Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Lyons, CO has a lot to offer. Lyons is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Lyons, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
"4x4 drive is a requirement. Good Verizon signal. Narrow road, however not busy at all. Stayed here for 4 days, no issue. The Google Maps directions is slightly wrong."
"Turn just before or after Yogi Bear Campground and go up the decently maintained dirt road. (You will pass RVs at the beginning of the road as you head up)."
"Fire ban was in effect when we went, but lots of fire circles available otherwise. Bring bug spray, the flies are bold."
"Plenty of sites if you have a high clearance vehicle and can make it up ski road. All of the sites are awesome and have room for you to move around."
"We were right up on the lake but turns out it's private property and you cannot even go up to the water."
"You are pinned up against private property around the lake, the camp sites are in the dirt area when you get to the lake down to the left."
"So the Gordon Gulch dispersed camping area has around 15 numbered sites that are ok... but if you keep driving further down 233.1 you will find many more unnumbered campsites."
"Like the title suggests, this campsite is typical for a free forest service campground. Prior campers have left some trash, bullet casings and obviously neglected to dig cat holes."
"Was 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."
"Went on a Tuesday afternoon and there was foot traffic around our spot from people headed on hikes."
"Awesome 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."
"Keep driving down Ski road until you find a fork in the road, and from there onwards are the campsites. Good whitenoise from the creek"
"My GPS from the coordinates just took me to the nearest town of Ward, CO.
This is how I got there coming from the North:
Take RT72 South to County Road 100."
"Many spots along the CR once you find it, came in around 4pm on a Friday and there were still plenty of spots but started filling up fast. By 7pm, people were turning around as no spots were left."
$1 / night
"My son and I joined a friend from Longmont and headed to this trail to camp for a couple days."
"We went here with our 2 dogs for a quick overnighter-only about 45 minutes outside of Boulder. It was a Sunday morning and the lot was almost full when we got there around 9am."
"Oe of my family's fav places, beautiful views, camping spots super far away from one another so awesome privacy, and completely free. Spots fill up quick on weekends, you can stay 14 days."
"The roads around the whole campground were a little rough but i did okay in my Ford Escape. All of the sites seems to be really spread out.
There were several people in the campground."
"No water source that I know of."
"We arrived at around 10pm on a Saturday night and were able to find a spot way back, but it did require AWD. The site was small, but secluded."
ScoutDon’t believe the navigation apps and go through lyons, it’s private property ; furthermore if you like I did make the drive though Estes park, have 4WD high clearance and a small vehicle… maybe you’ll make it to this brutally elusive last free camping spot off the main mountain roads
GuideWe drove our BRAND NEW 4x4 Revel and were nervous the entire trip up and back. We are a high profile vehicle, luckily we had plenty of clearance but it was very nerve wracking both up and back. It is about 7 miles of dirt road, and 4 miles of very challenging (for me) driving.
Be sure to follow the sign LEFT to Chinns Lake. When you arrive, there are several dispersed campsites around the lake. All the spots have beautiful views and tons of space between other campers. There are firepits (even though CO is on a fire ban) that will be nice for future visits. We visited on Sept 17-19, 2020, so the evenings are cold and the days short. Additionally, the water level was very low.
The area is nice for hiking and exploring, and especially to get away from it all. No cell phone service.
As the weekend approached, there were several ATV's heading up for the day. While we were there, only 3 other groups camping on the weekend.
You will be at 11,000 feet looking at the Continental Divide! THIS is Colorado camping! Enjoy and please remember to leave no trace!
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.
RangerSo the Gordon Gulch dispersed camping area has around 15 numbered sites that are ok... but if you keep driving further down 233.1 you will find many more unnumbered campsites. I am reviewing one of these unnumbered campsites in particular, because this one had the best view. Before you read too far, I can't guarantee you will be able to reach this campsite without a 4X4 high clearance vehicle. We got to the site with a Jeep Wrangler and Toyota Tacoma TRD so we had no problems... I can't definitely say a Subaru would make it though. In the pictures I have included a map of the Gordon Gulch trail system. Entering through the Gordon Gulch entrance and taking 226.1 to 233.1 is the hardest route - there is one very steep and washed out spot. Entering via 120J/Switzerland Trail from the Peak to Peak Hwy and then turning right onto 233.1 is the easier option. On that map I have marked the general area of the campsite with a pink dot and here are the coordinates.
DMS: 40°01'18.5"N 105°28'37.6"W
DD: 40.021814, -105.477103 - if you type this into Google Maps it will locate it
As for the actual campsite, it is a great option for spring/fall camping in Colorado. The elevation is about 8,800 ft and it is on the south side of a hill so it gets a lot of sunlight and is protected from northern winds. In terms of privacy, there are no other campsites that can be seen from this one. However, Gordon Gulch is a popular off-roading area so dirt bikes and Jeeps pass by frequently. This campsite is set up high above and away from the road though, so it is really not that bad. Another thing to point out is that this is a popular area for shooting as well, so if you absolutely hate guns it may not be the place for you. Also, as stated before, this is a dispersed campsite the only thing it has is a fire ring. Pack it in, pack it out!
