J
James A.
Guide
GuideMonarch 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.
Tent Camping near Guffey, CO
3 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Several free tent camping options surround Guffey, Colorado, with tent campsites ranging from dispersed sites along Matukat Road in Pike National Forest to primitive spots at Red Canyon Park near Divide. Red Canyon Park, managed by Canon City, offers primitive tent campsites with picnic tables and fire rings in a landscape of distinctive red rock formations. These sites provide solitude and proximity to hiking trails through small canyons, with varied terrain suitable for different experience levels.
Most tent sites in the region are accessible via dirt roads that can become challenging after rain or snow. Red Canyon Park's roads are generally navigable by passenger cars, though some reviewers note "major dips in the roads" that may require slower driving. Most tent campsites include established fire rings, but amenities are minimal. Vault toilets are available at some locations but not at individual sites. Campers should bring all water supplies, as drinking water is not available at most primitive camping areas. Three-day stay limits apply at many locations.
The tent camping areas around Guffey offer excellent seclusion with natural surroundings. Campsites in Red Canyon Park are well-spaced, providing privacy even on busier weekends. Many sites feature relatively flat ground suitable for tent setup, though some areas have cactus patches that tent campers should avoid. The region offers excellent stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution, making it one of the stronger draws for tent campers seeking dark skies. Wildlife sightings are common, with visitors reporting deer and rabbits near campsites. As one visitor noted, "We were the only person at the park and it was quite peaceful!" Seasonal considerations include possible insect activity in warmer months, with one camper reporting, "We'd look at the dogs and there would be 20+ gnats around their eyes."
Best Tent Campgrounds near Guffey (56)
1. Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites
"Driving down to this campsite I was happy to have a small car because the road is very narrow to say the least. I cannot imagine the feeling of driving a large rig here."
"We arrived the Phantom Creek Road around 4:30pm. 10miles and 30 minutes later we found our spot."
2. Lone Duck Campground and Cabins
"Our site had grass, shade, a picnic table, and a fire ring - everything you need for a basic campsite."
"Lone Duck Campground was a good home base for us during our visit to Colorado Springs. The campground is several miles down from Woodland Park and about the same down to Manitou and the Springs."
27 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $40 - $87 / night
3. Matukat Road Dispersed Camping
"Rock fire pits, wood around. No water, garbage, nor toilets. Cool temps, road in is rough go slow. Nice shady trees. First few spots you encounter left, then right seem ok."
"We drove a couple of miles up the decently maintained dirt road and found the second dispersed camping spot and decided to set up our roof top tent for the night. "
4. Shelf Road Sites
"There are vault toilets that are clean and have toilet paper. One vault toilet part way on the hike to the walls did not have TP."
"Wonderful access to Shelf climbing. Very peaceful."
5. Rocky Mountain Oasis!!
Check Availabilityfrom $150 / night
6. Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite
"Some have pre existing fire rings. Would definitely come back."
"Most spots are taken by the weekends but if you’re fine with a more sloped spot, there can be some open ones for late arrivals."
7. Mydnyt Mountain
Check Availabilityfrom $125 / night
8. Dispersed Camping - Pike National Forest Divide
"There are a lot of dirt bikes and atvs driving during the day however I didn’t find it overly disruptive."
"Restrooms at base of road. Found our spot 2.5 miles up the road, definitely needed AWD."
9. Phantom Canyon
"I’m a rooftop tent camper and the views are amazing but was hoping to be close to the water and isolated from other campers."
"It is in a canyon so you won't have any cell phone signal, though I had my Starlink set up and it worked flawlessly. We will go back, and I hope to get that spot before any other!"
10. "Glamping" Pike's Peak Camping Spot- Reservation Only Site
"Camp site has everything you need without the hassle of pitching your tent and packing it up."
from $99 - $150 / night
Drive Time
- 1 hr 13 min from Pueblo, CO
- 1 hr 19 min from Colorado Springs, CO
- 2 hrs 8 min from Denver, CO
- 2 hrs 31 min from Boulder, CO
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Guffey, CO
185 Photos of 56 Guffey Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
MountainAirNMeI
Shelf Road Sites
Mydnyt Mountain
"Glamping" Pike's Peak Camping Spot- Reservation Only SiteA
Truman’s Rock
Tempest Sanctuary
Phantom Canyon
Dispersed Camping - Pike National Forest DivideC
Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites
Vallie Bridge Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Lone Duck Campground and CabinsB
Tent Camping Reviews near Guffey, CO
2093 Reviews of 56 Guffey Campgrounds
- nnicole T.
