Best Dispersed Camping near Lazear, CO

Several dispersed camping areas exist around Lazear, Colorado, primarily on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Black Canyon Dispersed Camping provides free primitive sites near the entrance to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Additional options include Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area with riverside camping, Escalante Canyon Road with multiple pull-off spots, and Grand Mesa areas with forest service road access. These public lands allow boondocking in designated dispersed areas without formal campground amenities.

Access roads throughout the region vary significantly in quality and difficulty. Many sites require high-clearance vehicles, with some areas like Black Canyon and Grand Mesa best approached with 4WD, especially in wet conditions. Most dispersed sites have established fire rings but no services - no drinking water, no toilets, and no trash disposal. Campers must pack out all waste. A 14-day camping limit applies to most BLM and Forest Service lands in the area. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, requiring visitors to check current regulations before travel.

The landscape provides diverse camping experiences from desert terrain to mountain forest settings. Black Canyon Dispersed Camping offers proximity to the national park while providing more seclusion than developed campgrounds. Sites along Escalante Canyon Road feature desert vistas and flat camping areas. Cottonwood Lakes and Grand Mesa sites provide higher elevation options with forest cover. "The dirt road is rough, so you'll want 4WD and good clearance or it'll be a bad time," noted one camper about Black Canyon access. Another visitor at Gunnison Gorge commented, "Pretty spot right along the river, bit of a bumpy road to get here but nothing requiring 4WD when dry."

Best Dispersed Sites Near Lazear, Colorado (51)

    1. Black Canyon Dispersed Camping

    57 Reviews
    Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO
    17 miles
    Website

    "This was my first time using Dyrt and accessing BLM/public land. The campgrounds at Black Canyon OTG were packed and hotels in the area were outrageously priced (2-star hotel for $200)."

    "Nestled right on the access road to Black Canyon of The Gunnison NP, camps did not require a ton of dirt driving to access."

    2. Dispersed River Site - Gunnison Gorge National Conservation

    5 Reviews
    Lazear, CO
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 240-5300

    "Pretty spot right along the river, bit of a bumpy road to get here but nothing requiring 4WD (when dry at least) or high clearance, I bet even a sedan could make it here."

    "I found a turn off just before the coordinates and stayed there. Large space with lots of room for cars at this site. Right along the river, absolutely beautiful."

    3. Black Canyon

    2 Reviews
    Crawford, CO
    12 miles

    "Easy to find BLM land with decent roads and lots of spots. I stayed here 3 days and never saw or heard another person. It’s only 5 miles from the North Rim of Black Canyon National Park."

    "this site was easy to find and not too far 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"

    4. Twin Lake Dispersed Area - Grand Valley Rd

    9 Reviews
    Cedaredge, CO
    20 miles
    Website

    "There were some cattle that walked through as I was setting up but otherwise very chill. All sites had areas for parking and fire rings."

    "You can camp at a designated campground right on the lake, or you drive up 24 and find a lot of dispersed camping available - all the way up to the little lakes (great for fishing too)."

    5. Escalante Canyon Road Dispersed (650 Rd)

    13 Reviews
    Delta, CO
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 244-3000

    "Location was right off the road but once you drive about 5 minutes down the road you cannot hear any traffic. No other campers. Road was packed gravel almost like highway."

    "Primitive camping but close to the main road, so access is easy. No shade, water, or amenities."

    6. Overland Reservoir (Dispersed)-Paonia RD

    4 Reviews
    Somerset, CO
    23 miles
    Website

    "My husband and I arrived around 3:30pm on a Tuesday. Camp sites directly on the banks are few, but we managed to score what I thought was the prettiest spot."

    "We saw lots of deer & some elk on the drive up."

    7. Cotton Wood Lakes #1-4

    1 Review
    Cedaredge, CO
    18 miles

    "This was a great spot, it was hidden but there were a ton of people, they recently redid the back roads to get here and it was extremely busy (we had a rig pull up right next us at 1 am because there werent"

    8. Grand Mesa Colorado FSR 100

    1 Review
    Mesa Lakes, CO
    23 miles

    "Go in 1/4 mile and turn Right down dirt path to large camping site. There is nobody for 1/2 mile or more around you."

    9. Grand Mesa FS 105 Dispersed Camping

    3 Reviews
    Mesa Lakes, CO
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 874-6600

    "Our site was hidden by trees off a short dirt drive which wasn’t too bad."

    "Im in a class B van with low clearance and had no issues getting in & out. I'll be back there again!"

    10. Fish Hawk Tailhead Dispersed

    1 Review
    Mesa Lakes, CO
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 874-6600
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Showing results 1-10 of 51 campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Lazear, CO

272 Reviews of 51 Lazear Campgrounds



Guide to Lazear

Dispersed camping near Lazear, Colorado offers primitive sites on public lands across varied elevations from 5,000 to 10,700 feet. The region experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F, while spring and fall provide more moderate conditions. Most areas have no cell service, though spots near Gunnison Gorge maintain Verizon coverage strong enough for data streaming.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Cotton Wood Lakes #1-4, campers can access multiple lakes with good fishing. "It is really pretty and close to Grand Junction. The misquote r pretty bad also, tons of spots, if there aren't a ton of people. Lots of lakes though and great fishing!" reports Aaliyah B.

Hiking trail access: Near Black Canyon dispersed sites, visitors can reach hiking trails within minutes. "It's only 5 miles from the North Rim of Black Canyon National Park. Crawford is about 8 miles away and has some restaurants with good home cooking," notes Kevin S., who stayed for three days without seeing another person.

Reservoir activities: The Overland Reservoir area provides water-based recreation. "We went fishing & caught a few small trout and enjoyed the breeze over the water," shares Maggie C. Another camper mentions, "Stocked reservoir with rainbow and brook trout. Smaller fish but fun fishing."

What campers like

Remote solitude: Many sites offer significant privacy from other campers. "We ended up driving all the way to the end of the road & back up to the beginning of the sites for the best views," writes Maggie C. about Dispersed River Site at Gunnison Gorge. Another visitor noted, "Large space with lots of room for cars at this site. Right along the river, absolutely beautiful."

Night sky viewing: Clear nights provide exceptional stargazing opportunities. "It's quite pretty and you can make out some of the milky way on clearer nights," reports Brooks G. about Black Canyon sites. Another camper at Overland Reservoir mentioned getting to see "the milky way" as a highlight of their experience.

Diverse terrain options: Sites range from desert settings to alpine forest. "This site is at 10,700 feet elevation. The lake is stream fed and looks like good trout fishing," explains Brian E. about Grand Mesa Colorado FSR 100. Another camper noted enjoying being "surrounded by tall trees on one side and having a long distance view across the meadow."

What you should know

Road conditions vary widely: Access to many sites requires careful vehicle selection. "The dirt road is very rutted if you continue straight and I wouldn't gamble it in a low vehicle or in rains!" warns Mackenzie S. about Escalante Canyon Road Dispersed. Another camper noted, "The road to the camp site from the I-50 road is rather long (12 miles, cca 30 min), but very easy and quite picturesque."

Seasonal closures: Some areas have restricted access during certain months. "Note: signs say no camping 12/1-7/15," reports Jaz C. about Black Canyon sites. Weather conditions can also make access impossible during wet periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Lazear, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Lazear, CO is Black Canyon Dispersed Camping with a 4.3-star rating from 57 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Lazear, CO?

TheDyrt.com has all 51 dispersed camping locations near Lazear, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.