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Best Dispersed Camping near Empire, CO

780 Reviews

Several dispersed camping areas surround Empire, Colorado, including Chinns Lake, Fall River Reservoir, and York Gulch Road. These free sites typically require high-clearance 4WD vehicles, particularly for Chinns Lake where the rough, rocky terrain presents a significant challenge. Located at approximately 11,000 feet elevation, Chinns Lake provides scenic alpine camping with multiple sites around the water.

Most dispersed areas in this region permit fires in established rings when no fire bans are in effect. Sites generally accommodate tents and smaller RVs, but lack amenities such as toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, or trash service. The high-altitude locations offer excellent views of the Continental Divide and nearby peaks. One camper noted, "The road to get here especially once you get to the chinns lake turn off is definitely not by any means easy. Pretty narrow and especially with all the rain there's quite a few places that are rough." Visitors should plan for variable weather conditions, as temperatures can drop into the 30s at night even during summer months.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Empire, Colorado (154)

    1. Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping

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

    "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. "

    "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."

    2. Fall River Reservoir Dispersed Camping Trail

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

    "Tons of dispersed campsites in various places all the way up to the reservoir. Be warned, this road is no joke."

    "Wonderful free dispersed camping. 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."

    3. Pull off with fire ring - Dispersed Site

    16 Reviews
    Georgetown, CO
    6 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."

    4. Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area

    54 Reviews
    Nederland, CO
    20 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."

    "Like the title suggests, this campsite is typical for a free forest service campground. Prior campers have left some trash, bullet casings and obviously neglected to dig cat holes."

    5. West Magnolia Campground

    26 Reviews
    Nederland, CO
    16 miles
    Website

    "Oe of my family's fav places, beautiful views, camping spots super far away from one another so awesome privacy, and completely free. Spots fill up quick on weekends, you can stay 14 days."

    "The roads around the whole campground were a little rough but i did okay in my Ford Escape. All of the sites seems to be really spread out. There were several people in the campground."

    6. Loch Lomond Dispersed

    9 Reviews
    Empire, CO
    4 miles
    Website

    "There were some mixed reviews about needing a high clearance vehicle/4x4. We took our Subaru Crosstrek and the drive up was rough."

    "Leading to Loch Lommond, as well as plenty of sites around the lake. Really nice loop trail around the lake, not too difficult. Also a direct trail to James Peak which sits a little above 13,200ft."

    7. York Gulch Road

    9 Reviews
    Dumont, CO
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 295-6600

    "Take the exit onto Fall River Road from the highway, a short road. You are then soon connected with forest service road of sorts York gultch."

    "Sites weren’t marked like other places I’ve been but I expected it being dispersed. Had a wonderful time the sky was pretty it was secluded and lots of space for dogs to run!"

    8. The Lost Site - Dispersed Campsite

    9 Reviews
    Winter Park, CO
    8 miles

    "Still, it is a good place to pull over for a night or two of dry camping. It is close to the highway but not much noise at night."

    "Right off the highway near Winter Park, this forest service access point has several campgrounds along the road."

    9. Grays Peak Summer Trailhead Dispersed Camping

    8 Reviews
    Silver Plume, CO
    9 miles
    Website

    "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."

    "Great location - it’s advised you have a good 4WD vehicle for the uphill dirt road."

    10. Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping

    13 Reviews
    Montezuma, CO
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 945-2521

    "Most SUVs will be fine on this AWD access road. There's not many difficult sections and since there are pull offs to camp or let others pass, navigating the road isn't much problem."

    "with 30 campsites, in a cool old mining area, a few of the campsites are across a creek which was probably 18” deep when I crossed but will likely lower later in the season, I’d recommend a mid-high clearance"

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Empire, CO

542 Photos of 154 Empire Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Empire, CO

780 Reviews of 154 Empire Campgrounds

  • Paulina B.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.

  • Sun H.
    Jul. 28, 2024

    Pole Hill Rd Dispersed

    Access not worth the trouble

    Don’t believe the navigation apps and go through lyons, it’s private property ; furthermore if you like I did make the drive though Estes park, have 4WD high clearance and a small vehicle… maybe you’ll make it to this brutally elusive last free camping spot off the main mountain roads

  • Meg G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2020

    Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping

    Spectacular - 4x4 is required to access.

