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Best Dispersed Camping near Grant, CO

983 Reviews

The Pike National Forest surrounding Grant, Colorado features predominantly dispersed camping options, with areas like Bruno Gulch and Kirby Gulch offering primitive sites for both tent and RV camping. Located approximately 60 miles southwest of Denver, this mountainous region sits at elevations between 8,000-11,000 feet, providing access to numerous Forest Service roads with established fire rings and pull-off sites. Boreas Pass Road Designated Dispersed Camping near Breckenridge and Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping offer additional options within driving distance of Grant, with most sites featuring minimal amenities but maximum wilderness immersion.

High-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended for accessing many camping areas, with several sites requiring 4WD capability. As one camper noted, "A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for accessing some of the sites, especially after rain or snow." Summer weekends see significant crowding at popular sites, particularly those closest to trailheads or with mountain views. Fire restrictions are common during dry periods, and campers should be prepared for dramatic temperature drops at night even in summer months. Most dispersed sites lack potable water, restroom facilities, or trash receptacles, requiring visitors to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste.

Stargazing opportunities and mountain views rank among the most frequently praised aspects of camping in this area. Sites are typically well-spaced, providing privacy and tranquility. "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," reports one visitor. Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most sites. Wildlife viewing opportunities are abundant, though proper food storage is essential. Many camping areas provide access to hiking trails, fishing spots, and off-road vehicle routes. Seasonal accessibility varies significantly, with most high-elevation sites inaccessible during winter months due to snow.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Grant, Colorado (197)

    1. Boreas Pass Road Designated Dispersed Camping

    45 Reviews
    Blue River, CO
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 468-5400

    "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!"

    2. Kirby Gulch

    14 Reviews
    Montezuma, CO
    7 miles

    "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."

    3. Bruno Gulch Dispersed

    13 Reviews
    Grant, CO
    7 miles
    Website

    "We arrived around Monday lunchtime. There are 19 sites in this area as they are all designated. There were only two available when we arrived so we selected site number three."

    "Great spots hidden in the trees. Dispersed free spots."

    4. Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping

    13 Reviews
    Montezuma, CO
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 945-2521

    "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"

    5. Pull off with fire ring - Dispersed Site

    16 Reviews
    Georgetown, CO
    16 miles
    Website

    "Resources were running low on a Friday night so it was great pull off great views close to idaho springs down town , nice hiking trails as well traffic is pretty much non existent after 9pm"

    "Any unpaved areas around it are not flat."

    6. Buffalo Creek Recreation Area

    30 Reviews
    Buffalo Creek, CO
    23 miles

    "So busy that we had to go in the middle of the week to get a spot, so plan ahead here and expect crowds. That being said, each spot is unique and we loved it."

    "We stayed here a couple weekends in a row and we were able to try out some different spots and trails close to those spots. This free campground is perfect! "

    7. Grays Peak Summer Trailhead Dispersed Camping

    8 Reviews
    Silver Plume, CO
    15 miles
    Website

    "Stevens 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."

    "Great location - it’s advised you have a good 4WD vehicle for the uphill dirt road."

    8. Sawmill Gulch

    3 Reviews
    Jefferson, CO
    7 miles

    "Only 4 or 5 designated camping spots, but you can drive your car into the spot as well. I came from Kenosha Pass ($24 to camp there and you can’t drive your car to your campsite)."

    "There are only 5 dispersed sites along this road and it fills up on the weekend. Handcart and Hall Valley campgrounds are now closed for the season so it will fill up fast."

    9. Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping

    24 Reviews
    Empire, CO
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 567-4382

    "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. "

    "Just outside of Idaho Springs, take the exit for Co Rd 275 off of I-70. It's a scenic drive up a curvy paved road for about 15 minutes."

    10. Saints John Trail Roadside Campsites

    5 Reviews
    Montezuma, CO
    14 miles

    "Saw this trail-side camp site while out Jeeping in the mountains near Breckenridge, CO. Nice pull-in site with a fire ring available and plenty of firewood that you can cut up around."

    "4WD to get there for sure, which means we saw very few people up here. It's beautiful, secluded, awesome area."

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Grant, CO

773 Photos of 197 Grant Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Grant, CO

983 Reviews of 197 Grant Campgrounds

  • Paulina B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 20, 2024

    Kirby Gulch

    Worth the Rough Drive

    Kirby 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.

  • Kelly G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 29, 2021

    Grays Peak Summer Trailhead Dispersed Camping

    Great base camp for summiting Gray’s/Torrey’s

    Stevens 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.

  • Meg G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 20, 2020

    Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping

    Spectacular - 4x4 is required to access.

    We 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!

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2023

    Forest Road 130

    Absolutely awesome

    Stunningly 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.

  • Karl G.
    May. 6, 2019

    Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area

    Dispersed Campsite with Views - Gordon Gulch (4x4 recommended)

    So 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!

