Looking for the best Keenesburg dispersed camping? Find the best information on dispersed campgrounds near Keenesburg, including photos, reviews, and tips. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Keenesburg's most popular destinations.
NOTE: Campers who build any fires face fines up to $5,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment for open fire violations.
Leave No Trace must be observed, as in any outdoor space.
In any season this area is prone to very strong dry winds that can pick up a hot coal from a campfire that has lain dormant for as much as three days and ignite dry vegetation, causing horrific devastation. People from outside Colorado may not understand how tinder dry this area can be. 197 homes in this area have been destroyed by wildfires. All of these fires were started by humans.
Local residents overlook this area and if they see visible flame or smoke they will call the Boulder County sheriff. Any campers who require a campfire are recommended to disperse camp near Sugarloaf Mountain where fires are permitted.
Dispersed camping is prohibited within ¼ mile of either side of South St. Vrain Creek beginning at the Ceran St. Vrain trailhead and ending ¼ mile from the intersection of South St. Vrain Creek and National Forest System Road 252.1. MAP: https://trails.colorado.gov/trailheads/ceran-2341
The easy Ceran Saint Vrain Trail follows the South Saint Vrain Creek downstream for 1.9 miles. The trail ends at National Forest System Road 252, a rough four-wheel drive road. This road climbs 0.5 miles northwest to a four-way intersection from which it is a steep half-mile to the left up to Miller Rock. Miller Rock is a scenic high-point that offers 360-degree views.
Motorized vehicles prohibited. Dispersed camping is allowed at sites that are least 200 feet away from the trailhead, trail and creek. Campfires are permissible unless seasonal restrictions are in effect (contact district office). Fishing and hunting are allowed in accordance with regulations established by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
$1 / night
Free camping (dispersed) is allowed on most national forest lands except in highly developed areas - such as trailheads, campgrounds and picnic sites - and in some of our most visited places. Be sure to check for regulations in advance and look for signs in the area to indicate if camping is allowed.
Some areas allow camping in designated sites only.
Know Before You Go
Check the weather and road closures before heading up. Follow Leave No Trace principles. There are no facilities or trash receptacles. Pack out what you pack in. Make sure camping is allowed. Many lands within the national forest boundary are private or otherwise owned. Check that you’re on National Forest lands: maps. Don't stay too long. Camping is limited to 14 days.within any continuous 30-day period. at any location within the same 20-mile radius. see Order Plan on building a campfire? Campfire restrictions can occur any time of year. Check for fire restrictions and if you build a campfire, know how to extinguish it.
Not easily accessible by many vehicles - clearance and AWD is recommended.
Dispersed camping is also allowed on the Pawnee National Grassland, year-round. This provides an alternative to campground camping for those who want to experience the grassland the way people did in the past. No fee required. A Motor Vehicle Use Map will help you determine if you are on private or public land.
Guide
Beautiful, but really need a compact 4x4 to get into and out of parking lot and there are tent sites only. We almost didn’t make it out with our 24 ft van (checked it out but didn’t stay overnight). Very crowded on a Saturday at 4:30pm.
TravelerWe camped a very short walk from the parking lot. Amazing camp site with not many people around.
Scout
Overall a very fun spot if you have a vehicle with some ground clearance to get to the nice sites by the reservoir. My Peak Edition Atlas handled it well. Only complaint is the damn project at Gross reservoir is a 24 hour site and the lights are ridiculously bright.
Scout
We parked in the parking lot and walked into the valley. After a while we found quite a lot of options with fireplaces already there. So you should mostly find something.
It is quiet, but also a popular spot for hikers so early in the morning, some people arrived. But you can camp far enough in the valley and away from the trail. Water is available if you have a purifier or filter system.
ScoutThere is no discernible reason that the road is closed 2 miles before where this app says the site is. Internet search says it should be open til middle of November unless there is some weather or other issue. Lovely weather, locked gate.
Guide
You really want a 4x4 in this area to get to good spots. It’s crowded and can be sketchy in my experience as a fire fighter up there. Bike riders take offense to people shooting and vice versa. Can be loud at night and day with motorized vehicles.
ScoutPlease text 603 404 8514 if you find a phone at site 15 !
Great spacious spot with picnic table and walkable to the reservoir
TravelerDrove out to this spot off Ski Road in Allenspark. Most spots sit on a creek that gives a good ambiance. Few spots need 4x4 or really good tires, but there’s a spot for everyone. Clear skies at night, but tree cover if you prefer. Quick drive to Estes Park. No Verizon cell service.
ScoutRolled in around 5 on a Friday and got a great little spot. Clean campsites and there were a number open Saturday morning when we drove to the end of the trail. Drove around the reservoir to kayak from the north end Saturday morning.
TravelerWas desperate to find "something" after driving 11 hours that day, and normal paid camp grounds were full. HOWEVER I was pulling a smaller trailer, and that turned out to be a real issue. The hill getting to the site should not be a problem for any 2wd car/truck, but with the extra weight of the trailer it was definitely sketchy getting there, then once we got to the "parking lot" there was no place to turn around a trailer. I ended up backing up at least 1/8 of a mile to find a safe space to turn around.... so don't try to bring a trailer here, not even a teardrop camper.
