Best Dispersed Camping near Nathrop, CO

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!

There is free dispersed camping all along County Road 390, near Winfield. You will need a 4x4 or AWD to get further along the road. There’s a stream that runs along 390, adding great background noise. Our site was big enough for multiple cars, with great access to the Huron Peak trailhead.

Located near the town of Granite, this forest service road is host to trailheads and lots of dispersed camping. Off of highway 24 you will find Clear Creek Reservoir, this is a great spot to do some fishing form the shore or in a boat. There is also an established campground beyond the lake that is forest service run and does cost money. However if you keep driving for a few miles the road will open up to free dispersed camping. 

We showed up on friday at around 4 pm and it was packed! Spots range in size from one care to huge areas big enough for 20 cars and we saw just that. Lots of big camp trips happening. That being said, the camping was still pretty good despite all the people. We managed to find a spot next to another couple in a little turn off. Some groups were parked on the road and walked into the trees to set up a spot. It was kind of a free for all back there. 

With all those people and trailheads to several 14ers on the road, there ware many cars driving by. It did stay pretty active until later in the night. 

Campsites: Dispersed with no amenities. No metal fire rings, picnic tables, restrooms or trash bins. Restrooms were located at a trail head but on one set. 

We enjoyed the spot, it was a little dusty but not terrible. Perfect spot if you are trying to hike Belford, Oxford, Missouri or Huron. Road was in good condition, any car will make it.

Initially looked for camping along the South Platte at Happy Meadows but with a 1 year old, we figured campers wouldn't want to hear him screaming in the middle of the night or the cries of my wife as she struggles with her sanity. We pushed a little further north and took the right hand turn onto Matukat road. We drove a couple of miles up the decently maintained dirt road and found the second dispersed camping spot and decided to set up our roof top tent for the night. 

Looking at a map, it looks like the road goes on for quite a ways but we never explored past the spot we stayed in. Up to the point where we camped, 2-wheel drive was more than enough to get us to our spot nestled in the rocks. The dispersed camping spots we saw seemed very easy to get to and we never needed to put our truck in 4WD. 

Since these sites are dispersed camping, don't expect any toilets or amenities. Some spots did have pre-made (from campers before) fire pits and there seemed to be an abundance of dead wood but actual wood cutting in the Pike National Forest needs to have a permit so keep that in mind. We dealt with some crazy wind so a fire wasn't even in question. Be sure to check with the local ranger station before starting a fire in the area, especially since this is a burn area.

This is a USDA Forest Service dispersed camping site at the start of the Alpine Tunnel Trailhead. The camp is about 5 miles northwest of St Elmo Colorado near the ghost town of Hancock Colorado. The siteS are very primitive and can only be accessed by 4x4 vehicles or hikers. The sites are flat areas with rock fire pits and no other amenities. The conditions here are not for the beginner. The site is at 11,027 elevation and the weather can be extreme even in the summer. The road is inaccessible in the winter except by snow mobile. The site has 360 views of the mountains and has to be one of the most beautiful places we have visited in Colorado. The drive up from Nathrop takes about 1 hour along a dirt and gravel road. This would be a great spot for hikers traveling along the Alpine Tunnel trail. A mountain stream runs near the camp. So hikers can filter their water. However, you will need to pack in everything else including food, waste, and trash.

There are several campgrounds in the area, some free and some with a fee. For free at the top of the hill high above the twin lakes and even above the Mt. Elbert Forebay is national forest dispersed camping. It's very popular on the weekends with many tent campers who sometime party well into the night. The views are epic. On the south-east end of the Twin Lakes is the Reservoir camping area, dispersed camping on bureau of reclamation land. The roads get rough as you reach the more desirable sites. Paid camping is available at Dexter Point, a parking lot with pit toilets and dumpsters within walking distance to the shore. Lake View campground is large with 6 or more loops, toilets, maintained roads, some big rig friendly sites, awesome views, but packed in pretty tight, but so is the dispersed camping. White star campground is a fee area right on the lake front for boaters, etc. In August it's a busy area, off season may be closed. Highway 82 goes to independence pass, a detour route if I-70 is closed due to landslides. 7/21.

My girlfriend and I drove in late to the dispersed camping on Lincoln Creek Road off of 82 (Independence Pass) towards Aspen. We set up at campsite 18 and highly recommend that site or traveling up past Grizzly Resevoir for primitive camping. The site goes about 100 yards back and has area for multiple vehicles or tents and is completely wooded. There's a path that walks back to the creek and if you follow it in either direction you have incredible views of waterfalls, Aspens, and Truro Peak.

