Best Dispersed Camping near Moffat, CO

Recent Dispersed Reviews near Moffat, CO

207 Reviews of 60 Moffat Campgrounds

• 

  Katie H.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 17, 2020

  Browns Canyon Dispersed

  Lots of space, very little shade

  A nice BLM area, free dispersed camping. Some loud generators in use when we came here but so much room we could get far enough away to not mind. No activities once you're here and no facilities but hey, its beautiful desert terrain and free. Some short trees but very little shade for cars or campers. Great for hammocks though!

• 

  Isabelle K.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 20, 2021

  Road 240 - Dispersed

  A hidden paradise

  This spot is one of the best kept secrets for dispersed camping in Colorado. The road has plenty of camping spots all the way up to the lake. Most spots are wooded and offer plenty of shade. We were lucky enough to end up right along the river. If you keep driving down the road, you will end up at a stunning alpine lake basin that offers plenty of hiking. High clearance vehicle is necessary to get down this road.

• 

  Mike W.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 6, 2022

  Great Sand Dunes Dispersed

  Great Sand Dunes Dispersed

  Unsuccessful in obtaining a campsite in Great Sand Dunes NP and discovered BLM land south of the park on Hwy 150, turn east between mile marker 3 & 4 at large sign indicating its ok to camp. Road goes a couple of miles for two wheel drive and further for 4WD. Numerous opportunities.

• J

  Jason

  Legend

  

  Aug. 23, 2023

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  BLM

  Quick decision to stay on the BLM lands near High Sand Dunes. Very quiet, even with many other campers in the area.

• 

  Jason L.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 24, 2019

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  Boondocking in the sun

  This is BLM land that's free to camp on for up to 14 days every 45 days. The camp sites are just off a dirt road that leads to the trailhead for hiking to Blanca Peak. The road gets pretty rough the further up you get, but there are plenty of large camp sites on the way up the mountain, some you'd have to home to if you decide to go to Blanca Peak. It's a fairly busy place as off-road vehicles and horse back riding are popular here. Beautiful views of the San Luis Valley, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and Mt. Blanca. Definitely worth checking out of you're in the area. No shade or amenities, so bring everything you need with you and as always, leave no trace.

• 

  Jennifer S.

  Guide

  

  May. 22, 2022

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  Can't believe this is free

  Located about 15 miles south of Great Sand Dunes NP on well maintained BLM land. There are plenty of sites for every kind of camper. Loads of trails for horses, atv's, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing.

• 

  Vanessa C.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 6, 2023

  Great Sand Dunes Dispersed

  Gorgeous views & noise canceling winds

  There are three dispersed sites listed along this road with the first being flat and open, the second being slightly uphill and fairly open, and the third being higher uphill and far more private. We kept driving until we found a spot that was both uphill and private, which definitely requires a vehicle with some height to it like an SUV rather than a sedan. The road to the third and farthest site became too rocky for some cars and horses to continue on, but my AWD SUV did great.

  The camping spots in this site all have fire pits, edible prickly pear cactuses, and some shrubbery and trees for privacy. Verizon and T-Mobile service worked well. When the wind was forecasted to be 7mph with 15mph gusts, it was enough to cancel the noise from a group of campers a few spots down. It’s a generally quiet area, so with the except of that group, you could only notice other campers if they walked, biked, or drove past the spot.

  The views were phenomenal, and it was a 30 minute drive to the sand dunes. You could also check out Zapata Falls for the day with a short drive from this campsite.

  There are no amenities other than fire pits in designated spots here. There is open BLM land on either side where many RVers chose to park down the hill. You can also split away from the designated spots in the upper rocky area for extra seclusion and privacy, but considering the amount of cactus and tall grass, that may only be good for car camping.

  The temperature almost went down to freezing at night in early June, so be prepared with layers for both hot and cold desert conditions.

  In our camp spot we saw mountain blue birds, tiger beetles, circus beetles, hover flies, common flies, plateau fence lizards, snake holes, pocket mice, deer droppings, prickly pear cactus (we prepared grilled nopales), and pinyon pine trees.

• 

  Cole T.

  Guide

  

  May. 4, 2021

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  Beautiful and FREE

  We stopped in here for the night after driving across the country and easily found a spot. For reference, It was around midnight on a Thursday night when we arrived. There are no facilities as this is BLM land, however don’t let that deter you from staying here if you’re on the way to great sand dunes.

• 

  Kyle T.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 17, 2023

  Huerfano State Wildlife Area

  Removed, but not much else to do

  This is a wonderfully isolated, dispersed camping area. There are group sites and individual ones, scattered bathrooms, and a few picnic tables. Not much to do nearby, but the campsite is beautiful.

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 15, 2024

  The Dunefield — Great Sand Dunes National Park

  Wild and Untamed

  Backcountry dispersed camping in Great Sand Dunes National Park offers an unforgettable and truly unique wilderness experience. If you’re seeking solitude and raw, untamed landscapes, this is the perfect spot to pitch your tent. With no designated sites, you have the freedom to find your ideal spot beyond the busy dunes and under an expansive star-filled sky.

