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Dispersed Camping near Edwards, CO

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    Dispersed camping opportunities abound near Edwards, Colorado, with several primitive sites available on public lands. Yeoman Park offers tent and RV camping from May to September with vault toilets but no drinking water. Red Sandstone provides free primitive sites requiring permits, while Bellyache Road features more accessible drive-in locations. Blue Lake Camp, located in the Castle Peak Wilderness Study Area, features what one camper described as "one of the most serene glacial lakes in the area with multiple primitive camp sites designated by fire rings."

    Most dispersed sites in this region require self-sufficiency. No drinking water, electric hookups, or sanitary facilities exist at the majority of locations. Fire restrictions are common throughout summer months; always check current regulations before planning to have a campfire. According to reviews, "fire bans are in effect frequently" and violations "carry a hefty fine." Bear activity is reported in many areas, necessitating proper food storage. Weather conditions change rapidly at these high elevations, with afternoon thunderstorms common.

    Road conditions vary significantly between sites. Four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance are recommended for accessing remote locations like Blue Lake Camp, where "many of the ruts on the road are very deep." Homestake Reservoir and Tigiwon Road sites can be reached with standard vehicles in dry conditions. Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most sites. Campers note that weekends bring higher traffic, with one reviewer stating "if you want a spot on a weekend, get there early." All sites operate on first-come, first-served basis. Practice Leave No Trace principles by packing out all waste and minimizing impact on these fragile mountain environments.

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    Best Dispersed Campgrounds near Edwards (139)

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      1. Yeoman Park

      5.0(8)8mi from EdwardsRVs, Tents

      "No electric hook ups. We brought in our 27foot camper and had a spectacular visit. Quiet area. Creek at entrance."

      "There was a park ranger on site at the time we were there so that provided a sense of security while being more in the back country."

      from $8 / night

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      2. Red Sandstone - Primitive Dispersed

      4.3(12)14mi from EdwardsTents

      "It is a hidden gem. You can drive or walk down a mile which leads to a trail to Lost Lake, which you can swim in."

      "Plenty of dispersed camping up Red Sandstone Road. Go 2.5 miles up a smooth dirt road once you leave the paved road to reach the start of camping (head right at a junction after those 2.5 miles)."

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      3. Bellyache Road

      3.8(6)9mi from EdwardsTents, Cabins

      "Absolutely requires four-wheel drive for two and a half miles of extremely rough unpaved road that goes up a thousand feet."

      "Bringing one up could lead to a serious situation , since there are no places to turn around whatsoever. That said, views were absolutely breathtaking."

      4. Tigiwon Road

      3.6(5)12mi from Edwards

      "Bumpy and narrow road in but beautiful views once you get to the top."

      "Nice dispersed camping spot. There are a few along the road, we went just passed the Tigawon community house and found a great spot with a view, and fire pit!"

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      5. Homestake Reservoir Rd Milemarker 3 - Dispersed

      4.4(8)17mi from EdwardsTents

      "Level and had a turn around for a larger rig. Many tent sites around. Road is in good shape."

      "Firewood is not for sale nearby and the forest doesn't have much, so you should bring your own."

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      6. Rock Creek Designated Dispersed Camping

      4.6(27)26mi from EdwardsRVs, Tents

      "WARNING: The road to the camping locations is very bumpy, narrow, and has some large rocks. AWD with high clearance or 4x4 is recommended. This location was great!"

      "This spot was easily accessible with high clearance. I arrived at 11am on Wednesday July 3 and only two sites were occupied."

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      7. BLM Mountain View

      5.0(1)10mi from Edwards

      "Rough road, be prepared. Nothing crazy but definitely bumpy. Great spot, no shade so it can get very hot. Nice fire ring, very primitive."

      8. Blue Lake Camp

      5.0(2)13mi from EdwardsTents

      "Blue Lake is by far one of the most serene glacial lakes in the area and offers multiple primitive camp sites designated by fire rings."

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      9. Piney River Road Dispersed Camping

      3.5(2)11mi from Edwards

      "There are ~10 free dispersed camping sites along Piney River Road leading up to the resort on the lake. The sites are all drive in, but no amenities."

