Best Tent Camping near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, CO has a lot to offer. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Best Tent Sites Near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (42)

    1. 4R FREEDOM RANCH CAMPGROUND

    2 Reviews
    Montrose, CO
    15 miles
    +1 (970) 901-8860

    $45 / night

    "There are canvas tents with cots and wood stoves for the colder months. The stars are beyond compare and if you’re a birder like me, you will have a magical time. Susan is an excellent communicator!"

    2. Peach Valley OHV Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Olathe, CO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 240-5300

    3. Alta Lakes Campground (Dispersed)

    39 Reviews
    Ophir, CO
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 327-4261

    "Perfect lake views, snow capped mountain tops, and wildflowers for days."

    "Beautiful views of surrounding mountains and Alta lakes as well as access to the ghost town of Alta."

    4. Grand Junction KOA

    26 Reviews
    Grand Junction, CO
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 242-2527

    "We stayed at the Grand Junction KOA when driving cross country from CA to NY a few years back."

    "We stayed here in the tent camping spots for two nights. The restrooms were clean and the site had a light over the picnic table which was really nice for setting up in the dark."

    5. Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area

    22 Reviews
    Ophir, CO
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 874-6600

    "We had plenty of room on our site to set up camp around the picnic table and fire ring

    We snagged the last site with a picnic table and fire ring around 10AM on a Friday morning."

    "Pulled into this area late one evening on a fall camping trip across Colorado. Totally expected it to be full but there were a couple areas left to setup thankfully."

    7. Angel Creek Campground

    13 Reviews
    Ouray, CO
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 240-5300

    "Nice little campground with large bear boxes for food storage. I felt it's at a good location to venture off each day from."

    "Primitive camping right outside outside Ouray Colorado. Imogene pass trail ends at the campground entrance. Trail into campground is a little rough but that's primitive camping."

    8. Big Dominguez Campground

    4 Reviews
    Whitewater, CO
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 244-3000

    "Pretty spot with stream water right behind the sites. You have to drive over a stream when you come in but it was easily crossed when we visited."

    "As in the description, very quiet, and accessibility can be tricky when weather comes into play."

    9. Black Canyon

    2 Reviews
    Crawford, CO
    30 miles

    "from the main road but very quiet. we arrived at night and there was plenty of spots. we camped in the car just for the night but plenty of flat land for tents and we say a fire pit. only a 15 minute drive"

    10. Fall Creek Camping

    3 Reviews
    Placerville, CO
    33 miles

    "We stayed here for a long weekend to go see Telluride and the surrounding area. The directions led us to the campground, would be easy to miss otherwise."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests

981 Reviews of 42 Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests Campgrounds


  • Matthew K.
    Aug. 3, 2020

    Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area

    Secluded and Beautiful

    This was a great site for our group of 3 couples. We had plenty of room on our site to set up camp around the picnic table and fire ring. 

    We snagged the last site with a picnic table and fire ring around 10AM on a Friday morning. Throughout the weekend more people showed up and there seemed to be a bit more space to camp throughout. 

    The sites vary from right out in the open to being completely tree covered. Ours was right near a stream and had good shade during the day. 

    There's nothing but a vault toilet here so be sure to bring lots of water. If you're in need of a shower, head down to Trout Lake for a quick dip.

  • Carol A.
    Sep. 23, 2021

    Sunshine Campground

    Pretty spot close to Telluride!

    Sunshine is a first come-first serve campground with 15 sites. There are several sites with beautiful views and full sun, but those were taken when we arrived. We stayed in site #8 which was quite lovely, tucked in the aspen trees with a picnic table and fire ring. The small pond behind our site was dried up, probably due to the ongoing drought. There is a short viewing trail just off site #9 that provided spectacular views of the mountains. We set up a couple of chairs on the trail and watched the fabulous sunset. The vault toilets were closed and the sign said they’d be closed through the ‘22 season. Portable toilets were provided in their place. The camp hosts, Don & Linda were super helpful by providing us with info about the adjacent bike trails and a short cut to get to Telluride. The campground was very quiet and while we heard some road traffic when we first arrived we never heard any during the night. I got 2 bars of AT&T cell service, enough to stream a movie on my iPad!

    Camp fees are $20/day or $10/day with a Senior America the Beautiful Pass. We’ll definitely stay at this gem again!

  • Patricia O.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2018

    Woods Lake Campground

    Good camping in Carson Pass area

    Nice campground if you can get a spot, we've stayed at several different sites. The hosts are nice and will let you know the best one available. No running water or electricity or anything fancy. It's quiet, the stars are amazing, and there are good hikes in the area. Downsides are that it fills up fast (I think just 25 sites) and there can be a lot of mosquitoes. Bears may wander through too.

    Vault toilets, bear boxes, picnic table, fire ring.

    You can walk to the lake from the campground.

  • Heather P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 17, 2018

    Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Campground — Ridgway State Park

    Great campground if you flyfish

    The walk to the river was short and there even is a parking area for those who are not camping but want to fish.

