If you're looking for a place to dispersed camp near City of Creede, look no further. Find everything from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking with The Dyrt. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Colorado camping adventure.
Remember your OUTDOOR ETHICS when enjoying your public lands. Please RECREATE RESPONSIBLY. Overview Hartman Rocks Recreation Area includes over 14,000 acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and 160 acres (The Base Area) owned and managed by The City of Gunnison, and Gunnison County. Hartman Rocks has 45 miles of singletrack trail, 45 miles of roads, 50 designated dispersed campsites, and countless climbing crags. Singletrack trails are perfect for mountain biking, dirt biking, hiking, and trail running. Roads are often traveled by 4x4 trucks, ROVs and ATVs. In the winter months, 16 miles of roads are groomed as cross-country ski trails for classic and skate skiing; and some single-track trails are groomed as winter singletrack for fat biking. For more information, please contact the Gunnison Field Office. Know Before You Go Camping There are 50 dry/primitive campsites available. All sites are first come, first serve. No fees. No hookups! No potable water or developed facilities. Need a Map? Hartman Rocks Recreation Area Map- Climbing, Bouldering, and Rock Climbing Areas Hartman Rocks Trail__Map Helpful Links Visit: Gunnison Field Office ADA Access: Sea of Sage, Lost Dog and Broken Shovel Trails are wide trails used by hand cycles. Accessible restrooms are located at The Base Area and at the intersection of BLM Roads 3505 and 3500.
Open all year but normally snowed in from Dec 1 through May 15.
Elevation: 10,800' This small, isolated dispersed (HORSE FRIENDLY) campground is located 16.8 miles east of Creede on Forest Road 600. Campers will find this to be a good vantage point for viewing vistas of distant mountains. There are 3 camping units at this site with picnic tables and fire rings. There is a vault-type toilet, but no water or refuse receptacles. A small stream can provide emergency drinking water only if it is treated or boiled. Trails and 4 WD roads are nearby, as well as fishing in East Bellows Creek. There is lots of room here to accommodate large groups (family reunions, etc.). This is a very Horse Friendly campground with plenty of nearby grazing and room for trucks/trailers. The 4x4 road takes off here for the Wheeler Geological Area attraction. East Bellows trail #790 goes into the Wilderness Area from here to Wheeler Geologic Area and is a foot or horse trail only, no motorized vehicles or mountain bikes allowed. Call 719-658-2556 for "real time" conditions. 14 DAY CAMPING LIMIT.
2024 - THIS IS NOW PRIVATE PROPERTY
All roadside vehicle and tent campers are required to camp ONLY in designated sites. Accessibility is not guaranteed. Please use caution when venturing down forest roads.
Sites are designated by the presence of a 6in X 6in wooden post with a site number and camping symbol along with a permanent metal fire ring. All sites are first come first serve, if a site is occupied please look for another site.
Fires are only permitted in the established metal fire rings. Extinguish all fires so they are cold to the touch.
Sites are limited to two vehicles only per site.
Finding a site to camp and enjoy dispersed recreation activities in remote areas or in relative solitude has become a popular form of camping throughout the Forest. At some more popular areas,toilet facilities may be provided. Contact the local Forest Service office for current information and refer to the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for each forest (Grand Mesa, Gunnison, and Uncompahgre National Forests). Dispersed camping is permitted in most areas of the Forest. Some caution should be used in selecting a site because of intermingled private lands within the National Forest. Recreation maps are available at all local Forest Service offices. Personnel at each office can answer questions on specific sites. Unlike developed campgrounds which are designed and maintained to protect the vegetation, soils, and natural setting, camping in undeveloped areas require more from the camper to help keep the site in the condition in which it was found. Dispersed camping must not occur within 100 feet of water sources (rivers, streams, ponds, or wetlands) or within 100 feet of any road or system trail. In some areas, dispersed camping is restricted to specific sites, contact the local Forest Service office for current information. Campsites can be occupied for no more than 14 days, then the site must be moved at least 3 miles away. Camping is also limited to a total of 28 days in a 60 day period.