      10. Lake Constantine Dispersed Camping

      5.0(2)14mi from Edwards

      "Lake Constantine sits about 4 miles off of Tigiwon Rd outside of the town of Minturn. These camp spots are only accessible by hiking in."

      "We were there dead in the middle of the week and there was still alot of people to pass on the trail but thats no problem becuase theres alot of room to spread out and plenty of firepits getting firewood"

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    598 Reviews of 139 Edwards Campgrounds

    • Paulina B.
      Dec. 20, 2024

      Kirby Gulch

      Worth the Rough Drive

      Kirby Gulch is a fantastic spot for anyone seeking a peaceful, off-the-grid camping experience near Grant, Colorado. Situated off Route 1038, this dispersed camping area offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and easy access to outdoor activities like hiking and wildlife watching.

      The campsites are well-spaced, providing plenty of privacy, and the area is generally clean, thanks to considerate campers. Since it’s a dispersed site, there are no amenities like water or toilets, so make sure to come prepared. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for accessing some of the sites, especially after rain or snow.

      What makes Kirby Gulch truly special is its tranquility. You can enjoy the sound of the wind through the trees, the crisp mountain air, and dazzling stargazing at night. It’s also a great starting point for exploring nearby trails or simply soaking in the serene environment.

      If you’re comfortable with primitive camping and leave-no-trace principles, Kirby Gulch is a hidden gem worth checking out.

    • Matthew V.
      Oct. 9, 2020

      Four Mile Road Dispersed

      Easy drive. Tons of sites

      Had a quick stop over here on the way to Dinosaur National Monument. No ATT phone service beyond a certain point. This is all primitive camping and heavily used by 4x4 ATVs. There are no facilities ie: Toilets, power, water or fire pits. The road was easy no need for high clearance or 4wheel drive. Heavy wildlife area, had a fox come right up to my car as I was making coffee. Only 30 minutes from Glenwood Springs. Would stay again 9/10 would recommend.

      Remember to pack in pack out.

    • Kelly G.The Dyrt PRO User
      Aug. 29, 2021

      Grays Peak Summer Trailhead Dispersed Camping

      Great base camp for summiting Gray’s/Torrey’s

      Stevens Gulch Road (321) is a dirt road off of I-70 west of Denver in the Arapaho & Rosevelt National Forests and the Pawnee National Grasslands. It has amazing scenery and access to gorgeous hiking trails to summit Gray’s, Torrey’s and Kelso Peaks. It is a fairly mellow SUV road with plenty of space to pass other vehicles and you will occasionally see passenger cars as well. The road leads to a large parking lot that fills up fast with car overflow parking spilling down both sides of the road. There are pit toilets and bear proof trash cans at the parking lot. The road continues past the parking lot a very short ways to some dispersed campsites by a river that have stone campfire rings. Definitely filter this water as there are uphill toilet paper gardens along the climb to summit.

    • BThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 12, 2023

      Forest Road 130

      Absolutely awesome

      Stunningly beautiful dispersed camping at its best. To find the most precious spot you need to get to Forest service Road 130 S as in South. There is a forest service ranger station on the south side of Leadville where you can get a motor vehicle use map MVUM. But even without a map the roads are marked. 130 starts near Highway 24 on the west side across from massive lakes, near a large bank of mailboxes. You'll see a sign asking you to respect the private property owners rights. Just keep going up the hill and you will find the forest service signage indicating the public lands. Many people don't go much further. But the truly spectacular sites are a couple miles further. The roads are narrow and steep but manageable. Keep going down 130 until you reach an intersection with 130A and 130 B, A goes north and B goes south. But keep going till you reach a T intersection. 160 goes north and 130 S goes south. Go left, south till you reach a slightly challenging switch back. Just on the other side of the switchback is a wide open space with room for many rigs including good size trailers. Very quiet with very little traffic of any kind. The Leadville 100 foot race goes right by every August.

    • Jeff L.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 4, 2023

      Four Mile Road Dispersed

      4 mile dispersed

      There are many sites all over the place up there. Some are big enough for groups of RV's some are small, private tent spots. Some offer magicians views others are in dense vegetation along water. We found no cell reception for miles. There are easy sites next to the main gravel roads and more secluded sites off of many various "Jeep trails". No services, no running water, no electric, no cable TV, no bathrooms, no showers, no dump stations, no picnic tables, etc. It's the forest.

