Looking for the best campgrounds near Monarch, CO? Monarch is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Monarch and user-submitted reviews.
"If you ever been to any of the BLM camping locations around Salida, Mt. Shavano is not anything different."
"It was easy to find and close to the highway.
The road was pretty good but got a bit bumpy as we got closer but still not a problem with our trailer."
"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."
"And do not drive up that section to the 3rd if it is already taken (scout ahead here, trust me). You won't be able to turn around and the road gets worse with no where to turn around and no spots."
$25 / night
"This is probably my family's favorite area to camp in Colorado. Off the beaten path enough that traffic is minimal. But nice and close to some great four wheel and off roading areas."
"This place is beautifully positioned in the trees. Clean facilities, a wonderful camp host and fellow campers were great. 15 minutes from Buena Vista and 30 to Salida. "
"The hiking is good with several trailheads and easy access to the Colorado Trail."
"Recommend the hike to browns lake nearby. Vault toilets at the trailhead if needed.
Our spot was right off the Colorado trail, lots of thru hikers going by."
"Within 20 minutes of driving you have multiple Colorado 14ers to hike, amazing fishing, miles of mountain biking trails and 2 amazing towns with great places to eat or grab a beer. "
"Beautiful surroundings, picnic tables, fire rings. I gave it a 4 because of annoying rig running generator and a little highway noise."
$145 / night
"The Colorado trail runs right next to campground and offered amazing hiking. Tons of Aspen trees!"
"Quiet, fairly secluded, has its own fishing pond and nearby beaver ponds, N. Fk. S. Arkansas flows past, and it is right on the Colorado Trail."
"Wide variety of campsites here close to the Colorado trail and two 14ers. Where we camped was a cow field and they came and went so would be careful with dogs."
"I’ve camped next to the creek and further out away from the water. Honestly, it’s hard to find a bad campsite here!
If you want a site close to the creek, you have to get there early."
$24 / night
"I made a stop knowing there was to much snow in the area to actually stay but I wanted to see what Monarch had to offer when it wasn't ski season and I was so pleased with the campground itself."
"According to the forest service website, Monarch Park campground is closed for 2024 season to make renovations. Too bad."
$28 - $56 / night
"This is one of my favorites from this summer trip to Colorado. O’Haver Campground is a high altitude lakeside campground outside of Salida Colorado."
"Sweet campsites on a nice small lake up at around 9000 feet surrounded by mountains. Weekend summer use is heavy so plan to reserve in advance if possible. can be chilly at night."
$28 / night
"The campground is north of Salida Colorado on the Arkansas River. This is the busy spot at the end of the commercial river rafting run."
"Beautiful in its location, there were site improvements several years ago, which are nice and still hold true in 2023. (level tent pads, delineated sites, etc.)"
TravelerThe camp hosts was fantastic and very friendly. The site was clean and it had the cleanest bathrooms I’ve had a campground. Great view’s of Mount Princeton and surrounding mountains. Easy to get to, quiet and had bear lockers to store your food in. We’ll definitely spend time there again should be in the area.
ScoutWe stayed here for three nights in June after trying dispersed camping in the area. This is one of the lower cost tent sites with a good amount of amenities. The guy that owns the place is super nice and you can tell he takes everyone’s safety seriously. I felt fine leaving my belongings here while I went to town.
Scout$28 for site + $10 non-resident fee. Pit toilet, older but clean. No water. No trash. Sites are adequately spaced. Some are level, some not, not indicated on website. Tables, fire rings, and tent pads - seemed level. June 19 buggy & hot - seasonal info. Lots of cactus around.some
RangerSo this area got busy on a Friday night so we drove back pretty far to get a spot. It was also midnight so we was late. There’s three areas. A,B, and C loop. Rock fire pits and it was quiet and the stars was wild. And bugs wasn’t as bad as other places. For road conditions the farther back the more rocky but we never used 4WD once. But a higher up vehicle is definitely needed
RangerSo this area got busy on a Friday night so we drove back pretty far to get a spot. It was also midnight so we was late. There’s three areas. A,B, and C loop. Rock fire pits and it was quiet and the stars was wild. And bugs wasn’t as bad as other places.
ScoutPretty busy for a Wednesday but the farther you keep driving the more private spots start popping up, quiet and nice!
LegendAwesome spot near twin lakes. No 4wd necessary, and very convenient. Might be a little high traffic but still primitive camping.
TravelerBeing perched at the edge of this fast flowing creek is quite stunning. Another benefit is that the loud creek drowns out any potential noise and is so calming to listen to or watch. If I were to stay again I’d select a different campsite than the Mt. Pahlone site. It was pretty difficult to level my small trailer here and it’s closer to the work shed than I expected. That’s completely on me, I’m not at estimating distances and they provided the distance. The other two riverside site seemed a little more private.
Honestly I didn’t see a lot of people around and there were only men working at the shed the day I arrived. The WiFi is pretty good and the campsite was spotless. This was a last minute booking for us since we had to change plans to avoid a red flag fire are, and I feel like we were lucky to find such a nice place to stay.
GuideOne of our favorite spots on this trip! The “spots” were very far apart which was great and if they’re full you can honestly find a flat grassy spot to park. The creek was dry but other than that we loved it!!
Camping near Monarch, Colorado, offers a fantastic escape into nature with stunning views and plenty of outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near Monarch, Colorado, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With beautiful scenery and plenty of activities, it’s a perfect spot for your next adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Monarch, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 276 campgrounds and RV parks near Monarch, CO and 100 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Monarch, CO is Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area with a 4.5-star rating from 16 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 100 free dispersed camping spots near Monarch, CO.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Monarch, CO that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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