Best Dispersed Camping near Coalmont, CO

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Coalmont, CO

202 Reviews of 92 Coalmont Campgrounds

• 

  Catherine L.

  Traveler

  Aug. 7, 2023

  Rabbit's Ear Pass East Summit FR 251

  Great forest camping spot

  Recommend 4x4 high clearance to get to the campsites. If you have low clearance, there are a couple right at the start but they don't have much tree clearance. 

  We drove about a quarter mile down the road and got a campsite that was lush with a ton of tree coverage. It felt like we were alone in the world, no other campsites in site. We even saw elk walking around the mossy ground. Bring bug spray!

  Dog friendly, no amenities.

• 

  Isabelle K.

  Legend

  Jun. 16, 2018

  Dispersed Camping in Routt National Forest

  Solitude by the river

  We stumbled upon this campground by chance, and what a wonderful chance it was! After deciding to take a weekend rafting trip along the Wyoming/Colorado section of the Platte River, we planned to just find dispersed camping options within the surrounding National Forest area. We initially put our boats in at the Routt Access Trailhead which is where we were able to find this amazing group of campsites (see directions below). There are plenty of campsites designated by fire rings along the road that are well spread out and offer plenty of seclusion. We were surprised to not encounter any other campers despite it being a beautiful summer weekend. The campsite we used offered much appreciated shade from the June sun with plenty of big trees. The ground is relatively flat on top of the hill so we had quite a few options to spread out with our group pf 3 tents. Another huge plus of this area is how pristine it is, not a piece of trash to be found. If camping here, please continue that by following Leave No Trace principles. 

  Camping in this area is complimented by tons of nearby activities including hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding trails, class I-IV white water rafting opportunities, rock climbing, fishing and wildlife viewing. On our weekend adventure we went on a 4-hour boat trip from the Routt Access boat put-in to the Six-Mile Gap take-out point, the river felt like a private get away and we didn’t see any other people except for a few fly fishermen at the access points. The wildlife we encountered was the highlight of our trip, we saw moose, a golden eagle, foxes, pronghorns, and marmots. 

  To get there: The GPS coordinates entered on this page are for the Routt Access Trailhead. Following these directions from there is the easiest way to find the campsites. I have also included a screenshot of google maps in this review. When approaching the trailhead from the main road, just a few hundred yards before the trailhead/river access parking area, the road forks. To the right is the trailhead, and to the left is FS 939.1 (Mahogany Road). With a normal clearance vehicle and 2wd, you should be able to easily reach the first campsite along this road, marked by a well-appointed fire ring. For those with slightly higher clearance cars (my friends had a Subaru Forester and did just fine) I would highly recommend continuing along the road a bit higher and up the hill. 4wd is probably not necessary unless the road is muddy, but some large holes and rocks will be problematic for very low clearance vehicles. From up here, you will have amazing views of the grasslands, mountains and river.

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• 

  Morgan Y.

  Ranger

  Nov. 6, 2020

  USFSR 550 - Dispersed Camping

  Far from the crowds, far from ordinary

  Beautiful Aspen groves surround you as you roll on endlessly down well maintained dirt roads. I've put in specific coordinates, but you can follow any of these FS roads after you pass through the "town" of Columbine. I prefer to go up to the right along 550. But you can't go wrong. 

  Free range sheep are being guarded by Great Pyreneese dogs, Moose and Pronghorn are all abundant. Bears too, so lock it all up. 

  Great easy MTB on the roads and some smaller trails.

  Leave no trace.

• 

  Donovan A.

  Traveler

  Jul. 25, 2024

  Buffalo Pass Dispersed

  Must have Suspension

  Just to update this since the last review had it closed. The road leading up to the summit is back open, but it is ROUGH. I had just done Rock Creek's drive up to dispersed near Dillon and thought that was bad, but this was worse. 

  You will not be able to get anything low clearance or anything you're towing that does not have independent suspension + high clearance (I dropped my 18' TT at Walmart and went to scout - glad I did) While I was 1/4 up into the climb, a Sprinter Van was stopped at what is probably the worst portion of the road. If you can make it past that first choke point, you'll pass a park then walk-in camp site on the left and then shortly after another camp spot on the right that is more van friendly. Both are not good for trailers. It is after those two sites the road goes from bad to worse.

  If you have a Camper on a F350 or high clearance + tent, it has some of the best views I've seen at a park spot. It's worth the drive up there for pictures if you're curious, but I would unhook anything you're carrying before doing so.

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• J

  Jacob V.

  Guide

  Jun. 29, 2025

  Hot Sulphur Springs SWA - Joe Gerrans Unit

  Nice Camping Area With Good Fishing

  Nice area to set up camp and fish on the Colorado River. There is a bear-proof dumpster and a portapotty (BYO TP) available. Not a lot of traffic along the highway at night, but there is a train that comes through which can be pretty loud. Roughly a dozen established dispersed sites are available here. Bring the bug spray, the mosquitoes are thick! There is zero T-Mobile cell signal here at all.

• 

  Sue B.

  Guide

  Aug. 10, 2025

  FR-302 Dispersed Camping - Rabbit Ears Pass

  Great dispersed area!

  Loved this area! Quite a few spots. We went 2.7 miles up from the turn off of 40 and found a great spot on the left. There is a spot right there off the road but if you go in another 100 yards or so it's a great spot. The driveway is a touch rough but we got there in our camper van no problem. There's room for several vehicles and endless tent spots, some by the parking and fire pit or haul your tent out a little ways. Shady areas and huge meadows on either side that look like they could be marshy with some rain. Saw evidence of moose elk deer and bear (and horses) but no sightings. Some mosquitos but it was quite dry when we were there. I would imagine you'd need bug spray in|wetter/marshier conditions, but worth it for the chance to see a moose!

  We enjoyed walking and exploring and could go quite a ways straight from the site without having to go out to the road.

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• S

  Shane

  Guide

  Aug. 14, 2022

  Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest Dispersed Camping

  Do Some Digging

  There are tons of sites along the back roads. As long as you steer clear from the private property you'll find a site. Some roads will turn sour and require high clearance.

• 

  shawn L.

  Guide

  Sep. 6, 2024

  Long Draw Reservoir Dispersed Camping

  long draw resovour

  29 really spread out dispersed camping spots along a very long road. Some of them are hard to find. A few really awesome hiking trails a couple different lakes to choose from for fishing kayaking. It’s along rd 151 you also have Peterson lake nearby as well. I found two group campgrounds that are pay per night (22 a night) they have toilets and water. The dispersed by Peterson lake was very rough road high clearance recommended. The 151 to long draw relatively smooth and vehicle could make it

• N

  N I.

  Legend

  Oct. 28, 2021

  Stillwater Pass Dispersed Campsite

  Sad but Free

  FCFS Limit 14 days Anywhere you look on Stillwater Pass Road 123 will find a place to pitch your tent or whatever your camping pleasure. When you leave the highway you will see several homes and some businesses then you will travel into the forest. The fire damage is severe and heart breaking. Be very aware of "Snag Hazards" from the fire damage. Limbs or even trees may come down with just a bit of a breeze. Make your camp in a clearing and if hiking watch and be aware and be safe. Tent, trailers and RV's will be able to find a location. It is dispersed so no water, power, trash. There are a few pit toilets on the mountain so you might luck out otherwise you will need to camp responsible. There is black soot on everything so that is another byproduct of a forest fire. We had a wonderful view of the lake. The further up the mountain we went there were less people but the road become more narrow and a bit rougher. You will find trails for biking, horses, and ATV abound. Winter you will find cross country skiing, etc. LNT

   BTWYF

   Travel safe

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