Best Tent Camping near Fairplay, CO

Tent camping options around Fairplay, Colorado include several designated dispersed camping areas and established campgrounds set within Pike National Forest and adjacent public lands. Kite Lake Campground, located at 12,000 feet elevation near Alma, offers primitive tent sites at the base of four popular 14,000-foot peaks. McCullough Gulch Designated Dispersed Camping provides free tent sites in forested settings closer to Breckenridge, while Boreas Pass Road offers additional designated dispersed camping areas for tent campers seeking high-elevation experiences.

Surface details at most tent sites are minimally developed, with campsites typically featuring basic fire rings on natural terrain. Many dispersed camping areas require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles to access, especially McCullough Gulch and Kite Lake where rocky, rutted roads pose challenges for standard passenger vehicles. At Kite Lake, campers pay $12 per night with access to vault toilets but no drinking water. Most dispersed sites maintain free status but have no facilities. Weather conditions change rapidly at these elevations, with overnight temperatures dropping into the 30s-40s even in summer months. Campers should bring sufficient water, as no potable sources exist at most locations.

Areas farther from main roads offer greater solitude and fewer crowds, particularly on weekdays. Tent campers at McCullough Gulch enjoy secluded forested sites with varied spacing between camping spots, while Kite Lake provides a more open landscape with stunning alpine views and direct access to popular hiking trails. The higher elevation sites experience regular afternoon thunderstorms during summer months, creating additional considerations for tent setup and placement. At Kite Lake, visitors can access multiple 14er hiking trails directly from their tent sites. A camper noted, "The sites were rocky but spacious enough to hold a tent or two and they were pretty spaced out to compensate for lack of trees and shrubs at high altitude for privacy."

Best Tent Sites Near Fairplay, Colorado (79)

    1. Boreas Pass Road Designated Dispersed Camping

    45 Reviews
    Blue River, CO
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 468-5400

    "Found this spot at about 7PM on a Friday night near the Breckenridge end of the Boreas Pass Trail (39.451441,-106.014294)."

    "This this is a long Winding Road up the mountain that has many nice places to pull over and Camp right off the road. Some are a bit further back than others. Most are accessible to any vehicle."

    2. Kite Lake

    13 Reviews
    Fairplay, CO
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 836-2031

    $5 - $15 / night

    "Did see a Porsche, but they did not drive all the way to the end. People drive up to camp and to park to hike the Quad."

    "most reasons to head out to the kite lake area are to try and summit 4 fourteeners in one day. Mt. Democrat, Mt. Lincoln, Mt Cameron, and Mt. Bross."

    3. McCullough Gulch Designated Dispersed Camping

    9 Reviews
    Blue River, CO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 468-5400

    "I would recommend a 4x4 or offroad vechicle for most of the pull off roads in the area. Campsites have signs designating them and fire rings. Look for signs and pull offs from the main road."

    "As the other reviews describe, it’s a groomed dirt road entrance near the parking lot for the Mount Quandary trail."

    4. Twin Lakes Dispersed Camping - Site 2 West

    14 Reviews
    Granite, CO
    22 miles

    "If you go up 24 toward the South Elbert trailhead, you’ll find lots of dispersed camping options for everything from RVs to tent camping."

    "A few spots allow you to pull off and set up a tent with great views. The site we stayed in was about 50 ft from the trailhead and could accommodate a group!"

    5. Lower Crystal Lake- Dispersed Camping

    6 Reviews
    Blue River, CO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 468-5400

    "We were at Lower Crystal Lake on July 27-28, 2022.  This was our first overnight backpacking trip with our 9 and 12 year old. "

    "The road up can be a bit challenging, especially for novice offroaders, but it's doable. The lake is beautiful but can be very windy."

    6. Spruce Creek/Crystal Creek Designated Dispersed Camping

    4 Reviews
    Blue River, CO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 468-5400

    "There are a number of easily accessible trails nearby."

    "Great dispersed campsite very close to Breckinridge. The road getting to the campsites is VERY rocky/bumpy, 4-wheel drive is recommended. There are a few popular trails nearby which is a bonus."

    7. Lodgepole Campground

    3 Reviews
    Jefferson, CO
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 836-2031

    "The drive in was also amazing. When you get to the gate make sure you have 7$ cash. One of many stops we made in Colorado."

    "There is access to the Colorado Trail right in the campsite."

    8. Rich Creek Campground

    1 Review
    Granite, CO
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (719) 836-2031

    "Dispersed camping only is allowed along the trail but be sure to follow the rules about how far away you need to be from the trail and river (1/4 mile)."

    9. Chaffee County Road 390 Dispersed

    12 Reviews
    Granite, CO
    24 miles
    Website

    "Located near the town of Granite, this forest service road is host to trailheads and lots of dispersed camping."

    "* Great views and access to a stream.