In areas closed to the use of vehicles off forest roads, where developed parking sites are not provided, and where not otherwise prohibited, direct access to a suitable parking site within 300 feet of the road is permitted. Such travel must not damage the land or streams. Please select your route carefully, and do not cut live timber. Off road travel should be limited to when the ground is dry. The public is encouraged to camp in locations where others have previously camped and utilized existing routes to those camp areas. Campers are required to leave a clean camp, not to damage vegetation or pollute streams and lakes on the National Forest and implement “Leave No Trace” practices.
Legend
Located about 20 minutes from the town of Crested Butte, Slate River Road is home to a bunch of campgrounds. Note: These areas differ from the BLM section you will drive through. After the Oh Be Joyful BLM land, you will then make your way into Forest Service operated areas where there is tons of dispersed camping and it is free.
We spent some time here around 4th of July and all the spots were filled as expected. Camp grounds are all dispersed, free and have no amenities at the site except some areas have vault toilets. There are a few campgrounds on the left side of the road and if those are all full there are many other spots just along the sides of the roads. The spot where the pin is for this site is one of the few “Camp grounds” where there is a small parking lot built and spots are somewhat defined.
Most of them were big enough for multiple cars and tents as well as full sized RV’s. The forest service does patrol this area and we saw them writing tickets for people who were parked in areas they should not be in. It seems they used rocks to define camping areas and people were parked beyond them. Keep that in mind when selecting a spot.
If you cannot find a spot in one of these campgrounds, keep driving. A good portion of the road is Forest Service and camping is allowed on the sides of the road. We saw people camping for miles up the road.
As is with most of Crested Butte, there is tons to do in this area. Drives, hikes, mountain biking, fishing…the list goes on. We spent a long weekend here, it was a great base camp spot however our spot was pretty exposed to the sun.
Bonus: We saw tons of wildlife every day right across the river from our camp chairs. Deer. Moose and a Bear!
Legend
Dispersed camping along the South Mineral Creek. This is dry camping with a vault toilet- no hook ups. This is popular with RV’ers and OHV’ers as it is free. The limit is the usual fourteen days. Some “sites” have fire pits, and there are a few picnic tables scattered about. There are a few sites right on the water. Further back in at some larger sites that could accommodate small rvs. The plus is the free camping right on the “river”. The minus is that the road to the forest service campground and the Ice Lake trailhead is very close, very busy, and very dusty.
GuideGreat dispersed camping! Spots were clearly marked and had easy access. The views were fantastic! We would definitely go back. Some of the spots are more exposed and offer less privacy than others. Our spot felt very secluded even though it was right by the road.
One negative was the dust/dirt. The dirt here is very fine and sticks to everything, so be prepared to get dusty/dirty, especially if you have kids.
Guide
Found a great dispersed campsite near Silverton Co. Golden Horn dispersed camping area is located about 5 miles from Silverton Co. This camping area is at 9600' elevation. Head north on HWY 550 out of Silverton and turn onto FSR 585 along South Mineral Creek, There are several boondocking sites packed into this 5 mile stretch. This time of year (July), many are occupied and full. We arrived on a Thursday morning to find only one space available at this dispersed campground. Sites are covered in river rock. Nothing is level, so bring the right gear to manage that if it's important to you. There is a vault toilet, bring your own tp. Generators hum all day and deep into the night. T-Mobile 5G/4G somewhat available. Access to several trails are nearby. Recommend off-road capable vehicle to get to Rico-Silverton trailhead.
LegendPopular dispersed camping spot close to silverton. Took our pups on a walk to the beautiful creek, mountains view all around. Bathroom pit toilet, clean but may run out of toilet paper semi frequently. Stayed two nights, wonderful time!
Scout
Excellent official dispersed camping area in the Conejos river valley. Entrance is marked with a USFS sign. Very large area for camping spread across multiple meadows. Access is a dirt road in poor condition, high clearance recommended but 4WD is only necessary in wet conditions. Fantastic views of the river valley and surrounding mountains. The area itself is perched on a dry hill well above the river, do not plan to walk or drive down to the river at this location. Very clean and trash-free, help keep it that way!
Ranger
Blue Lakes Trailhead Dispersed Camping, located near Mount Sneffels in Colorado, offers an incredibly remote and breathtaking camping experience. If you're looking to escape the crowds and immerse yourself in pristine wilderness, this spot is ideal. The campsites are dispersed along the trailhead, offering peace and solitude with stunning views of the surrounding peaks and alpine lakes.
