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Best Dispersed Camping near Estes Park, CO

568 Reviews

Several free dispersed camping areas exist in the national forest lands near Estes Park, Colorado, with most requiring high-clearance 4WD vehicles. Hell Canyon Dispersed has steep dirt roads that are challenging for most passenger cars. A camper noted, "The road is steep, but nothing crazy. Our RAV4 had no issues at all." Forest Road 119 offers sites with mountain views but faces seasonal closures, with multiple reviews indicating the road is often gated until summer.

Allenspark Dispersed Camping provides tent sites and generally receives higher ratings than other areas. Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area near Nederland and Gold Lake Area Dispersed both accommodate tents and RVs with drive-in access. For backcountry camping within Rocky Mountain National Park, sites like Over the Hill require permits ($36) through Recreation.gov and bear canisters are mandatory from April through October. Visitors should note that true dispersed camping is not permitted within park boundaries.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Estes Park, Colorado (122)

    1. Hell Canyon Dispersed

    29 Reviews
    Pinewood Springs, CO
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 295-6600

    "4x4 drive is a requirement. Good Verizon signal. Narrow road, however not busy at all. Stayed here for 4 days, no issue. The Google Maps directions is slightly wrong."

    "Required 4x4)
    10 minutes from Estes Park, lots of local places to go. The camp ground down below will even let you shower for 8$. Sweet!"

    2. Allenspark Dispersed Camping

    28 Reviews
    Allenspark, CO
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 295-6600

    "Only 30 minutes away from Estes Park. The only downside to it was that there was absolutely no service whatever."

    "Fire ban was in effect when we went, but lots of fire circles available otherwise. Bring bug spray, the flies are bold."

    3. Beaver Park Reservoir - Dispersed

    34 Reviews
    Ward, CO
    17 miles
    Website

    "We were right up on the lake but turns out it's private property and you cannot even go up to the water."

    "You are pinned up against private property around the lake, the camp sites are in the dirt area when you get to the lake down to the left."

    4. Allenspark Dispersed Camp Spot

    10 Reviews
    Pinewood Springs, CO
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 295-6600

    "Quick drive to Estes Park. No Verizon cell service."

    "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."

    5. Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area

    54 Reviews
    Nederland, CO
    25 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."

    6. Forest Road 119

    7 Reviews
    Estes Park, CO
    4 miles

    "The road is pretty rough and high clearance is recommended. A Subaru need our help a little bit. We camped on a weekend and the road and other sites got pretty busy."

    7. Stillwater Pass Dispersed Campsite

    19 Reviews
    Grand Lake, CO
    21 miles
    Website

    "The coordinates are a bit early on 4. Roads are easy to navigate. Continue up the road for multiple flat locations. Some of the roads were closed but 4 is open."

    "Even though this forest was impacted by the troublesome fire in 2020, this place is still very beautiful. We found a great camping spot close to a hiking/biking trail."

    8. Over the Hill Backcountry Campsite — Rocky Mountain National Park

    3 Reviews
    Estes Park, CO
    5 miles
    Website

    $20 - $25 / night

    "This is a secluded backcountry site about 2.2 miles from Sprague Lake TH or 1.3 miles from East Portal TH. The hike is fairly easy to follow with signs guiding along the way."

    9. Pole Hill Rd Dispersed

    4 Reviews
    Drake, CO
    6 miles

    "New Bronco in front of me turned around.  Once past the obstacles (which is why we do this, right?) lots of nice camping.  The only drawback is the large power lines in the vicinity.   No Verizon. "

    10. Gold Lake Area Dispersed

    13 Reviews
    Ward, CO
    20 miles

    "My GPS from the coordinates just took me to the nearest town of Ward, CO. This is how I got there coming from the North:

    Take RT72 South to County Road 100."

    "Many spots along the CR once you find it, came in around 4pm on a Friday and there were still plenty of spots but started filling up fast. By 7pm, people were turning around as no spots were left."

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Estes Park, CO

431 Photos of 122 Estes Park Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Estes Park, CO

568 Reviews of 122 Estes Park Campgrounds

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Melissa B.
    Oct. 3, 2020

    Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping

    Perfect Little Getaway

    (Camped 09/18-09/20) This was a little tricky to get to but totally worth the trip. 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. Once you get to the "Invincible Lodge" entrance there is a dirt path off to the left. It has a sign at the entrance stating the drive up goes through about 3 miles of private property before reaching the dispersed camping area. It also says the route is for "high clearance vehicles"....and it isn't joking. The first mile isn't too bad...just mostly gravel. The next couple miles though get really rocky with some spots that have large dips and narrow paths. The route is ideal for Jeeps and offroad type vehicles, but it is still manageable in a small SUV or truck. Just have to really know what youre doing. Even in our Silverado, my brother had to drive very slowly and maneuver around large rocks sticking up otherwise we would have bottomed out. It took over an hour to get up to the camping area. There is a split in the road at one point and we continued to the left toward the Chinns Lake Reservoir.

