Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Leadville, CO has a lot to offer. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Colorado camping adventure.
"Stunningly beautiful dispersed camping at its best. To find the most precious spot you need to get to Forest service Road 130 S as in South."
"You pull off the highway onto some dirt road and drive about 3 miles past the private land onto numerous beautiful drive up campsites."
"I travelled to Twin Lakes the weekend after Memorial Day weekend to explore more of Colorado. The drive from Denver was beautiful and the Twin Lakes topped it all."
"There are currently fire bans so just be aware. Nearby you can drive through Independent Pass to Aspen, then take the gondola to the top for Bluegrass music from 1:00 PM, a great day trip!"
"I live around the corner from Twin Lakes so it's literally my backyard getaway.. Most recently spent the 4th of July out here. It's all BLM camping equiped with fire pits."
"came friday evening and it was very hard ti find a spot. so many people. eventually found one and it’s beautiful. the lakes are gorgeous. if you don’t have an RV using the bathroom is tough since you are"
"Road is fine for high clearance. But all of us with 4wD ask that you move over for us."
"I can see this area being busy all year around, definitely on 4th of july weekend. Wish I could’ve found an open site to spend a night!"
"Great spot to camp, saw hikers off in the distance a few times but overall all to myself. This site definitely requires high clearance! There were quite a few campsites nearby which were taken."
"If you go up 24 toward the South Elbert trailhead, you’ll find lots of dispersed camping options for everything from RVs to tent camping."
"Would recommend arriving during the day as it’s hard to see spots/determine what is dispersed vs campground when it is dark as a first-time visitor."
"For free at the top of the hill high above the twin lakes and even above the Mt. Elbert Forebay is national forest dispersed camping."
"We pulled in around 4pm on a Sunday. We went to the 3rd dirt road on the left to find a spot available."
"Road is a bit bumpy but nothing you’d need 4wd or clearance for."
"We later walked down the road toward Turqouise Lake and realized there were more spots, the furthest having the best mountain views."
"What if you go past turquoise lake and you turn left by the big long white picket fence not sure of the name of the road followed around the corner take a right on half Moon Creek road follow that straight"
"Right next to a running stream from turquoise lake and about a 10-15 minute drive from where we camped. We did have a little issue trying to find a place to dump our trash, but they have a dump site."
"Road is not perfect, but even with a low clearance vehicle, it's doable if you take it slow. Not a whole ton of foliage cover so you are kind of exposed to other campsites, but not a huge deal."
"As of 6/9/24 there are 3 spots accessible with 2wd. Up the road high clearance 4x4 is needed due to snow and washout. Pretty spot otherwise."
"Great little spot right off the highway for an evening of camping, or longer. There is a bit of foot traffic with hikers coming in but still really peaceful."
RangerKirby Gulch is a fantastic spot for anyone seeking a peaceful, off-the-grid camping experience near Grant, Colorado. Situated off Route 1038, this dispersed camping area offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and easy access to outdoor activities like hiking and wildlife watching.
The campsites are well-spaced, providing plenty of privacy, and the area is generally clean, thanks to considerate campers. Since it’s a dispersed site, there are no amenities like water or toilets, so make sure to come prepared. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for accessing some of the sites, especially after rain or snow.
What makes Kirby Gulch truly special is its tranquility. You can enjoy the sound of the wind through the trees, the crisp mountain air, and dazzling stargazing at night. It’s also a great starting point for exploring nearby trails or simply soaking in the serene environment.
If you’re comfortable with primitive camping and leave-no-trace principles, Kirby Gulch is a hidden gem worth checking out.
RangerStunningly beautiful dispersed camping at its best. To find the most precious spot you need to get to Forest service Road 130 S as in South. There is a forest service ranger station on the south side of Leadville where you can get a motor vehicle use map MVUM. But even without a map the roads are marked. 130 starts near Highway 24 on the west side across from massive lakes, near a large bank of mailboxes. You'll see a sign asking you to respect the private property owners rights. Just keep going up the hill and you will find the forest service signage indicating the public lands. Many people don't go much further. But the truly spectacular sites are a couple miles further. The roads are narrow and steep but manageable. Keep going down 130 until you reach an intersection with 130A and 130 B, A goes north and B goes south. But keep going till you reach a T intersection. 160 goes north and 130 S goes south. Go left, south till you reach a slightly challenging switch back. Just on the other side of the switchback is a wide open space with room for many rigs including good size trailers. Very quiet with very little traffic of any kind. The Leadville 100 foot race goes right by every August.
LegendStevens Gulch Road (321) is a dirt road off of I-70 west of Denver in the Arapaho & Rosevelt National Forests and the Pawnee National Grasslands. It has amazing scenery and access to gorgeous hiking trails to summit Gray’s, Torrey’s and Kelso Peaks. It is a fairly mellow SUV road with plenty of space to pass other vehicles and you will occasionally see passenger cars as well. The road leads to a large parking lot that fills up fast with car overflow parking spilling down both sides of the road. There are pit toilets and bear proof trash cans at the parking lot. The road continues past the parking lot a very short ways to some dispersed campsites by a river that have stone campfire rings. Definitely filter this water as there are uphill toilet paper gardens along the climb to summit.