Lincoln Creek is an absolutely incredible dispersed camping spot! there are 22 total spots up until the reservoir (about an hour to an hour and a half in) and after that, everything is a campsite! Very bumpy and rock filled road, but with any 4wd you should be fine! Beautiful views and lots of places to hike and play in the river! (It does get buggy when you are close to the water...)

Elephant Rock Campground is a free BLM dispersed camping just a few miles north of Buena Vista Colorado. The site is located on a dirt road along the Arkansas River. The site has about a dozen spots and can be crowded in the summer. The river is home to some of the best white water rafting in the Colorado with class III and IV rapids. The site also has some great rock climbing sites and hiking trails. The road is former railroad track from the Midland Railway Company. You drive through the rock cutouts from old railway. It’s a very cool area with lots to see and do. The camp is like many free BLM sites with few if any amenities. Buena Vista is very close and a great place for bars, cafes, and one good grocery store on the highway. The camp had a wide range of users including tents, vans, and trailers. The campsite can get very muddy after rain and is about 8100 feet in elevation. Leadville is about 20 minutes north along the main highway and well worth the visit.

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.

There are three camping pull offs on the left of CR 48. The first of which is where camped. We later walked down the road toward Turqouise Lake and realized there were more spots, the furthest having the best mountain views. The roads to the dispersed camping spots was a bit bumpy but we saw rigs of all types and sizes here so it's definitely do able. About a 2.5 mile round trip walk/hike to turqouise lake from the farthest campground (the 1st pull off). This place was pretty busy but people kept their distance. We were there in late August and temps got cold at night. But it's a beautiful and quiet spot in the woods.

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

Paradise in the Collegiate Peak Wilderness Area of San Juan National Forest.

Campground Review:

We stumbled upon this dispersed camping site on a summer backpacking trip where we needed a basecamp to operate out of on a quest to summit Mt. Harvard and Mt Columbia. We wanted a place that was located near where we would begin our summit attempts but would also be comfortable to spend several nights in. This is not a camping site that you can drive up to. This is a site that you need to backpack to on an established but physically demanding trail. To get to it, you must first access the Horn Fork Basin trail at the North Cottonwood Trailhead just West of Buena Vista, CO. To get to the trailhead, it is advisable to have, at a minimum, a high clearance, front wheel drive vehicle as the county road to the trailhead is not paved and is a little rough in areas. Parking at the trailhead can get crowded since many trails originate there. 

This is primitive, dispersed camping. No fees, first come first serve. You will not find any treated water or toilets in area. We hiked right at 6 miles to get to the site and passed multiple areas that were “established campsites”. Like most dispersed camping in Colorado, you are encouraged to find a spot that has been used and unofficially designated as a campsite. Most often you will find obvious areas that tents have been set up in the past. This site had multiple areas we could have set up tents and we were able to find 3 very level and cleared pads. There was also a stone fire ring that we could use.

The site was within 50 yards of a fast running stream which provided a perfect place to filter our water from. Even though the water appears to be very clear and cold, you must filter or treat to avoid being exposed to contaminants that can ruin your trip. 

As I stated, there was a fire ring and fires were permissible in the area according to the managing ranger office. We were able to find ample firewood and enjoyed beautiful campfires every morning and evening. Plenty of remote wilderness to explore and wildlife (mule deer, birds, marmots, pika…) was abundant. 

From the site, Bear and Kroenke Lakes are within day hike distance as well as 3 14K foot peaks and several smaller peaks. The site was at around 10,500 feet above sea level but below tree line. We were protected from high winds by beautiful pines and aspens. At the time of our trip, daytime temps were in the low 70’s and in the low 40’s at night. Perfect weather! We did experience light rain, ice pellets and a bit of snow on the way up the mountains but not at camp. 

The site was about 50 yards off the established trail and was remote enough that we did not see another camper in the 2 nights we were there. 

The site ended up being one of the most enjoyable camping areas I have ever visited. Can’t wait for someone else to venture there based on my review!!!

Gear Review: Matador FreeRain24

See a quick video summary of the product HERE.

As a Dyrt Ranger gear tester, I often get opportunities to evaluate camping related products during my outdoor adventures in exchange for honest reviews. I took the Matador FreeRain24 with me to this campground and during my day hikes from the basecamp and especially on this physically demanding attempt to summit two 14K ft peaks.

About the company: 

Matador was started in California but moved to Colorado in 2015. Funded by sales and personal investment only, this is a true “cottage company”. Products are designed in house by people that go on adventures like I do and know what we look for.

