Best Campgrounds near Dumont, CO

Dispersed camping opportunities surround Dumont, Colorado, nestled in the mountains west of Denver along the Clear Creek. The region includes several primitive sites at Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping and Fall River Reservoir Dispersed Camping Trail, offering free camping in forested settings. Developed options like Denver West-Central City KOA provide tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with amenities including electric hookups, water, and shower facilities. Golden Gate Canyon State Park, approximately 20 miles from Dumont, features both Deer Creek and Reverend's Ridge campgrounds with yurt rentals and improved sites for various camping styles.

Road access varies significantly throughout the camping areas, with many dispersed sites requiring high-clearance vehicles. The Fall River Reservoir trail demands 4x4 capability, as a review noted: "This trail does require some 4x4 action to get to the top. Lots of rocks, bumps, and pools of water to travel through to get anywhere." Most campgrounds operate seasonally from late spring through mid-fall, with Denver West-Central City KOA open from April to October. Elevation in the region typically ranges from 8,000 to 9,000 feet, resulting in cool nights even during summer months and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Cell service remains spotty throughout the area, particularly at more remote dispersed sites.

Campers report high satisfaction with the scenic mountain views and water features near many sites. Proximity to rushing creeks offers both ambiance and recreation opportunities, especially for fishing enthusiasts. The Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area provides camping at approximately 8,800 feet elevation on the south side of a hill, offering good sunlight exposure and wind protection during cooler seasons. As described in feedback on The Dyrt, "Even at the end of the trail, next to the reservoir there are some great spots to camp at. And a hike around the reservoir would show you that you could even do a bit of backpacking if you wanted to camp by a waterfall for the night." Mixed-use trails surrounding many campgrounds accommodate hiking and mountain biking, with several areas providing access to the Colorado Trail system, making them ideal basecamps for day excursions.

Best Camping Sites Near Dumont, Colorado (441)

    1. Denver West-Central City KOA

    30 Reviews
    Central City, CO
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 582-3043

    "good location for cute old mountain towns! also close to Denver and other must sees in Colorado!"

    "8100’ high. 7 miles off I-70 at Idaho Springs. 25 miles into outskirts of Denver. Don’t worry they have oxygen! Not kidding!!"

    2. Deer Creek Campground — Golden Gate Canyon

    48 Reviews
    Eldorado Springs, CO
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 582-3707

    $18 / night

    "area was plowed open to exactly the width of our trailer, so with more than three feet of snow on the ground we needed to get some exercise and do a bit of shoveling so we could back in and be able to walk"

    "Late October is very unpredictable in Colorado for a camper who is primarily a tent camper."

    3. Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping

    24 Reviews
    Empire, CO
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 567-4382

    "Just outside of Idaho Springs, take the exit for Co Rd 275 off of I-70. It's a scenic drive up a curvy paved road for about 15 minutes."

    "It is about 7 miles of dirt road, and 4 miles of very challenging (for me) driving. Be sure to follow the sign LEFT to Chinns Lake. "

    4. Reverend's Ridge Campground — Golden Gate Canyon

    30 Reviews
    Rollinsville, CO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 582-3707

    $28 - $90 / night

    "This spot is just a quick ride outside of Golden. The scenery is gorgeous with several trails to hike or mountain bike. The campsites are clean and easy to get to."

    "Stunning campground nestled right outside Golden and Boulder Colorado. We couldn’t believe it…so close but you feel incredibly removed once you get there."

    5. Fall River Reservoir Dispersed Camping Trail

    18 Reviews
    Empire, CO
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 567-4382

    "I first camped in Colorado last year with a friend and we chose this dispersed due to it being close to travel too- yet still dispersed. I’ve come back 4 other times to camp here!"

    "It is a light off road trail and would recommend having high vehicle clearance and 4x4. We were unable to park right next to the reservoir because it was closed off."

    6. Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area

    54 Reviews
    Nederland, CO
    18 miles
    Website

    "So the Gordon Gulch dispersed camping area has around 15 numbered sites that are ok... but if you keep driving further down 233.1 you will find many more unnumbered campsites."

    "Getting here is easy, only a few miles away from Nederland and I had cell service (verizon) the entire time."

    7. Columbine Campground - Outside of Denver

    15 Reviews
    Black Hawk, CO
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 226-3564

    $26 / night

    "Tons of forests to explore nearby. It was very busy- sign said campground full but after a drive around all the sites we found one that was open!"

    "The proximity to Central City/ Black Hawk is crazy ( less than 2-3 miles) but the proximity to i70 is what makes it a hidden gem."

    8. Pull off with fire ring - Dispersed Site

    16 Reviews
    Georgetown, CO
    5 miles
    Website

    "Resources were running low on a Friday night so it was great pull off great views close to idaho springs down town , nice hiking trails as well traffic is pretty much non existent after 9pm"

    "Any unpaved areas around it are not flat."