    • Eileen S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Dec. 1, 2021

      Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping

      Crowded Camping Near Keystone

      This is beautiful camping close to keystone and likewise gets crowded in the summer months. If you want a spot on a weekend, get there early. There are a few pull offs along the road suitable for most cars, but if you have a high clearance 4WD you can go on a few offshoot roads and find more spacious spots. No cell phone signal or water, and frequent fire bans in the summer.

    • Alex V.
      Oct. 19, 2020

      Lincoln Creek Dispersed Campground

      Capable rig

      The sites are plentiful large, but you’ll require a decent 4x4 vehicle to get you there. The further along the path you travel, the more rugged it becomes; so most people seemingly settled for the first few spots. Personally, site 5, 8, and 11 are best. Almost every site has a bear-proof box you can store food (or hide?) within, which is nice. Sites are also far enough apart to mitigate any privacy concerns, and albeit the current fire ban - come equipped with existing fire pits.

    • JThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 29, 2025

      Hot Sulphur Springs SWA - Joe Gerrans Unit

      Nice Camping Area With Good Fishing

      Nice area to set up camp and fish on the Colorado River. There is a bear-proof dumpster and a portapotty (BYO TP) available. Not a lot of traffic along the highway at night, but there is a train that comes through which can be pretty loud. Roughly a dozen established dispersed sites are available here. Bring the bug spray, the mosquitoes are thick! There is zero T-Mobile cell signal here at all.

    • SThe Dyrt PRO User
      Sep. 23, 2025

      Sawmill Gulch

      Drive in + makeshift firepits

      Loved this spot because it felt like a secret. Only 4 or 5 designated camping spots, but you can drive your car into the spot as well. I came from Kenosha Pass ($24 to camp there and you can’t drive your car to your campsite). The road up to the campsites starts out like a regular dirt road, but then it gets a tad rocky and then it gets slightly rough with several potholes. I drive a 2008 Prius and I went slow and it was not a problem for me at all, I cannot speak for the road coming from the other side though. There are bear signs so please be careful. There are also a couple spots along the way to park but not camp. Each of the campsites had makeshift rock style firepits as well. No bathrooms, no water, no trash cans. Private property on most of the rest of the land. No cellphone service for Verizon until you get to the highway again. Highly recommend!

    Guide to Edwards

    Dispersed camping near Edwards, Colorado presents options across elevations ranging from 7,500 to over 10,000 feet. The area experiences rapid weather shifts throughout summer, with temperatures varying by 30-40°F between day and night at higher elevations. Many sites remain accessible from May through October, though early-season campers should expect lingering snow patches at sites above 9,000 feet.

    What to do

    Hiking from camp sites: Several designated dispersed camping areas provide direct trail access. At Rock Creek Designated Dispersed Camping, "the trailhead is easy to find at the end of the road and leads to a couple of sweet spots. We stopped by Boulder Lake and it was about 6.5 miles total of a hike."

    Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning and evening hours offer prime wildlife spotting. Campers at Yeoman Park report diverse sightings: "Saw squirrels, deer, one moose, skunk (no spray), a couple prong horn sheep, eagle, endless beauty." Another camper notes they "were treated to a herd of elk crossing the creek" in the morning.

    Fishing access: Multiple sites provide fishing opportunities in alpine lakes. A backpacker at Lake Constantine Dispersed Camping reports: "The lake itself is very large and offers some amazing high alpine fishing. We caught many trout while fly fishing throughout the day and night. Dry flies worked very well at dusk."

    What campers like

    Stream-side camping: Many sites feature proximity to running water. A visitor to Homestake Reservoir Rd found "a great spot on the creek. Level and had a turn around for a larger rig. Many tent sites around." Another camper described "fresh water source coming from the reservoir hundreds of feet away from camping sites."

    Night sky views: The area's limited light pollution creates exceptional stargazing conditions. At Rock Creek, campers appreciate "basically no light pollution. Beautiful scenery, beautiful night sky views."

    Education programs: Some areas offer ranger-led programs during summer months. At Yeoman Park, "Wildlife dept offers educational entertainment on Saturday evenings at their tiny amphitheater. Great for children."

