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Buffalo Pass Dispersed camping near Steamboat Springs offers primitive camping options approximately 30 minutes from Clark, Colorado. The road leading to the campground is rough with several sections requiring high-clearance 4WD vehicles. Buffalo Pass features multiple dispersed campsites along Forest Road 38 with established fire rings at most sites, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply. The mosquitoes can be numerous during summer months, particularly near sunset, so adequate insect repellent is essential for both humans and horses.
Trail access from Buffalo Pass connects riders to the Continental Divide Trail and numerous forest service roads suitable for horseback riding. Sites are positioned at various elevations with options in wooded areas for shade and more open areas with mountain views. No amenities such as water, toilets, or trash service are available, so equestrians must pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Several sites offer enough space for horse trailers, though finding level ground can be challenging on the higher sections of the road. The gate typically opens mid-June on the Steamboat side and mid-July on the eastern Walden approach, with seasonal closures during winter and spring snowmelt.
"This was our first stop on a week long road trip from Colorado Springs to the Oregon Coast and, honestly, we could have just hung out there and saved all the miles."
"I had just done Rock Creek's drive up to dispersed near Dillon and thought that was bad, but this was worse. "
from $150 / night
Check Availability"Great spot for car camping in Colorado except its distance from Denver. It’s a trek! Takes at least 4 hours (that’s if you’re lucky). Lots to do."
"Big Creek Lakes Campground, Colorado (close to Wyoming border): camping here is only open for 3 months out of the year: June, July & August."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"The lake is incredible and the panoramic view is out of this world. I was fortunate to drive in right around sunset and the whole valley was lit with a glorious red light."
"I have spent many years coming to Teal lake, its always been a family favorite!"
from $20 - $80 / night
Check Availability"We hit this place coming from the northern Colorado border with Wyoming on a Sunday night. I've grown up and camped in Colorado my whole life, this place was 10/10, and one of my favorite spots ever!"
"Horses are allowed. There are pens for horses. They're not allowed to walk through the campsite though. The reservoir is kind of small. There are picnic tables. Many locations around it."
"We ended up driving too far and just parking next to the lake for the night to camp. Lots of dirt trails near the lake, maybe not for camping but we showed up after driving 6 hours."
"Sites aren’t really marked/but are right next to the reservoir. No fires/water pumps."
"Getting to the campground and visitors center is easy as they are both right off the highways 41 and 14, but it is quite a drive to get to, in general."
"There are campsites on both sides of the lake. On the southern side, a number are situated off the road, minimizing noise and dust."
from $28 - $120 / night
Check Availability"There is a sign at the beginning of the dirt road for high clearance and 4 wheel drive. This is not a suggestion. This spot was beautiful, peaceful and primitive."
TravelerGreat spot for car camping in Colorado except its distance from Denver. It’s a trek! Takes at least 4 hours (that’s if you’re lucky). Lots to do. Great fishing, beautiful hiking trails to a water fall, and trails for the RZR near by.
ScoutWe hit this place coming from the northern Colorado border with Wyoming on a Sunday night. I've grown up and camped in Colorado my whole life, this place was 10/10, and one of my favorite spots ever! With hiking, biking, and fishing, you could spend some time here!
GuideBig Creek Lakes Campground, Colorado (close to Wyoming border): camping here is only open for 3 months out of the year: June, July & August. It's camping at over 9,000ft elevation and requires for you to be extra prepared for snow even in the summer months, bears, mountain lions, mosquitos, aggressive horse flies, leeches, strong winds, thunder storms and altitude sickness. They do provide water which tastes fresh like newly melted snow. You can boat, fish, even hunt at some spots with a permit, hike, and swim at your own risk (can be cold, leeches, snakes). It is truly beautiful up here and the drive up the Poudre river makes it worth it. You can also spend the day rafting down the river or fishing.
RangerBeautiful spot. Almost at 9,000 ft. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Most of them are slightly treed. There is garbage pickup. The fall colors are just starting to show. Horses are allowed. There are pens for horses. They're not allowed to walk through the campsite though. The reservoir is kind of small. There are picnic tables. Many locations around it. We arrived late so we didn't get to see how beautiful it was until the morning.
LegendWe found State Forest State Park on a whim this past July 2018. We were on a road trip from California to Colorado for a wedding in Granby, CO. We were camping in Utah at Dinosaur National Monument, but due to the smoke from a nearby wildfire and the high heat of the summer, we decided to cut our stay one day short, and head over to the Rockies a day early. We wanted to be fairly close to our final destinations, Granby then RMNP, but wanted to go somewhere we hadn’t been before. My boyfriend and I are both animal lovers, and our dream was to finally see a moose on this trip out to Colorado. In researching moosey areas on the internet, we found the Moose Visitor Center at State Forest State Park. We figured that a place with a Moose Visitors Center was as moosey as it comes, so we reserved a site online and headed out to Colorado.