The beauty of this dispersed camping area is its complete immersion in nature. With no designated campsites or amenities, you get to choose your own perfect spot in the forest, whether it’s near the rushing creek or with views of the towering mountains. This is truly a wilderness experience, so you’ll need to be fully self-sufficient—bring your own water, food, and a solid plan for waste disposal.
The Blue Lakes Trailhead offers some of Colorado’s most scenic hiking, including access to the famous Blue Lakes and a challenging ascent of Mount Sneffels. The hike itself rewards adventurers with awe-inspiring views of alpine lakes, wildflowers, and rugged mountain terrain. It’s perfect for those seeking an immersive backcountry experience.
One downside of this dispersed camping is that the road leading to the trailhead is rough, so it’s best suited for high-clearance vehicles, and be prepared for the possibility of unpredictable weather, as storms can roll in quickly in the mountains.
Overall, Blue Lakes Trailhead Dispersed Camping is an incredible option for experienced campers looking to enjoy the wild beauty of Colorado’s high country. It’s remote, peaceful, and surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in the state.
Legend
Quick stop while traveling. Several established dispersed camp sites nearby. Rock fire pit at this site doesn't appear to been used in awhile
Guide
Great boondocking sites about 45minues from Pagosa Springs. These sites are completely primitive. No restroom facilities, electricity, potable water or trash service. No cell service. Its worth it, so plan accordingly.
Follow US160E about 10 miles, turn right onto USFS 667. Pass by the entrance to East Fork Campground and continue on the forest service road. This is where the road becomes fairly rough. Dispersed sites begin about 2 miles further. Most sites are clustered together in pockets near the river.
We arrived early in the day and found a great site near a vertical rock face. Campsite was at 8000'. We stayed a week and only saw other campers on the weekend. The weather was perfect with day time temps in the 70s and overnight temps in the 50s. Ideal hiking and fishing conditions.
The forest road gets busy with Jeeps and UTvs during the day on weekends. Our site was far enough away from the road that we weren't bothered.
Access to several trails, beautiful valley views and waterfalls nearby .
Legend
Dispersed camping next to the creek(Anvil camp sites are on the other side of the creek). This is really pretty but REALLY close to the VERY dusty forest service road. But, it’s not too far from another designated dispersed area (Kendall) with vault toilets. The coolest little rabbits are running all over this site with white feet. Great views and the creek is nice and loud.
Scout
Great dispersed camping close to town with a decent number of spots that feel secluded, but people were NOT exaggerating about the road. I took my 4Runner up and spun in a few spots, though I also saw someone manage to get a teardrop up with some careful maneuvering. Overall great spot if you’re in Ouray with a vehicle that can handle some ruts
GuideThere are 12 decent spots of a several mile dirt road suitable for 2 wheel drive in summer along the spectacular slate river valley that leads up to the 4x4 paradise divide. The sites begin about 5 miles from town and end at the hairpin turn that begins the 4x4 section. Mostly open and clearly marked, sites 6-9 were most attractive to us in that they offered some shade and a bit of distance from road. They were all taken when we arrived mid weekday in July so we stayed at the currently unlisted musicians camp NFS campground still in it's infancy as a solution to previously unmitigated dispersed camping mayhem that i will review in detail when dyrt lists it. The campground offered movers sites (#15-17) than were the dispersed camping options and were (as of July 2021) also free.
Legend
Road closed to dispersed camping is closed
Ranger
This BLM at San Juan National Forest is gorgeous! (Se pics) the spots are kinda leveled, the road to get there is a dirt road but not that bad (I have a converted sprinter full of sh$&@$ and I did it great) it is primitive so no hook ups, restrooms nor trash cans, so PLEASE Leave no Trace! Everything was super clean so I guess people is finally getting it. Te river passes right next to you and the views are amazing! There are a few trails next (like the Rainbow trail). Awesome place to stargaze!
Ranger
Dispersed camping with designated sites off dirt roads. Perfect place to rock climb, hike or dirt bike or ATV.
Traveler
Great dispersed camping. Sites with plenty of space. Close to town. Great trails and dirt roads for all types of activities. Excellent cell coverage.
TravelerGreat spot! Lots of dispersed camping along the river. Fishing, hiking and swimming all right there. Great views of the Mountains. The star gazing at night was amazing. Great to see everyone packing out there trash. One of the cleaner and quieter camp areas I’ve been too in a while.