    • Great sites and fire rings.
    • Access to trails nearby and Buena Vista if you need to supplies.

    Cons

    • Little to no privacy. "

    10. Turquoise Lake Dispersed

    4 Reviews
    Leadville, CO
    20 miles
    Website

    "Its not super bad yet but if it doesnt get taken care of soon its gonna require high clearance."

    "Close to shops in Leadville. Stayed here on Friday night multiple spots with fire rings. Seemed really crowded."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 79 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Tent Camping Reviews near Fairplay, CO

2482 Reviews of 79 Fairplay Campgrounds


  • Renee H.
    Jul. 2, 2024

    Difficult Campground

    Quiet campground close to Aspen

    Quiet campground, off grid, no cell signal, no wi-fi. Busy campground due to proximity to Aspen. Adequate space between sites. Pit toilets, dumpsters available. May pose access challenges for larger rigs. Each site has picnic table, fire ring, bear box. No amenities, no laundry, no showers, no electricity. Smallest amount of road noise, depending on what site you are in. Day use parking lot available.

  • Amanda M.
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Gore Creek Campground

    Gore Creek - Rocky Mountain camping off Highway 70

    We stayed at the Gore Creek Campground last summer 2017 on a drive from Southern California to Denver, CO. We took highway 15 through Nevada and Utah, and connected to Highway 70 in Utah to Colorado. To budget this trip, we tried to camp most of the way out and back to California - we saved our Airbnb rentals for Denver, where I️ was competing in Pole Theatre USA, an international pole dancing competition. We wanted to find a spot to camp for the night that was close to highway 70 and not toooooo far outside of Denver - Gore Creek Campground was the spot. It’s about 10-15 minutes outside of Vail, and about and hour and a half outside of Denver.

    Campsites at Gore Creek are reservable ahead of time on recreation.org - we planned this trip about 6 months in advanced so had no problem reserving a site for one night on a weeknight. This campground is fairly small, however, with fewer than 30 sites, so I️ imagine it fills up quickly during the peak summer months. There are mostly drive-in sites in this campground, but there were some neat walk-in sites in a loop beyond the drive-in sites.

    Gore Creek is a beautiful wooded campground that sits next to Gore Creek. There are a few ‘riverside sites’ in the campground, that were 60 yards or so from the creek. We had our pick of the sites that many months in advanced, so we chose site 9 as it appeared to be well secluded and close to the river - both were true! The area is densely wooded, so the sites have a lot of privacy, and the sound of the river is relaxing and peaceful at night, and drowned out most of the noise pollution from the nearby highway.

    Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. The camp hosts were extremely kind and welcoming, and kept the grounds and the vault toilets very clean. There is NO WATER available at Gore Creek, so make sure to bring in plenty of water for cooking, washing, and drinking.

    WARNING: You ARE in bear country - be bear smart and safe and use your bear box! We had our own bear box in our campsite - I believe each site has its own food locker. Try to lock all of your food and toiletries inside the food locker - they are large, and we have always been able to fit our big cooler into locker. If you do have to leave a cooler in the car, I was once told by a ranger in Yosemite NP that bears can recognize coolers when peering into car windows - he suggested putting put a towel and gear over your coolers when keeping them in the car overnight in bear territory.

    There is a lot of beautiful hiking trails in the Vail - Gore Creek area. We did not have much time to explore as I️ had an appointment in Denver in the afternoon, but the area is absolutely gorgeous.

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $25/night

    Plumbed Toilets: NO - vault

    Water: NO

    Showers: NO

    Picnic Table: Yes

    Firepit: Yes

    Cooking Grate: Yes

    Shade: Yes

    Cell Service: Yes

    Trash: Yes

    Animal Bins/Food Lockers: YES

  • Mike S.
    Oct. 12, 2018

    West Chicago Creek

    Great place to stay, but Mt. Evans is 10 miles away

    I love this place. The campground is full every weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day due to reservations made at recreation.gov up to 6 months and more than 48 hours in advance, and being so close to metro Denver.

    The campground has 16 sites; 4 Walk-In, 1 host and 11 are reservable. Check in after 2:00 and check out by 1:00. If someone has a reservation, like a hotel, their site is held until 1:00 the next day because of the Forest Service rule that the campsite must be occupied the first night and they could have had delays.

    The campground is at 9600’ and the last mile of the dirt road is a bit rough, but I have seen low profile cars and 42’ Class A motor home with a towed vehicle. Well water normally supplies the campground to faucets, but has not been productive the entire 2019 season and there are vault toilets. Each site has its own bear box and fire ring. The creek is less than 100 meters from the campground and fishing this year was poor... water level was low. Lots of great hiking and climbing in the area. About a 40 degree difference between day and night. During the fire ban, dispersed camping is limited to just a few areas so the campground is a great place to stay and you might still be able to have a fire in the fire ring. Privately owned cabins can be seen as you walk through the woods. Hell’s Hole Trail is a few hundred yards from the campground. I’m looking forward to going back there as host next year.