It was late afternoon when we arrived, but since we had already eaten, we didn’t have much to do besides set up our tent and sleeping pads for the night. Getting to the campground and visitors center is easy as they are both right off the highways 41 and 14, but it is quite a drive to get to, in general. The scenery is so pretty, that we did not mind the drive to or from SFSP. North Michigan Campground is right by a lake, it is pretty.
The sites are primitive - each site had picnic benches and a firepit, but at the time we visited there was a Stage 2 fire ban in place, so we couldn’t have a campfire. The fire ban included the burning of wood and charcoal - using a propane stove was OK.
There were pit toilets, and they were well maintained. The sites appeared to have once had more in the way of trees and shade, but it looks as though SFSP was hit by the pine beetles, like so much of Colorado. It’s sad to see the destruction the beetles left in their wake, and fewer trees mean less privacy and less shade for tent campers. We would have had a hard time setting up extra tarps in case it had rained that evening. Bringing an easy-up or canopy would be smart in the summer to protect against sun and heat, or a passing thunderstorm.
WARNING: You ARE in bear country and there were no bear bins in the campground - be bear safe and bear smart, lock all of your food and toiletries inside your car at night. I was once told by a ranger in Yosemite NP that bears can recognize coolers when peering into car windows, so we always put a towel and gear over our coolers when keeping them in the car overnight.
We packed up early and arrived at the Moose Visitors Center when they opened. The visitors center was educational and interesting, and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. After studying some maps of the area with the rangers, we decided to try our luck driving along Highway 14 towards Fort Collins.
We stopped at various spots along the highway, and ended up walking around the Joe Wright Reservoir for a while. Thunderheads were rolling in, and some rain and thunder started, so we decided to start making our way back towards SFSP then head down to Granby, our next stop. We were around Cameron Pass and had given up on seeing any moose when we saw traffic slowing and cars stopped alongside the road - there were two young bull moose snacking by a small river on the side of the road! We pulled over, turned our hazard lights on, grabbed the camera, and jumped out to see our first moose. The moose seemed unconcerned by their growing audience, and continued to chomp away on their lunch - there was a small ravine between the moose and their human audience, so neither moose nor humans felt threatened.
According to the staff at the Moose Visitor Center, there are only about 1,000 moose in the entire state of Colorado - and here we stumbled across two moose at once! We were ecstatic, and so happy we made the impromptu, unplanned trip out to State Forest State Park! We returned to the Moose Visitors Center to share the experience with the rangers (they record the specifics of moose sightings in the area on a board), and the ranger gave us a high five for spotting our first ever moose.
I would like to return to the area someday to hike, I imagine the nearby trails must be goregous!
CAMPSITE SPECS
Fees: $18/night
Plumbed Toilets: NO - pit
Drinking Water: Yes
Showers: NO
Picnic Table: Yes
Firepit: Yes
Cooking Grates: Yes
Shade: Limited!
Cell Service: NO
Animal Bins/Food Lockers: NO
GuideThis was our first stop on a week long road trip from Colorado Springs to the Oregon Coast and, honestly, we could have just hung out there and saved all the miles.
It was a such a beautiful area mid September. All the leaves were changing, it was cool and misty, the view was spectacular, yes it was rough as hell to get there, but totally worth it if you’ve got the rig for it.
My only note for the area was that there were a lot hunters walking through and around our camp, but everyone was polite and respectful.
TravelerThere are campsites on both sides of the lake. On the southern side, a number are situated off the road, minimizing noise and dust. We were in a site right next to the road, fortunately it wasn’t busy. The site was well maintained and the bathroom was very clean.
GuideWe camped here July 25th-29th, 2018 with our 5 children (4-13) in our pop up camper.
First thing to know is this is a remote area of CO at 9,000+ ft. elevation. It is also an area that has been affected by wildfire (2016). It is still absolutely gorgeous!
Worst part—> You will have to travel down a gravel/dirt road for ~30 miles to get to the lake and campground. Sections of it are TERRIBLY washboarded. Plan for over an hour to navigate through. You will be rewarded at the end!
There is zero cell service (we have Sprint and Verizon), no electric/water/sewer hook ups or bathhouses. There are pit toilets throughout the campground that appeared to be very well maintained and cleaned often. There are also numerous water spigots throughout with potable water.
The sites are all HUGE, almost all are pull through and many offer beautiful lake views with trails directly from your campsite to the water. We were in site 14. It did not have a water view, but was still amazing. All sites are gravel and appear to be fairly level. Most have pine trees, boulders and other natural landscaping that adds to the beauty of the campground. Very nice metal fire pits and sturdy, large picnic tables (though many are slightly bowed) were present at each site we saw. Bear proof dumpsters were easily accessible.
We had hundreds of chipmunks visit us each day to clean up the kids’ crumbs. We also saw antelope and deer on the drive in and several moose, elk and a coyote off the highway heading to RMNP.
There are two trailheads in the campground, lots of areas to fish, a boat dock and horse corral.