    We drove our BRAND NEW 4x4 Revel and were nervous the entire trip up and back.  We are a high profile vehicle, luckily we had plenty of clearance but it was very nerve wracking both up and back.  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.  When you arrive, there are several dispersed campsites around the lake.  All the spots have beautiful views and tons of space between other campers.  There are firepits (even though CO is on a fire ban) that  will be nice for future visits.  We visited on Sept 17-19, 2020, so the evenings are cold and the days short.  Additionally, the water level was very low.  

    The area is nice for hiking and exploring, and especially to get away from it all.  No cell phone service.

    As the weekend approached, there were several ATV's heading up for the day.  While we were there, only 3 other groups camping on the weekend.

    You will be at 11,000 feet looking at the Continental Divide!  THIS is Colorado camping!  Enjoy and please remember to leave no trace!

  • 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.

  • Karl G.
    May. 6, 2019

    Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area

    Dispersed Campsite with Views - Gordon Gulch (4x4 recommended)

    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. I am reviewing one of these unnumbered campsites in particular, because this one had the best view. Before you read too far, I can't guarantee you will be able to reach this campsite without a 4X4 high clearance vehicle. We got to the site with a Jeep Wrangler and Toyota Tacoma TRD so we had no problems... I can't definitely say a Subaru would make it though. In the pictures I have included a map of the Gordon Gulch trail system. Entering through the Gordon Gulch entrance and taking 226.1 to 233.1 is the hardest route - there is one very steep and washed out spot. Entering via 120J/Switzerland Trail from the Peak to Peak Hwy and then turning right onto 233.1 is the easier option. On that map I have marked the general area of the campsite with a pink dot and here are the coordinates.

    DMS: 40°01'18.5"N 105°28'37.6"W

    DD: 40.021814, -105.477103 - if you type this into Google Maps it will locate it

    As for the actual campsite, it is a great option for spring/fall camping in Colorado. The elevation is about 8,800 ft and it is on the south side of a hill so it gets a lot of sunlight and is protected from northern winds. In terms of privacy, there are no other campsites that can be seen from this one. However, Gordon Gulch is a popular off-roading area so dirt bikes and Jeeps pass by frequently. This campsite is set up high above and away from the road though, so it is really not that bad. Another thing to point out is that this is a popular area for shooting as well, so if you absolutely hate guns it may not be the place for you. Also, as stated before, this is a dispersed campsite the only thing it has is a fire ring. Pack it in, pack it out!

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 16, 2025

    Rollins Pass Dispersed Camping

    Great spot close to Winter Park

    Went up Rollins pass road (you can access it from the Lakota Trail neighborhood or down the road a bit on 80). The first gate was open but not the second or third to get to the top where there are def more spots and fire rings. You can only camp places where there are dots on the side of the road on the official county map. Check the Rollins pass website it’s very informative and a sacred land so leave no trace. We got one of the like 3-4 spots we saw with a fire ring that wasn’t taken yet. (No fire ban 6/14/25 I check don’t worry :).. Some back trails are very hairy, pretty busy with motor vehicles but a lot of the new electric dirt bikes which don’t make much noise, probably 10-15 ppl the entire night riding by only once. Got great weather and the main trail is pretty easy up to the second gate which is supposed to be open June 15-Sept 15 I think.

  • 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.

  • A L.
    Aug. 21, 2017

    Ceran St. Vrain Trail Dispersed Camping

    Gorgeous getaway within minutes from Longmont

    My son and I joined a friend from Longmont and headed to this trail to camp for a couple days. Very accessible road, lots of spots to choose from (we showed up on Thursday, it did get a little busier on Friday and Saturday). Our spot was set back from the trail, right next to the stream. Just an amazing view, ample room for lots of tents, nice fire rings and huge logs around them for sitting. Fire wood abounds but it was all a little wet still from the rains they've been getting. Some folks didn't seem to be aware of the "leave no trace" rule when it comes to going to the bathroom, which was a little gross. Overall, great experience, pretty trail views, caught lots of trout (none big enough to keep). A great getaway.