    Sites were well maintained, restroom and showers were as well.

    Picnic tables, fire ring and grill at all sites. Deer wandered around freely and was an extremely restful night.

    They offer pull in sites or walk in tent sites. I chose a pull in even though I was tent camping. Had to check out a few sites to be sure there was level/cactus free spot to pitch the tent.

  • Glenna L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2020

    Gunnison National Forest Soap Creek Campground

    Spacious and Secluded

    We arrived at Soap Creek Campground around noon on a Friday in mid-July and found several wonderful sites to choose from. We selected site 8 as it was fairly close to the restroom, had decent shade, and large enough to accommodate our large tent and two vehicles...with room enough to spare to play washers! Vault toilets only, but they were very clean...host normally sells firewood, but they were out, however they did allow us to gather our own. No water at this time as it is spring fed and was low. Mostly surrounded by tent campers, but a few RV's made it down the narrow, windy and bumpy dirt road to the campground...but for the most part they kept their generators off (no electricity at this campground) during quiet hours. We were able to walk to the creek and what a view! Would definitely recommend and can't wait to go back!

  • Becca C.
    Jun. 8, 2021

    East Portal Campground — Curecanti National Recreation Area

    Favorite Campsite

    We camped here in the canyon one night in September and it was the best experience. Beautiful scenery, great neighbors, clean toilets. There are only a few drive in campsites available, with several more hike in spots below. Bear boxes, fire rings (if there’s no burn ban), and picnic tables available, along with water and facilities.

  • Whitney L.
    Sep. 10, 2021

    North Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

    great views, drought year = yellow jackets

    This campground is on NPS land, so there is a fee ($16 in season+ water/$8 off season no water) that can be paid at the nearby ranger's station on the honor system. All 13 sites are in a single loop at the end of the road on the North Rim and are all first come first served. Pinyon and juniper offer shade and some visual privacy, however sites are all close so there is little audible privacy. Pets are OK if leashed. There are nice sized BearSaver boxes at each site, plus a fire ring and large picnic table. Vault toilets and potable water are both in the center of the camping loop, where you can also find other tables and lots of shade. Chasm trail begins near the end of the loop and there are great views of the canyon a short distance from all sites. Beware: drought year, so lots of yellow jackets - they swarm vehicles in search of water! Also, water is a limited resource brought in by truck to this canyon, don't be wasteful :)

  • Jake J.
    Apr. 19, 2017

    South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

    Amazing National Park, pleasant campsites

    This campground has decent separation between sites but not much shade because the juniper trees are so short. The views at this park are incredible, however you won't see much from your campsite itself. It's tucked into thick juniper forest. This place has lots of bear activity so be sure to bring a bear canister to supplement the provided bear boxes. We saw a blonde haired black bear along one of the roads and were so happy that we were in our car. There's a little self service kiosk for walk up sites. Vault toilets, picnic table, and a fire ring with open flame grill. Just be aware that to do anything on the north rim of the canyon it is a several hour drive. So your activities will likely be limited to the south rim. Would gladly return!

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 17, 2023

    Woods Lake Campground

    Camping among aspens with mountain views

    Fantastic national forest campground. Mountain views all around. Woods Lake itself was a short hike away. Enjoyed fishing there with beautiful views. The campground is over 9400 feet in elevation. I did some huffing & puffing while walking around there. Our campsite, #4, was narrow & deep; no problem for a camper van. It has a table, metal fire ring/grill, lantern poll and a tent pad set back deeper in the woods. Surrounded by aspens. Camped there in early June. Vault toilets were not yet open, but clean portable chem toilets were provided. Potable water stations were not yet turned on. Helpful camp host was on duty. Firewood was available at $10/bundle. Our site, as well as others, were private & reasonably separated from others. No shower and hookups. Deer everywhere. Saw sign of mountain lions & bears on the nearby hiking trails. This is one of the prettiest national forest campgrounds that I ever camped in.


Guide to Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests

Tent camping near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • The 4R Freedom Ranch Campground features canvas tents with cots and wood stoves, making it a cozy choice for cooler months.
  • At Miramonte Reservoir, campers can enjoy picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for evening gatherings and meals.
  • The Echo Park Campground provides drinking water and allows campfires, enhancing the camping experience with essential comforts.

Tips for tent camping near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests

  • Be prepared for rough roads when visiting the Last Dollar Road, as a 4WD vehicle is recommended for access.
  • If you're looking for solitude, consider the Big Dominguez Campground, which offers a peaceful environment but requires a bit of effort to reach.
  • For a unique experience, try the Hermits Rest Boat-in Campsite, where a hike down into the canyon leads to a secluded spot away from the crowds.

Tent campers should check out these scenic spots

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests is 4R FREEDOM RANCH CAMPGROUND with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests?

TheDyrt.com has all 42 tent camping locations near Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, with real photos and reviews from campers.