ScoutHecla Junction Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Signs are posted that say a reservation is required.
Daniel H.ScoutMountaindale Cabin & RV Resort
Great spot for relaxing weekend getaway for our family. Plenty of room for the kids to explore and they even had a blow up bouncy house for them during the day. Hot tub under the stars at evening time. Very clean bathrooms!
Juliana J.
RangerPhantom Canyon
Love a little history/camping combo!
Cool spot. I like there were different sized spots and a clearly marked line where a 4WD/AWD vehicle is needed and no large rigs. I found a spot that was visible by the road, but there was water access and cool surroundings. The main road was well paved, but turning into my site was a bit rough and I needed the 4WD. There were large animal (I assume black bear) prints to give that extra bit of camping excitement, but no actual sitings (one day, Juliana. One day). Some mosquitos but not overwhelming. The scenery was gorgeous. Definitely a bit desert-esque but it was legitimately perfect weather in mid September. Cool creek rocks and a stunner of a sunset. Would absolutely return again. No numbered sites. Toilets about 1/4 mile beyond the drive through boulder.
Kevin H.ScoutCastle Mountain Recreation Area at Wellington Lake
Beautiful family and dog friendly campground!
Lake Wellington is a beautiful family and dog friendly campground just about 90 minutes from Denver. There are 75 sites, and even when it's pretty full they are decently spaced out that you don't feel too on top of other guests. We brought our dogs and a group of friends and had a great few nights, even seeing Bald Eagles mating!
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.
Shannon F.ScoutPikes Peak RV Park
New owner are not good people
I want to start on a positive because that is the type of person I am, and because this review is going to have a lot of negative. This park is a great location for sightseeing, especially if you are going to Pikes Peak by way of the Cog or shopping in Manitou. My GM and I worked hard to make the park as great as we could with the very little funding that we got. As seen in the reviews we had excellent customer service and had high standards for keeping the park clean. I was very good at my job and I loved doing the work until the new owners took over. When the park was sold, we had high hopes that the new owners would be good people and want to put real work into the park. We were very disappointed that they turned out to be money grubbing horrible people. Ken, one of the owners, treats people and his business very Trump like. He and his wife must state that they are religious more than a few times when having a conversation; I personally think this is to make themselves look good to cover the toxicity that truly lies under the surface. When they meet people, they put on a façade and lie and say whatever they think people want to hear to get what they want; proven to me by the broken verbal promises they made to me. They are not community driven; they are money driven; you can make money and still be good people, but they chose not to be. They practice wage theft just like big corporations by over working employees and under paying them; in their words“you must wear all hats”. They are the type of people that use others until they don’t need them then throw them away like garbage. I was bullied into quitting on a phone call where Ken was very disrespectful and unprofessional with me. The phone call was me trying to explain that I could no longer do the FB post due to our deferent ethical viewpoints, and he would not let me talk by saying“you are not doing your job, are you going to quit” repeatedly. I found out that I was not allowed to post about Manitou Pride parade because he said,“it is not family friendly, and the company and I do not promote the LGBTQ+ community”. I am a proud member of that community and so I should not be the one to post on FB for the company. The groundman quit a day later because of disrespect and broken verbal promises. Then a few days later my boyfriend was fired and then Sheryl the GM was fired.(I believe they were fired for retaliation) Ken only wants employees that are easy to exploit or controlled, because he is incapable of managing people without fear and bullying. He boasted that he is called the grim reaper in business, but I don’t think that is the flex he thinks it is. But yes, he was the destruction of the community we put so much work into. I also want to voice my disappointment in Dana, who Sheryl worked hard getting to be allowed to come back as an employee. Dana did great work her first summer with us, so it was a shock to see her true colors show when she started to brown nose Ken. She spread multiple rumors, I feel the worst one was about Melinda’s daughter and the things she wrote about in her diary. I also did not like how she used David, the guy that does the golfcart tours in Manitou, was nice to his face then talked so badly about him when he was not around. I truly think Jesue and her father would be ashamed of her for how she acted to get her new position.
- HHeidiTraveler
Castle Mountain Recreation Area at Wellington Lake
Great spot - except for flies
If you are going to camp at a lakefront spot definitely have something you can sit in else you will be attacked by flies. Super quiet during the week - got busy over the weekend.
