Dispersed camping near Chimney Rock, Colorado provides wilderness camping opportunities in the San Juan National Forest at elevations between 7,000-8,000 feet. The area experiences cool summer nights with temperatures often dropping into the 40s, even in July and August. Most sites sit among ponderosa pine and juniper woodlands with variable cell coverage depending on terrain and proximity to main roads.
What to do
Hiking to Piedra River Falls: From FS Road 631/633 campsites, follow the irrigation ditch to reach the multi-tiered waterfall. "Drove to end of FS 633 to find an unoccupied clean, dispersed campsite with plenty of room. From there, hiked along the adjoining irrigation ditch to Piedra River Falls trailhead for breathtaking views of the multi-tiered waterfalls," reports one camper.
Mountain biking on nearby trails: Turkey Springs provides direct access to extensive trail networks. A visitor notes, "We had no trouble finding available spots out here on weekend nights, tons of open spaces to choose from. It rained quite a bit during the nights but never got muddy enough to get stuck anywhere. We had some surprise cow guests stop by in the morning! Lots of fun biking nearby!"
Fishing access: Several campgrounds border streams and rivers with fishing opportunities. At West Fork Dispersed, "Great access to the trailhead for rainbow hot springs, which we hiked the next day. It was a long hard hike that we made longer by missing the sign for site 7 to veer off for the hot springs. Even still, worth the 12 miles of hiking!"
What campers like
Privacy between sites: New Jack Road offers secluded camping despite proximity to town. "Down a dirt road, you get to where you make a turn, and immediately you'll start seeing unimproved site. The better sites appear to be closest to that turn, but if you keep driving you'll find plenty of sites not within earshot of anyone else," one camper explains.
Natural soundscapes: Many campers appreciate the natural sounds at free campsites. At West Fork Dispersed, a camper shared, "Got a spot right on the river and it was amazing. It was just across the bridge so I could see the traffic but it wasn't too bad thankfully. The road in was in good shape with no major bumps or holes, 2WD will work fine."
Flat camping areas: Most dispersed sites near Chimney Rock feature level spots suitable for comfortable tent setup. At Turkey Springs, one camper reported, "Roads in are gravel and dirt, easy for most RVs. FS 923 off of Turkey Springs rd. Has several sites with fire rings. No other accommodations. Sites are pretty level and in the forest. Quiet, peaceful and pretty."
What you should know
Road conditions vary seasonally: Many forest roads become difficult or impassable during spring snowmelt. A camper attempting to reach Del Norte Dispersed Camping reported, "I got about 2-300 yards into the dirt road before the snowmelt caused everything to turn into mud."
Wildlife encounters: Bears are active in the area, requiring proper food storage. At FS Road 631/633, a camper warned, "We did have a bear at the campsite about 15 min after dusk. We were already in the RTT and he moved along pretty quickly. Just a reminder to have bear bags and everything put up."
Mosquito activity: Some sites experience heavy mosquito pressure, particularly in early summer. One camper at West Fork Dispersed noted, "Site was perfect by all accounts except for being mosquito-y," while another emphasized, "Do you like mosquitos come here and enjoy the feast that come when the sun starts to set! We stayed here before and forgot how bad it was we turned around and left to go to a different spot down the road."
Tips for camping with families
Look for sites with stream access: Children enjoy playing in shallow water at several campsites. At Forest Road 37, "Nice quiet spots we saw maybe 6 or so as we went further on the road back a ways thought at first there were only two or three spots but there are more if you continue down the road. Cows peacefully grazing we will definitely be staying here again."
Choose established fire rings: Many dispersed sites have rock fire rings for safer campfires when restrictions allow. New Jack Road offers "Big sites that are pretty flat with existing stone fireplace rings on all sites we saw. Only saw one person walking their dog and a couple of cars pass on the road. Very quiet, was a peaceful night."
Pack for variable weather: Even summer nights can get cold, requiring warm clothing and proper sleeping gear. A camper at Del Norte Dispersed noted, "We camped right on the river, got some amazing starlight, and one of the coldest nights of our adventure. Remember you're in the rockies so bundle up."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger vehicles: Some dispersed areas can accommodate larger RVs but require careful navigation. A reviewer at Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping advised, "The site is literally right off of hwy 160. There are quite a few available spots and most are pretty big. Roads can be a bit rough the farther back you go but it's got large easy to access spots close to the front."
Internet connectivity concerns: Cell service varies dramatically between sites. One camper at Bayfield/Durango noted, "Going east from Durango, you make a right turn on silver hills road. You will see the blm sign. Gravel road, fire pits. We stayed in a camper van at one of the first spots and had 5g internet with AT&T."
Road navigation: Forest roads require different driving approaches. A visitor to Fossett Gulch Rd Dispersed explained, "Dirt road is in very good shape. No cell signal. A couple quick pull off sites right inside the gate would be good for a quick sleep. The other sites are 10-15 minutes drive down the dirt road. It gets tight in spots but its a good road a car would be fine."