    9. Vasquez Ridge

    31 Reviews
    Winter Park, CO
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 541-2500

    "There are different types of sites, including some pull-offs for campers, some sites you could drive into off the road, and some with parking on the road and a small hike down to the site."

    "The site we found was tucked back away from the road giving us nice privacy. We could barely see our neighbors from our campsite, but we could hear them."

    10. West Magnolia Campground

    26 Reviews
    Nederland, CO
    13 miles
    Website

    "Not only is this pretty easy to reach, but Peak to Peak highway is great to drive. Just take P to P south from Nederland and turn right on HWY 132… Campsites and trailhead are about 1/2 mile down. "

    "Great (free) Forrest Service campground west of Boulder, CO near a cute little town Nederland."

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Recent Reviews near Dumont, CO

3041 Reviews of 441 Dumont Campgrounds


  • Hillary B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Peak One Campground

    Convenient and beautiful

    Convenient to town and all that Frisco/Dillon has to offer, but also right on the perimeter trail (6-mile dirt) and also the Dillon Reservoir loop (18-mile paved). Our site had a small path right to the beach.

    No hammocks are allowed here (we learned this by having one). There are bathrooms, but they were locked during our stay. Potable water was still available.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Creekside Along Georgia Pass

    Nice and quiet with trees and creek

    Camped here on off-season. Wonderful babbling brook, lots of trees, peaceful quiet

  • Ken B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Hermits Hollow Campground — Hermit Park

    Nice campground

    The sites are spacious and far enough apart. Not much for views but the place was clean and the staff very welcoming. Close to the park and t-shirt shopping in Estes Park.

  • Adam  B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Cherry Creek State Park Campground

    Good spot close to city

    Nice park with lots of things to do here. Bathrooms and showers are nice and kept clean every morning. Laundry wash $1.50 to $2.00 and dry for $1.50! Cell Verizon and att decent with up to 20Mb download Spots are level (101) Water to fill a jug but some spots have full hookups. Free dump station. You can hear the freeway and road traffic but it’s not terrible. Over nice park.

  • Ben W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Pioneer Park

    Cute, but...

    Great little campground, right on the Colorado River.

    Would be better if a freight train didn't pass through every 2-3 hours, blowing the train horn.

  • A
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Manor RV Park

    Location Excellent - Campground and showers OK

    The campground is extremely conveniently located and in a pretty area. The campground itself is just ok. Super close together spaces and zero privacy at sites. Nice concrete pads to park beside to help with mud and tracking so that was nice. Each site has its own picnic table. The shower house was centrally located within the grounds. The women's side entrance wasn't very well lit at night. There are no private changing areas in the shower house, except the handicap stall, which I am not a fan of. Water wasn't very hot even on straight hot.

    Men's side was even less private my husband said.

  • leah S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    The Lost Site - Dispersed Campsite

    The lost site

    Beautiful quiet spot. Large sites with pull thru. Easy turn around. No facilites and cold in October

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Applewood RV Resort by Rjourney

    Great hiking and biking trails

    The park was okay if you are looking for something overnight. And very expensive and very crowded and no room between rigs. Looks like fulltime living in some spaces. It does have laundry service. And it has a great park just beside it. And there are beautiful hiking and biking trails right next to the facility. And it is very dog friendly.

  • Vinny D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Allenspark Dispersed Camp Spot

    Great spot, quiet

    Good spot, this is my second time staying here. You have to drive through a neighborhood to get to the serving road. Follow the directions on Google and you’ll be fine. The best spots are a little further back. The road will come to a Y go left. Once you go left down be hill you’ll go back up a hill and go around the curve to the right. There’s a creek on the left and great spots.


Guide to Dumont

Camping spots near Dumont, Colorado range from 8,000 to over 9,500 feet in elevation, creating significant temperature variations even in summer when overnight lows can drop to the 30s. The Clear Creek drainage creates a natural corridor through the mountainous terrain, with several dispersed camping areas located along Forest Service roads that branch off from the main highways. Morning fog often settles in valleys during fall camping season, requiring extra warm gear for overnight stays.

What to do

Mountain biking on established trails: Reverend's Ridge Campground in Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers extensive trail access. "There are plenty of hiking trails in the park some easy some difficult. Make sure you leave out prepared," notes one camper at Reverend's Ridge Campground — Golden Gate Canyon. Another visitor adds, "Great hiking and bike trails. This spot is just a quick ride outside of Golden. The scenery is gorgeous with several trails to hike or mountain bike."

Fishing in high mountain reservoirs: The area's lakes and reservoirs provide excellent fishing opportunities. At Fall River Reservoir Dispersed Camping Trail, anglers report successful catches: "With perfect views of the mountains and streams in all directions. Our tent was literally right next to a stream of water which was good fishing as me and my friend caught our daily limit of fish very quickly." The reservoir holds several trout species, making it a reliable fishing spot.

