Tent camping near Dillon, Colorado provides direct access to alpine wilderness between 9,000-11,000 feet elevation. Most dispersed camping areas remain snow-covered until late May, with high-altitude summer evenings dropping to 40°F even in July. Several forest service roads offer designated camping spots requiring different vehicle capabilities and preparation levels.
What to do
Creek fishing access: Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping features multiple fishing opportunities along shallow water. "We were able to find a beautiful spot by Peru Creek after going up the road a while. The creek water looks white from mining runoff so there isn't anything living in there from what I can tell. It looks really cool but its probably not safe," notes one camper at Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping.
Mountain biking trails: Red Sandstone Road provides direct connections to multiple trail networks. A visitor reported, "Nice quick stay outside of Breckinridge. Plenty of keep traffic, mountain and e-bikes. Enjoyed the views! Would stay again," at Red Sandstone - Primitive Dispersed.
Alpine hiking: McCullough Gulch offers immediate trail access with seasonal shuttle service. "If you hike, this trail is a little challenging, but amazing. Beautiful waterfall and mountain lake are worth it. Leave car at campsite, since parking is not allowed at trailhead. Start walking toward trailhead, and the shuttle bus will pick you up along the road and take you back afterward," explains a camper at McCullough Gulch Designated Dispersed Camping.
What campers like
Site privacy levels: Boreas Pass sites offer varying degrees of seclusion. "While many of the campsites are quite small and located right along the roadside with limited parking, we were lucky to find a fantastic, more spacious spot. One of the best parts was the privacy. Our site was far enough from the neighboring spots that we couldn't see or hear other campers," shared a visitor at Boreas Pass Road Designated Dispersed Camping.
Alpine wildlife viewing: Multiple camping areas provide opportunities to see native animals. "Wildlife was another highlight—there were clear signs of moose activity nearby, and fellow campers just up the road mentioned seeing a moose wander around their site," notes a camper at Boreas Pass Road.
Off-road adventures: Several camping areas connect to 4x4 trail networks. "Great basecamp for adventures. We accessed further down the road with our mountain bikes. Once camping area had a picnic table, most others were typical dispersed camping. There is a super cool mine in the area that you can explore!" explained a reviewer at Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping.
What you should know
Road conditions vary dramatically: Many sites require high-clearance vehicles. "Road was REALLY rough. One portion looked like someone had just run around digging random holes in the road; however, once you got past the road, it was everything you'd want in a primitive site," noted a camper at Red Sandstone - Primitive Dispersed.
Campsite availability timing: Sites fill quickly on weekends during summer months. "We arrived late afternoon on a Sunday in July. All 23 spots were taken. We're in a van, and while some spots would have been great, not all would work for our van," reported a visitor at Boreas Pass Road Designated Dispersed Camping.
Altitude considerations: Being at 9,000-11,000 feet affects some visitors. "Being at a higher elevation, one person in our group did experience some mild altitude discomfort, even though we're from the Denver area—something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to elevation changes," shared a camper at Boreas Pass.
Tips for camping with families
Short hiking options: Several areas feature brief trails suitable for children. "We were at Lower Crystal Lake on July 27-28, 2022. This was our first overnight backpacking trip with our 9 and 12 year old. The Jeep trail felt a little challenging so we went up to the lake via Spruce Creek Road from the Trail Head then up via Wheeler Trail," notes a visitor at Lower Crystal Lake- Dispersed Camping.
Insect preparation: Higher bug activity occurs near water sources. "SO MANY MOSQUITOS. Very buggy, got my fair share of mosquito bites, so I recommend bug spray," advises a camper at Red Sandstone.
Temperature fluctuations: Pack additional layers for rapidly changing conditions. "Temps were high 70s in the evenings and low 40s at night in mid July so prepare with layers," suggests a visitor at McCullough Gulch.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility for larger vehicles: Most dispersed sites have limitations for RVs and trailers. "This rating is 3 stars, because the majority of sites catered to tent camping; your parking spot is close to the road, you walk your stuff in a bit. Site 14 has fantastic access/setup for a van," notes a visitor at The Lost Site - Dispersed Campsite.
Turn-around limitations: Many forest roads lack adequate turning space for longer vehicles. "It was good to find plenty of places to turn the trailer around once we got up further in case we couldn't find anything. That's always the concern on these roads!" advises an RVer at Peru Creek.
Road surface challenges: Rougher roads require advance planning. "There were potholes to contend with and some mid-sized rocks that did have us rockin' and rollin' from side to side. Slow roll it and you'll be fine," suggests a reviewer at The Lost Site.
