Best Tent Camping near Lazear, CO
Tent campsites surrounding Lazear, Colorado range from dispersed sites in Black Canyon to established tent areas in the Curecanti National Recreation Area. Black Canyon offers solitude-seekers primitive tent camping with sites that provide easy access to the North Rim of Black Canyon National Park, while Carson Lake Recreation Area features established tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings. The area's public lands provide various tent-focused camping opportunities within an hour's drive of Lazear, particularly for those seeking more remote experiences.
Primitive tent sites in this region typically lack amenities like drinking water, requiring campers to pack in all supplies. Most dispersed tent areas have fire rings but no picnic tables or toilets, though Carson Lake Recreation Area offers vault toilets and designated tent pads. Access varies significantly between locations, with some sites requiring only standard vehicles while others demand high-clearance 4WD. According to one visitor, "The road access is steep from the mesa above. No water, no dumpsters, no cell signal." Many tent-specific locations have seasonal closures, with Black Canyon sites closed from December through mid-July.
Tent campers at higher elevations around Lazear enjoy cooler temperatures even in summer months, making these locations popular escape destinations. The walk-in tent sites at Hermits Rest offer exceptional seclusion, with a recent review noting that "Since you have to hike 3 miles, descending 1800 feet into the canyon, there weren't many people at the campsite." Experienced tent campers often prefer the Gunnison River Overlook area for its panoramic vistas, though these sites provide minimal shade and require campers to bring adequate water supplies. Primitive tent camping areas near Lazear generally remain less crowded than formal campgrounds, offering greater flexibility for those with tents and backpacking gear who don't require hookups or vehicle access directly to their sites.