  • Renee H.
    Jul. 2, 2024

    Chapman Campground And Group Camp - White River NF

    Remote, off grid camping in the mountains

    This remote campground might pose some access challenges for larger rigs. Clean pit toilets, no showers, no laundry. Fresh drinking water and dumpsters are available. No dump station in campground. Mixture of river and non river sites. Plenty of room and privacy between sites. No mobile phone coverage, no wi-fi, no amenities within 30 miles of the campground. 2 campground hosts on site. Small reservoir lake nearby for fishing and canoeing. Hiking and fishing nearby. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and bear box.

  • k
    May. 6, 2024

    Ruby Mountain Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

    Beautiful spot

    Really gorgeous camping spot with easy access to tons of different outdoor activities. Tent sites are very well maintained and very beautiful. Walk-in sites are very close to parking, I would barely consider them walk-in sites. My only complaint is that the tent pads are made of gravel and therefore extremely hard to properly stake down tents.

  • William C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2023

    West Chicago Creek

    Quiet Campsite

    Quiet campground- especially early in the season.

    $22/night; Firewood bundles on-site for $9.

    Each site has a picnic table and a bear box for food storage.

    Bathrooms were clean. Sites are smaller and very close together. Little privacy if visiting during a busier time.

    Sites 7, 9, and 11 have trails that connect back to Chicago creek just a short distance away. Hiking trails are close by to nearby forests land. No cell service.

  • J
    Jun. 23, 2025

    Rocking Chair Campground — Eleven Mile State Park

    High Winds, Rough Roads - Won't Stay Again

    The reservoir and surrounding areas are beautiful, but we don't plan to return to this campground. The roads in are so rough and created so much vibration that it was actually damaging to our A-Liner camper (with an off-road package). The speed limit is 55 and we weren't able to go much faster than 10 mph without the vibration becoming unbearable. The campsites are totally exposed with no tree cover, but it was too windy to set up our shade tent. The winds were so strong that we slept poorly; a neighbor in a tent said the wind ripped off two of his rain fly straps overnight. We chose Site 612 because the sites in that loop looked more private and spacious, but we failed to note that there was no bathroom on that side of the campground, with the nearest facilities being a short drive away. We left after the first night.

  • J
    Aug. 28, 2018

    Collegiate Peaks

    Beautiful and the people really practice leave no trace.

    I gave this a 4 star because of the crowds.I backpacked to a high alpine lake called Kroenke Lake in the Collegiate Peaks wilderness area near Buena Vista, CO in August to catch some high country Cutthroats. This is a very popular hike during the summer. Camping can be congested but there are enough trees in between spots for some privacy. The designated camp sites we kept very clean by the previous visitors. There was not any trash in or around the fire ring that I often come across in other areas. The people that have previously visited, practiced leave no trace with the exception of the designated fire ring. The scenery was beautiful with a gorgeous lake with peaks of granite in the background. All of the people on the trail were friendly and courteous. It does get congested on the weekend being so close to Buena Vista and Salida. If you go little further, you can escape the congestion. I would highly recommend this hike to anyone looking for a weekend backpack trip.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2018

    Weller Campground

    Smaller Mountain Campground With Hiking Nearby

    This is one of the smaller sites alongside the main road you will find just a short distance outside of Aspen. I was passing through late in the season, technically during "closure" but was able to snag a site because it had not yet been closed due to unusually warmer fall. There had been some snowfall higher up but where I was there had not so the camp had not been closed. They had however turned off the potable water source but vault toilets and sites remained open.

    I was located in site 5 which had a small back in area, a picnic table and fire ring. There were also bear boxes throughout camp, which you need to use if you are here because there is a population of bears that will raid camp. I made sure to keep any food in the car behind doors and cleaned up away from camp with my own water source so as to not attract anything to come near. Bears do scare me a bit!!

    The site for my tent was lush and grassy, it had not yet frozen or died for the season so it felt very fluffy underneath my tent.

    Temperatures dropped dramatically at night and I was happy there was no fire ban when I visited because I used my fire for a heat source in the evening and then hand warmers inside extra socks at night. It was pretty peaceful at the camp as a whole.

    While there I enjoyed hiking on the Weller Trail which heads directly out from the parking area near the camp and treks a short distance with some amazing views. I was so happy to have found this site for only $21.

    TIPS:

    • Typical season is May to the end of September if it is before or after this time check with the Forest Service to see if they have opened camp for season.

    • Bring a flashlight there is no external light at the campground so you will not be able to see anything without one.


Guide to Fairplay

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!"

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Fairplay, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Fairplay, CO is Boreas Pass Road Designated Dispersed Camping with a 4.5-star rating from 45 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Fairplay, CO?

TheDyrt.com has all 79 tent camping locations near Fairplay, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.