  The journey begins with a hike deep into the park’s rugged terrain, where you’re surrounded by towering sand dunes, alpine forests, and sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The lack of light pollution makes stargazing an absolute highlight—this is one of the best places to witness the Milky Way.

  Keep in mind, this is true backcountry camping: no facilities, no water sources, and you must pack out all waste. Permits are required, so be sure to plan ahead. The environment can be challenging, with extreme temperature swings and strong winds that shift the sand beneath your feet. Good preparation and Leave No Trace practices are a must.

  The rewards are well worth the effort. From sunrise hikes to the serene sound of nothing but wind across the dunes, this camping experience immerses you in nature’s raw beauty like few others can. It’s an adventure you’ll carry with you long after you’ve left the dunes behind.

  Highly recommend skipping the tent and sleeping under the stars!

• 

  Ben R.

  Ranger

  

  Apr. 29, 2023

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  Great spot & excellent location

  The best part about this area, aside from the views & the sunsets, is the access to the sand dunes natl park. We completely stumbled upon this area and it turned out to be one of the coolest day trips we’ve ever had. Highly highly recommend checking out the sand dunes. If you go early enough they tend to waive the entrance fee. I recommend driving up into the bushes at the camping site for more privacy, but the road is very rocky. Try and do any bathroom stuff prior to staying because digging cat holes out here is tough. It even hailed on us briefly so watch out for crazy weather! Very cool BLM land!!

• 

  phil G.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 30, 2024

  Dispersed Sand Area 1

  Beautiful views, remote feeling, near town

  There are about 10-15 dispersed camping spots along the dirt road that leads up to trailheads at the end. The spots are spread out enough to where I did not see or hear a soul while camping 2 nights. A large gathering of mountain goats hanging out along the road was a fun surprise! Gorgeous views of Crestone peak and other neighboring mountains. The only negative was the mosquitos. They are horrendous. If you can’t handle it or find a way to keep them away it could ruin someone’s ability to enjoy the beauty.

• K

  Kelly

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 13, 2024

  Hayden Creek Roadside Camp

  Dispersed camping along Hayden Creek Rd

  There are a handful of dispersed camping sites along Hayden Creek Rd, South of Cuttys and before you get the the USFS campground. These sites seems to be primarily tent camping, though we were able to get our pop-up in 1 spot. We saw 2 other larger RVs near the upper Rainbow Trail camping area. The creek is nice and the sounds was much louder then we anticipated, which was good. In June 2024 it is really flowing. It looks as though USFS has been adding boulders to restrict vehicles from driving too far off road. Lots of places to park and set up a tent though.

• 

  Allison D.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 19, 2018

  228A Dispersed Campsite

  Ranger Review: Lost Creek Campground

  Campground Review

  As a local of the nearby town of Salida, I've seen a lot of campgrounds in Chaffee County and the San Isabel National Forest, but this one stands out for its beautiful scenery and prime location to nearby towns and the Colorado Trail.

  We chose the site because it's free of charge, a good mid point between the next day's destinations, and close to where our friend would be heading out from for her week long Colorado Trail mountain sufferfest.

  After a long day of driving shuttle to pickup a good friend in Durango, we drove back from Southern Colorado to spend the night at this lovely mountain spot halfway up Monarch Pass just down the road from the CT. When we arrived at night---close to midnight---we were easily able to make our way into the solo spot, find flat areas to set up three tents, and settle in for the night. While you could probably fit two groups at this site, it's definitely best as a single site. Despite the rain clouds, we could still see a smattering of stars and enjoy a night in the trees protected from the breezes.

  In the morning, my roommate and I took our dogs for a short walk up the nearby county road and enjoyed sweeping views of the Collegiate Peaks, as well as some tracks from a curious bear that had wandered nearby during the night. Up the road there were a number of pull offs for other dispersed camping areas.

  Once back at camp, we started to dry out our camp from the night's rain and helped our friend unload her gear for her Colorado Trail mountain biking trip for the next week. As it was drizzling most of the morning, my roommate and I opted to see our friend off for her CT ride and head to the town of Salida for breakfast, which was only about 20 minutes away down Highway 50.

  Pros:

  • Private, no other people
  • In a gorgeous mountain alpine setting
  • Easy to navigate to, even at night
  • Within 30 minutes of nearby town of Salida
  • Within 30 minutes of Monarch Ski Area
  • Less than a mile from the Colorado Trail
  • Easily fit three tents and our Subaru Outback

  Cons:

  • Bear activity
• 

  Joshua W.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 20, 2022

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  Great campsite, very flat

  We and my buddies came here after being turned down from the Mosca campsite. The sites here are huge and are equipped with a fire pit. Our one main problem was that because the site was so flat, the wind could get pretty rough. Still able to build a solid fire with the help of a stone barrier. Definitely recommend for free camping

• J

  Jess C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 23, 2020

  Lake Deweese state wildlife area

  Great fishing and mountain views

  This is dispersed camping. There are pit toilets but no other services or amenities. Colorado State wild life areas (SWA) require a permit that’s ~$40 a year, or if you have a year fishing or hunting lisence you camp for free. The road around the lake is a little rough but we got out 25’ travel trailer back here no problem.

