Planning a dispersed camping trip near Dove Creek? Dispersed camping gets you off the grid so you can disconnect from the hecticness of everyday life. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Colorado excursion.
Dispersed camping along Forest Service Road 316
San Juan National Forest encompasses about 1.8 million acres in the southwestern corner of Colorado. From high-desert mesas to alpine peaks, these federal lands are managed for multiple uses and visitors are asked to respect each other and the natural resources. The San Juan National Forest Headquarters is located in Durango, Colorado, with district offices in Bayfield, Dolores and Pagosa Springs.
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. "Dispersed camping" is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest outside of a designated campground, and is generally allowed anywhere unless posted otherwise. Many people drive out on Forest Service roads into the woods and find spots that meet the needs for their camp.
Dispersed camping may mean no toilet facilities or treated water are located nearby. Typically, dispersed camping is not allowed near developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, picnic areas or trailheads. Some dispersed sites are provided with fire rings and in those cases please use them as they are designating that area as the spot to safely have a campfire. Finally some dispersed sites have a designated footprint for use. If you see a site with any type of barriers or fencing please respect these areas by not pulling motor vehicles or OHV’s around them. They are there to preserve the surrounding forest making it enjoyable for all for years to come.
Regulations
Follow these general guidelines to help ensure these dispersed camping areas will be enjoyed by future generations of campers:
Camping is limited to 14 days. The campsite must then be moved a minimum of ten miles. Camping is restricted to 28 days in any 60-day period.
All dispersed campers should follow the ideals of Leave No Trace and practice the concept of Pack It In - Pack It Out.
The Motor Vehicle Use Map only allows for motorized vehicles to be parked 150 feet off of any authorized forest service road.
Dispersed camping is prohibited in areas such as developed trailheads and picnic sites.
Choose sites that are already established.
Find camping spots that allow for water to shed naturally. Digging ditches around tents or trailers is not permitted.
Dispose of human waste properly (200 feet from water, in an 8 inch deep hole).
Please do not carve or chop into tree trunks—this can eventually kill the tree.
Indian Creek Special Recreation Management Area encompasses the Indian Creek Unit of the Bears Ears National Monument. Indian Creek affords many opportunities for rock climbing on world class splitter cracks formed in Wingate sandstone. Indian Creek draws climbers from around the world to test their crack climbing technique. Bouldering is also available throughout the valley. Campgrounds include Superbowl, Creek Pasture, and Hamburger Rock. Large groups may reserve groups sites at Indian Creek Falls, Creek Pasture and at Superbowl Campground through recreation.gov. Free dispersed camping at Bridger Jack Mesa is limited to designated sites only. In other areas please limit dispersed camping to previously disturbed sites. Alteration of rock surfaces and removal or vegetation is prohibited. Several popular climbs can only be reached by crossing private land. Please use existing trails and respect private land signs and fences. Climbing on petroglyphs is unlawful and destructive. Please Respect and Protect cultural resources.
Looking for a retreat from the hustle of daily life - where the stars are bright, the air is clear, and the only noise is a nearby owl hooting into the night? BLM Utah provides outstanding camping opportunities for every comfort-level. From remote, backcountry camping to front-country developed sites, you will find the perfect campsite on BLM Utah-managed lands. BLM camping areas provide differing levels of services - plan ahead and be prepared, bring water, and the appropriate means to deal with your trash and human/dog waste.
Ranger
Madden Peak dispersed camping is a fantastic option for those seeking a peaceful and scenic camping experience near Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez, and Durango. This area is big rig accessible, with relatively flat camping spots, though the access roads can be bumpy at times . Campfires are allowed, making it a cozy spot for evenings under the stars.
The location offers stunning views of the La Plata Mountains and the surrounding wilderness, providing a serene backdrop for your stay. For outdoor enthusiasts, nearby hiking options include the Madden Peak Trail, which spans 4.5 miles and can be extended to summit Parrot Peak and Gibbs Peak. It's an ideal choice for campers who enjoy combining relaxation with outdoor adventure.
Scout
We stayed for 3 nights due to the convenience of Mesa Verde NP. The GPS coordinate on Google were spot on. The driveway was a little rough and can get very pitted with wet weather. We have a 38 foot 5th wheel that had plenty of clearance. We stayed in site 9. They do recommend 30ft and under but we got lucky there was an available site.
Traveler
We stayed here during hunting season, noticeable amount of noise in the very early hours of the morning due to this. On a clear night you can see an amazing amount of stars!
Scout
River views in the morning are so pretty. Roads a bit rocky comin in, we didnt have any problems in our subaru crosstreck but could be tough if the geound gets muddy.
Scout
Camped at site #11. Beautiful sunset view. We drove a 4WD truck with truck bed camper with no problem. Never took it out of 2WD.
Traveler17 spots all pretty spaced out, filled up around 5pm on Sunday October 12 (but this could be due to the Indigenous Peoples day being tomorrow).
The surrounding landscape is beautiful.
