Tent camping near Fairplay, Colorado provides access to high-alpine environments between 9,000-12,000 feet elevation within Pike National Forest and surrounding public lands. Summer night temperatures typically range from 30-50°F, with afternoon thunderstorms common from July through September. Most access roads to dispersed sites require careful driving due to rocks, ruts, and seasonal erosion.
What to do
Fishing at mountain lakes: Twin Lakes Dispersed Camping offers excellent fishing opportunities in the nearby waterways. A camper reported, "Good fishing along the river and great for doing the 14ers then coming back to camp" while noting that the area has "water from lake and river" available to filter.
Explore abandoned mines: Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping puts you near historical mining structures. A visitor shared, "The very end of the road is also where this cool abandoned mine of some kind is located. I've seen people park in this turnaround area and take motorbikes or horses onto the other side of Peru Creek to explore the mine."
Trail connections: Lodgepole Campground provides direct access to longer routes. One camper noted, "There is access to the Colorado Trail right in the campsite," making it convenient for hikers to connect with this 486-mile route without driving to a separate trailhead.
Mountaineering base: For summiting 14,000-foot peaks, camping near trailheads saves early morning driving. A visitor to Chaffee County Road 390 explained, "Perfect spot if you are trying to hike Belford, Oxford, Missouri or Huron. Road was in good condition, any car will make it."
What campers like
Secluded forest settings: McCullough Gulch Designated Dispersed Camping offers wooded privacy. A camper described, "Sites were far enough away from each other to feel secluded, but overall the place was pretty busy on the weekend. Fire pits were already established and the ground was matted down for tents."
Alpine lakes access: Lower Crystal Lake Dispersed Camping sits at high elevation near water. One visitor mentioned, "The lake is beautiful but can be very windy. Great place to stay if you have the right vehicle and gear but not many spots."
Varied campsite spacing: Boreas Pass Road Designated Dispersed Camping provides sites with different amounts of privacy. A reviewer noted, "We were lucky to find a fantastic, more spacious spot. It had plenty of room for our truck, a large tent, and a canopy—perfect for spreading out and relaxing."
Wildlife viewing: Campers often report wildlife sightings near their sites. One Boreas Pass visitor shared, "Wildlife was another highlight—there were clear signs of moose activity nearby, and fellow campers just up the road mentioned seeing a moose wander around their site."
What you should know
Road conditions vary: Access requires appropriate vehicles for many sites. At Twin Lakes Dispersed Camping, a camper advised, "The road is rather bumpy and when it rains it will be a total mess. Most of the time this has to be extremely busy."
Site availability timing: Arriving early improves your chances. A visitor to Chaffee County Road 390 shared, "We showed up on friday at around 4 pm and it was packed! Spots range in size from one car to huge areas big enough for 20 cars and we saw just that."
Weather preparedness: Conditions change rapidly at high elevation. One Peru Creek camper noted, "We managed all the way up to the old mine, and used it to turn around and head back down as we scouted sites."
Insects: Summer months bring mosquitoes to wooded areas. A McCullough Gulch camper warned, "Beware - the mosquitoes in August there are no joke, bring the bug spray!!"
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Some sites offer kid-friendly water access. A visitor to Chaffee County Road 390 found "an awesome little swimming hole, maybe 5 feet deep with a little make shift diving board already in place."
Wildlife education: Use camping as an opportunity to teach about local ecosystems. At Lodgepole Campground, a visitor reported, "Loved the trailhead next to the campsite. The hike is good for kids. We saw some moose by the lake, and fishing was great."
Plan for altitude effects: Children may experience altitude symptoms more quickly than adults. A Boreas Pass visitor cautioned, "Being at a higher elevation, one person in our group did experience some mild altitude discomfort, even though we're from the Denver area—something to keep in mind if you're sensitive to elevation changes."
Campsite selection: For families, finding flat, spacious sites matters. A Peru Creek camper recommended, "We have an off-road teardrop trailer with rooftop tent and travelled with another family with rooftop tent and we were able to spread out with plenty of level ground."
Tips from RVers
Size constraints: Many dispersed sites have limited turn-around space. At Boreas Pass, a camper observed, "We're in a van, and while some spots would have been great, not all would work for our van."
Camp hosting amenities: Established campgrounds offer more services. At Kite Lake, a visitor noted, "James (and his dog Indy) from the town of Alma, were there during the middle of the day to clean and refresh the bathrooms so when you descended, they were ready and waiting."
Parking considerations: Site access often determines RV suitability. A McCullough Gulch camper advised, "Even with our lifted AWD van, there were sites we didn't want to drive up to. In addition, it is heavily wooded, so if you need Starlink that likely would not work."
Dispersed site assessment: Scout locations before committing. A visitor at Peru Creek suggested, "It was good to find plenty of places to turn the trailer around once we got up further in case we couldn't find anything. That's always the concern on these roads!"
