Best Tent Camping near Nathrop, CO
Looking for tent camping near Nathrop? Find the best tent camping sites near Nathrop. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Nathrop campsites are perfect for tent campers.
Best Tent Sites Near Nathrop, Colorado (58)
1. Browns Creek (South) Dispersed Camping
9 Reviews•74 Photos•606 SavesNathrop, ColoradoThe Browns Creek trail offers beautiful scenery with changing vistas and vegetation. The trail follows the stream and small waterfalls can be found along the way. The lower portion of the trail begins in primarily a Ponderosa pine environment and gradually moves into spruce/fir forest. At higher elevations the trail travels through pristine meadows that end at Brown's Lake. Camping is not permitted at the trailhead, in order to prevent erosion of the banks along Little Browns Creek. Campers are encouraged to find camp sites further south on County Road 272.
- Pets
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
2. Road 240 - Dispersed
9 Reviews•51 Photos•579 SavesMonarch, Colorado- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
3. North Cottonwood Trailhead Dispersed Camping
8 Reviews•33 Photos•964 SavesBuena Vista, Colorado- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Equestrian
- Standard (Tent/RV)
4. Portal Campground
26 Reviews•147 Photos•1874 SavesAspen, ColoradoPortal Campground is located eleven miles southeast of Aspen on Independence Pass Road and seven miles south on Lincoln Creek Road at an elevation of 9,400'. Campers can access some wonderful day hikes from this location as well as terrain for motorcycle riding, mountain biking, ATV riding, fishing and horseback riding, among other recreation activities. Portal Campground has 5 campsites with limited spurs. 5 day stay limit. High clearance vehicles are required and 4x4 recommended.
- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Picnic Table
5. Mueller State Park Campground
54 Reviews•155 Photos•621 SavesDivide, ColoradoMueller's campground has 136 campsites each with a picnic table and fire ring. There are 99 electric sites, many with tent pads and 22 basic walk-in sites in Prospector Ridge (sites 55-66) and Turkey Meadow (sites 100-109) Campgrounds. Sites 12 and 22 are handicapped designated sites. You must have a handicapped placard or license plate.
Campground Amenities The Comfort Station is open year-round. The Camper Services Building is open only in summer (Mid May - Mid October) Both buildings contain flush toilets. On-site accommodations include firewood for sale, a camper services building with coin-operated showers/laundry and modern restrooms, vault toilets, dump station and a playground.
Mueller offers three group campground opportunities nestled in the aspen and conifer forest, conveniently located near the Camper Services Building.
Winter Camping: Mid October - Mid May Mueller has 29 electrical sites available within the Peak View Campground and the Revenuers Ridge Campground (Sites 1 –9, 11-13, 15-22 and 81 – 89) during the winter. The Comfort Station, containing flush toilets, will remain open. Vault toilets will be open at Outlook Ridge, Peak View Campground and across from site #87. Water is available at the outside spigot at the Comfort Station; all other hydrants are closed, so we suggest bringing your own water. The dump station is dry dump only, which means you will not have water to rinse out your equipment.
$18.00 per night Mueller State Park has 4 backcountry campsites located in 2 separate groups. Both backcountry campsite groups require an approximate 1.5 mile hike from the Black Bear Trailhead to the sites. Sites are available to reserve from May 1 through October 31st.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Tents
- Group
$18 - $396 / night
6. Kite Lake
13 Reviews•47 Photos•284 SavesFairplay, ColoradoKite Lake Campground is located 5.5 miles NW of Alma on CR 8. It has five campsites and none are recommended for trailers; camping season begins in May and continues until the road is snowed in. The camping fee is $12.00 per night with a $3.00 day-use parking fee. Facilities include fire ring, tables, and outhouse toilets, but there is no water and no trash service at this campground. Campsites at Kite Lake are first-come, first-serve.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Picnic Table
$5 - $15 / night
7. Twin Lakes Dispersed Camping - Site 2 West
11 Reviews•42 Photos•1097 SavesGranite, Colorado- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
8. CR 306 -Dispersed Site
4 Reviews•7 Photos•233 SavesBuena Vista, ColoradoDon't want to camp in a developed campground? There are many places on the Pike and San Isabel National Forests where you can pitch a tent and practice low impact camping techniques. Dispersed camping is primitive, undevleoped, frontcountry "car camping".