  • Doug C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 10, 2022

    Rampart Range Road - Dispersed Camping

    Choose Your Own Adventure From Rampart Range Road

    Rampart Range Road is the main dirt road that has plenty of smaller trails branching off of it to keep you busy exploring all summer. Rampart Range Road is accessible by 2wd vehicles while some of the smaller trails that branch off of Rampart Range Rd do better with a 4wd with high clearance. The southern portion of the road (south of Devils Head Trail) is open year around while the northern half of the road is closed seasonally during winter. Easily accessible outside of Woodland Park on the south end of the road and west through Sedalia. Lots of dispersed camping sites along the road, some are very large and could easily accommodate a large RV or large groups. Other campsites are tucked away off the road a little which is great because this road can be very busy & dusty in the summer. All in all, this place makes for a fun and easy weekend getaway as long as some ohv traffic doesn’t bother you too much. The best part of Rampart Range Road is the several forest service roads that branch off with dispersed camping. These smaller trails and dispersed camping make for a much more relaxing and peaceful weekend, I highly recommend if you have a 4x4. Find the right forest service road and you’ll feel like you are a million miles from it all.

  • Chris P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2023

    Tarryall Creek- Dispersed Camping

    Good but not great

    Tarryall creek dispersed camping. The road in is a bit bumpy. I would not trade in a low clearance vehicle. Four-wheel-drive is needed if it should get wet or slippery. Once you get onto the road, the sites are big and spacious. This is dispersed camping, so there is no water no electric and very little cell service. We have periodic two bars of Verizon. The sites are definitely big enough to accommodate big rigs. You just have to take the road really slowly on the way up. If you carry on all the way up to 10, you get to fenced areas where there is no camping so we took 293 off to the left and immediately after the Turner a couple of sites. We followed it all the way down for a long way. The road is incredibly bumpy and four-wheel-drive is absolutely necessary. Along with high clearance. I would not advise it for big rigs. The Site that we got just on the left after the turn walls reasonably wide. Big enough to get a big rig into. It’s pretty flat too but it’s also very exposed. There’s not a lot of shelter for our tent or our gazebo. The views are OK but nothing spectacular.

  • Chris P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2023

    Fraile’s Campground - Dispersed

    Huge sites on gnarly road

    CR 290 off Tarryall Rd. Campsites are all designated on 290 but there are numerous firepits on the side roads. The road to get up is very rutted. I recommend a high clearance vehicle. Definitely four wheel drive is required. I did see a Subaru forester up near the top. The sites are wide open once you get onto the plateau at the top. Easily could accommodate a big rig, but the issue would be getting it up the road. The views from the top are really nice. It opens out and you get some spectacular views of Pike National Forest. The sites are spacious with some pine tree coverage for tent campers. This would definitely be a possible back up spot if nothing on Matukat rd was available. Because they are dispersed there is no electrical hook ups or water. There’s no Creek running through the area. I imagine it would be really quiet and remote up here because the road to get in is going to deter a lot of people. We did find some spots with fire pits, but not sure you can camp there given there is no sign post reading designated campsite but they are off the main road so give it a try.

  • Eileen S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 1, 2021

    Peru Creek Designated Dispersed Camping

    Crowded Camping Near Keystone

    This 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.

Guide to Grant

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Grant, Colorado, where nature's tranquility meets stunning landscapes. This area offers a variety of options for campers looking to immerse themselves in the great outdoors.

Top Activities While Free Camping Near Grant

Dispersed Campers Should Check Out Chinns Lake

  • For a serene experience, Chinns Lake Dispersed Camping offers a quiet atmosphere perfect for fishing and relaxation.
  • The road to Chinns Lake can be rough, so it's best suited for those with high-clearance vehicles, ensuring an adventurous journey to your campsite.
  • Campers can enjoy the picturesque views of the lake and surrounding mountains, making it an ideal spot for photography enthusiasts.

Scenic Attractions for Dispersed Campers

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities and facilities are available at Bruno Gulch dispersed camping sites?

Bruno Gulch dispersed camping sites are primitive with minimal amenities, offering a true backcountry experience. Unlike developed campgrounds, you won't find toilets, picnic tables, or potable water. For perspective on typical dispersed camping setups, Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area features numbered sites with fire rings but no other facilities. Similarly, Tarryall Creek- Dispersed Camping offers spacious sites but no water or electric hookups. Remember to pack in all necessary supplies including water, toilet paper, and food, and be prepared to pack out all waste.

Where is Bruno Gulch dispersed camping located near Grant, Colorado?

Bruno Gulch Dispersed is located near Grant, Colorado, in the Pike National Forest. The area is accessible via forest service roads off Highway 285. For similar dispersed camping experiences nearby, Kirby Gulch offers another excellent option situated off Route 1038, also near Grant. These locations provide convenient access to mountain recreation while being relatively close to the small town of Grant, making them popular bases for exploring the surrounding wilderness areas.

What are the regulations and permits needed for dispersed camping in Bruno Gulch?

Dispersed camping in Bruno Gulch follows standard U.S. Forest Service regulations. No special permits are required, but camping is limited to 14 consecutive days within a 30-day period. Campfires may be restricted during fire bans, so check current conditions before your trip. At Rampart Range Road - Dispersed Camping, campers must use existing fire rings and keep vehicles within 300 feet of designated roads. Similarly, Forest Road 130 demonstrates the importance of obtaining a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) from ranger stations to identify legal camping areas. Practice Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash and properly disposing of human waste.

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