    Once finally at the top there were plenty of spots to choose from. Gorgeous views and lots of wooded area around both reservoirs. There is a nice hiking trail that goes up the mountain side between the two reservoirs as well. We got a little lost and ventured off the path to go higher on the rocks, and the view was worth it. Was a little bit of an adventure to find our way back down though.

    Since it was mid-Sept it got pretty cold at night. Elevation was around 11,000 ft where we camped. We were in a fire ban as well so that didn't help. Probably got into the high 30s the one night. Beautiful view of the stars though, and plenty of small wildlife to see.

    Highly recommend staying in this area!

  • 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.

Guide to Estes Park

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Estes Park, Colorado, where you can immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities, this area is perfect for adventurers seeking a more rustic experience.

Enjoy Scenic Views While Free Camping Near Estes Park

  • The Gold Lake Area Dispersed offers breathtaking views and plenty of spots to set up camp, making it a favorite among those looking for a picturesque backdrop.
  • At Beaver Park Reservoir - Dispersed, you can enjoy the tranquility of the lake while taking in the surrounding mountain scenery, perfect for photography enthusiasts.
  • For those who appreciate a more secluded experience, the Stillwater Pass Dispersed Campsite provides ample space and stunning vistas, ideal for a peaceful getaway.

Dispersed Campers Should Check Out Allenspark

  • The Allenspark Dispersed Camping area features beautiful creekside spots that are perfect for families and nature lovers alike, offering a serene environment for relaxation.
  • If you're looking for a bit of adventure, the Ceran St. Vrain Trail Dispersed Camping provides access to hiking trails and the chance to explore the stunning valley.
  • For a unique experience, consider the Hell Canyon Dispersed area, where you can find diverse wildlife and enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature.

Tips for Free and Dispersed Camping Near Estes Park, Colorado

  • Always pack out what you pack in; areas like the Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area have received feedback about litter, so maintaining cleanliness is crucial for preserving the beauty of these spots.
  • Be prepared for varying road conditions; some areas, such as Pingree Road Dispersed Camping, may require high clearance vehicles to access certain sites.
  • Check for fire restrictions before your trip, especially in areas like Stillwater Pass Grand Lake Colorado - Dispersed, where fire bans can be in effect during dry seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there free camping available around Estes Park?

Yes, free camping exists around Estes Park, though sites can fill quickly during peak seasons. Pole Hill Rd Dispersed offers free camping but requires high clearance 4WD vehicles and can be challenging to access. Hidden Wilderness Roadside Camp provides free camping with spots scattered along the road. When seeking free camping, arrive early (especially on weekends), have backup options ready, be prepared for no facilities (bring water and waste disposal bags), and follow leave-no-trace principles. Always check current regulations as they may change seasonally, and some areas implement temporary fire restrictions during dry periods.

What is boondocking like near Estes Park?

Boondocking near Estes Park means self-sufficient camping with no hookups or facilities in beautiful but challenging terrain. Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping offers scenic boondocking spots but requires navigating rough roads with high clearance vehicles. Rollins Pass Dispersed Camping provides boondocking opportunities with established fire rings, though some areas are gated seasonally. Expect variable cell coverage, no water sources (bring 1-2 gallons per person per day), and pack out all waste. Weather changes rapidly at higher elevations, so bring warm gear even in summer. Most boondocking sites follow a 14-day stay limit, and campers should maintain at least 100 feet distance from water sources.

Where can I find dispersed camping near Estes Park?

Dispersed camping opportunities can be found in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest surrounding Estes Park. Popular spots include Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area with numbered and unnumbered sites along Forest Road 233.1, offering more secluded experiences. Ceran St. Vrain Trail Dispersed Camping provides accessible options with numerous spots alongside a stream. Other options include Forest Road 119, Johnny Park Road, and areas along Rollins Pass Road. Most dispersed sites require adherence to Forest Service regulations including camping at least 100 feet from water sources and using existing fire rings when allowed.

Where is BLM land for camping near Estes Park?

While Estes Park itself is primarily surrounded by National Forest and National Park land rather than BLM (Bureau of Land Management) property, dispersed camping options on public lands are available. For BLM-managed camping areas, you'll need to travel further from Estes Park toward areas west of Loveland or north toward Red Feather Lakes. Hot Sulphur Springs SWA - Joe Gerrans Unit offers dispersed camping with bear-proof dumpsters and basic facilities. When camping on any public lands, verify current regulations at local ranger stations or visitor centers, as rules change seasonally and some areas require permits.

What are the popular dispersed camping roads near Estes Park like Forest Road 119 and Pole Hill Road?

Forest Road 119 and similar dispersed camping roads near Estes Park offer rustic experiences with varying accessibility challenges. Forest Road 119 provides drive-in and walk-in access to dispersed sites. Pole Hill Road requires high clearance 4WD vehicles and smaller rigs—navigation apps often route incorrectly through private property, so approach from Estes Park instead of Lyons. Johnny Park Road Camping is more big-rig friendly than many other dispersed options. These roads typically feature primitive sites with existing fire rings but no facilities. Road conditions worsen after rain or snow, and sites fill quickly on weekends and during summer months.

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