Remember: when dispersed camping, no toilets, trash service, or potable water, are available. Store all food and trash securely, and pack out what you pack in. Practice Leave No Trace.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/responsible-recreation
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
9. Boreas Pass Road Designated Dispersed Camping
37 Reviews•102 Photos•2100 SavesBlue River, ColoradoThis designated dispersed camping area along County Road 10 has 23 sites.
**Please note: Camping is ONLY allowed in areas designated by a sign. ** Camping in undesignated spots could result in a citation from the U.S. Forest Service. Not adhering to camping duration maximums or using U.S. Forest land for residential purposes could result in a citation from the U.S. Forest Service.
Please refer to special orders and contact the USFS Offices with questions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd842796.pdf
Regulations pertaining to designated dispersed camping are as follows:
Camp only in designated sites.
No camping at trailheads.
Food and garbage must be properly secured in bear-resistant containers or inside vehicles in sealed containers.
Pack out all waste: human, garbage, paper, organics, etc.
There are many dispersed camping opportunities in the forest ranging from backpacking to car-camping along designated Forest Roads. Visitors are encouraged to minimize resource impacts by utilizing established sites rather than creating new ones. Dispersed camping sites along Forest Roads are shown on Motor Vehicle Use Maps, which are available free of charge at ranger district offices.At the start of the tour you immediately have spectacular views of the Blue River Valley and the majestic Tenmile Range. The road, managed by Summit County, follows the old South Park and Pacific Railroad bed, climbing on a gradual 3% grade. The road climbs past Bakers Tank to the summit of Boreas Pass at the Continental Divide. The road then continues down the other side of Boreas Pass for another 10.4 miles to the town of Como in Park County. From 1872 to 1938 the road was used as a narrow-gauge railroad and gained fame as the nation’s highest narrow-gauge railroad, running from Como to Breckenridge. This is a great road to view Fall colors. This road is open to highway legal vehicles only during May-October, and closed to motorized vehicle access seasonally at Summit County discretion, generally October to May.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
10. Mount Shavano and Mount Tabequache
2 Reviews•4 Photos•27 SavesPoncha Springs, ColoradoThe trail travels along a saddle south of the summit and the last .5 miles to the summit is marked by a few rock cairns. To continue on to Mount Tabequache, follow the ridge, northwest, from the summit. WARNING! Hikers descending from Tabequache should not descend into McCoy Gulch! This is a dangerous route and a number of climbers have been injuried or killed. The Jenning Creek access located off of Forest Road 240 is permanently closed. For detailed information about climbing these peaks visit the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative website at : www.14ers.org
- Tents
Recent Tent Reviews near Nathrop, Colorado
1653 Reviews of 58 Nathrop Campgrounds
Donna A.
Scout
Spillway Campground
Absolutely beautiful especially when the sun is out!
We had a great time in Site #24, camping in a tent. This site is inadequate for an RV or even a camper, as the parking spot is just a widening in the road. But the site was very private and had beautiful views. I left a day early as a new neighbor came to the site across the road and was running his generator a lot….so I just decided to leave….
StephanieScout
Chalk Creek Campground & RV Park
Rv and Tent sites
Rv sites in lower meadow are great. We camped in a tent on weekend on site T12. AMAMZING river front meadow site. The last weekend we used a travel trailer and it rained all weekend so we were glad to have a trailer this time. The water is warm because it is below mt princeton hot springs.
- KKelly P.Scout
Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA
Family & pet friendly, good location, and lots of fun activities
Campground had lots of RV sites and fewer tent sites but nice tent sites. Beautiful views of the mountains and close to many of the rafting companies and other local attractions as well as to the Royal Gorge bridge ans hiking. Staff were very friendly. We were there for a few, big, afternoon thunderstorms, one of which caused a little flooding around the office. Tent sites are on slight hill so no flooding but lots of little rivers running through our campsite. We would stay here again- the kids loved thr go-karting, mini-golf and giant slide. There is also a pool onsight which we did not use.
- LLogan C.Scout
Father Dyer
Not a bad site
Tent camping spots didn’t really have a flat spot to put the tent (atleast the one I was in). Had to put my tent in a slope. But restrooms and camping sites were clean.
- Jenn G.Scout
White Star
Superb!
They have drinking water & firewood available.
Great views from my tent site.
- CCurtis K.
