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Primitive tent camping opportunities surround Cañon City, Colorado, ranging from free city-park sites to dispersed backcountry tent campsites on BLM land. Tent campsites near Cañon City span free spots at Red Canyon Park beside dramatic red rock formations to more secluded BLM tent camping along Phantom Canyon Road's former railroad corridors. Shelf Road Sites cater to tent campers seeking proximity to popular climbing routes, with walk-in tent pads available for those who prefer distance from roadside areas.
Access to tent camping areas near Cañon City varies considerably, with some sites requiring high-clearance vehicles on rough dirt roads. Most primitive tent sites feature basic amenities like fire rings, though many lack potable water sources, requiring campers to bring adequate supplies. Vault toilets are present at certain locations like Red Canyon Park, but completely absent at more remote dispersed sites. Camping durations are typically limited to 72 hours at city-managed parks and 14 days on BLM lands. Fire restrictions commonly affect the area during summer months, and campers should check current regulations before planning trips.
Tent campers in the Cañon City region often find ideal spots tucked away from busier areas. Sites along Phantom Canyon Road offer distinctive isolation, with one visitor noting that "we couldn't see those spots nor hear anyone else. Travel on the road by our site was minimal and sites were abundant." Areas like Red Canyon Park provide tent campers with proximity to hiking trails through rock formations and seasonal creek beds, making them suitable bases for day hikes. At higher elevations, tent sites deliver cooler temperatures even when valley locations remain hot. According to a camper at Red Canyon Park, "Some sites had picnic tables and fire rings, and one site I saw had an awning which is perfect for picnics. Most of the spots were true primitive camp spots."
"I was nervous about going here in my Nissan Versa because I had read it was a 4 wheel drive road on several sites, however I was also optimistic after speaking to someone at Canon City because they mentioned"
"We arrived the Phantom Creek Road around 4:30pm. 10miles and 30 minutes later we found our spot."
"I’m a rooftop tent camper and the views are amazing but was hoping to be close to the water and isolated from other campers."
"It is in a canyon so you won't have any cell phone signal, though I had my Starlink set up and it worked flawlessly. We will go back, and I hope to get that spot before any other!"
"Every summer I go on a road trip , camping ,backpacking and visiting national parks , while driving through Colorado we drove through phantom canyon road and we stopped about 20 times through our drive"
"Did the shelf trail from cripple creek to canon city. Was good place to camp for the night quite a few spots, flat, big. Amazing views! Incline getting up to isn’t bad, TT’s might have some trouble."
"We're happy to have this property on our platform. Check them out and come back here to leave them some love!"
from $50 - $200 / night
Check Availability"There are vault toilets that are clean and have toilet paper. One vault toilet part way on the hike to the walls did not have TP."
"Wonderful access to Shelf climbing. Very peaceful."
"Our site had grass, shade, a picnic table, and a fire ring - everything you need for a basic campsite."
"Lone Duck Campground was a good home base for us during our visit to Colorado Springs. The campground is several miles down from Woodland Park and about the same down to Manitou and the Springs."
from $40 - $87 / night
Check Availability"Good tent sites. Have to carry gear to camp site but only shoeRt hike to campsite. Maybe 50 yards. Has a couple of sires with shelter. Picnic tables are big and heavy."
"Has a fire pit with grill, picnic table, and sites 2, 5, and 9 have the log covering. The sites are pretty close together, but we had no problem with our neighbors."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Some have pre existing fire rings. Would definitely come back."
"Most spots are taken by the weekends but if you’re fine with a more sloped spot, there can be some open ones for late arrivals."
"Has fire rings and picnic tables. Closed for good, apparently because of bears, but far down the road so it’s very unlikely you’ll be bothered"
ScoutGreat spot for relaxing weekend getaway for our family. Plenty of room for the kids to explore and they even had a blow up bouncy house for them during the day. Hot tub under the stars at evening time. Very clean bathrooms!
GuideCool spot. I like there were different sized spots and a clearly marked line where a 4WD/AWD vehicle is needed and no large rigs. I found a spot that was visible by the road, but there was water access and cool surroundings. The main road was well paved, but turning into my site was a bit rough and I needed the 4WD. There were large animal (I assume black bear) prints to give that extra bit of camping excitement, but no actual sitings (one day, Juliana. One day). Some mosquitos but not overwhelming. The scenery was gorgeous. Definitely a bit desert-esque but it was legitimately perfect weather in mid September. Cool creek rocks and a stunner of a sunset. Would absolutely return again. No numbered sites. Toilets about 1/4 mile beyond the drive through boulder.
