Best Dispersed Camping near Howard, CO

Recent Dispersed Reviews in Howard

202 Reviews of 81 Howard Campgrounds

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 15, 2024

  The Dunefield — Great Sand Dunes National Park

  Wild and Untamed

  Backcountry dispersed camping in Great Sand Dunes National Park offers an unforgettable and truly unique wilderness experience. If you’re seeking solitude and raw, untamed landscapes, this is the perfect spot to pitch your tent. With no designated sites, you have the freedom to find your ideal spot beyond the busy dunes and under an expansive star-filled sky.

  The journey begins with a hike deep into the park’s rugged terrain, where you’re surrounded by towering sand dunes, alpine forests, and sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The lack of light pollution makes stargazing an absolute highlight—this is one of the best places to witness the Milky Way.

  Keep in mind, this is true backcountry camping: no facilities, no water sources, and you must pack out all waste. Permits are required, so be sure to plan ahead. The environment can be challenging, with extreme temperature swings and strong winds that shift the sand beneath your feet. Good preparation and Leave No Trace practices are a must.

  The rewards are well worth the effort. From sunrise hikes to the serene sound of nothing but wind across the dunes, this camping experience immerses you in nature’s raw beauty like few others can. It’s an adventure you’ll carry with you long after you’ve left the dunes behind.

  Highly recommend skipping the tent and sleeping under the stars!

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 7, 2024

  Forest Road 272 Dispersed Camping

  Spacious Mountain Views with a Few Cow Visitors

  Coordinates: 38.702830,-106.160280

  This dispersed camping area offers stunning mountain views, spacious sites perfect for large groups, and easy access to excellent hiking trails. The September weather was ideal—cool and crisp without being too cold. While the site feels fairly secluded, beware of grazing cows from local ranches that wander through; be sure to secure food and belongings you don’t want damaged. Dog owners should be mindful of cleanup, as cow and dog waste can be an issue. There are two porta-potties onsite that are cleaned weekly, but campers must pack out all their trash to maintain the area’s natural beauty. Overall, it’s a fantastic spot for those looking for a peaceful escape with plenty of room to spread out.

• 

  Jordana P.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 19, 2024

  Mount Shavano Dispersed Camping

  Beautiful views and great privacy

  I stayed here for 1 night of car camping and will definitely go back. I only went about 4 miles in on the rocky/rutted road (vs the 5 miles that the directions say) and thought the sites were great. I stayed at a big site on the right with beautiful views and a fire ring. Aside from hearing some (maybe - not sure) coyotes at night, I wasn't aware of any other wildlife. I was in a 4Runner and my friend that I was with was driving a Highlander. As another poster commented, I saw a small sedan in one of the sites but wouldn't drive way out in anything but an SUV or truck. I have AT&T and had 2 bars of service.

• 

  Wendy S.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 18, 2024

  Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area

  Great views

  Lots of open spots in mid October. Slow going on rocky and bumpy dirt road but Chevy express 2wd did fine. Low clearance vehicles take extreme caution. Stayed in loop A, also a B&C.

• 

  Angela E.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 7, 2024

  Cotton Creek Trailhead

  Beautiful and peaceful 💚

  The sky is GORGEOUS. The road is very rocky & very rough, so you'll want to have decent clearance and be prepared to take it slow. I've never seen so many stars!

• a

  andrew G.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 6, 2024

  Cripple Creek BLM Area

  Great secluded spot!

  We went on a Saturday and it wasn’t crowded at all. The dispersed sites aren’t far from the road since most of the road goes down a valley with hills on both sides however there’s a nice creek running down the whole way. Definitely check it out if you don’t mind a colder night in a valley. Not much room to explore outside your vehicle unless you’re okay walking down the dirt road to see other sites and views.

• P

  Peter

  Scout

  

  Sep. 26, 2024

  Wild Cherry Creek Trailhead

  Blocked off by private gate

  Couldn’t get to trail head due to private gate blocking the road.

• L

  Lorene N.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 14, 2024

  Cottonwood Lake Dispersed Camping

  More than 5 stars!

  We got a spot with amazing views just past Cottonwood Lake campground. It’s awesome here. There is a creek full of Brook Trout right across the street.

• D

  Deitz B.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 11, 2024

  Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area

  Lots of Options

  A lot of stuff if the road. I was pulling a popup trailer so we didn’t go too far up the road just in case it got choppy. Seemed like there is quite a few spaces. Talked to a few people who had been staying there for around a week.

• S

  Sofia T.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 9, 2024

  Hendricks Flat

  Beautiful little spot

  My friend and I are roadtripping around a couple states and found this cute little camp site!! There is no running water or toilets but we didn’t mind :)) absolutely gorgeous place!

• 

  Luke R.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 8, 2024

  North Cottonwood Trailhead Dispersed Camping

  Solid Camp Spot for early September

  My sister drove up from Denver Saturday morning. My daughter and I drove from Paonia and met her there. Road was bumpy but manageable in my Outback. Drove down the road and took a hike with the dogs. Great trail. Rained a little but it was not a big deal. Decent amount of traffic on the road throughout the day and into the evening. Really cool to be able to snag a spot around lunchtime on a Saturday.

• J

  Jeff C.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 5, 2024

  Shavano Mountain

  Amazing vistas

  Amazing vistas! Big private sites. Tough road that gets progressively technical as you go farther up towards trail head.