**Testing conditions: **

This was a summer trip but at elevation, all kinds of weather can be expected. The bag was used in conditions where temps ranged from 38-75 degrees. I did carry it in light rain, heavy mist and icing conditions. I used it as my daypack to carry essential gear while summiting mountain peaks. 

Things that stood out:

-       Packs extremely small so did not take up much space in my larger backpacking pack.

-       At just 5 oz, the weight cost to benefit ratio was perfect for this trip

-       Waterproof!! 

-       Comfortable. 

-       Sleek – hey, it just looks really good!

-       Top loading main compartment is easy to access

-       Two pockets that can hold water bottles easily and can be accessed while hike without taking pack off.

-       External zippered storage that is water resistant. 

-       In addition to shoulder strap adjustments, pack adjustments available to help with comfort.

-       Company sent me video instructions on the pack prior to me receiving it. Great idea!!!

My preferences for improvement:

-       The zipper on the external storage is very light duty. 

Summary of experience with Matador FreeRain24:

At 5 oz and about the size of a baseball when packed down, it was perfect to attach to the outside of my larger pack but could have gone on the inside. Come day hike time, took it out of its storage bag, stuffed it with everything I need for 8 hours on the mountainside and headed out.  24 liters was more than enough storage for all my extra clothing layers, food, water and emergency gear.  Met with some mist and ice during one stretch and contents stayed bone dry. I don't like water bladders so the 2 side pockets were perfect for the bottles of water I normally take on my trips - easy to access and bottles stayed put. Once adjusted, pack held tight to my back and that was important on sketchy parts of the climb. Didn't want my pack shifting at a critical time. Pack was comfortable the whole way and held up well. The pack material held up to several scrapes on sharp mountain rocks. The zipper did hang up and eventually became distorted to the point that I’m worried it may fail eventually. 

Fully recommend the Matador FreeRain24for similar type adventures!!!

See a quick video summary of the product HERE.

Boreas Pass has great dispersed camping for different sized groups. We camped at site #5 which accodated two vehicles but if needed to could probably accomodate up to five vehicles. This campsite was about a five minute walk to Baker's Tank. You can also access Baker's Tank trailhead after walking to the actual tank from the campsite. Be mindful if you decide to hike/bike Baker's Tank loop because it will spit you out at the very bottom of Boreas Pass which you then have to hike/bike back up to your campsite.

Visited 8/2020

We really like this area! Tarryall Reservoir is an awesome location. To update from a different review; the ONLY camping is dispersed. There is a day use only area next to the reservoir with no overnight camping. Also, there is no water available, so bring plenty of water with you.

We were camped initially just off of an established 2-track road that was connected to Tucker Gulch Rd/County Rd 23. Members of our party had been camping in the exact same location for over a decade. Our campsite was consistent with every other dispersed camping I have ever done on NFS land.

After our first night, NFS staff came into our camp stating that we were camped illegally, couldn't make our own roads (again, we were off a 2-track road that was marked on maps of the area), and could not be more than 25 feet from an established and marked NFS road. After we packed up to move to another location, we noted brand new signage that was most certainly not there until after the staff members informed us of our "violation".

After relocating we parked within 25 feet of a marked NFS road. This was right next to other camps that were at least 200ft from the same road. Camping within 25 feet of the road brought with it heavy dust and noise from vehicles and UTV/ATV traffic.

With all of this said, the area is amazingly beautiful and the distance from the metro area is perfect. The area is huge with plenty of 4WD and non-4WD (one member in our group had a travel trailer) roads to find the perfect camping spot for you. We will definitely be going back even with our sour run-in with the NFS. And just to throw it out there; I love the NFS and I believe they're generally pretty awesome!

Note: After getting back in town and re-educating myself on San Isabel NF specific rules and regulations, I could not find anywhere where it states the 25 foot rule. Plus, I confirmed that we were not violating any rules.

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.

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!!

I travelled to Twin Lakes the weekend after Memorial Day weekend to explore more of Colorado. The drive from Denver was beautiful and the Twin Lakes topped it all. Sitting at the base of several 14'ers this campground featured dispersed camping with options for walk-in, drive-in, and drive-in 4x4 camping. We found ourselves on the North side of the upper side of the neighboring lake since we arrived late Friday afternoon. We found 4-5 sites without anyone around, a quiet spot nestled in the trees for shade. 

Bears were reported to be active in the area but we didn't see any. Some camp sites, as we walked around, were littered with people's waste and trash. Sad to see but not everyone follows the leave no trace attitude.

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