Travelerright off the highway you pull onto a dirt road, path is pretty rutted but my van made it no problem. Bigger rigs would have issues. Some highway noise but to be expected so close to the road. Open space for dogs to roam while at site. Good Mountain Views! Decent place about 10 min from Leadville.
RangerWe camped here for 4 nights in August 2020. It was so peaceful. Big wide dispersed camping spaces. Plenty of nice hiking - especially Brown's Creek area. Great location with easy drive to Buena Vista & Salida & Mt. Princeton. The only drawback was, well, August dryness & no water nearby. This was our first dispersed camping experience and we realize no facilities. There is one bathroom near the Brown's Creek trailhead about 2 miles away from where we camped, but we had a camper. Also, no picnic tables at all. AND cows roam freely throughout the area - drive slowly & respect them - listen for moos & coyote howls. Great bird-watching too. We enjoyed it so much!!
RangerTravel a few miles down Brush Creek Trail. After passing Strand Hill MTB trail you will get to a split in the road. The left turn will take you up a deeply rutted 4WD road towards Teocalli Ridge MTB trail. Lots of beautiful camping on this road. But it can be tough sledding when it is wet. If you stay to the right you will get to a flat where many people will camp. You can get a smaller RV/Trailer/Sprinter here very easily. If you are intrepid - and have a good 4WD with some clearance - you can continue through the creek and up the hill where superb, quiet dispersed camping exists.
Leave no trace.
RangerBare bones but beautiful camping opportunity conveniently located near the trailhead to the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area in Colorado
Campground Review:
Needing a spot to serve as a staging area for a planned backpacking trip into the Collegiate Peak Wilderness Area of Colorado, my group discovered this gem. County roads (CR) that access national forests in Colorado often have primitive but established camping spots. Since we were going to start our backpacking trip from the North Cottonwood Trailhead, we searched online to make sure that the access road, CR 365 offered dispersed camping.
After a nice meal in nearby Buena Vista, Co, we headed out on the 7-8 mile drive to the trailhead. Now 7-8 miles on a CR isn’t always the same as a similar distance on a paved road. The first 3 miles on the drive from town center were paved and were navigated quickly and easily. The next few miles were not and driving became more of an adventure and slowed dramatically. While in the end we saw 2 WD vehicles at the trailhead, I would suggest that at a minimum you should have a high clearance FWD vehicle. Our Subaru Outback AWD served us well. The drive took us around 30 minutes.
2 miles away from the trailhead, you pass a Colorado Trail access point with parking and vault toilets. IMPORTANT: there are no toilets past this point on CR 365 and no facilities at the North Cottonwood Trailhead.
We ended up driving all the way up to the trailhead to know what to expect for the next morning when we would start the hike. We then headed back down CR 365 about a mile to some of the more attractive looking camping sites along the road. In all, I would suspect you pass 15-20 opportunities along the road. Some of them are small, single vehicle, single tent areas and others could handle multiple groups.
We ended up finding a pull off point that had a gravel road that accessed several campsites. You are encouraged to find sites that have been used in the past and most will have a fire pit. Always check with the ranger stations to see if fires are allowed in the area at the time.
Since this site had a gravel road that took you 50-100 yards off the CR, you really felt the seclusion. The CR is not heavily traveled (maybe 6 cars used it from 7pm to 6am the next morning while we were there), being off the road really made this a nice site. The sites that are accessed via side gravel roads do have road designations. The one we chose was 365B and was clearly marked with a reflective post sign.
The sites are adorned with pines and aspens. We were also near a stream that provided us beautiful sounds to fall asleep to. Spacing between sites is significant so you do feel remote and won’t hear much if anything from other campers. Our site had a rock fire ring but firewood is scarce so if you want a campfire, you will need to bring some with you. There is no running water at these sites but the stream is flowing and with a filtration system, you can easily fill up. No tables or benches are in the area.
Does a bear … in the woods? Well yes and you will need to as well. This area’s minimum suggested practice was to dig your “cat hole” at least 6 inches deep, 100 feet or more away from water, camping and trail locations. Degradable toilet paper, no wipes, was suggested.
The site was beautiful, primitive, remote, and convenient. Everything we were looking for. We experienced temperatures of 70’s during the day and mid 40’s at night. We did have the typical misty rain in the evening but it didn’t last long and the ground absorbed it well. You are at around 9500 feet above sea level so you may feel the effects of the altitude. It served as a great place for this “flatlander” to get acclimated.
Not a site for someone that needs amenities. But if you love the thought of a controlled, primitive site, this will be right up your alley!
Gear Review: Wild Zora Foods
See a quick video summary of the product HERE.
As a Dyrt Ranger gear tester, I often get opportunities to evaluate camping related products during my outdoor adventures. On this outing, I was able to pack a variety of Wild Zora snacks and meals to help fuel this physically demanding trip.