• 

  Emma H.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 3, 2024

  Road 240 - Dispersed

  mount shavano camping

  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. despite this, we found a campsite that had a little waterfall and fast flowing creek next to it. it was the perfect little spot. got cold at night but it was to be expected. access to a lot of hiking and if you continue driving up the rocky road, you’ll get to billings lake which was gorgeous.

• 

  W D.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 27, 2024

  Wild Cherry Creek Trailhead

  Quiet camping and stars

  Several good spots with fire pits right near the trailhead. A few bugs in late August but nothing terrible. Very quiet except for the sound of the rushing creek. Verizon cell service was between 1 and 3 bars LTE depending on your line of sight to the tower. Road in is rougher towards the end but definitely doable in any SUV

• m

  michelle H.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 26, 2024

  Hayden Creek Roadside Camp

  great spot!

  This is a terrific find! level, shaded, right by nice size creek. perfect for exploring and quiet. we were in tent but saw several largeRV. some traffic but never heard another person. were a few spots right next to us but we were the only ones there . several a long road though nicely spaced out. small gas station close for gas and ice if needed otherwise about 45 min for supplies. ark river couple miles great spot to enjoy also rafting close etc.stayed couple extra days we just enjoyed the quiet. was also very clean and maintained. will definitely be back!

• 

  Will H.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 25, 2024

  Browns Creek (South) Dispersed Camping

  Great Dog camping trip

  Gorgeous place lots of trails no bugs .nice Creek

• 

  Amy L.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 25, 2024

  Lake Deweese state wildlife area

  Fine for a night

  The directions from this app didn’t exactly take me to the campsites. The campsites are along Lake Deweese Rd at the NE end of the reservoir. There are several sites all in very close proximity. There is virtually no privacy from neighbors but it worked from me for a night. It looked like some campers may be permanently occupying the sites.

• 

  Lidia B.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 24, 2024

  North Round Mountain

  Nice place to sleep under the stars

  We got there late at night and it was plenty of space. Unpaved road but no problem to get there with a campervan. Really close to the hwy but not noisy at all. Good option to spend the night.

• 

  Carla B.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 21, 2024

  clyde dispersed camping

  Amazing place

  First time dispersed camping and it was amazing. Beautiful. The warms days and cold nights were incredible.

• A

  Andrew S.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 18, 2024

  Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site

  Cows?

  Great site, plenty of room, but there were so many open-range cows wandering around. Really didn’t mind during the day, until they started loudly mooing and screaming during the night. All the reviews here say it was quiet at night, so this must be a new development or we just got unlucky with timing. Never experienced anything like it. Put a damper on what was otherwise a great area for camping

• 

  David H.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 16, 2024

  Route 31 Camp

  David Hathaway

  I just enjoyed a 6 day camping trip at this dispersed camping area. Yes it had one-two short showers each day which cooled things down. Even with the Saturday Night Rave until 2 am it was a great time. Only the fire ring is provided. Pack it in and Pack it out. Two towns close by should you run out of something. Very little bugs.

• 

  Xavier P.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 14, 2024

  North Round Mountain

  ATVs, Dust, noise and a lot of drinking

  I wanted to stay here based on past reviews, but the place was full of ATVs.  It was loud, and there were many campsites where people were partying. 

  This was in late June, so maybe it's different at other times.

• 

  Erika L.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 14, 2024

  Dispersed Sand Area 1

  Door and peaceful

  Loved hearing the creek roaring in the background and feeling the sun on my skin surrounded by cactus - an I in Texas!?

• 

  Brian C.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 13, 2024

  Buena Vista Overlook

  1st timer

  This was my first go at dispersed camping in my new travel trailer.  Google Maps took me to the right location off of 285 and the dirt roads were manageable. I would recommend 4x4 or AWD vehicles but they're nothing too crazy.  Lots of good and large camping spots and I'd recommend a location on the left side of the road.  

  Sites didn't seem to be makred, and I stopped a bit short of what the coordinates that are listed.

• M

  Mark P.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 30, 2024

  Crestone Needle Trail

  I stayed for days. Really liked the location.

  There are more than one listing for places to camp along FS 949. I stayed on a pad that was build along with the road. Loved the views, The area is very interesting. Crestone is a tiny town with just about anything you might want within a walk from where I parked. Plenty of camping spots all the way up to the end of the road where there is a fairly busy trailhead.

• C

  Colyer D.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 30, 2024

  Phantom Canyon

  Beautiful, but Far from Pristine.

  Absolutely beautiful area! We pulled in on a Friday evening with thunderstorms all around. There were plenty of sites available when we showed up, but they were all full by Saturday morning. We weren’t able to get one of the spots near the creek, but had our own hidden ravine tucked away on the left side of the road. I believe it was the 3rd to last pull out and the last one on the left side of the road. Stunning… but the smell from previous campers unsuccessfully trying to burn their trash in the fire rings (thankfully we brought our solo stove to cook on) and all the litter was a bit overwhelming. Broken glass, toilet paper/feces not buried, cigarette butts, and just trash everywhere. Unfortunate for the area, our spot was the cleanest one we came across. We took some walks past others near the creek that looked like they had just hosted full on frat parties.

  It was just super unfortunate and disgusting to go to such a beautiful area and have previous campers all but ruin it for us.

• n

  nicole W.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 29, 2024

  Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site

  Great views, lots of options

  We loved it! Very spread out, lots of space. Our camping spot was excellent and provided great views and seclusion. The creek on the map didn’t have any water in it though and the sun was brutal for a few hours.