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Best Dispersed Camping near Grand Junction, CO

134 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Several free dispersed camping areas exist on Bureau of Land Management land surrounding Grand Junction, Colorado. Nine Mile Hill, located off Highway 141, offers multiple primitive sites with canyon views and provides easy access for most vehicles. Grand Junction Desert Road Recreation Area BLM features numerous pull-offs suitable for both tents and RVs, though the area primarily serves as an OHV recreation zone with significant traffic and noise.

Most dispersed sites lack amenities—no water, toilets, or trash service. Visitors should arrive prepared with all supplies and follow Leave No Trace principles. A camper noted that Nine Mile Hill has "beautiful views of the valley" and "plenty of spaces to choose from," while others mentioned "broken bottles and trash" at the Desert Road area. Additional options include BLM #174 Road dispersed camping north of Grand Junction and Escalante Canyon Road dispersed camping to the south, both accommodating various vehicle types. Fire restrictions may apply seasonally across all sites, and the standard 14-day stay limit is enforced on BLM lands.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Grand Junction, Colorado (36)

    1. Nine Mile Hill

    18 Reviews
    Whitewater, CO
    12 miles
    Website

    "Like other reviews, the highway noise was a bit loud but nothing too crazy, especially really late. There were other campers spread out nicely, you wouldn’t even know they were there."

    "Easy to get to and only about 30 minutes or so away from Grand Junction. We were able to get our T@G trailer to a good spot, but the road to the different camping areas can be a bit rocky."

    2. Grand Junction Desert Road Recreation Area BLM

    12 Reviews
    Grand Junction, CO
    6 miles
    Website

    "After searching for a campsite for a while, we finally stumbled across this place around 10pm on a Saturday night at the end of April 2021."

    "Easy access for low clearance vehicles like my Subaru. Busy but I found a spot no problem tossed some firewood down and had a great night."

    3. Grand Junction BLM/OHV

    5 Reviews
    Glade Park, CO
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 244-3000

    "This was sort of near an airport, which could be annoying. It was a huge area for ohv riding and it looked like a lot of dirtbikers were having tons of fun."

    4. BLM #174 Road Dispersed Camping

    9 Reviews
    Loma, CO
    16 miles
    Website

    "Large designated area for dispersed camping.  Ground is lumpy, I wouldn't want to tent camp.  Several existing fire rings.  Solid Verizon service.  Lots of pit toilets in the area. "

    "Aug 25 '25: directions to BLM 174 were right on target and areas to disperse camp is spacious with many level areas. At camping entrance there are two porta potties."

    5. Pyramid Rock Camp

    18 Reviews
    De Beque, CO
    22 miles

    "Our 4WD 28ft RV had no trouble with the dirt road- even though it was a little soggy in some spots. Big ruts in some sections, but most vehicles shouldn’t have trouble with the climb."

    "It is a designated OHV area so no worries about people stopping you from ripping around and exploring."

    6. Upper Access Road #1

    1 Review
    Fruita, CO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 244-3000

    "Great location with amazing views of the distant book cliffs across the Fruita/Grand Junction valley."

    7. Near De Buque Dispersed

    5 Reviews
    De Beque, CO
    21 miles
    Website

    "Plenty of dispersed sites along this road."

    "Nice area with many dispersed camping sites. Pin is not in exact spot but many spots along this road. The road was decent and i made it easily in my toyota prius."

    8. Rattlesnake and Mee Canyons

    1 Review
    Fruita, CO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 244-3000

    "My wife and I did the Rattlesnake Arches hike and camped nearby. There were three campsites we found on the way to Rattlesnake Arches."

    9. BLM Camping off 139

    5 Reviews
    Mack, CO
    20 miles

    "Entrance is via 139 just before the 8 mile marker, you have to drive over a cattle grate and road is gravel."

    "Quiet area for a quick stop overnight. 3 pull through spots great for a camper or smaller RV plus a couple of back in spots with rock fire rings. Near town and close to i70."

    10. Escalante Canyon Road Dispersed (650 Rd)

    13 Reviews
    Delta, CO
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 244-3000

    "Location was right off the road but once you drive about 5 minutes down the road you cannot hear any traffic. No other campers. Road was packed gravel almost like highway."

