Searching for the best camping near Mesa, CO? There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Colorado camping has to offer. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Mesa and user-submitted reviews.
"If you have ATVs, dirt bikes, horses, etc. this is a great place for you. It’s just 4 miles off of I-70 but still secluded."
"Nothing extreme or crazy with this site, you get privacy, open space and 360 views of the surrounding scenery and free range cows. Road relatively easy to pass through"
"Our site was hidden by trees off a short dirt drive which wasn’t too bad."
"We spent two weeks near vela resevoir. No fish but lots of mushrooms. The first trees are inoxicating. We are disappointed in the virtual take over by atvs."
"To start, we camped with a teardrop trailer, but once you pass the White River National Forest sign and parking lot for the babbish trail head, it’s not easy to turn around unless you find a campsite."
"My first winter camping trip in Colorado."
$5 - $10 / night
"Mud springs is a small campground tucked away on top of a national monument."
"There are toilets and a water faucet near our site. Rained on us a bit the first day so the name definitely fits! 4x4 would help get to the sites! Especially on muddy days!"
"Pretty spot with stream water right behind the sites. You have to drive over a stream when you come in but it was easily crossed when we visited."
"Arrived on foot trail via a Little Dominguez Canyon going to Big Dominguez Canyon. Half of Campground is on one side of the river need four-wheel-drive to cross the river."
"Entrance is via 139 just before the 8 mile marker, you have to drive over a cattle grate and road is gravel."
"Near town and close to i70.
Note: there are several coyotes in the area. Be sure to keep an eye on your pets."
$35 - $725 / night
"It is quiet and peaceful next to the roaring of the river. Perfectly situated between Paonia (Big B’s cider) and Kebler pass leading to Crested Butte."
"The tent spots were in a different area on the other side of the property a little away from the busier parts."
$10 - $20 / night
"This area is called Fluffle Campground, and the center is a large Group Are with Equestrian corral also. There are a total of 25 sites but 9 of them are in the so called group area complex."
GuideEntrance is via 139 just before the 8 mile marker, you have to drive over a cattle grate and road is gravel. We were in a 28ft RV and the first 3 pullouts were very accessible, last one (furthest from the 139) was a little sketchy to reach at 10pm - would recommend for a smaller rv / 4x4 as there were a couple of large pot holes. We relied on Google maps satellite view to guide parking / finding pullouts at night.
No facilities I could see but there where 5rvs & caravans parked overnight. Pretty view over distance mountains & mesas at sunrise.
One pile of illegally dumped rubbish present else fairly clean/pristine.
LegendThis area is called Fluffle Campground, and the center is a large Group Are with Equestrian corral also. There are a total of 25 sites but 9 of them are in the so called group area complex. These sites are large and roomy and good for RVs and TTs. However they are close to I70 and some will have freeway noise depending on the site. One toilet is at the group areA. No dumpsters, no water, no RV dump. Cell signal is very strong. Sites all are reserved and paid for online. No FCFS but sort of a hybrid if FCFS and online pay for sites as most are open during the week. Likely alot of OHVs on weekends. Sites are $20/$10 senior with an $8 reservation online fee. 7 day camping limit
GuideIf you have ATVs, dirt bikes, horses, etc. this is a great place for you. It’s just 4 miles off of I-70 but still secluded. It is a designated OHV area so no worries about people stopping you from ripping around and exploring.
That said - I’m a quiet camper and prefer to avoid OHV areas calling them Obnoxiously High-noise Vehicle areas. I’m kidding, obviously. Seriously, everyone enjoys the outdoors in their own way and I don’t begrudge anyone their enjoyment. I took the chance and it was very quiet while I was there. Only one couple other than me that I’m aware of.
The weather was mild in mid-April during my stay - got to about 70 during the day and around 40 at night. It was windy during the day but it is a very open space and it is western Colorado. When the wind died down, the mosquitoes came out and they were persistent. I hiked around and they weren’t just at my campsite. There is a water treatment facility in the area and just down from the main camping is a treatment pond so I’m guessing that’s the culprit.
The road in is unpaved once you leave the small town but very easy. I base those sorts of claims off of the VW Jetta Scale - the vehicle I had for 8 years before my current vehicle. There are a few low creeks crossings but the beds are small and both were dry when I came through. Even if they had water, I still would have crossed if I were still in my Jetta. The roads were washboarded so don’t bring the nice china.
The pull offs are plentiful and large. Most could hold a few trailers or several vehicles and some have fire rings. I did not have a fire because the fire danger was too high (ALWAYS CHECK BEFORE HAVING A FIRE). The road is a loop so just follow it around until you find the spot you want.
The space is wide open and surrounded by 360 views of mountains. Sunset and Sunrise were great but - for you photographers - the light changes really fast so scout the compositions you want ahead of time.
No wildlife that I was aware of aside from birds and our mosquito friends. I didn’t hear coyotes, I didn’t even see deer tracks. Just horse and tire tracks.