This was our very first run at dry camping. We were 10 hours from home with 5 kids! We may be crazy, but lots of memories were made and we are calling this trip a big success!
This campground was only $10/night and a true hidden gem in the Rockies. (Those roads though...ugh!)
TravelerWe ended up driving too far and just parking next to the lake for the night to camp. Lots of dirt trails near the lake, maybe not for camping but we showed up after driving 6 hours. The gps takes you past the 2 visible pulloffs that would be great for campers
Buffalo Pass dispersed camping sites are situated at elevations ranging from 9,000 to 10,000 feet near Clark, Colorado. The area experiences dramatic temperature drops after sunset even in summer months, often falling below 40°F overnight. Most dispersed sites become accessible starting mid-June through the Steamboat side, while winter snow typically closes access from October through late spring.
Mountain biking on established trails: At Buffalo Pass Dispersed, riders can access numerous forest service roads and dedicated bike trails. "Good hiking and mountain biking throughout the forest. A few motorcycles to watch for," notes Morgan Y., who also mentions the "top of Buffalo Pass are a number of good little lakes."
Wildlife photography during fall: The changing aspens create ideal photography conditions in September. "This was our first stop on a week long road trip from Colorado Springs to the Oregon Coast and, honestly, we could have just hung out there and saved all the miles. It was a such a beautiful area mid September. All the leaves were changing," shares Colyer D.
Fishing at nearby reservoirs: Freeman Reservoir Campground offers non-motorized fishing opportunities within a 90-minute drive from Clark. Charlie B. explains, "We went up in Mid-sept with our dogs to photograph fall color change and were not disappointed. There is a short trail around the reservoir and we even got pictures of a couple beavers."
Higher elevation escape from summer heat: Buffalo Pass campers appreciate the cooler temperatures compared to surrounding areas. "Great free spot if you're looking for somewhere not too far from the town. Awesome bike trails not very far," notes Toni K., adding that the "road to get up either got up in a RWD Tacoma no problem."
Privacy at established sites: Dry Lake Campground offers more structured camping with defined sites. "We chose site 8 which was fairly spacious and private despite being close to the bathroom," reports Kristin M., who adds that "the sunset colors over the Aspens was gorgeous and we saw some amazing shooting stars as well."
Seasonal changes in accessibility: Timing affects campsite availability significantly. "Buff pass gate is open and you can mob over it if you have high clearance, 4wd, and definitely winter tires. It gets sketchy at some points, but you have your pick of camp sites," advises robbie, emphasizing the benefit of visiting during shoulder seasons.
Fire restrictions change seasonally: Current restrictions must be checked before arrival. Sarah from Dry Lake Campground notes, "Currently a stage 2 fire ban so no campfires allowed," highlighting the importance of verifying current conditions.
Insect preparation essential: Multiple campers emphasize the need for robust insect protection. "HOWEVER, When you see other reviews that say there are lots of bugs… they were not exaggerating, there are massive swarms of mosquitoes everywhere. Not sure if more bug repellent would even help at this point," warns Doug B. about Buffalo Pass.
Vehicle capability requirements: High-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended for most dispersed areas. "The road up got rough and really did a number on my top mounted bike racks. I wouldn't take anything more than a teardrop or Airstream Basecamp up," cautions Morgan Y.
Choose established campgrounds with amenities: Big Creek Lakes Campground provides more infrastructure for families with children. "We camped here July 25th-29th, 2018 with our 5 children (4-13) in our pop up camper," shares Sarah C., who adds that "there are pit toilets throughout the campground that appeared to be very well maintained and cleaned often."
Plan activities around water sources: Reservoirs provide natural entertainment for children. "We had the greatest time hiking and fishing," reports Sara F. about Big Creek Lakes, though she cautions to be prepared for "so much litter down at the lake."
Bring multiple insect repellent options: The mosquito presence varies by site and season. Kristin M. warns, "Mosquitoes were BAD in the evenings so be prepared," suggesting families might need stronger protection than typical camping situations.
Site selection crucial for leveling: North Michigan Campground at State Forest State Park offers designated RV sites. "The campground is beautiful. We had site 221 which is right above the water with its own little trail going down to the reservoir," shares Jen M., highlighting the importance of choosing appropriate sites.
Road conditions dictate RV type: Many horse campgrounds near Clark, Colorado have access limitations for larger rigs. Lauren L. shares about Buffalo Pass: "rough road up, in a sprinter 4x4, not a lot of great options. seems better for tent camping. did see one or two RVs up, shocked they made it."
Seasonal timing affects accessibility: Gate openings control when larger vehicles can access certain areas. "Drove a long ways to find out the gate isn't open like prior post of members and will not open until June 15 on the steamboat side as posted at gate," cautions Dan W., highlighting the importance of confirming current road status before traveling with an RV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Clark, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Clark, CO is Buffalo Pass Dispersed with a 4.2-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Clark, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Clark, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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