TravelerBasic amenities, but clean and easy to find. The campsite is very close to the highway, so if you're looking for something more off the beaten path, keep looking. However, if you just need a place to sleep with great views, this is a solid spot. We saw bighorn sheep and even heard what sounded like a bobcat possibly mountain lion at night.
ScoutI want to start on a positive because that is the type of person I am, and because this review is going to have a lot of negative. This park is a great location for sightseeing, especially if you are going to Pikes Peak by way of the Cog or shopping in Manitou. My GM and I worked hard to make the park as great as we could with the very little funding that we got. As seen in the reviews we had excellent customer service and had high standards for keeping the park clean. I was very good at my job and I loved doing the work until the new owners took over. When the park was sold, we had high hopes that the new owners would be good people and want to put real work into the park. We were very disappointed that they turned out to be money grubbing horrible people. Ken, one of the owners, treats people and his business very Trump like. He and his wife must state that they are religious more than a few times when having a conversation; I personally think this is to make themselves look good to cover the toxicity that truly lies under the surface. When they meet people, they put on a façade and lie and say whatever they think people want to hear to get what they want; proven to me by the broken verbal promises they made to me. They are not community driven; they are money driven; you can make money and still be good people, but they chose not to be. They practice wage theft just like big corporations by over working employees and under paying them; in their words“you must wear all hats”. They are the type of people that use others until they don’t need them then throw them away like garbage. I was bullied into quitting on a phone call where Ken was very disrespectful and unprofessional with me. The phone call was me trying to explain that I could no longer do the FB post due to our deferent ethical viewpoints, and he would not let me talk by saying“you are not doing your job, are you going to quit” repeatedly. I found out that I was not allowed to post about Manitou Pride parade because he said,“it is not family friendly, and the company and I do not promote the LGBTQ+ community”. I am a proud member of that community and so I should not be the one to post on FB for the company. The groundman quit a day later because of disrespect and broken verbal promises. Then a few days later my boyfriend was fired and then Sheryl the GM was fired.(I believe they were fired for retaliation) Ken only wants employees that are easy to exploit or controlled, because he is incapable of managing people without fear and bullying. He boasted that he is called the grim reaper in business, but I don’t think that is the flex he thinks it is. But yes, he was the destruction of the community we put so much work into. I also want to voice my disappointment in Dana, who Sheryl worked hard getting to be allowed to come back as an employee. Dana did great work her first summer with us, so it was a shock to see her true colors show when she started to brown nose Ken. She spread multiple rumors, I feel the worst one was about Melinda’s daughter and the things she wrote about in her diary. I also did not like how she used David, the guy that does the golfcart tours in Manitou, was nice to his face then talked so badly about him when he was not around. I truly think Jesue and her father would be ashamed of her for how she acted to get her new position.
ScoutEasy access with a Honda. Chilly nights
ScoutFound a great spot a bit further in surrounded by Juniper trees and a bit of grassy patches and rock fire pit. Love the open space and secluded spots! Definitely not ideal for the cacti. Our pup ended up sniffing one and got the needles in her muzzle. 😬 Weather is pretty nice with highs in the 80s and lows in the 40s
GuideOur Campsite was nice, very clean and well kept. It did seems like the sites were a bit to close together and every spot filled. Pads were level, area around the picnic table spacious. Pit toilets were clean. The dump station was very nice and easy to use. We were driving down through Colorado to view the Fall Aspen leaves. I wish we would have stayed longer at this campsite. We stayed at the Conifer Ridge loop site 46 ...
ScoutWe absolutely love Badger Flats, and even though it’s no longer free ($15/night), it’s still our go-to campground. If you don’t mind the occasional dirt bike/ATV and no services, and love a beautiful area with camp spots spread out - then go to BF.
LegendThis middle section of the road has mixed spots some are wooded some are wide open it really just depends on whats available. People pour in around dusk so get there early and get a good spot with a mountain view and maybe you will see a moose like i did. Road is good cell is 1-2 bars in this secrion
Dispersed tent campsites near Cañon City, Colorado range from 5,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation across Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service lands. The region features distinctive red rock formations and sandstone cliffs with temperature variations of up to 30°F between valley floors and higher elevation sites. Summer daytime temperatures typically reach 85-95°F, while nights cool significantly, especially at campsites above 7,000 feet.
