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James G.
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GuideShavano BLM Designated Camping Area
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Tent Camping near Monarch, CO
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Several dispersed tent camping areas surround the Monarch area in central Colorado, with notable options including Road 240 Dispersed and Fooses Creek Dispersed Camping within the San Isabel and Gunnison National Forests. Browns Creek South Dispersed Camping and Browns Canyon Dispersed sites offer additional primitive tent camping options within reasonable driving distance of Monarch Pass. These undeveloped sites provide direct access to mountain trails, creeks, and alpine environments without formal campground infrastructure.
Most dispersed camping sites require visitors to bring all necessary supplies, as facilities are virtually nonexistent. Campers should prepare for rocky access roads that often require high-clearance vehicles, especially at Road 240 and Fooses Creek. Tent sites typically feature natural, ungraded surfaces with occasional fire rings, though fire bans may be in effect seasonally. Water must be carried in or filtered from nearby streams, and proper waste disposal means packing out all trash. The majority of these areas operate under a 14-day stay limit typical of National Forest dispersed camping regulations.
Terrain at these tent sites varies from wooded areas along creeks to more exposed sites with mountain views. Many locations offer the sound of running water as background ambiance, particularly at Fooses Creek where campsites border the stream. Sites are generally most accessible from late spring through early fall, with higher elevations often snow-covered until June. Visitors seeking more facilities can consider established campgrounds like Pitkin Campground, which offers toilets and drinking water. A camper described Fooses Creek as "serene" with "massive" camping spots that easily accommodate large tents, noting "the creek was directly behind us and made beautiful sounds all night."
Best Tent Campgrounds near Monarch (50)
1. Road 240 - Dispersed
"This spot is one of the best kept secrets for dispersed camping in Colorado. The road has plenty of camping spots all the way up to the lake. Most spots are wooded and offer plenty of shade."
"There are a few tent camping spots at the bottom right before you cross the bridge."
2. Browns Creek (South) Dispersed Camping
"Big wide dispersed camping spaces. Plenty of nice hiking - especially Brown's Creek area. Great location with easy drive to Buena Vista & Salida & Mt. Princeton."
"Stayed near the browns creek trail head. Restrooms there, along with a few temp toilets around."
3. Shavano BLM Designated Camping Area
"These are all designated spots on a gravel loop. Good verizon cell depending on where you park."
"Awesome location, beautiful views of the collegiate peaks and about 20 minutes away from Salida. There are lot of spots in this area (some side roads lead you to 360 views)."
4. Fooses Creek Dispersed Camping
"there’s several spots / area for tent or camper set up, right by the creek."
"The creek was directly behind us and made beautiful sounds all night. There were a ton of mosquitos, but I never saw any animals or signs of animals."
5. Mount Shavano and Mount Tabequache
"The drive up access roads from the east is easy with a truck or all wheel drive after snow melt and it's not long before you're up in the gorgeous meadows with great views."
6. Gunnison National Forest Pitkin Campground
"Walking distance to town of Pitkin. Definitely will be back. No phone service unless you have satellite service"
"Its proximity to Pitkin was ideal. We would stay here again. Well worth stopping in."
7. CR 306 -Dispersed Site
"Right off the highway so a little noisy at night but calms down. The river runs right by spots, relaxing sound and plenty of water. Even surface and easy to set up."
"Great option that is close to BV and feels pretty secluded. Lots of pine, on the river. It is right off the road, but the noise didn’t bother us at all. Would definitely come back!"
8. Salida BLM Land
"I was able to find a site about an hour before dark on a July Friday night. Once it got dark there was a steady stream of traffic. There’s two outhouses at the Race Track trailhead."
"Well labeled from Highway 50 just before entering Salida. About or greater than 20 camping spots (but we didn't venture to the last site)."
9. Bootleg Campground - Temporarily Closed
"Slept perfectly on a sandy tent pad listening to the river flow. This site has an in-tact bear safe, picnic tables and designated campfire ring. Will go back."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 / night
10. North Cottonwood Trailhead Dispersed Camping
"After a nice meal in nearby Buena Vista, Co, we headed out on the 7-8 mile drive to the trailhead. Now 7-8 miles on a CR isn’t always the same as a similar distance on a paved road."
"Found a spot with lots of space and shade and .4 miles from north cottonwood trail head. Road was not bad. Might be pretty busy on a weekend."
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 2 min from Pueblo, CO
- 2 hrs 23 min from Colorado Springs, CO
- 2 hrs 47 min from Denver, CO
- 2 hrs 56 min from Boulder, CO
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Monarch, CO
73 Photos of 50 Monarch Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Fooses Creek Dispersed CampingB
Road 240 - Dispersedh
Browns Creek (South) Dispersed Camping
Bootleg Campground - Temporarily Closed
Salida BLM Land
CR 306 -Dispersed Site
North Cottonwood Trailhead Dispersed Camping
Horn Fork Basin Dispersed Camping
Campfire Ranch on the TaylorS
Vallie Bridge Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Chaffee County Road 390 Dispersed
Twin Lakes Dispersed2
Tent Camping Reviews near Monarch, CO
1498 Reviews of 50 Monarch Campgrounds
Sarah W.