Guide
BV Overlook
Buena Vista
Lives up to the Beautiful View in the foot hills of Presidential Peaks. Tent camped in August and woke up one morning at 38 degrees. Very nice and clean.
- NNeil B.Guide
Spruce Grove Campground
Beautiful Campground away from it all
This is a small campground near Lake George in the Lost Creek Wilderness. The setting here is great, its a smaller primitive campground without many trees on the trailer side, but the surrounding area is what makes it special... in actuality the tent sites are some of the best we have seen (not being tent campers) and this makes us sometime think maybe we should ditch the trailer for a tent site when coming here. The tent sites are right along the Terryall creek in the tress and the trailer sites are on the other side. There are many trails that lead off from this Campground that go above the CG or into Lost Creek Wilderness. There are many rock formations and the vistas are great. The CG has picnic tables and fire-pits... all sites and the road are gravel so not always even, but easily manageable. There is trash and water available, although water is only form a hand-pump. The host is very nice and the sites and vault toilets are clean.
Ron P.Scout
Angel Of Shavano Group — Psicc
No defined or maintained tent sites
Flies, no defined tent sites, some had tent areas but rain water ran right through them. Entire area smells very bad. Area was not maintained .weeds, grass etc no managed.
- JJenn H.
TravelerSpillway Campground
Narrow paradise
This place is great. Quiet. Fun, and beautiful. Short steep hikes. Fly fishing mecca. Long bumpy 11 mile dirt road ride. But worth it. Recommend tent camping. No long or big campers = tough trek in.
- CCurtis B.Guide
Stoll Mountain Campground — Eleven Mile State Park
High Plateau Peace
Another great Colorado State Park, it sits above Eleven Mile Reservoir. The sites offer everything from tent sites to full hook up. There is limited shade, but most sites are exposed.
Theres beautiful hikes around the lake and the fishing is awesome between the reservoir and Spinny Lake, and 11 Mile Canyon below the dam.
- Caryl D.Traveler
Mueller State Park Campground
Exceptional Fall Scenery
Wonderful walk-in tent camping site in the Turkey Meadow loop. Could view the Aspen trees in full color with Pikes Peak in the background. Peaceful and relatively private the week I was there.
- Katie D.Scout
Cotopaxi-Arkansas River KOA - PERMANENTLY CLOSED
Better options out there
In my opinion this place is kind of rundown and dumpy. Maybe it hasn’t been maintained bc of covid closures? Idk either way I wasn’t impressed. We had a tent site. The tent sites were small and along a cliff with the Arkansas below. Our “large” tent site barely fit our big cabin tent, with enough room to park our vehicle. Our tent was literally a foot away from the road you pull in on. We had 2 young kids with us and I would not call it very kid friendly. We were Constantly having to keep an eye on them. Either they fall off a cliff into the river or worry about them getting into the main 2 way camp road that huge rvs and trucks drive by on. It was very hard to “relax” while kids were trying to play. The sound of the river at night was nice that’s about it. The encounters I had with staff weren’t great. A bit rude and unhelpful. I feel the prices are high considering you can’t use any amenities advertised due to covid restrictions. There were a lot of “rules” they had I haven’t encountered in other campgrounds. There are much prettier/nicer campgrounds along the Arkansas River I would stay at.
- b
brandon W.Guide
Red Canyon Park
Great stay very close to Canon City
This was my first time solo tent camping. It went well. The space had a fire ring and picnic table. I might have been the only person at the park and it was quite peaceful!
Brick M.Scout
Rincon Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Beautiful location but...
We tent camped here in late September. Beautiful location with well-kept sites and bathrooms. However sites are close to the road and we could hear the traffic all night. Probably best suited for RVs and quick spot to camp.
Sydney C.Guide
Road 240 - Dispersed
Beautiful spot, yucky road READ ME if you have a trailer
This area is absolutely beautiful. There are a few tent camping spots at the bottom right before you cross the bridge. As you continue up the road past the bridge, there are 3 spots you can bring a small trailer to and a couple more tent spots. DO NOT bring your trailer past the 3rd spot up the road after the bridge. 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. There are more places for tent camping the further up you go though but the road is not good so all-wheel or 4WD with clearance is needed. I pretty much only saw trucks and outbacks and 4runners making it up there.