We found a level place to park for the night at this location, and pulled out 1st thing in the morning.
Not trying to say there is anything wrong with the spot, but stay away with campers/trailers, and use it for tents only.
ScoutDecent drive and not hard to find. This is not meant for travel trailers, pop ups, or anything except texts. Even then, while the 1 area was tiny, the second was large and open for the ground was all dust- ash. Super filthy and made a mess of everything. Also, that road is wicked and jagged. 4x4 and smaller trucks only. Not a great place in my opinion.
ScoutClosed summer of 2024 due to restoration. Google maps took me the back route to this which has road closures. Went through the main entrance to find more closures.
ScoutHonestly, beautiful day for camping. Got really windy at night. Definitely need a high clearance vehicle. I saw a low clearance vehicle at site 6 & no idea how they got there.. they had to have gotten scraped up. Going up past site 6 is a steep hill where 4x4 is highly recommended. We ended up turning around there but probably could have made it if I picked a good line. Campsites looked clean and maintained. Will be back to try getting past campsite 6 again :)
Traveler
You definitely need to know where you’re going with this one, as the location on here isn’t really even close. The trail getting in/out is fairly rough and uneven, so you’ll need something with some sort of clearance. The sites themselves were pretty fantastic, clean, and accessible. There are more rewarding and harder to reach spots the farther you go, but plenty are easily available. You’ll find lots of fine folks walking, riding quads/bikes, etc. It’s not often you find a spot like this that isn’t crowded out.
TravelerGood removed campsites. Once past site 6 I highly recommend suv or truck. Getting up to site 6 is possible in a sedan if you’re careful. I stopped at site 8 without too much trouble in my 06 Honda crv with AWD just need go take it slow and pick a good line. With your tires. Only complaint was we’re right over one of the departure routes of Denver international so you I’ll hear them on their initial climb out. If you like planes no issue and it is not super loud but it’s there. Got down to the 30’s overnight. No snow yet but in the forecast.
GuideGreat camping about 31 dispersed spots most with tables and a fire ring decent trout fishing a great kayaking feels remote without being so remote. Would recommend higher clearance and confident driving skills to get further towards the peninsula would not bring camper past site 10 gets a bit more sketchy driving. No Verizon service very spotty T-Mobile rangers are pretty chill.
ScoutLoved the camp area, so close to climbing. Also loved the people in the area! We met so many amazing and kind people! It is gorgeous, and the road is really good up to the parking lot. Our ford focus hatchback managed just fine. That being said, there is a lady who regularly loses control of her off leash dog and makes no attempt to catch him. I would suggest being cautious with your pets around here.
GuideKeep in mind that you won’t be getting any mountain views here but still a very nice place. Also, during daytime there’s a lot of people passing with their motorcycles and buggies, which was a little bit noisy. 
TravelerThere is a car park just south of the location marker on the dyrt, there are some campsites very close to this, one of which we used. They are still fairly private but the best are likely deeper down into the canyon. We were able to access this in a Toyota Corolla although there was a fairly deep "ditch" to cross when entering the car park.
ScoutThis camping spot is about a 30 minute drive from Central Boulder. I’m seeing a lot of reviews about the spot saying its not an actual campsite, but I had no trouble finding the campsites. I parked in the Dream canyon parking lot and followed the trail by the large sign near the entrance. While this spot is by some residential land, if you go down the trail enough it’s not a problem. 
ScoutDrove more than 35 - 45 mins from boulder expecting a decent dispersed camping area like normal, but don’t let this fool you!! It is all residential and private land! I honestly don’t know of any dispersed camping near the city of boulder and so far this app is deceiving. Read the reviews before you head out!
TravelerThe campsites were not accessible by car. Nice area though, nice and private. We had to turn around to find somewhere else, since we’re traveling with a van.
ScoutDuring our three-day stay, we were blown away by the serene and safe surroundings. It was like being in a dream, immersed in tranquility and peace.
ScoutAwesome scenic drive, great spacious spot. But only for one party. If someone else is there, you're outta luck. Fire road is gated off so no other options.
ScoutMust pack in to camp sites from parking area. Good trails and lots of hiking. Great views.
GuideThis place was slightly hard to find, but obtaining a MVUM for the region made it a lot easier. The sites are very spread out and there weren’t many people there, despite it being a weekend in June when I visited. No cell service at my site, just sporadic on the road in. Would definitely stay here again
GuideDrove to this site late at night needing a place to sleep in our car, and it was almost perfect. As we were driving up the mountain, the conditions changed rapidly and we were hit with a snow storm. If camping here, be sure to check the conditions in the mountains. Beautiful spot though! Very private.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Keenesburg, Colorado, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the hustle and bustle. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, this area is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in the great outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Keenesburg, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Keenesburg, CO is Dream Canyon Campsites - Dispersed Camping with a 3.8-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Keenesburg, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 dispersed camping locations near Keenesburg, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