The genesis for Wild Zora began in 2011 with a family that discovered the benefits of Gluten-Free, Paleo, and Primal foods. After developing their own, sharing with friends and family, the founders decided to package and offer their creations to the public. They offer meat and veggie bars, paleo meals to go, soups and teas. All are claimed to be prepared with minimally processed, high quality ingredients. The company states that it is mindful of diet restrictions and allergies.
Testing conditions:
I tested the product over several weeks under somewhat adverse but consistent conditions. The food was used to fuel a physically demanding trip where calorie dense foods were needed. I needed to be able to consume around 4000 calories a day to be able to backpack for miles and to climb 14,000 foot Colorado peaks. Space and weight were taken into consideration as well. We would be preparing the meals at high elevation which would affect how long and effective reconstitution of the dehydrated food would take. During most of the cooking times, temperatures were between 40-60 degrees.
Things that stood out:
· Conveniently packaged. Durable with no excessive packaging.
· Shelf life was way longer than what I needed for this trip so if any was left over, it would keep for my next trip.
· The meals and flavors offered are not limited to your common camping meals offered by others. CHECK OUT SOME OF THESE FLAVORS!
· There is no shortage of flavor in the meals. Nothing bland about them.
· Ingredients are top shelf and the meals and snacks have such a short but impressive ingredient list, you know you are doing your body good.
My preferences for improvement:
· Adjustment needed in how I ate it because of the dimensions of the meal packages. Narrow and tall vs short and wide made me adjust how I consumed the meal.
Summary of experience with Wild Zora:
These meals are POPPING with flavor! Since what we like in our meals is a personal preference, some may not like the strong flavors but I loved them. I am a little adventurous with my food and the flavors in all the meals I tried were distinct and pleasing – think gourmet vs fast food.
The food is packaged with the outdoor enthusiast in mind. Easy to tuck away in my backpack without being a space or weight hog and the snacks were perfect when I went “peakbagging” with a smaller daypack. Calorie dense. I was able to easily take 4 meat/veggie bars with my on mountain climbs and averaged 120 calories a bar. The bars provided satisfying protein and fat calories that complimented my quick carb foods I packed.
Will absolutely be a part of my meals on future adventures. See a quick summary of the product HERE.
LegendCR 290 off Tarryall Rd. Campsites are all designated on 290 but there are numerous firepits on the side roads. The road to get up is very rutted. I recommend a high clearance vehicle. Definitely four wheel drive is required. I did see a Subaru forester up near the top. The sites are wide open once you get onto the plateau at the top. Easily could accommodate a big rig, but the issue would be getting it up the road. The views from the top are really nice. It opens out and you get some spectacular views of Pike National Forest. The sites are spacious with some pine tree coverage for tent campers. This would definitely be a possible back up spot if nothing on Matukat rd was available. Because they are dispersed there is no electrical hook ups or water. There’s no Creek running through the area. I imagine it would be really quiet and remote up here because the road to get in is going to deter a lot of people. We did find some spots with fire pits, but not sure you can camp there given there is no sign post reading designated campsite but they are off the main road so give it a try.
GuideThis is beautiful camping close to keystone and likewise gets crowded in the summer months. If you want a spot on a weekend, get there early. There are a few pull offs along the road suitable for most cars, but if you have a high clearance 4WD you can go on a few offshoot roads and find more spacious spots. No cell phone signal or water, and frequent fire bans in the summer.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Leadville, Colorado, where stunning landscapes and serene environments await outdoor enthusiasts. With a variety of options, you can enjoy the freedom of camping in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there free camping available near Leadville, CO?
Yes, Leadville is surrounded by free dispersed camping opportunities. Browns Creek (South) Dispersed Camping offers peaceful, wide-open spaces at no cost. Located south of Leadville, it provides easy access to hiking trails and is a convenient drive to Buena Vista and Salida. Hoosier Pass Dispersed Camping is another free option in the area. When using these free sites, remember they typically have no amenities like water, toilets, or trash service. All free camping in national forests follows a 14-day stay limit within a 30-day period. Be prepared with everything you need, including water and waste disposal solutions.
Where can I find dispersed camping areas near Leadville, Colorado?
Leadville offers excellent dispersed camping options, with Forest Road 130 being one of the most scenic areas. To find this stunningly beautiful spot, head to Forest Service Road 130 South. The Leadville Ranger Station provides Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) to help navigate the numerous forest roads. Another excellent option is North Cottonwood Trailhead Dispersed Camping, which serves as a convenient staging area for hiking into the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Most dispersed areas around Leadville require you to follow Leave No Trace principles, camp in established sites, and pack out all waste. Sites typically have fire rings but no amenities.
Can I find dispersed camping near Turquoise Lake or Twin Lakes by Leadville?
Yes, both Turquoise Lake and Twin Lakes offer dispersed camping options. Twin Lakes Dispersed Camping - Site 1 West provides free camping with drive-in access near the scenic Twin Lakes. These sites give you proximity to the water while still allowing the freedom of dispersed camping. Near Turquoise Lake, Route 31 Camp offers dispersed options on the surrounding forest roads. Keep in mind that the areas closest to these popular lakes fill up quickly during summer weekends and holidays. Arrive mid-week or early in the day for the best chance at securing a spot. All dispersed sites require self-containment with no services available.
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