    "Easy dispersed camping placcess off of hwy 50 between Delta and Grand Junction. BLM land. Several established spots to the right and up the escarpment. A few spots as you head down toward the river."

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Grand Junction, CO

141 Photos of 36 Grand Junction Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Grand Junction, CO

134 Reviews of 36 Grand Junction Campgrounds

  • Davis B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2022

    Bitter Creek Overlook Camping Area

    Remote and Restful Night

    I came out here for a night's rest while on a trip, it was very remote, and slept well. I came in late in the night, but woke up to beautiful views of the surrounding area. Even though this is off the highway, you won't feel like it. You'll see some lights from the highway, as well as some light pollution from Grand Junction, but it worked perfectly to camp here. I didn't see any one else while I was out here for the night and morning I was here.

    BLM road warning: The road in definitely isn't meant for a stock Prius, but it's definitely doable if you're very careful. :) Didn't quite bottom out, but got close a few times, lots of rocks as BLM roads usually have.

    Directions help: I followed my Google Maps to the coordinates, and it lead me a weird way. I'd recommend reading the directions on this page to get to the intended camp site. I took a wrong turn, however, I ended up at a nice little dispersed camp site. My mistake was I took a left at the fork, instead of a right. Either way has camping spots, incase the original site is full. :)

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Bitter Creek Overlook Camping Area

    Two ways to approach - both are good

    The GPS coordinates, when mapped in Google (not Apple) Maps, take you down the FIRST dirt road past the exit, not the SECOND as detailed in the directions.

    If you take the first dirt road, you’ll quickly hit rougher roads and a BLM sign. Most cars can handle this if you take it slow, and find a campsite near the front. If you decide to follow all the way to the coordinates, you’ll end up on some pretty rough roads that can be tricky without a higher clearance vehicle. You’ll end at an overlook which is nice, but can be windy.

    If you follow the directions and not the coordinates (taking the SECOND dirt road) you’ll go down a much wider, smoother road. Watch closely for the turn, it’s easy to miss. You’ll find spots to camp pretty quickly, and they’re not out in the open so you’ll find them to be a bit more sheltered from wind.

    The photos attached to this review are at a site the written directions take you to, as opposed to the GPS coordinates.

  • Alexia L.
    Oct. 13, 2024

    Nine Mile Hill

    Great Views, Secluded

    Found this spot and was very happy with the setup. Like other reviews, the highway noise was a bit loud but nothing too crazy, especially really late. There were other campers spread out nicely, you wouldn’t even know they were there. The road is a bit iffy so snagging a spot at the front would be best if you don’t have 4WD (my Nissan car struggled, we had to back up & turn around). Overall great spot for tent camping! Remember to leave no trace 🫶🏼🏕️🌎

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 4, 2025

    Nine Mile Hill

    Nice, Beautiful, Close to Grand Junction

    We enjoyed this spot! Easy to get to and only about 30 minutes or so away from Grand Junction. We were able to get our T@G trailer to a good spot, but the road to the different camping areas can be a bit rocky. Great weather in May, very comfortable boondocking. Closer to the road and other campers around, but surprisingly quiet. Beautiful in the evening and in the morning.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2025

    Twin Lake Dispersed Area - Grand Valley Rd

    Beautiful and Quiet

    I was up there on a Tuesday-Wednesday so it was very quiet and there was no one else at the site. It’s right on the water although there is a drop off you have to climb down, but it’s not bad. There were some cattle that walked through as I was setting up but otherwise very chill. All sites had areas for parking and fire rings. Driving off the forest road and onto the small road getting up to the campsite, 4WD isn’t required but highly recommended, it is a very rough road. High clearance is necessary. The sites seemed kinda close to each other however there are trees and stumps that define each site. Amazing views, light rain, and still my favorite forest.

  • S
    Mar. 7, 2021

    Gateway Recreation Area Dispersed, BLM

    Managed to get Lucky!

    I arrived in Grand Junction with intentions of seeing a buddy, but when he was not there I had to find a place to camp out in a hurry. Luckily I found this place thanks to The Dyrt!

    There is a long pavement road that takes you down further than I wanted to travel. There were numerous locations that I passed up, first there was a narrow area surrounded by cliff face and some trees, further on down there was canyon land. Many of the spots in the canyon area were already taken by other campers, some of the locations they had seem to have spectacular views.