Short day hikes near water features: Multiple trails lead to scenic water features. A visitor to Fall River Reservoir shares, "The reservoir itself is gorgeous. There are a few falls that flow in and some good bouldering routes towards the back." Another camper mentions, "A hike around the reservoir would show you that you could even do a bit of backpacking if you wanted to camp by a waterfall for the night."

What campers like

Protected sites with southern exposure: Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area sits at approximately 8,800 feet and offers good sun exposure. A winter camper at Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area shares: "This dispersed site is pretty and is close to the highway, the road seemed a little sketchy in the snow but my RAV4 AWD made it just fine to most of the sites. It snowed on me overnight and the road was still very passable."

Natural water features: The sound of running water enhances many camping experiences. At Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping, one visitor noted, "Very buggy at night, probably because we were camping right next to a running stream. Which was amazing!" Another camper highlighted, "Absolutely gorgeous. Hiked up to an absolutely gorgeous lake, and upper lake. 10/10."

Spacious sites with adequate separation: Campers appreciate room to spread out. At Columbine Campground, a reviewer mentioned: "Both sites had tons of space for tents, large picnic tables, large bear boxes, and grated fire rings." Another camper at Columbine Campground - Outside of Denver observed, "Loop E (electric hookups) is very spacious and well laid out. Every campsite is a pull thru allowing you situate anywhere along the paved area to best suit your needs. Mostly level, fire rings, and very large metal picnic tables. Enormous amount of room."

What you should know

Vehicle requirements for dispersed sites: Many dispersed camping areas require high-clearance vehicles. A Chinns Lake visitor warns: "The entrance road is a bit rocky and 4x4 would be suggested. Low clearance vehicles won't make it up with bumpers intact." At Fall River Reservoir, a camper advises: "The majority of the road isn't that bad, but you'll certainly want something high clearance and 4WD for the last stretch of road up to the reservoir."

Weather variability and preparation: The area experiences rapid weather changes. A camper at Pull off with fire ring - Dispersed Site noted: "Also be aware it's pretty chilly compared to just a few miles up the road. It was in the mid 30s at night." Another visitor mentioned, "The weather changes drastically up there and all three days we got 3/5 hours of rain."

Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely across camping areas. At Chinns Lake, "I have AT&T and had zero cell reception, some of the others had Verizon which had limited cell service." Similarly, at West Magnolia Campground, "Cell Service is patchy at best. On verizon I had 2 bars of gen 1 service, and could only get patchy data with my multi directional cell boster."

Tips for camping with families

Look for dedicated family areas: Some campgrounds offer better family accommodations. At Denver West-Central City KOA, amenities include: "The staff is pleasant and the view from sites 1-10 is good. Showers are clean." Another family noted the campground "offered pizza and wing delivery! They also offered an all you can eat pancake breakfast for $3 in the morning."

Choose sites with bear-proof storage: Families with food should prioritize bear safety. At Columbine Campground, a camper reported: "Beautiful surroundings, well maintained area, bathrooms were spotless and bear boxes were plentiful." This feature helps families store food safely without worrying about wildlife encounters.

Consider noise factors when selecting sites: Some areas experience significant noise. As one camper at West Magnolia Campground observed, "Other campers had loud TVs going and that made it difficult for the kids to sleep." Another family at Reverend's Ridge noted, "If you're looking for a place to get away from crowds, this is not the place for you."

Tips from RVers

Access routes and turn radius: RV drivers should research routes carefully. An RV camper at Columbine Campground noted: "The road getting to the campgrounds is pretty bumpy, but lots of RVs and cars made it fine." Another visitor explained, "1 Mile bumpy road into the site low clearance vehicle is fine non-winter months."

Site leveling requirements: Many mountain sites require leveling. At Reverend's Ridge, an experienced RVer advised: "The sites are not very level so be prepared to use your blocks." Another camper mentioned, "Loop E (electric hookups) is very spacious and well laid out. Every campsite is a pull thru allowing you situate anywhere along the paved area to best suit your needs."

Winter road closures: Seasonal access varies significantly. A visitor to Vasquez Ridge reported: "Tried to go on Vasquez Ridge, but was closed on Winter Park side. We actually were able to go around on the Fraser side with Road 72 and it ran right into the other side of Vasquez." For late-season camping, call ahead to verify road status.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Dumont, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Dumont, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 441 campgrounds and RV parks near Dumont, CO and 149 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Dumont, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dumont, CO is Denver West-Central City KOA with a 4.5-star rating from 30 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dumont, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 149 free dispersed camping spots near Dumont, CO.

What parks are near Dumont, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 14 parks near Dumont, CO that allow camping, notably Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland and Rocky Mountain National Park.