- VVincent V.Scout
Red Canyon Park
Great secluded spot
Found a great spot a bit further in surrounded by Juniper trees and a bit of grassy patches and rock fire pit. Love the open space and secluded spots! Definitely not ideal for the cacti. Our pup ended up sniffing one and got the needles in her muzzle. 😬 Weather is pretty nice with highs in the 80s and lows in the 40s
Guide to Guffey
Pike National Forest covers much of the terrain surrounding Guffey, Colorado, with elevations ranging from 7,000 to 9,000 feet in most camping areas. Dispersed camping options near Guffey typically require drivers to navigate dirt roads with varying conditions based on recent weather patterns. Most primitive tent camping sites offer fire rings but minimal additional amenities.
What to do
Climbing activities: Shelf Road Sites offers excellent access to popular climbing areas. "You can hike from the campsite... There are vault toilets that are clean and have toilet paper," reports Alice C., who appreciated the convenience of camping near climbing routes.
Hiking trail exploration: The hiking trails around Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites provide opportunities to witness local wildlife. "This canyon is magical," shares a camper named Papa T., who has camped along the canyon multiple times. The road itself serves as a scenic byway with historical tunnels.
Rock formations: Red Canyon Park features distinctive geological formations that visitors can explore. "There are so many fun places to explore, like climbing on rocks to see the mountains around you," writes Emily, who found the area beautiful and private during her stay.
What campers like
Seclusion from crowds: At Matukat Road Dispersed Camping, the distance between sites creates privacy. "The sites are open and spaced out from one another. We only saw a few cars pass by but otherwise no signs of humans around," notes Brandon in his review of the area.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Animal sightings add to the camping experience in this region. "Saw some dear and rabbits near our campsite," reports Chrischelle N. about her peaceful stay at Red Canyon Park. Other campers have mentioned spotting moose, cows, and coyotes in different areas around Guffey.
Stargazing conditions: Minimal light pollution makes this area ideal for night sky observation. A visitor at Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite noted the "good sunset" views, while several reviewers mention excellent star viewing conditions due to the area's elevation and distance from cities.
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Many camping areas require careful driving on rough roads. "The dirt road to get there can be tricky, but I witnessed multiple sedans driving by without issue," reports Brianna K. about Pike National Forest Divide dispersed camping.
Fire restrictions change seasonally: Always check current fire regulations before your trip. Most sites have established fire rings, and as one camper at Matukat Road noted, "There is also an ample amount of firewood from the dead, fallen trees."
Insect activity peaks in warmer months: Biting flies and mosquitoes can be problematic during summer. "BRING BUG SPRAY! Mosquitos were a bit annoying but DEET helped," advises Abby D. about camping at Red Canyon Park, while another camper mentioned "insane amount of biting flies" at a stream-side location.
Cell service is spotty: Signal strength varies by location and carrier. "You will lose cell service about 10 minutes before getting to the park," notes Emily about Red Canyon Park, though other areas like Rampart Range have better coverage with one reviewer noting "very good network coverage (T-mobile)."
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with natural boundaries: Look for locations that provide natural containment for children. "We found an amazing camp site that was down a slope... Highly worth the hard work as you're secluded from the road and have a lot of tree coverage for hot days. Also great to utilize this if you have young children who like to wander," recommends Madi G. from Phantom Canyon Road.
Bring activities for downtime: The areas around Guffey offer limited structured recreation. Some campgrounds like Lone Duck have amenities such as pools, fishing ponds, and game rooms that can keep children entertained.
Plan for temperature fluctuations: Mountain camping means preparing for cold nights even during summer. "Gets warm during the day but it does get pretty cold at night," notes Hayden P. about camping near Phantom Canyon.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger vehicles: Most dispersed areas have limited space for big rigs. "It took us three attempts to get our overweight 2-wheel drive van up the hill and back onto the road. There are a lot of loose rocks," warns Gregg & Sally W. about their experience at Phantom Canyon.
Leveling challenges: Many sites require equipment to achieve a level setup. "Needed leveling blocks but saw several occupied sites more level," notes Sue B. about her stay at Red Canyon Park.
Road navigation concerns: RV drivers should research routes carefully. "There's major dips in the roads," cautions a reviewer about Red Canyon Park, while another mentions that "after 2/3 miles the road get extremely rough for several miles... Cars and campers cannot make it past a certain point."
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Guffey, CO?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Guffey, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Guffey, CO is Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites with a 4.6-star rating from 40 reviews.
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What is the best site to find tent camping near Guffey, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 56 tent camping locations near Guffey, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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