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.
"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!!"
$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."
"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. "
$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."
"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."
"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."
$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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
TravelerThe hosts are great. Very friendly and informative. Everyone here has been a complete joy to engage with. Quiet restful nights. We will return again in the future!
ScoutNobody else here! Felt safe car camping as there was a thunderstorm. Beware of cows in the road as you enter the area, they’re kind if you are! Verizon cell coverage at the site I parked at was 1-3 bars.
TravelerThis was an okay spot for an overnight stay before heading into Rocky Mountain National park. The views are beautiful all around, though there is no shade, but that’s great for starlink or solar power needs!
There are 2 sites right after turning, we chose the second. There was a living room chair next to the fire ring lol and a pair of boots sitting a little ways away but didn’t look like anyone was actually camping there.
The road coming in was fine, easy in my minivan. There is some private land on the way in as well, so check for signs before stopping. The road to get to more sites looked a little terrifying and probably not doable for me, so I chose to skip, but I bet there are some beautiful sites.
I have AT&T and had a few bars of LTE while here.
All in all a great overnight stay, would stay here again.
ScoutJust up the hill and through a neighborhood. Lots of switch backs and narrow roads. Thank God I saw the review about the another guy wanting to turn around many time trees but sticking with it, because I legit hit a section in my Rav 4 that I thought I wasn’t going to make it through. To be fair I was here at dusk and I also had a cargo hitch on, which was getting tossed around on the rocks. The RAV4 made it up but highly freaked out my dogs who are fairly tolerant of this kind of stuff.
Someone was at the campsite when I got here, and I decided to pull in a private driveway across from it because there was no way I was driving back down the narrow stretch at night. (Edit: I went back down that narrow stretch later that night - it was easier on the way down)
There’s cell service with Verizon so at least I could call someone to talk me down after the not so fun adrenaline rush.
ScoutWas really looking forward to camping here but the road is still closed as of June 1, 2026.
RangerWe spent 2 nights here on spot 9 which does not have a post at the moment. There were no envelopes for the sites when we arrived but we made it work. This spot fades the river and is flat. It looked like a few of the spots would be an issue with a bigger tent. You have to walk into the sites a bit but not super far.
ScoutAll the directions posted for this location are wrong as of this writing (even from CPW) and most of our group got lost trying to get here this last weekend. The actual location of the Works Ranch Group Campsite is:
307 Damascus Rd
Or for the GPS folks:
39.88139791150872,-105.45215059340553
You need to turn onto Damascus road off of Gap road, travel down about a mile and the locked gate you need to go through will be on the left. There is generally good signage from both the intersection of Mountain Base and Gap road and at the intersection of Damascus and Gap road.
Place is amazing and really secluded! Not sure how you would park 12 cars but six seemed to fit pretty well. Running water at the site is uniquely "milky" so perhaps consider bringing water from home.
Hiking wise, you are not really close to any trails but you can walk along damascus road (north) for about half a mile and hook into the raccoon trail at its low point.
ScoutI drove here and there is no camp ground. Do not come here expecting anything buy dispersed camping
TravelerIdk how anyone thinks this place isn’t awesome. It’s $35 a night for a spot super close to the water. The spots are pretty spread out. We are taking our toddler and dogs swimming 100 times a day. Picnic tables, beautiful views, water spigots, bathrooms, etc.
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.
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."
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."
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."
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."
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 449 campgrounds and RV parks near Dumont, CO and 152 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 31 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dumont, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 152 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.
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