ScoutMy son and I joined a friend from Longmont and headed to this trail to camp for a couple days. Very accessible road, lots of spots to choose from (we showed up on Thursday, it did get a little busier on Friday and Saturday). Our spot was set back from the trail, right next to the stream. Just an amazing view, ample room for lots of tents, nice fire rings and huge logs around them for sitting. Fire wood abounds but it was all a little wet still from the rains they've been getting. Some folks didn't seem to be aware of the "leave no trace" rule when it comes to going to the bathroom, which was a little gross. Overall, great experience, pretty trail views, caught lots of trout (none big enough to keep). A great getaway.
GuideWent up Rollins pass road (you can access it from the Lakota Trail neighborhood or down the road a bit on 80). The first gate was open but not the second or third to get to the top where there are def more spots and fire rings. You can only camp places where there are dots on the side of the road on the official county map. Check the Rollins pass website it’s very informative and a sacred land so leave no trace. We got one of the like 3-4 spots we saw with a fire ring that wasn’t taken yet. (No fire ban 6/14/25 I check don’t worry :).. Some back trails are very hairy, pretty busy with motor vehicles but a lot of the new electric dirt bikes which don’t make much noise, probably 10-15 ppl the entire night riding by only once. Got great weather and the main trail is pretty easy up to the second gate which is supposed to be open June 15-Sept 15 I think.
TravelerI went here the week before campgrounds opened in this area, around May 7th. I had a pop up trailer and got there around 5pm on a Friday. Most spots were already taken and the road was a bit washed out. We got stopped by a camper letting us know not to go further because of the road condition and we shared a spot for the night. I would recommend this spot if you have a 4 wheel drive car with high clearance. Later in the season when the water levels are lower it might be easier to navigate but we saw a car or two get towed out
Guide(Camped 09/18-09/20) This was a little tricky to get to but totally worth the trip. Just outside of Idaho Springs, take the exit for Co Rd 275 off of I-70. It's a scenic drive up a curvy paved road for about 15 minutes. Once you get to the "Invincible Lodge" entrance there is a dirt path off to the left. It has a sign at the entrance stating the drive up goes through about 3 miles of private property before reaching the dispersed camping area. It also says the route is for "high clearance vehicles"....and it isn't joking. The first mile isn't too bad...just mostly gravel. The next couple miles though get really rocky with some spots that have large dips and narrow paths. The route is ideal for Jeeps and offroad type vehicles, but it is still manageable in a small SUV or truck. Just have to really know what youre doing. Even in our Silverado, my brother had to drive very slowly and maneuver around large rocks sticking up otherwise we would have bottomed out. It took over an hour to get up to the camping area. There is a split in the road at one point and we continued to the left toward the Chinns Lake Reservoir.
Once finally at the top there were plenty of spots to choose from. Gorgeous views and lots of wooded area around both reservoirs. There is a nice hiking trail that goes up the mountain side between the two reservoirs as well. We got a little lost and ventured off the path to go higher on the rocks, and the view was worth it. Was a little bit of an adventure to find our way back down though.
Since it was mid-Sept it got pretty cold at night. Elevation was around 11,000 ft where we camped. We were in a fire ban as well so that didn't help. Probably got into the high 30s the one night. Beautiful view of the stars though, and plenty of small wildlife to see.
Highly recommend staying in this area!
GuideNice area to set up camp and fish on the Colorado River. There is a bear-proof dumpster and a portapotty (BYO TP) available. Not a lot of traffic along the highway at night, but there is a train that comes through which can be pretty loud. Roughly a dozen established dispersed sites are available here. Bring the bug spray, the mosquitoes are thick! There is zero T-Mobile cell signal here at all.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Lyons, Colorado, where nature enthusiasts can enjoy the great outdoors without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of camping options, this area is perfect for those seeking adventure and tranquility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping options are available in Hell Canyon near Lyons?
While Hell Canyon itself has limited documented dispersed camping, the surrounding Lyons area offers several alternatives. Rollins Pass Dispersed Camping provides accessible options with established fire rings. Access is via Rollins Pass Road, though note that some gates may be closed seasonally, limiting access to the uppermost camping areas. Another option is Hidden Wilderness Roadside Camp, which features scattered campsites along the road rather than concentrated in one area. For any dispersed camping near Lyons, including Hell Canyon, verify land ownership before setting up camp, as the area contains a mix of public and private lands. Always carry water, practice fire safety, and pack out all trash.
Is Forest Road 119 a good area for dispersed camping in Lyons?
Forest Road 119 near Lyons presents challenges for dispersed camping. Pole Hill Rd Dispersed camping area along this route requires careful navigation, as some mapping apps incorrectly route through private property. The correct approach is via Estes Park rather than through Lyons. The road demands 4WD vehicles with high clearance, and smaller vehicles fare better on the rugged terrain. This is one of the few remaining free camping areas off main mountain roads, but its accessibility limitations make it suitable only for properly equipped vehicles and experienced off-road drivers. Always respect private property boundaries and check with the local ranger district for current conditions before attempting to access this area.
Where are the best dispersed camping sites near Lyons, CO?
Several excellent dispersed camping areas surround Lyons, CO. Ceran St. Vrain Trail Dispersed Camping offers easily accessible spots with stream-side camping and plenty of site options. The road is suitable for most vehicles, though weekends get busier. Another popular option is Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area, located northwest of Boulder. Gordon Gulch features both numbered sites and additional unnumbered sites further down Forest Road 233.1, some offering spectacular views. For both areas, arrive early on weekends to secure a spot, bring your own water, and practice Leave No Trace principles. These free sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis and typically have limited or no facilities.
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