38 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Only dispersed camping sites are available around Montezuma, Colorado, with none specifically designated for equestrian use. Horse camping near Montezuma consists primarily of free primitive sites where spacious clearings can accommodate trailers, though none include dedicated corrals or equestrian facilities. Kirby Gulch offers free primitive camping with sites that can accommodate vehicles and trailers, though none have dedicated horse corrals or equestrian facilities. The road requires high-clearance vehicles, especially for accessing sites farther up the gulch. Multiple sites along the creek provide water access that could serve horses, though the creek reportedly has an orange tint with a rusty smell. Sites are generally spacious enough to accommodate multiple tents and parking for vehicles.
Riders exploring the area should note that Kirby Gulch and surrounding forest roads connect to multiple hiking trails that may permit horses, though specific bridle trails are not identified in the data. The campground fills quickly on holiday weekends and during summer months, with visitors reporting difficulty finding available sites after early morning on Fridays. Wildlife sightings, including moose, are common in the area. For equestrians seeking more developed facilities, Guanella Pass provides an alternative option, though it likewise lacks dedicated horse amenities. The high altitude terrain and variable weather conditions require appropriate preparation for both horses and riders throughout the camping season.
"There are 4 sites that are down by the creek in the trees that are walk-in only but have the most space between them and are right on the creek. They are my favorite spots on site."
"Close hikes near by including one of Colorado’s 14ers."
from $26 / night
Check Availability"About 15-20 of us camped at this site (#19) the weekend after the 4th of July, and it was an incredible, mostly private location."
"When you pull in off the main road, the road turns into a washboard and you drive up into a meadow with multiple sites for RV’s and tents. The sites surround the outside of the meadow."
"This was a great stay, conveniently located just down 285 for a short get away during the work week. We stayed for 3 days and during that time there were only a few other campers here."
"Super easy access for a quick trip to hit the Colorado Trail. We stayed in sight 22, and realized the map on the reservation system was a bit skewed as it is very close to the bathrooms."
from $28 / night
Check Availability"The Lodgepole and all of the Jefferson campgrounds provide great access to the Colorado trail. I’ve camped here several times, but be sure to catch it in the fall! The colors are amazing."
"Wr loved the easy access to the Colorado Trail as well. The negatives were that we were not expecting so many generators to be running while we were there."
from $24 / night
Check Availability"Located in the Arapaho National Forest, Sugarloaf is a small campground found on the Williams Fork of the Colorado River. The valley was once heavily forested but is much more open these days."
"This campground is perfect for those who live in Boulder or the nearby surrounding areas (Louisville, Superior, Lafayette, Longmont, Gunbarrel)."
from $19 / night
Check Availability"area was plowed open to exactly the width of our trailer, so with more than three feet of snow on the ground we needed to get some exercise and do a bit of shoveling so we could back in and be able to walk"
"Late October is very unpredictable in Colorado for a camper who is primarily a tent camper."
from $18 / night
Check Availability"This spot is just a quick ride outside of Golden. The scenery is gorgeous with several trails to hike or mountain bike. The campsites are clean and easy to get to."
"Stunning campground nestled right outside Golden and Boulder Colorado. We couldn’t believe it…so close but you feel incredibly removed once you get there."
from $28 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Take the exit onto Fall River Road from the highway, a short road. You are then soon connected with forest service road of sorts York gultch."
"Might ROAD: Dirt, but not "off road trail"- again people live off of this road so its somewhat maintained. BEWARE OF RAIN WASHOUT AREAS, DIPS, AND WASHBOARD."
"Stay here a couple times a year, great amenities and lots to do with a swim beach, shore line, horses, boat ramp and model planes."
"Chatfield State Park is a great mixture of access to the outdoors with availability of many of the benefits of a metro area close by."
from $36 - $200 / night
Check Availability"South Fork is located in the Arapaho National Forest and administered by the Sulphur Ranger District."
from $19 / night
Check Availability
LegendThis campground has a equestrian area and a tent camping area. The tent camping is to the right after you enter, there are two tent loops with bathrooms. Water spigots next to the bathroom. There are a few trails here, some are horse trails. Overall a beautiful spot with some shade!
GuideThis is a beautiful campground with lots of family-friendly activities to do. They have direct access to the headwaters of the Colorado River. We visited a little late in the season (August) to catch many fish, but we still had fun. We found some tailwaters below the big lakes and caught some trout on the fly rods.
This site is minutes away from an entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. We got up early and hiked a trail in RMNP and had a few moose walk right past us. It is also close by to the major lakes of the area.
They rent ATVs and lots of people bring their own horses to this campground to enjoy the many back-country trails that begin at the back of the property and go high up into the mountains.
Facilities were well kept and clean.
TravelerThis is a bare bones remote campground with assigned sites and vault toilets. There is no potable water on site, so bring plenty of water for your stay. The 18 sites are on a first come basis and can't be reserved.
I don't own horses, but have seen some in the area so it is equestrian friendly. The campground is located in a canyon with high cliffs and there are several hiking and backpacking trails that branch off from the campground. The south fork of the white river runs through the campground affording good fly fishing.
While you can get to the campground in a standard automobile the gravel road is rutted in places as you get close to the campground and can become dicey in heavy rain or snow for the last mile or two.
I have been there numerous times as early as July and as late as September when snow can be expected.
LegendThree dispersed camping locations all completely booked so I chose to stay in this RV Park which is located within Rocky Mountain National park and right next to Arapahoe National Park. Very good price compared to other RV resorts and surrounded by beautiful flowers and mountains and silence. They have showers and laundry and free coffee and garbage dump, and a small country store, along with many equestrian activities for adults and kids and it's very homey feeling.