    What you should know

    Insect preparation: Mosquitoes are prevalent, particularly near water sources. One Lake Constantine camper warns: "Because of the lake and the creek, the mosquitoes in this area are bad. BRING BUG SPRAY!" Similarly, at Red Sandstone, a visitor noted: "SO MANY MOSQUITOS."

    Road conditions vary dramatically: Access roads require careful planning. One Red Sandstone visitor described the road as "REALLY rough. One portion looked like someone had just run around digging random holes in the road." At Bellyache Road, campers report it "absolutely requires four-wheel drive for two and a half miles of extremely rough unpaved road that goes up a thousand feet."

    Weekend congestion: Sites fill quickly on summer weekends. At Red Sandstone, one camper arrived "late on a Friday night. My timing was wrong to get a good spot, but I was hoping there would be at least one spot left, unfortunately all the established sites I could reach were taken!"

    Tips for camping with families

    Educational experiences: Several areas offer child-friendly learning opportunities. At Yeoman Park, "Wildlife dept offers educational entertainment on Saturday evenings at their tiny amphitheater. Great for children."

    Accessible wildlife viewing: Many sites provide opportunities to observe animals safely. One Yeoman Park camper was "greeted by a moose licking our car in the morning, not something you see everyday."

    Site selection for family safety: Choose locations based on terrain and accessibility. At Rock Creek, campers note: "We took our offroad capable teardrop to the loop at the reservoir but I don't recommend taking a non-offroad trailer past Gold Park." Another advises families that "some sites had cut wood, but no facilities to be prepared."

    Tips from RVers

    Clearance requirements: Many access roads demand high-clearance vehicles. At Tigiwon Road, RVers note it's "not big-rig friendly, but perfect for pop-ups" with a "bumpy and narrow road in but beautiful views once you get to the top."

    Water supply planning: No hookups exist at dispersed sites. Yeoman Park campers advise to "make sure you have full water supply" as there's no drinking water available.

    Level site availability: Finding flat parking for larger rigs requires scouting. At Bellyache Road, one RVer reports: "I don't regret bringing my travel trailer up here because it's meant for rough roads but had I known the road was this rough I wouldn't have started."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where can I find dispersed camping near Edwards, Colorado?

    Several excellent dispersed camping options exist near Edwards. Red Sandstone - Primitive Dispersed offers free drive-in and walk-in camping with stunning mountain views. For those willing to drive a bit further, Forest Road 130 near Leadville provides some of the most beautiful dispersed camping in the region. The south section (130 S) offers particularly precious spots. Other nearby options include Bellyache Road and Tigiwon Road near Minturn. Most sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving early, especially on weekends, is recommended. A high-clearance vehicle is beneficial for accessing more remote sites, which often provide greater privacy and scenic views.

    Are there any facilities or amenities at Edwards dispersed camping areas?

    Dispersed camping near Edwards typically offers very few amenities. Most areas like Homestake Reservoir Rd Milemarker 3 - Dispersed have no facilities, meaning no toilets, running water, picnic tables, or designated fire rings. You'll need to bring everything you need and pack out all waste. A notable exception is Hot Sulphur Springs SWA - Joe Gerrans Unit, which provides a bear-proof dumpster and a porta-potty (bring your own toilet paper). At Lincoln Creek Dispersed Campground, some sites feature bear-proof boxes. Cell reception is generally poor or non-existent in most dispersed areas, so plan accordingly. Proper preparation is essential, including carrying adequate water, waste disposal bags, and fire safety equipment.

    What regulations should I know about for dispersed camping in Edwards?

    When dispersed camping near Edwards, you must follow Leave No Trace principles and camp at least 100-200 feet from water sources. At Four Mile Road Dispersed, primitive camping is allowed but there are no designated facilities, and you'll need to pack out all waste. Most areas have a 14-day stay limit within a 30-day period. Campfires may be restricted seasonally, especially during fire bans, so always check current conditions. A Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) is recommended for navigation and to ensure you're camping in designated areas. These maps are available at the Forest Service ranger station in Leadville. Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping and similar areas may have specific site restrictions, so look for established pull-offs and fire rings.

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