RangerLake view campground Colorado
This whole area is so nice. Very popular so first come first serve dispersed can be hard on busy weekends. About 15 minutes from town lakes and the small town. In the woods but has a great view of the lake depending on where you camp. Leave no trace!
- DDonald S.Guide
Buffalo Pass Campground
while it is a remote campground, the sites are laid out nice for trailers. campground is less than a mile from highway. restrooms were clean and there were at least four. plenty of hiking and hunting in area.
- MMary A.
ScoutBrown’s Grotto
Designated camp sites with picnic table and fire pit. One bar Verizon at first site as you enter. I had no cell service beyond that. Very difficult to find a level spot. Nice views. Convenient for an overnight stay.
- JJames A.Guide
Monarch Spur RV Park & Campground
We arrived to an office that was closed at 2pm. They did have an after hours check in which worked. Spot RV 11 was not very level. This was bare bones. All the services did work.
- nnicole T.Scout
Hecla Junction Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Signs are posted that say a reservation is required.
Lauren P.
TravelerFive Points Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Very close to the highway
Basic amenities, but clean and easy to find. The campsite is very close to the highway, so if you're looking for something more off the beaten path, keep looking. However, if you just need a place to sleep with great views, this is a solid spot. We saw bighorn sheep and even heard what sounded like a bobcat possibly mountain lion at night.
- JJackson M.Scout
Granite Rock Camp
Granite rock road
Close to the road but also the Arkansas river, decent service for the area. Not an area for trailers
- Ellery M.Traveler
Twin Lakes View Dispersed
360 views
Can see both twin lakes and Elbert at this spot. Aspens are currently just past peak. Feels like out of a fairytale
Guide to Monarch
Dispersed camping opportunities near Monarch, Colorado sit between 8,000-10,000 feet elevation in the San Isabel and Gunnison National Forests. Summer temperatures typically range from 40°F at night to 75°F during daytime hours. Many sites experience afternoon thunderstorms from July through August, with rapid weather changes common due to the alpine environment.
What to do
Alpine lake hikes: Road 240 Dispersed Camping provides direct access to Billings Lake. As one camper notes, "if you continue driving up the rocky road, you'll get to billings lake which was gorgeous." The trail is moderate but rewarding for day hikers.
Mountain biking: North Cottonwood Trailhead Dispersed Camping connects to several mountain biking routes. A visitor shared, "There a lot of really good options you can just park your car at. You can also get pretty far up the trail in a standard car."
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer opportunities to spot local wildlife. One camper at North Cottonwood reported, "Seen a Moose and her baby. Nice large camping spots next to the creek the further to the trailhead you go."
OHV trails: Multiple forest roads permit OHV use throughout summer months. According to a Pitkin Campground visitor, "Lots of OHVS use campground. Walking distance to town of Pitkin. Definitely will be back."
What campers like
Creek-side campsites: Water access ranks highly among camper preferences. A visitor to Fooses Creek Dispersed Camping mentioned, "Stayed right by the creek which was serene and relaxing to sleep to. We easily found a site that fit two tents."
Privacy between sites: Many campers value separation from neighbors. At Browns Creek South Dispersed, a reviewer noted, "Comfortable distance between campsites, yet still many to choose from! Convenient hiking just down the road as well."
Spacious tent areas: Larger groups appreciate ample camping space. One Fooses Creek camper explained, "The camping spots are massive. We had room for our 10 person tent, mini van, and PLENTY of room to spare."
Cell service availability: Service varies by location and carrier. A Browns Creek South visitor mentioned, "Verizon worked fine," while another camper at Browns Canyon Dispersed noted, "Decent T-Mobile and AT&T."
What you should know
Road conditions: Forest roads deteriorate throughout the season. A visitor to Road 240 warned, "believe the reviews when they say the road to get to these campsites are ROCKY. i was able to get there in my hyundai santa fe but got nervous a couple of times."
Site availability patterns: Weekends fill quickly from June through August. One Browns Creek camper advised, "Make sure you get here early in the weekends. There are many sites if you keep driving, but some better than others."
Seasonal closures: Snow impacts accessibility well into late spring. According to a Road 240 Dispersed visitor, "Tried to reach the site but got only to the road bifurcation where is a ramp. Local informed us it is closed due to snow, yet to be melted. This was on April 10."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Monarch, CO?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Monarch, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Monarch, CO is Road 240 - Dispersed with a 4.8-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Monarch, CO?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Monarch, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 50 tent camping locations near Monarch, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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