We didn’t find the road too bad in our Ram Promaster, but we have a pretty high clearance.
GuideThe only reason I give this place a 3 is because of the close proximity to Mesa Verde NP. This stay is only for high clearance vehicles and small RV's. Deep drain ditches between service road and sites. All sites are extremely uneven. Also the road and sites have sharp crushed shale stone. I have a 35 foot 5th RV and was way too big for this place. But by the grace of God I managed to back into site 12. How the use planks to shore up the ditches so I could get in without bottoming out. I will not return.
Legend
Nice large area, lots of spur roads going to many dispersed camps. Roads have clay so some low spots can be mud holes after rains. Area is at 8850 elv, seems popular for hunting in the fall so be aware from Sept on. Vegetation is mostly oak brush and scattered pine trees and aspen. Cell signal on T-Mobile was almost useless for downloads. This area has a paved road all the way from Monticello, about 8 miles back to town. No toilets, no dumpsters and no water. Two developed FS CGs are close by but seems to have an aggressive approach to dispersed campers using the dumpsters.
Traveler
Got here on a Sunday night at 9pm and site 7 was open. Perfect spot if you're visiting Mesa Verde.
Scout
We got to town late and our preferred spots were all taken, so we came here as a backup. The spots are all right off of the road and easy to get to. The views aren’t much, but they’re good spots. There’s a bit of traffic on the road but nothing out of the ordinary.
ScoutThis is a great spot, but there are only 15 sites, then it turns in to gated off private property. Get there early to help make sure you can find a spot.
GuideAwesome spot, TONS of places to pitch a tent or park a camper.
That being said - lots of generators, moderate views, cars driving by often.
Traveler
Beautiful views, good cell reception. Could hear neighbors but people were quiet and respectful. Also lots of bats flying around!!
TravelerIt was very easy to find, with good signs. We got here at 1030pm, and got one of the first campsites. Unsure of how many free there were. It was quite a bumpy road, but no problems for our RV. We did however get screamed at my a man in a tent on the campsite on the side of us, but ended up staying in place and had no problems.
TravelerTuta was not the place for the campsites, but rather the start of the road where you can find X amount of campsites.
ScoutWe stayed at campsite 4 and it was pretty nice spot. All the sites were pretty spread out and the road was good. It ended up raining overnight. We're from Minnesota so I had no idea the mud was going to be so horrible. My shoes were caked. The tent ended up super muddy. We were slipping and sliding on the road.
Scout
Very remote area. Beautiful night sky. and peace. The entrance is a gate in a private land, drive about 1 mile to BLM land, mostly dirt roads.
RangerThis was such a nice spot super close to Mesa Verde national park. It was about a 5 minute drive from the park entrance. The road was a little bumpy at places and some of the spots were rutted up but any vehicle could navigate it if they are careful.
ScoutGreat place, but the coordinates are wrong . Using Google maps and it took us to town. Had to look at the map to get there.
TravelerRoad entrance only with high clearance vehicles- for our expedition truck the road further down was narrow and very rocky but doable. At the end there is space to turn and a level place to park. Nice view
TravelerGoogle maps was spot on. Road in was a little rutted, but the e350 made it no problem. Great nite sleep, we are self co tained.
Guide
Well maintained but also well traveled dirt road. No camping signs are indeed posted, including not within 1 mile of the Rock. Barely can hear 191, dark dark skies, next to an arch, within an agate collecting area, yes please! But limited places to set up, free range cattle have fences up and gates closed. If you don’t feel like roughing it, a $500 per night glamping site is on the other side of the Rock.
Traveler
one of the best spots for me dispersed camping. lots of room, and many secluded spots, only a 4-minute hike to the Delores River for fishing.
GuideThe views are amazing here. Not all the sites are level, and this place can get a bit muddy if it rains, which it did for us. Established stone fireplace rings on all sites. Traffic noise from the main road carries, but dies off at night. Sites on right side of road are lower and can get muddier.
TravelerWe stayed 2 nights. Absolutely beautiful and peaceful. The views are amazing. No shade available so bring your own or camp in cooler months. We have a 24 ft. C-class RV and plenty of sites to pick from. Level ground. Site are a good distance apart and we saw one other camp far from us. No problem with the road. No hook ups but fire rings. No place to dump trash but it was very clean. Pack in pack out.
ScoutRoad is fair, all spots are marked. Some are to steep for a camper, but perfect for truck or van camping. We got to our spot around 4pm and by the time we were set up and heading into town for stuff all the spots were taken.
TravelerA perfect spot! Got a beautiful view, a feeling of privacy and nature. Road was comfortable and we had no problems with our private.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Dove Creek, Colorado, where you can immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. This area offers a variety of spots that cater to different preferences, from stunning views to peaceful surroundings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Dove Creek, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Dove Creek, CO is Mesa Verde National Park Boundary (BLM Land) with a 4.6-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Dove Creek, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 44 dispersed camping locations near Dove Creek, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