GuideGood luck finding an Air BNB in Crested Butte. If you're smart, you'll bring a tent and set up camp here off of Slate River road. The camping incredible. The dispersed spots fill up quickly though, especially in the summer but it's obvious why. Don't expect typical campground amenities, these are just dirt pull offs with the occasional fire ring from the previous visitors. Mountain bikers frequent the area and line the road in the summer months. Some single track trails are close to some of the more southeastern spots but you're still not a very far drive from town out here. Slate River runs through the valley where the dispersed camping exists and offers a cool reprieve on the warm summer days and the rising ridge lines on either side are beautiful. If you take the road far enough, you can get to iconic crystal mill as well but I haven't made the trek so I can't speak to what that drive looks like. As far as this dispersed camping goes, no need for a 4WD or high clearance, these sites are easily accessible.
RangerThis area has some cool rock formations and an interesting landscape. It also offers free camping anywhere you see a fire pit, and has restrooms at the entrance. It is also quite busy, even into the late hours of the night. People were driving around blaring music until 1 or 2am when we camped there. It did not make for a great camping experience but we were also near the entrance. I think I would go back, just as a place to stay, but camp further out and maybe it would be better.
Traveler
This site is very accessible and has tons of spots. It also seems to be the closest place to legally disperse camp south of Ouray. However, there's a ton of road noise from both the highway and the unpaved roads used to access campsites. Conditions were also very dusty from traffic on the unpaved roads. Lastly, it's tough to find private areas to pee that are also a safe distance away from the creek. Nice views, though!
Scout
This site is not for those who need amenities. But for those who come prepared with whatever they need, it is a great spot to camp close to Pagosa Springs, CO in the national forest.
LegendWe were intending to stay one night on our way to Silverton but ended up staying 2! This place was so secluded, but you will 100% need a high clearance 4x4 to access the best spots. There are a few camping spots close to the entrance that are accessible by smaller vehicles, they are decently spaced out. We have T-Mobile and had a solid 2 bars and LTE at campsite M-10. Driving in we had little to no service. Close to town and very little noise from the nearby quarry.
ScoutThere were plenty of dispersed camping sites along the trail however you’re not allowed to camp on the first 1/3 mile bc “humans left too much trash here.” So sad :(
The trail was super super rocky. I attempted it in my 2005 crv and dented so many things on the bottom. You NEED a high clearance vehicle.
If you can actually make it past the 1/3 mile there’s probably good camping up there. Too bad my car didn’t make it.
Humans ruining perfectly pristine camping bc they can’t pick up after themselves:/
GuideHartman’s is MASSIVE and has tons of sites! It’s all dispersed camping. There are smaller more remote sites, big sites, as well as areas where there are a few sites in clusters. There are shady areas, non-shady areas, spots with views, and more hidden spots. There really is something for everyone. I live here in Gunnison, and it’s a great last minute spot if you want to get out for the night. There are no water sources, as the area is just rocks and dirt. There are many different ways to explore the array of trails, so you can bike, take a four-wheeler, horse-back ride, hike, or just drive your car. There are about 3 toilets (nothing fancy). It’s an overall great area if you don’t want to get too far out of town!
GuideStayed here two nights at two different sites. Several of the campgrounds have stunning views, others don’t. It’s a blast getting up on 4x4 roads. Quite windy at some of the campsite, as it’s a pretty barren landscape. Overall a fun unique camping spot.
GuideIt’s not the best dirt road getting in but I was able to make it quite a ways up in my Nissan Altima. The sites are scattered along the road that follows the river. Beautiful views and great trails to hike. I found a spot that was a peninsula, surrounded by the river. Very primitive camping. No facilities, so bring water and be prepared to take your trash out with you.
Scout
There are several established camping spots along the first mile or so of this road, heading south from Turkey Springs Road. Plenty of room for travel trailers or tents. There was almost no vehicle traffic past our camp site, so it was nice and quiet. There’s a ton of hiking and mountain biking trails in close proximity.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near the City of Creede, Colorado, where nature's tranquility meets adventure. With a variety of options, campers can enjoy stunning landscapes, hot springs, and the serenity of the wilderness.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near City of Creede, CO is West Fork Dispersed with a 4.6-star rating from 16 reviews.
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