    A couple miles into the canyon land I decided to pull off to the right and set up shop there. This place gets completely dark at night and the stars will come out and shine if the sky is clear. It does tend to get a little windy if you are near the canyon edge.

    There is no bathroom or even running water that I've seen. There seems to have been a creek a long time ago but the water has since dried up and is no longer flowing. Not much snow in the area. 4x4 is not necessary. I had decent connection (AT&T) which was spotty at times, and my handheld radio picked up several stations as well.

    Overall I would definitely return again next time I am visiting Grand Junction or the National Monument.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Pyramid Rock Camp

    Perfection

    We pulled in at night. Our 4WD 28ft RV had no trouble with the dirt road- even though it was a little soggy in some spots. Big ruts in some sections, but most vehicles shouldn’t have trouble with the climb. When you pull in, there’s 5-6 designated spots, but they were full, so we went further down and found a pulloff to spend the night. Stars were phenomenal! Make sure you check fire restrictions beforehand.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2021

    Overland Reservoir (Dispersed)-Paonia RD

    Peaceful location

    Stocked reservoir with rainbow and brook trout. Smaller fish but fun fishing. 

    The dispersed camping is located on the east side of the reservoir. Vault toilets located here and no water(except the reservoir). All camping is first-come, first-serve. Bring bug spray as the mosquitoes are pretty bad here.

  • Shanda H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 17, 2025

    Escalante Canyon Road Dispersed (650 Rd)

    Great one night pull off

    Location was right off the road but once you drive about 5 minutes down the road you cannot hear any traffic. No other campers. Road was packed gravel almost like highway. We have camper van and our site and most of them were flat and had established fire rings. Dry and dessert landscapes.

Guide to Grand Junction

The Grand Junction area features rustic camping spots scattered across Bureau of Land Management lands at elevations ranging from 4,500 to 7,000 feet. Summer temperatures often exceed 95°F during the day, while spring and fall offer milder 60-80°F conditions. Most dispersed camping areas sit on hard-packed desert soil with minimal natural shade.

What to do

Hiking from camp: Escalante Canyon Road Dispersed camping provides access to cliff-side trails. "We pulled over before the BLM sites with fire rings. Fun hikes up the base of the red cliffs and down to the creek," notes camper Noel C.

Mountain biking access: BLM #174 Road Dispersed Camping connects directly to popular cycling trails. A visitor noted, "Easy to find just off what seems like a freshly paved road. Very close to the main bike trail parking lot."

Stargazing opportunities: The dark skies at Pyramid Rock Camp offer excellent astronomy viewing. "Stars were phenomenal! Make sure you check fire restrictions beforehand," reports Tiffany C., while another camper mentioned they "watched the Milky Way roll overhead."

What campers like

Cell service availability: Most dispersed sites have variable connectivity. At BLM #174 Road, a camper reported "2-3 bars Verizon 4G," while at Nine Mile Hill, Kristin C. noted "No cell service. The hiking is amazing. Quiet and peaceful."

Seasonal considerations: Spring camping provides more comfortable temperatures. "Great weather in May, very comfortable boondocking," reports Sammi O. about Nine Mile Hill, while summer visitors should prepare for heat as "it got hot fast in the morning" at Escalante Canyon.

Privacy levels: Near De Buque Dispersed offers good separation between sites. "Several other cars in the area but not in eyesight. Some cows wandering around," reports Ella L., while at Pyramid Rock Camp, a visitor mentioned "We pulled in at night... when you pull in, there's 5-6 designated spots."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access varies significantly between sites. "The road to the different camping areas can be a bit rocky," warns a Nine Mile Hill camper, while at Escalante Canyon Road, "The road to the camp site from the I-50 road is rather long (12 miles, cca 30 min), but very easy and quite picturesque."

Wildlife awareness: Multiple camping areas report coyote activity. At BLM Camping off 139, William C. advises, "There are several coyotes in the area. Be sure to keep an eye on your pets," while another camper reported hearing coyotes "around 7pm and at sunrise."

Wind exposure: Many sites lack natural windbreaks. At Escalante Canyon Road, campers should "be prepared for strong winds coming through the canyon in May time," and at Pyramid Rock one visitor mentioned it was "Hot but quiet and peaceful" despite limited tree coverage.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection strategy: Choose established sites with natural features. At Nine Mile Hill, "There were only a few other people there near us despite it being 6:30pm on Memorial Day Weekend," while "closer to the road you do hear some road noise."