Oh, on the way in there was a sign that said “Private Property, No Trespassing” and it looked like it was for the road going in; however, the other signs revealed that it was for the area around the water treatment plant. There isn’t a lot of signage, just one saying it’s an OHV area and one saying it’s a Limited Use area. Other signs are just to protect the sensitive areas.
GuideNot an actual site. Pin took me to a feild with horse/cows (pics attached for cuteness). The actual site is in the campground on Google Maps, but IT ISNT ALLOWED!!!
VERY CLEARLY SIGNED CAMPING IN CAMPGROUND SITES ONLY!!!
There is a small fire ring by the trailhead, as description says, but the signs on the road are VERY clear. Also lots of rangers patrolling, so don't risk it!!
So, unless you wanna pay a RIDICULOUS fee for a night, not worth it at all. Would've given it one mark, but figured someone later might find a touch of value.
ScoutWe towed a 35 FT 5th wheel heading west on 105 until we discovered the perfect campsite by turning south at the intersection with 108. The road was very rough but doable by moving along very slowly.
Our site was hidden by trees off a short dirt drive which wasn’t too bad. There was plenty of space for us to turn around, and a fire pit had been constructed of large rocks (with a resident chipmunk hanging out among them).
We loved being surrounded by tall trees on one side and having a long distance view across the meadow on the other side, watching storm clouds approaching every day. We were far enough from the road that we barely heard any traffic passing. However, the sound of cattle lowing was frequent, and there was evidence of their presence all over the ground! One bull approached and stood there bellowing at the camper before finally moving along, and another morning we looked outside to see several cows munching on the remains of our campfire. Apparently they like to eat ashes and charcoal for the minerals because it happened twice!
We camped there 6 nights and hated to leave. Our only reservations were driving on the long bumpy roads and cattle manure being everywhere. Otherwise, it was the best boondocking place we’ve stayed because of the scenery and remoteness. It was very quiet except for the cattle lowing.
We rode our bikes down 108 one day and discovered that it was way too rough to drive with our dually pickup. Another day we rode all the way down 105 and then back on 100 which is Land’s End Road. There are lots more dispersed campsites further down 105, but many have huge potholes turning into them. Some are located next to reservoirs and have lovely views, but we were happy with our site because we didn’t have to drive that far to reach it. If you had a smaller rig, it would be worth trying those places.
LegendMud springs is a small campground tucked away on top of a national monument. To enter the monument, there is a fee, but if you are going to mud springs you can tell them that and not pay the park entrance fee. It's up on glade park but kind of off the beat and path. The road was wet from recent rain and a small stream flowed down the washboard surface. The park itself is small but nice. Quiet. A bit muddy when it rains. We saw deer in the morning. We had a nice tent pad and firerings. Room for hammocks. It's a good place with pit toilets. But it's quiet. We did have a couple things walk through our site, we weren't sure what they were but it put our dog on high alert. One had a bell so that was strange. The other we aren't sure of but our dog watched as whatever it was walked past the tent. There weren't many people there so it probably wasn't another camper but some sort of critter. There is also a fresh spring that you can collect water from I think. We looked at it but didn't opt to collect any water. Lots of trees though which is nice. It seems to rain in July there, although they go through severe droughts and then all of a sudden, rain for two days. But both times we've gone in July, it has rained.
TravelerPretty spot with stream water right behind the sites. You have to drive over a stream when you come in but it was easily crossed when we visited. We enjoyed the trail near by and we were the only ones here while camping over night, occasionally some atv trails were used near by. Vaulted toilets as well. Absolutely no service bc it’s the middle of the woods.
ScoutWe have been coming here for years. It is quiet and peaceful next to the roaring of the river. Perfectly situated between Paonia (Big B’s cider) and Kebler pass leading to Crested Butte. Warm showers, incredible owners , useful store and all the feelings of not being in a “campground”
TravelerSpent three nights here (5/13 - 5/16). To start, we camped with a teardrop trailer, but once you pass the White River National Forest sign and parking lot for the babbish trail head, it’s not easy to turn around unless you find a campsite. Once you pass this you’ll see the first two campsites after about 4 bends in the road, both are walking distance to the trailhead. The first is a larger open space right off the road and the second is a much more private spot. The road to access this is just beyond the first campsite, which is where we stayed (see photos). We loved this spot!
If you continue up the road you’ll eventually reach a fork, if you hang right and continue up there are 4 more dispersed sites. These would not work for trailers but are great tent spots. We had a very hard time trying to turn around.
There are no services (no bins, no toilets, no cell service) and these sites are super clean so let’s keep it that way. The aspens hadn’t bloomed quite yet but in a few weeks it’ll be pretty spectacular.
Additionally the main trailhead with access to beaver creek trail is not open until June 14th so most other dispersed sites won’t be accessible until then.
Horse camping in Colorado offers a unique way to explore the stunning landscapes while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and ride the trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mesa, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mesa, CO is Pyramid Rock Camp with a 4.5-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Mesa, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Mesa, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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