Top Free Dispersed Camping near Gardner, CO

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Gardner, CO (32)

Showing results 1-10 of 32 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews In Gardner

123 Reviews of 32 Gardner Campgrounds


  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed
    Oct. 13, 2024

    BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed

    Great Spot

    Was able to find a really nice open spot with amazing views of the mountains. Was big and spacious enough for me and my friend to camp in our vans. No one around for miles!

  • Angela E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cotton Creek Trailhead
    Oct. 7, 2024

    Cotton Creek Trailhead

    Beautiful and peaceful 💚

    The sky is GORGEOUS. The road is very rocky & very rough, so you'll want to have decent clearance and be prepared to take it slow. I've never seen so many stars!

  • Levi S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sacred White Shell Mountain
    Sep. 23, 2024

    Sacred White Shell Mountain

    Easy free camping

    Got here on a Saturday night in September and found a spot right away. It had been raining for awhile too. No issue on the road with a kia sorento.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Sacred White Shell Mountain
    Sep. 11, 2024

    Sacred White Shell Mountain

    Wide Open Spaces

    Not much tree cover at a lot of these spots. Great location to be close enough to the dunes.

    Was pretty windy and sandy while we were there

  • W D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Wild Cherry Creek Trailhead
    Aug. 27, 2024

    Wild Cherry Creek Trailhead

    Quiet camping and stars

    Several good spots with fire pits right near the trailhead. A few bugs in late August but nothing terrible. Very quiet except for the sound of the rushing creek. Verizon cell service was between 1 and 3 bars LTE depending on your line of sight to the tower. Road in is rougher towards the end but definitely doable in any SUV

  • Amy L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lake Deweese state wildlife area
    Aug. 25, 2024

    Lake Deweese state wildlife area

    Fine for a night

    The directions from this app didn’t exactly take me to the campsites. The campsites are along Lake Deweese Rd at the NE end of the reservoir. There are several sites all in very close proximity. There is virtually no privacy from neighbors but it worked from me for a night. It looked like some campers may be permanently occupying the sites.

  • A
    Camper-submitted photo from Great Sand Dunes Dispersed
    Aug. 22, 2024

    Great Sand Dunes Dispersed

    Good spot if you get there early

    There’s plenty of spots off the main road, but seems like you need to get there early. We showed up around 6 pm. The road does get pretty rough eventually, and we didn’t trust our minivan going through the “unmaintained” section, we turned around and were able to find a connecting side road that had plenty of open space out there. When entering the road initially, the side road would be about half way up to your left. Pretty close to Great Sand Dunes National Park, so we were happy with this location! Nice mountain view.

  • Erika L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Sand Area 1
    Aug. 14, 2024

    Dispersed Sand Area 1

    Door and peaceful

    Loved hearing the creek roaring in the background and feeling the sun on my skin surrounded by cactus - an I in Texas!?

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Crestone Needle Trail
    Jul. 30, 2024

    Crestone Needle Trail

    I stayed for days. Really liked the location.

    There are more than one listing for places to camp along FS 949. I stayed on a pad that was build along with the road. Loved the views, The area is very interesting. Crestone is a tiny town with just about anything you might want within a walk from where I parked. Plenty of camping spots all the way up to the end of the road where there is a fairly busy trailhead.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed
    Jul. 28, 2024

    BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed

    Quick Stop

    Quick and easy to find. Area was easily accessible. A great option for those on a budget and attempting to avoid paying fees for one night stays. Nice views of the valley and mountain behind. Sites were not the most level going up the mountainside and a bit rocky. Would stay there again!

  • Laneha E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Near Great Sand Dunes Hwy 150
    Jul. 27, 2024

    BLM Near Great Sand Dunes Hwy 150

    Beautiful views & Isolated

    This place is good for those who have clearance and a 4WD. Road can be rough but pretty much all pickups are good. Don’t need a jeep. If it rains, you could get in trouble. The views are beautiful. Especially higher up. Some spots, I didn’t find tons of spots. I was the only one here on a Friday night last week if July 🤷🏼‍♀️. Or if there were others I didn’t know it. You get cover of some trees quicker than the sacred mountain location farther south on same road. You have to open a gate to get in. I would recommend it, and will probably be back at some point.

  • Morgan E.
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed
    Jul. 23, 2024

    BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed

    Dispersed Mountain Views !

    This campsite is very popular, I would definitely recommend arriving early morning time to secure a spot. We got in fairly late in the night from Texas and had to drive in a ways. Many people left early in the morning so sites opened up fairly quickly. The road is graded and then turns into a rocky road that is manageable in a crossover for a ways then high clearance will be needed. There was a small flooded portion that is next to the helipad but we just drove up onto the helipad to get around it as to not risk getting stuck. There are plenty of sites available and even a circle drive in the front of the road if you don’t feel like venturing in during the night. There are A TON of flies! Lots of bug spray and loose clothing to avoid those pesky biting flies. We had a beautiful view of the mountain and Great Sand dunes is a short 20 minutes away. Our pups loved the large open spaces but beware of cacti and tiny burrs.

  • phil G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed Sand Area 1
    Jun. 30, 2024

    Dispersed Sand Area 1

    Beautiful views, remote feeling, near town

    There are about 10-15 dispersed camping spots along the dirt road that leads up to trailheads at the end. The spots are spread out enough to where I did not see or hear a soul while camping 2 nights. A large gathering of mountain goats hanging out along the road was a fun surprise! Gorgeous views of Crestone peak and other neighboring mountains. The only negative was the mosquitos. They are horrendous. If you can’t handle it or find a way to keep them away it could ruin someone’s ability to enjoy the beauty.