Bug preparation: Pack insect repellent, especially for gnats. At Pyramid Rock Camp, Eliza S. warns, "It would have been 5 stars if there weren't so many nats! bring some good bug repellent... The bugs went away at night which allowed for good stargazing."

Ground hazards: Inspect campsites carefully before setting up. At Escalante Canyon, a visitor cautions, "There was a lot of small hidden vicious cacti, we were afraid of letting the dogs out," while at Grand Junction Desert Road Recreation Area BLM, "Glass bottles were shattered everywhere around the spot I chose."

Tips from RVers

Level parking considerations: Many sites require adjustments for RVs. At Nine Mile Hill, one camper reported, "We were able to get our T@G trailer to a good spot," while another mentioned they "drove a high clearance 4x4 and the spot I was in needed AWD at minimum."

Size restrictions: Some areas better accommodate smaller units. "I wouldn't want to tent camp" at Escalante Canyon due to hard ground, while at Pyramid Rock Camp, "We drove in with our 4WD 28ft RV had no trouble with the dirt road- even though it was a little soggy in some spots."

Weather planning: Check forecasts before bringing larger rigs. At Pyramid Rock, a camper advises, "Do not go past the gravel road if it's rained or going to rain," and "Be sure to check the forecast and steer clear if there's any chance of rain."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find dispersed camping areas near Grand Junction?

The Grand Junction area offers numerous dispersed camping options. Nine Mile Hill is a popular spot about 30 minutes from town with multiple camping areas accessible via a somewhat rocky road. For riverside camping, Twin Lake Dispersed Area - Grand Valley Rd provides sites right by the water. Other notable options include BLM land off Highway 139, the North Fruita Desert area, and spots along Escalante Canyon Road. Many dispersed sites feature established fire rings and flat areas suitable for various camping setups from tents to small trailers. Most locations are accessible with standard vehicles, though some interior roads may require higher clearance. Look for pullouts along BLM roads where previous camping has occurred, indicated by fire rings and cleared areas.

Is there free camping available near Grand Junction, Colorado?

Yes, free camping is abundant around Grand Junction on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. Gateway Recreation Area Dispersed, BLM offers numerous free camping locations along a paved road with tranquil spots near the river. Escalante Canyon Road Dispersed (650 Rd) provides free desert camping with established fire rings and flat sites suitable for vans and small RVs. Additional free options include areas off Highway 139, the Gunnison Gorge area, and multiple sites throughout the North Fruita Desert region. These areas typically operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations or fees required. Most free camping spots lack amenities like water, restrooms, or trash service, so come prepared with supplies and practice Leave No Trace principles.

What are the rules and regulations for BLM camping around Grand Junction?

BLM dispersed camping around Grand Junction follows standard regulations: camping is limited to 14 days within any 28-day period. At BLM #174 Road Dispersed Camping and similar areas, campers must use existing sites and fire rings when available. Camp at least 200 feet from water sources and 300 feet from developed recreation areas. Fire restrictions frequently apply, especially during summer and fall—check current conditions before your trip. Pack out all trash and human waste if no facilities exist. At Bitter Creek Overlook Camping Area and other remote sites, vehicle use is restricted to established roads and trails. Some areas may have seasonal wildlife closures. No permits are required for standard dispersed camping, but group sizes may be limited. Always check local BLM field office information for area-specific regulations.

What are the best seasons for dispersed camping in the Grand Junction area?

Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) offer ideal conditions for dispersed camping around Grand Junction with comfortable temperatures and manageable crowds. At Dispersed River Site - Gunnison Gorge National Conservation, spring brings flowing water and greenery, while fall showcases vibrant colors. Summer camping is possible at higher elevations like Overland Reservoir (Dispersed)-Paonia RD, though lower areas can exceed 100°F in July-August. Winter camping is available at lower elevations, but prepare for cold nights. May weather is typically comfortable for boondocking, while late summer brings monsoon thunderstorms. Fire restrictions are common during mid-to-late summer, so check current conditions. Spring and fall also offer better wildlife viewing opportunities and fewer insects than summer months.

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