GuideAlthough this site is a no water/ electric site and next to the horses, we had a blast! Especially the kids. The site was a great size! We went horse back riding, hung out by the river, had s’mores, and even went for an ATV ride!! I was most impressed by how clean the bathrooms were, especially with the current COVID situation! Thank you Winding River Resort for keeping the place clean!
GuideMy folks bought property you can ride to Indian Creek from. Love this area!!! Lots of beautiful trails, close to Denver and very peaceful. Bring your ponies, its an equestrian campground!
TravelerSite 5 was a great spot for a bigger group. It was nice to be tucked away in the corner with no groups behind us or next to us. There were other campers near by but it felt pretty private. The weather was great. We didn’t make it to the gross reservoir but it was nice to have the option of a good hike near by. It is very important that you have a high clearance car to drive on the road. It’s a lot like off roading on some parts. I would go back!
ScoutA lovely wooded campground literally on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park - we even saw moose from the back window of our RV! Options for everyone from cabins, to FHU RV sites (limited and not the ideal locations, but still nice), water/electric sites and tenting areas. Even Conestoga wagons! There is horseback riding on site and we loved watching the horses run in and out each morning/evening and you just have to cross the road for a pretty hike along the Colorado River in RMNP (no dogs on the trails). We camped with our Great Dane - very dog friendly with bag stations around the park. Friendly and helpful staff, a small shop with supplies and souvenirs, a cute little petting zoo with goats, sheep, and pigs.
GuideClose proximity to the highway. Clean level spots. Geared more towards RV camping. Pros: great views of the foothills. Lots of park amenities like horse stables, archery range, swim beach, boat rentals, hiking trails, picnic areas. Con: Orange glow of Home Depot sign at night and no shade during the day. Your camping reservation (strongly recommended) includes park admission.
Dispersed camping sites near Montezuma, Colorado offer rustic accommodations at elevations typically above 9,000 feet. The area features alpine forest terrain with cold nights even during summer months, requiring proper insulation and weather preparation regardless of season. Most sites lack formal facilities but provide direct access to multiple trail systems throughout Arapaho National Forest.
Fishing opportunities: Several creeks in the area provide fishing access, though water quality varies by location. At Kirby Gulch, campers note "The creek can be heard from almost every site and it was great to fall asleep to," though others mention "The creek is orange and smells like rust." For better fishing conditions, consider nearby locations.
Mountain biking: The region offers technical trails connecting various dispersed campsites. Golden Gate Canyon State Park provides "great trails for hiking and mountain biking" and "feels like it's far from the city, but the drive is easy for a weekend camping trip!"
Geocaching: Multiple hidden caches exist throughout the forest roads. According to visitors at South Fork Rustic Campground, "For those with a restless spirit of adventure, trout fishing, hiking, and Geocaching are available in the Southfork area."
Wildlife viewing: The forested areas provide habitat for various wildlife species. At York Gulch Road, campers appreciate "great place dark skies lots of space" with "secluded and lots of space for dogs to run!" Multiple sites report moose sightings in early mornings.
Riverside sites: Many prefer camping locations with access to water sources. At Kirby Gulch, one camper reported, "We got there around 9am on the Friday before Labor Day and it was already packed. We found two spots available and chose #37. Beautiful views throughout the campground... we hiked, the kids played in two different creeks."
Isolation options: Despite popularity during peak season, campers can find secluded spots with proper timing. Some spots at Kenosha Pass Campground provide privacy: "The outer circle sites are better and some like 11 even have cool rock boulders to camp by."
Road conditions: Many dispersed camping areas require high-clearance vehicles. At York Gulch Road, visitors note: "Road leading to spots is dirt but not bad. Once you turn onto where the spots are the road does get Rocky. We stopped at the first site."
Site availability: During summer months and holidays, arrive early to secure spots. At Kirby Gulch, campers warn: "It was already like Disney land. We thought we could drive up a ways to escape people but after an hour of driving there was not a single spot available."
Cell service: Limited or no connectivity exists in most areas. At Kenosha Pass Campground, campers report "There is no Verizon service anywhere on the campgrounds" which affects emergency communications and planning.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds have better sound buffers than others. At Lodgepole - Jefferson, "The spots are spaced well on the outside portion of the loop. On the inside of the loop they are closer together and mostly tent only spaces."
Creek access: Children enjoy water features but require supervision. One family visiting Kirby Gulch reported "Across the road is the creek where the dogs (and humans) lived it up!" This provides natural entertainment for children.
Weather preparation: Temperature fluctuations can be extreme, even in summer. A camper at Guanella Pass noted "we did some dispersed camping. it was quiet, serene, and gorgeous. The temperature dropped a bit more than we anticipated but stuck it out."
Site dimensions: Most dispersed areas have limited space for large rigs. York Gulch Road visitors advise: "As you drive in, you're met with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. You'll find that the first few sites are less desirable in that they are close together and lack tree coverage but keep driving and the sites become more private and pushed back from the road."
Turning radius: Forest roads often lack turnaround spaces for longer vehicles. At Kenosha Pass Campground, campers warn: "Several spots are large enough for a big camper, but the tight curves on the loop and thick trees make it a little questionable for maneuvering."
Leveling challenges: Most sites require blocking equipment for proper leveling. At Reverend's Ridge Campground, visitors note "Loop E (electric hookups) is very spacious and well laid out. Every campsite is a pull thru allowing you situate anywhere along the paved area to best suit your needs. Mostly level, fire rings, and very large metal picnic tables."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Montezuma, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Montezuma, CO is Guanella Pass with a 4.3-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Montezuma, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 38 equestrian camping locations near Montezuma, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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