Wildlife watching opportunities: At Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites, campers report frequent wildlife sightings. "Every summer I go on a road trip, camping, backpacking and visiting national parks, while driving through Colorado we drove through Phantom Canyon Road and we stopped about 20 times through our drive and just admired the view," notes Shelby C.
Mountain biking trails: Near Oil Well Flats, numerous single-track trails cater to intermediate riders. Trails range from 1-5 miles in length with moderate elevation gain. These routes connect to a larger 25-mile network popular with local riders.
Rock climbing access: The region offers over 1,000 sport climbing routes on limestone walls. "The Banks campsites are perfect if you're climbing at Shelf Road. You can hike from the campsite," writes Alice C. about Shelf Road Sites. Climbing routes range from beginner 5.7 grades to advanced 5.13 routes.
Creek-adjacent campsites: Many campers value tent sites located near seasonal water features. "We found an amazing camp site that was down a slope. We parked up top and lugged everything down the slope. It was tough but so worth it. There was 5 different camp site areas at the bottom right next to the water," writes Madi G. about her experience at Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites.
Star-gazing conditions: Higher elevation camping areas around Cañon City provide exceptional night sky viewing. "At night the site was amazingly dark. This was my first real time seeing the Milky Way. It was so amazing I am glad my friend was there so I have backup to my story," shares Marissa W. about Davenport Campground.
Varied tent site options: Sites offer different terrain features for tent camping preferences. "Some sites had a shelter with picnic table. Site 2 where we stayed had a covered shelter with picnic table," notes Vanessa R. at Davenport Campground. Other locations offer more primitive surfaces without structured amenities.
Vehicle accessibility concerns: Many camping areas require careful navigation on unpaved roads. "The dirt road took us up through the mountains with plenty of options to pull off and set up camp," explains Chelsea F. about Phantom Canyon Road. However, another camper notes: "It took us three attempts to get our overweight 2-wheel drive van up the hill and back onto the road. There are a lot of loose rocks."
Seasonal insect considerations: Multiple reviews mention insect activity at tent campsites near Cañon City. "The worst and only bad part was the insane amount of biting flies. It was unbearable at times and our dogs were very stressed from them all over them. Bring those fly bags that attract them away from you unless you're prepared to get eaten up by the flies," warns Madi G.
Water availability limitations: "No potable water so be sure to bring your own," advises a camper at Davenport Campground. Many dispersed camping areas lack reliable water sources, requiring visitors to bring sufficient supplies for their stay. Seasonal creek flows vary significantly based on snowmelt and rainfall.
Secure campsite selection: Choose sites with natural boundaries to contain small children. A Phantom Canyon camper notes: "We took a cavas wagon for the heavy items and let it roll backwards down the slope with the help of two people. Not easy but highly worth the hard work as you're secluded from the road and have a lot of tree coverage for hot days. Also great to utilize this if you have young children who like to wander."
Accessible recreation options: Several areas feature kid-friendly trails near tent sites. "Trail right off campgrounds is an easy, beautiful hike," reports Becki S. about Davenport Campground. Family hikers can access trails directly from camping areas without driving to trailheads.
Bathroom facilities: Toilet availability varies across tent camping locations. "The bathrooms were a bit of a drive from our site. They are nothing lavish (bring sanitizing wipes) but they were nice for the kids who weren't comfortable going outside," explains a Phantom Canyon Road camper.
Access road conditions: Red Canyon Park has varied access road quality. "The road is dirt and goes for 7+ miles if you keep going to exit the park a different way. Be warned that after 2/3 miles the road gets extremely rough for several miles to a point that we considered turning our 4Runner around. Cars and campers cannot make it past a certain point," cautions Kallie B.
Size limitations: Most tent camping areas have restrictions for larger RVs. "Fairly steep and rough road up into the campground. Once you're in, the roads are decent. Some sites had broken glass and trash and some were clean and decent," notes Robert M. about Oil Well Flats, suggesting caution for RV campers considering this location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cañon City, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cañon City, CO is Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites with a 4.6-star rating from 40 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Cañon City, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 38 tent camping locations near Cañon City, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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