  • Alyse P.
    May. 21, 2021

    Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area

    Good but tricky

    I went here the week before campgrounds opened in this area, around May 7th. I had a pop up trailer and got there around 5pm on a Friday. Most spots were already taken and the road was a bit washed out. We got stopped by a camper letting us know not to go further because of the road condition and we shared a spot for the night. I would recommend this spot if you have a 4 wheel drive car with high clearance. Later in the season when the water levels are lower it might be easier to navigate but we saw a car or two get towed out

Guide to Empire

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Empire, Colorado, where nature's tranquility awaits. With a variety of sites offering stunning views and outdoor activities, this area is perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Empire, Colorado

  • Arrive early to secure a good spot, especially on weekends, as many areas can fill up quickly. For instance, Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area is known to get crowded, particularly during peak times.
  • Be prepared for limited amenities; many sites, like West Magnolia Campground, do not offer drinking water or toilets, so plan accordingly.
  • Always practice Leave No Trace principles to keep these beautiful areas clean. Campers at Fall River Reservoir Dispersed Camping Trail have noted the importance of cleaning up after themselves to maintain the natural beauty.

Top activities while free camping near Empire

  • Hiking and mountain biking are popular activities in the area, with trails accessible from sites like Dream Canyon Campsites - Dispersed Camping. The scenic views make for an unforgettable outdoor experience.
  • Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunities available at Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping, where the serene lake offers a peaceful setting for casting a line.
  • Wildlife watching is another highlight, especially in areas like Bruno Gulch Dispersed, where you might spot deer, elk, and various bird species.

Dispersed campers should check out Ute Pass

  • Ute Pass Dispersed Camping offers a secluded experience with multiple sites along the creek, making it a great choice for those seeking peace and quiet. Campers have enjoyed the privacy and natural beauty at this location.
  • The drive to Ute Pass is relatively easy, but be aware that the final road may require a 4WD vehicle for the best access. Many have successfully navigated the terrain to reach their desired spots.
  • This area is known for its stunning views and proximity to hiking trails, making it an ideal base for outdoor adventures. Campers at Ute Pass have praised the accessibility to nearby trails and the overall beauty of the landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the regulations for dispersed camping in the Empire area near St. Mary's Glacier?

Dispersed camping in the Empire area follows standard National Forest regulations. At Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area, camping is limited to designated sites, many of which are numbered. The standard 14-day stay limit applies throughout the area. Campfires are permitted only in existing fire rings, and during high fire danger periods, restrictions may be enforced. Ceran St. Vrain Trail Dispersed Camping exemplifies other important rules: camp at least 100 feet from water sources, pack out all trash, and use proper waste disposal methods. No permits are required for most dispersed camping in the area, but always check current regulations with the local ranger district, as rules can change seasonally.

Where can I find dispersed camping near St. Mary's Glacier in Empire, Colorado?

For dispersed camping near St. Mary's Glacier, Rollins Pass Dispersed Camping offers excellent options with established fire rings along the road. The access point is via the Lakota Trail neighborhood. While the upper gates may be closed seasonally, preventing access to the very top, numerous dispersed sites are available along the lower sections. Another option is York Gulch Road, which provides free dispersed camping opportunities within reasonable driving distance of St. Mary's Glacier. Both areas offer beautiful mountain views and serve as good base camps for exploring the glacier and surrounding trails. Arrive early on weekends as the most accessible spots fill quickly, especially during summer months.

Do I need a 4WD vehicle to access dispersed camping sites near Empire and St. Mary's Glacier?

Vehicle requirements vary significantly by location. At Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping, 4WD with high clearance is strongly recommended. The route includes approximately 7 miles of dirt road followed by 4 miles of challenging terrain that can be difficult even for equipped vehicles. Similarly, at Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping, while there are some pull-offs accessible to standard vehicles, a high-clearance 4WD opens up many more secluded camping options on offshoot roads. For less rugged access, look for dispersed sites along main forest roads. Weather conditions significantly impact accessibility, with spring mud and winter snow making 4WD essential during these seasons, even on normally accessible roads.

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