Best Dispersed Camping near Lyons, CO
Several free dispersed camping options exist within driving distance of Lyons, Colorado, mostly concentrated along forest roads in the surrounding mountains. Allenspark Dispersed Camping, located in Roosevelt National Forest, offers multiple primitive sites with established fire rings but no amenities such as water, toilets, or trash service. The access roads to most sites require high-clearance vehicles, with several reviewers noting 4WD as essential. According to one visitor, "You really want a 4x4 in this area to get to good spots."
Ceran St. Vrain Trail provides a different dispersed camping experience, requiring campers to park in a lot and walk to streamside campsites. As a camper wrote, "We crossed the creek by foot and set up right under what we later learned was a mountain lion's apartment." Fire restrictions apply seasonally throughout the region, with many areas prohibiting campfires during dry periods. Most dispersed sites follow the standard 14-day camping limit, though enforcement varies. Sites along creeks tend to be most popular, filling quickly on summer weekends, while more remote options like Hell Canyon Dispersed remain available but require navigating extremely rough roads.