• 

  Anthony P.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 8, 2020

  South Colony Basin

  Backcountry Bliss

  What an amazing spot! To get to the campground you must first brave the road to the trailhead. If you have a 4x4 truck/SUV the road is achievable but very rough. From the upper trail head, it was about a 4 mile hike to the campground near the lower lake. If you cant make the drive, add 2.5 miles each way to that total. 

  Once to the campgrounds, you will find spots scattered all around the lakes and in the trees. Some areas before the lake have metal fire rings set up but for the most part you will find rock rings. We found a nice little spot in the trees a couple minute walk from the lake and a stream. This was perfect for getting water and doing some afternoon fishing. 

  Keep in mind these are backcountry camp spots. There are no facilities like water and bathroom and everything must be packed in and out. Each spot is fc/fs and this area can get very busy on weekends. We saw many groups up there.

  Activities are plentiful in the basin. The lakes are stocked so the fishing is great. There are also 3 14ers and plenty of rock climbing to be had. This is one of my new favorite spots.

• 

  Dave B.

  Guide

  

  Jan. 14, 2022

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  Wide open country

  Dirt road with wide views. If you like dispersed camping this is for you.

• L

  Leonard S.

  Traveler

  

  May. 14, 2024

  Wild Cherry Creek Trailhead

  Another trailhead for camping near Crestone and Great SandDunes

  This is a small trailhead that has a few spots for camping. Like nearby Cotton Creek Trailhead. A small parking area for backpackers and equestrians. Probably okay to camp for free. It is within the Rio Grand National Forest. We are in an RV. There is also a tent camper here.

• A

  Anthony

  Scout

  

  May. 16, 2022

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  Lots of space and long views outside Great Sand Dunes NP

  A lot of area for dispersed camping on the side of the mountain. Roads get progressively more technical as you ascend. Some roads marked on the map have washed out making them impassible. The sites at the bottom are pretty flat, but the ones farther up the mountain become pretty steep, 8% grades if the inclinometer in my truck is right. There is fresh water fill and a dump station at the NP - free with entry fee (or real free if you have a pass), a small store with gas priced competitively and restaurant. The nearest cell tower is in Blanca a few miles away. Verizon signal is pretty good.

• 

  Griffen J.

  Guide

  

  May. 27, 2022

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  Great Dispresed camping near the Great Sand Dune

  This dispersed camping is top notch. Nice sites with amazing views. A little windy but that’s to be expected near the dunes.

• 

  Lise F.

  Ranger

  

  Apr. 8, 2021

  Browns Creek (South) Dispersed Camping

  Space and Views!!

  We 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!!

• 

  The Wandering Shores ..

  Guide

  

  Aug. 28, 2022

  Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site

  Amazing Location, Great for all sized rigs (Video Review)

  We did a video review of the Raspberry Gulch and Browns Creek Dispersed Camping Areas. The Link is below and also uploaded to the Video Reviews here.

  https://youtu.be/1I3WzEGaJXE

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 7, 2024

  Forest Road 272 Dispersed Camping

  Spacious Mountain Views with a Few Cow Visitors

  Coordinates: 38.702830,-106.160280

  This dispersed camping area offers stunning mountain views, spacious sites perfect for large groups, and easy access to excellent hiking trails. The September weather was ideal—cool and crisp without being too cold. While the site feels fairly secluded, beware of grazing cows from local ranches that wander through; be sure to secure food and belongings you don’t want damaged. Dog owners should be mindful of cleanup, as cow and dog waste can be an issue. There are two porta-potties onsite that are cleaned weekly, but campers must pack out all their trash to maintain the area’s natural beauty. Overall, it’s a fantastic spot for those looking for a peaceful escape with plenty of room to spread out.

• B

  Bella K.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 19, 2023

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  Easy, lots of spot and close to Sand Dunes

  This is our first time dispersed camping and we like this! We were pretty nervous that we won’t find any spot, we got here at 5:30pm on 8/18 and there’s still plenty of spots left! Highly recommend.

• 

  Carolyn Z.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 5, 2021

  Medano Pass Primitive Road — Great Sand Dunes National Preserve

  Beautiful views

  I started off 69. I have a stock JK and made it through with no issues. Plenty of dispersed camping sites. I had plenty of room to park, set up my hammock, and have a fire. I would definitely recommend if you're looking for seclusion!

• 

  Lyds F.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 1, 2022

  Sacred White Shell Mountain

  Beautiful Free Camping

  Free camping only 15-20 mins away from great sand dunes national park. There were all sorts of campers utilizing this area—large rvs/buses, vans, roof top tents, tent campers. It is wide open so you can see other campers but lots of room to spread out so we still felt alone. The wind did pick up around 9pm and was absolutely crazy for a few hours. The best part is gorgeous views of Blanca peak and the STARS! Some of the most incredible I’ve ever seen.