Looking for the best campgrounds near Frisco, CO? Frisco is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Frisco. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
"Road is fine for high clearance. But all of us with 4wD ask that you move over for us."
"I can see this area being busy all year around, definitely on 4th of july weekend. Wish I could’ve found an open site to spend a night!"
"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."
"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"
"Great spot for car camping on a road trip like I was. Not far off the main interstate and little to no noise from the smaller highway that passes nearby."
"Great location. Kinda busy some nights. A lot of in and out vans/campers. Stay 1 night or two and on their way.
15 mins from town and everything you need."
"This is a great spot that allows dispersed camping per the signs on the road."
"You turn to go towards the trail. Once you get to the service road it starts at as what would look like a bike off. Yes you can drive on the path."
"Access road is up the groomed gravel road to McCullough Gulch Trailhead. Road has gate, but it is not closed at night. No parking along road."
"As the other reviews describe, it’s a groomed dirt road entrance near the parking lot for the Mount Quandary trail."
"Passing through on my way out of Colorado and was seeing the Thomas Dambo trolls and stopped for the evening before continuing to Rocky Mountains National Park."
"Good proximity to Breckenridge, good views, camping in designated sites only, stayed here for one night. 2w drive okay."
"As of 6/9/24 there are 3 spots accessible with 2wd. Up the road high clearance 4x4 is needed due to snow and washout. Pretty spot otherwise."
"Great little spot right off the highway for an evening of camping, or longer. There is a bit of foot traffic with hikers coming in but still really peaceful."
"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."
"Kirby Gulch is a fantastic spot for anyone seeking a peaceful, off-the-grid camping experience near Grant, Colorado."
"Plenty of trail heads nearby and had moose visitors right by camp each day which was cool but be sure to respect the wildlife and give them space."
RangerKirby 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.
LegendStevens 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.
GuideWe 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!
RangerStunningly 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.
RangerSo 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!
GuideThis 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.
GuideWent 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.
TravelerI 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
TravelerThe 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.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Frisco, Colorado, where stunning landscapes and serene environments await outdoor enthusiasts. With a variety of options, campers can enjoy the freedom of setting up in nature while exploring the breathtaking surroundings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there free camping available near Frisco, CO?
Yes, free camping is abundant near Frisco on National Forest land. Hoosier Pass Dispersed Camping offers free sites with spectacular views along the Continental Divide between Frisco and Fairplay. Another excellent free option is Miners Creek Rd Designated Dispersed Camping, which provides drive-in access to established sites. These areas operate on a first-come, first-served basis with typical 14-day stay limits. Free dispersed camping generally doesn't offer amenities like toilets, trash service, or water, so come prepared with supplies and know proper waste disposal methods. Summer weekends fill quickly, so arrive early to secure a spot, especially at locations closer to town. Always check current forest service regulations before your trip.
Where can I find dispersed camping near Frisco, Colorado?
Frisco is surrounded by excellent dispersed camping options in the White River and Arapaho National Forests. Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping near Keystone offers beautiful sites along a creek with several pull-offs suitable for most vehicles, though high-clearance 4WD allows access to more secluded spots. Get there early on weekends as it fills quickly. Another popular option is Boreas Pass Road Designated Dispersed Camping, which provides stunning mountain views and is relatively accessible. Most dispersed sites in the area require you to camp in established spots with existing fire rings, stay at least 100 feet from water sources, and follow Leave No Trace principles. Many sites are available from late May through October, depending on snow conditions.
What public lands allow camping around Frisco?
The Frisco area is surrounded by White River National Forest and Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, both offering extensive dispersed camping opportunities. Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area features numbered sites close to the main road with more secluded options further along Forest Service roads for those with 4x4 vehicles. Rollins Pass Dispersed Camping provides high-elevation camping with designated spots marked by dots along the road and established fire rings. When camping on these public lands, you must use existing sites and fire rings, maintain at least 100-foot distance from water sources, and follow motor vehicle use maps (MVUMs available at ranger stations). Most areas have a 14-day stay limit within a 30-day period. Always check current regulations as they may change seasonally.
Keep Exploring