  • Jacob T.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sanchez Stabilization Reservoir
    Jun. 29, 2024

    Sanchez Stabilization Reservoir

    A nice place!

    The scenery was beautiful, but very windy at times. Also the person that stayed before me left a lot of trash in the fire pit, so we cleaned that up before the campfire. It’s also loud with the 18 wheelers driving down the main road. If you’re camping in a van or camper shell, it’s probably not a big deal. If you roof top tent camp or regular tent camping, it gets loud.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Near Great Sand Dunes Hwy 150
    Jun. 26, 2024

    BLM Near Great Sand Dunes Hwy 150

    Beautiful Spot

    A very short drive off the road, open and close the gate to get in. We parked up by a little stream in an E350 RV. Ground a bit bumpy, but drivable if you go slow. Cell signal okay, 5G 4bars AT&T but about 1-3 Mbps. Amazing wide open Mountain View’s. Many many bitey bugs!

  • Stephanie D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sacred White Shell Mountain
    Jun. 23, 2024

    Sacred White Shell Mountain

    Great spot!

    This was a long dirt road with lots of sites all the way up the hill. Most sites are big enough for several campers. Sites are flat and it is very quiet. Gorgeous views!

  • Greg M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed
    Jun. 20, 2024

    BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed

    Happy we ended up here

    We ended up here by mistake, thinking we were at the Sacred White shell BLM. Glad we did though. Great views of The Twin Peaks and Blanca Peak. Lots of flat open space down low. We stopped as the road steepened and set up in a big spot that was close to the road. No complaints considering we got here an hour before dark. Views for miles here!

  • Angel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Sacred White Shell Mountain
    Jun. 18, 2024

    Sacred White Shell Mountain

    The best dispersed camping spot near Great Sand Dunes

    We had the best view of the sunset and the sunrise... Stargazing was epic! It is crowded and we were lucky to get a spot on top at 12midnight... Campfire is allowed but definetely bring your own campfire wood... The weather was perfect in late May... Will definitely come back!

  • Matthew Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Near Great Sand Dunes Hwy 150
    Jun. 16, 2024

    BLM Near Great Sand Dunes Hwy 150

    Campsite near Great Sand Dunes

    Beautiful spot with amazing views. Not sure what part the other reviewer stayed at, but the approach trial was a little hectic and I was glad to have a high clearance 4x4. Beautiful stream right next to the sites and plenty of fire pits.



Guide to Gardner

Camping near Gardner, Colorado, offers a mix of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to hike, stargaze, or just relax by the campfire, there are plenty of options to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking the Dunes: The Pinon Flats Campground is a great spot for hiking. One camper mentioned, "From the campground, you can easily hike up to the creek and the east face of the dunes within 15-30 minutes." This makes it perfect for those who want to conquer the Great Sand Dunes.
  • Exploring Waterfalls: At Zapata Falls Campground, you can hike to the falls, which is a short but rewarding trek. A reviewer said, "The hike to the falls is short and worth it," making it a must-do for nature lovers.
  • Stargazing: The area is known for its dark skies. One visitor at Zapata Falls Campground noted, "You MUST take a walk down into the dunes after dark… simply breathtaking."

What campers like:

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the views at Piñon Campground. One happy camper shared, "We love to come here to get great views of the Spanish Peaks."
  • Clean Facilities: Many appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A reviewer at Pinon Flats Campground mentioned, "Busy campground with clean toilets. Well maintained and clean camping spots."
  • Friendly Atmosphere: Campers often mention the friendly vibe. A visitor at Rabbit Hole Ranch said, "Everyone was super friendly!"

What you should know:

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for mosquitoes, especially in warmer months. A camper at Pinon Flats Campground warned, "In July, there were a ton of mosquitoes everywhere except over the sand."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Zapata Falls Campground, have basic facilities. A reviewer noted, "There are no frills at Zapata Falls—no hook-ups, no hosts, and only vault toilets."
  • Reservations Recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons. One camper at Great Sand Dunes Oasis mentioned, "We booked here last minute on a holiday weekend and we were thankful they had a spot for us!"

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots like Great Sand Dunes Oasis, which has amenities like a store and restaurant. A family reviewer said, "The property was well-maintained and clean."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities. One camper at Zapata Falls Campground suggested, "Bring a flashlight for the hike to the falls."
  • Pack for Comfort: Bring extra gear for comfort. A visitor at Piñon Campground noted, "The park is accommodating with toilets and showers at the campgrounds."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Not all sites can accommodate large RVs. A reviewer at Mosca Campground mentioned, "A lot of RVs like to peep on tent campers and make snide comments."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Campgrounds like Great Sand Dunes Oasis offer full hookups, which can make your stay more comfortable. A camper said, "Our RV spot had full hookups but the sites were so closely spaced."
  • Be Mindful of Noise: Some campgrounds can be noisy. A visitor at Pueblo South-Colorado City KOA noted, "Although placed next to the highway, the campground is relatively quiet."

Camping around Gardner, CO, has something for everyone, from stunning views to family-friendly activities. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Gardner, CO?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Gardner, CO is The Dunefield with a 5-star rating from 7 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Gardner, CO?

    TheDyrt.com has all 32 dispersed camping locations near Gardner, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.