25 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Dispersed camping options near Coalmont, Colorado accommodate equestrians with varying levels of amenities. Buffalo Pass Dispersed offers primitive horse camping with undesignated sites where horses can be highlined to trees or secured with portable corrals. The rough access road requires high clearance vehicles and careful planning for horse trailers. Sites have established fire rings but no water sources for horses, making it essential to pack sufficient water. The area experiences significant mosquito activity during summer months.
Located within reasonable driving distance, State Forest State Park provides more developed options for equestrians at several campgrounds including North Michigan and Ranger Lakes. These campgrounds feature sites that can accommodate horse trailers with pull-through access. While lacking dedicated horse corrals, the park connects to multiple trail systems suitable for riding. Buffalo Pass area trails provide scenic riding opportunities with moderately challenging terrain. Access typically opens mid-June through mid-July depending on snow conditions, with the eastern approach from Walden often opening later than the Steamboat Springs side. Roads can be particularly challenging after precipitation, creating difficult conditions for larger horse trailers.
"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. "
"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."
"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"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"I tent camped at Ranger Lakes. I was the only one tent camping among all the RV’s. I didn’t mind that the spaces were visible from each other since I was camping alone."
"Small campground next to three lakes. One lake has dried up. Beautiful Gould, CO. We also boondock camp in this area as well. Don't miss Lake Agnes. It's at the top of a mountain."
from $36 / night
Check Availability"The campsite has two entrances - one from the west passing North Michigan Reservoir and one from the South East which is basically from Lake Agnes Trailhead."
"There are lots of great activities to participate in very close by - fishing, hiking, 4-wheeling and more!"
from $28 / 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"They have direct access to the headwaters of the Colorado River. We visited a little late in the season (August) to catch many fish, but we still had fun. "
"Three dispersed camping locations all completely booked so I chose to stay in this RV Park which is located within Rocky Mountain National park and right next to Arapahoe National Park."
from $40 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Our space was large enough to accommodate our 20 ft travel trailer with our truck next to it, still leaving plenty of room for the picnic table and a chair circle around the fire."
"The bathrooms were clean, and close to almost every site. They had a very nice playground for the kids with a climbing wall."
from $45 - $80 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $150 / night
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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.
GuideThis is a beautiful campground with lots of family-friendly activities to do. They have direct access to the headwaters of the Colorado River. We visited a little late in the season (August) to catch many fish, but we still had fun. We found some tailwaters below the big lakes and caught some trout on the fly rods.
This site is minutes away from an entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. We got up early and hiked a trail in RMNP and had a few moose walk right past us. It is also close by to the major lakes of the area.
They rent ATVs and lots of people bring their own horses to this campground to enjoy the many back-country trails that begin at the back of the property and go high up into the mountains.
Facilities were well kept and clean.
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.
LegendThree dispersed camping locations all completely booked so I chose to stay in this RV Park which is located within Rocky Mountain National park and right next to Arapahoe National Park. Very good price compared to other RV resorts and surrounded by beautiful flowers and mountains and silence. They have showers and laundry and free coffee and garbage dump, and a small country store, along with many equestrian activities for adults and kids and it's very homey feeling.
GuideAlthough this site is a no water/ electric site and next to the horses, we had a blast! Especially the kids. The site was a great size! We went horse back riding, hung out by the river, had s’mores, and even went for an ATV ride!! I was most impressed by how clean the bathrooms were, especially with the current COVID situation! Thank you Winding River Resort for keeping the place clean!
ScoutA lovely wooded campground literally on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park - we even saw moose from the back window of our RV! Options for everyone from cabins, to FHU RV sites (limited and not the ideal locations, but still nice), water/electric sites and tenting areas. Even Conestoga wagons! There is horseback riding on site and we loved watching the horses run in and out each morning/evening and you just have to cross the road for a pretty hike along the Colorado River in RMNP (no dogs on the trails). We camped with our Great Dane - very dog friendly with bag stations around the park. Friendly and helpful staff, a small shop with supplies and souvenirs, a cute little petting zoo with goats, sheep, and pigs.
ScoutAfter driving for nearly 4hrs to find a spot in any of the first come first serve camp grounds up Poudre Canyon we started to head home only to pull into Pingree Park for one last cry for help... we stumbled upon Jack’s Gulch, a little hidden gem, tucked inside a cute mountain trek to the CSU campus at Pingree Park. It didn’t have any “water features” like a stream or a river but it was a quick car ride to find that. The spots were clean, noise was minimal, and there were bathrooms if you needed them. A lot of options as far as camping goes - electrical sites, walk up sites, equestrian sites, and mixed use (what I like to call a mixture of tent and RV). There were also trails all around the campsite that were accessible for bikes, or hiking. It was definitely a Father’s Day to remember. Oh yea, some coyotes at night definitely woke us up! I don’t believe they made it to the campsite but they were close 😳
GuideWe camped here in a trailer for almost a week. We were shocked at the availability of spaces given that Colorado is notoriously booked up by February.
Our space was The Overlook and it had an amazing view. The stable horses came up next to the site every morning. It is a massive site that accommodated our trailer, a 2-person tent, 2 vehicles and still had room to spare. The only downsides were no picnic table, little shade, and lots of wind up there.
We drove around to view the other sites. Many options including walk-in sites, riverside camping, and campsites with corrals for horse camping. If you have a larger trailer, avoid the lower sites. Keep to 1-5 or the Overlook for access.
There are stocked trout ponds. You have to pay an additional fee to fish in them. We bought fish food and never saw a fish. The ponds really needed to be maintained as there was a lot of weed growth.
The office is on the first floor of the condo building. Usually open until 4 pm. There is a restaurant (closed while we were there).
Showers are available for $5.
