead #679 and other dispersed sites may have different fire regulations. Tim S. noted about Mt. Herman Road, "The road up is rough but totally doable with pickup truck with slide in camper. This campsite was nice and level."
Check ground conditions: Soft ground can be problematic for vehicles. Lily R. commented about Pike National Forest Divide, "Tons of level, large spots. Road is meant for ATV use, and was a fair amount of traffic throughout the day but tolerable. Hardly any at night. Restrooms at base of road. Found our spot 2.5 miles up the road, definitely needed AWD."
Watch out for OHV traffic: Some tent campsites near Calhan have regular off-highway vehicle traffic. Jon G. warned about Rainbow Falls, "Its an OHV and dirtbike area and nobody has any common courtesy. They will ride loops around your camper. Right off the road with non stop traffic."