A gift shop/store is available with various small items and treats.
WiFi is available at the office and restaurant. Campsites are too far away. Couldn’t reach it with our WiFi extender either. (Normally wouldn’t want to but working sucks.)
Water for trailers is available bit a tad challenging to access simply because of sharp turns. I can’t speak to water availability for lower campsites.
Trash containers at both the lodge area and at the lower campground.
There is no dump on-site. However, there is a fee-based dump about 1.5 miles away in the Crystal Lakes Community. $10 per use with free water.
The stables are managed separately but are directly across the road. Super friendly and reasonable rates for trail rides. Our 5 & 7 year old granddaughters were able to ride their own horses and had trail riders lead them. Super nice folks!
This is open year-round (condos/cabins in winter) with tubing, skating, and X-country skiing in winter.
GuideWinding River Resort is a hidden gem. There are plenty of campsites and a few cabins. All spaces are well laid out with plenty of space between each spot. The facilities are clean and provide everything you need for a great stay.
Be sure to book a horseback ride and get to the cowboy pancake breakfast on the weekends. (Pro tip: Bring a couple eggs for the cooks to throw on the griddle while cooking your pancakes!). If you enjoy trout fishing, be sure to explore the North Fork of the Colorado River that flows through the southend of the property. If you have a disc golfer in the group, bring the discs to play a round or three on the 9-hole course throughout the campground.
Moose have a tendency to wander through the campground toward the evening and the local elk herds like to eat with the horses. There are bear in the area, so take the proper precautions with your food and cooler storage.
Winding River is close enough to Grand Lake to get out and explore for the day and you have easy access to nearly all amenities between Grand Lake and Fraser, in case you forgot something. The cabins look great, but we have not stayed in them during our visits.
The Coalmont area serves as a gateway to Colorado's Routt and Medicine Bow National Forests at elevations ranging from 8,000-10,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 40-80°F with significant temperature drops after sunset. Many dispersed camping areas have minimal amenities with rough access roads typically navigable from late June through mid-September.
Fishing opportunities: North Michigan Campground offers access to North Michigan Reservoir where visitors can cast a line. "My 4 year olds threw rocks in the reservoir, they bikes on nearby trails. The bathrooms were clean too. My dog was able to cool off in the reservoir on a hike," notes Meghan H.
Wildlife viewing: Winding River Resort provides opportunities to spot native wildlife. "Moose have a tendency to wander through the campground toward the evening and the local elk herds like to eat with the horses," shares Tanner S., adding that "bear in the area, so take the proper precautions with your food and cooler storage."
Mountain biking: Trail systems around Dry Lake Campground offer varied terrain for riders. "Great for hiking or if your looking to stay out of town," mentions Toni K., while Vincent notes the area is "nicely placed campground up buff pass round outside of steamboat springs... plenty of other hiking trail around. Also mountain biking serves as an option for the majority of the trails."
Reservoir access: Ranger Lakes Campground provides water recreation opportunities. "Had so much fun! Camp site was very clean, level, and well kept. The highlight was fishing. BEAUTIFUL clear waters, PLENTY of trout, and great trails through the woods to explore," explains Gary E.
Privacy between sites: Many dispersed sites at Buffalo Pass Dispersed offer separation from other campers. "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 cool and misty, the view was spectacular," shares Colyer D.
High altitude lakes: Multiple alpine lakes are accessible from the campgrounds. "Don't miss Lake Agnes. It's at the top of a mountain. Not many people get to see this," recommends Stephanie J. from Ranger Lakes Campground, while Morgan Y. mentions at Buffalo Pass, "At the top of Buffalo Pass are a number of good little lakes."
Road conditions: Access to most areas requires appropriate vehicles. "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," warns robbie about Buffalo Pass Dispersed.
Seasonal accessibility: Most areas have limited opening periods. "Road closed right by buffalo Pass campground. No way of getting through to spots and no sign of when the road will open," reported Colleen C. in June, while Dan W. notes, "That side isn't expected to open until mid July."
Insect activity: Walden Reservoir and surrounding areas experience significant bug activity. "During the day the gnats, bugs, and ants were everywhere. Literally crawled up our boots and bodies. Great place to over night, but terrible place to hang out during the day unless you have a bug net," cautions Robert D.
Equestrian activities: Facilities at Winding River Resort accommodate both riders and non-riders. "Lots of activities to do. Loved the petting zoo and stream to swim in. Also really enjoyed the horseback riding and ATV ride," mentions Tina K.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: State Forest State Park offers frequent moose sightings. "My husband and I are both animal lovers, and our dream was to finally see a moose on this trip out to Colorado... here we stumbled across two moose at once!" shares Amanda M. about her experience near Ranger Lakes.
Food storage: Bear-proof storage is essential for family camping. "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," advises Amanda M. who camped at State Forest State Park.
Site dimensions: Many campgrounds have size restrictions. "We're here starting Thursday before Labor Day. Many of the sites and one bathroom seem to be recently updated. The pull through sites have very long driveways with nice level spots," notes Chad H. at Dry Lake Campground, adding "if you see 20' trailer limit, don't buy it. The host is in a 36' trailer."
Hookup availability: Big Creek Lakes Campground offers primitive camping for those prepared to boondock. "There is zero cell service, 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," explains Sarah C., adding "This was our very first run at dry camping. We were 10 hours from home with 5 kids!"
Road challenges: Access roads to equestrian camping areas can be difficult. "First thing to know is this is a remote area of CO at 9,000+ ft. elevation... 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," warns Sarah about the journey to Big Creek Lakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Coalmont, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Coalmont, CO is Buffalo Pass Dispersed with a 4.2-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Coalmont, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 equestrian camping locations near Coalmont, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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