Other than that, it's next to the water, the trees are good and healthy, near lots of hiking trails, (angels of shavano TH takes you up the most beautiful section of Colorado trail (': it was a butt kicker though), not great service but I had enough to send a text whenever I needed to. I spent 4 nights here and will 100000% be back. Loved it so much.
Sydney S.Traveler
Dexter Point Campground
Absolutely stunning!
Couldn’t have asked for a better spot to camp. Tent sites are incredible with amazing views! If you’re in a rv it’s just a parking lot. But still has great views!
- JJeff H.Scout
Arkansas River Rim Campground
Great Campground !
We enjoyed our stay here very much! Jeff has the place in fantastic shape and is very accommodating. There are very nice full hook-up sites as well as beautiful tent sites here. Bathroom and showers are spotless, too. And, rates are very reasonable!
We are Colorado folks and know where to find great campgrounds. We always enjoy Arkansas Rim and highly recommend it!
- llyndsay D.Traveler
Dinner Station
Beautiful river, beautiful mountains
Great spot for fishing, waking up to river sounds, and sage brush Mountain Views. Lots of four wheelers/RVs so if you’re looking for something more remote and tent only this is not the place! We used it as an overnight spot for tent camping between Leadville and crested butte and that worked perfectly.
- WWill T.Guide
Tall Texan RV Park & Cabins
Great place to stop for the night
The tent sites are kind of centralized, not a lot of privacy. With that said, the sites were level and the facilities were fine. Good location, not far from crested butte.
Kelly G.
Legend
Difficult Campground
Cozy with bike trail access
I rooftop tent camped here before hiking Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop. The campgrounds have easy access to the hike/bike trail into Aspen. Restrooms were clean, my site had shade and bear boxes and was easy to get into. I will definitely be back.
- SSid A.Traveler
Sugar Loafin' RV/Campground & Cabins
Great last minute camp near Leadville
We were tent camping on motorcycles and rode into Leadville late in the evening. This campground was open (with staff) late, and were very friendly and accommodating. A very nice camp with everything we needed. They had tent pads that were flat and soft. We just barely missed the ice cream social. We will visit again.
- GGreg P.Traveler
Bear Lake Backpack Site
Belle of Colorado @ Tourquoise Lake
Originally quite nice, tent camping, clean area, nice sites, water available, bathrooms, and access to fishing. Weekends tend now to religious services... :( Been 4 times but now prefer less commercial/church interuptions. RV crud makes for noisy generators, bouncy houses, karaoke... :( Some people swim. Boating. Good perimeter trail, biking allowed.
- kkyleGuide
Ruby Mountain Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Beautiful spot
Really gorgeous camping spot with easy access to tons of different outdoor activities. Tent sites are very well maintained and very beautiful. Walk-in sites are very close to parking, I would barely consider them walk-in sites. My only complaint is that the tent pads are made of gravel and therefore extremely hard to properly stake down tents.
Clint P.Traveler
Elbert Creek — Psicc
Massive or Elbert Climbs
Perfect location if hiking either of these two mountains. Great tent sites and multiple spots per campsite. As good a camping spot relative to a 14er trailhead as you can get. Cannot day enough good about this campground. Highly recommended.
Susan D.Traveler
Lodgepole (taylor River Canyon Near Gunnison, Colorado)
Quiet campground
We spent 2 nights tent camping on site #15. Camp host was very friendly and site was nice and spacious. The tent pad had been raked/cleared prior to our arrival, which was nice. The campground is across the street from the river and it was nice to hear the rushing water. However, we could also hear (and see) passing cars on the main road.
- Kara D.Traveler
Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA
Beautiful location
Tent sites are on the hill and have lovely views. The tent pads are pretty small though. They are great for 1-2 people, but we are a family traveling with pets, so we have a larger tent. Nice community feel. Lots for kids to do. Close to rafting, Royal Gorge and other attractions.
- TroyScout
Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA
KOA
I've got a slide in camper was given a tent site in the far back corner of the campground. Staff was AMAZING...they'de give my wife rides to the pool and were extremely courteous and friendly. Going back next weekend.
Guide to Nathrop
Nathrop, Colorado, offers a fantastic selection of tent camping options surrounded by stunning natural beauty and outdoor activities.
Tent campers appreciate these amenities
- Enjoy the clean and well-maintained facilities at Turtle Rock Campground, where even the pit toilets are stocked with toilet paper.
- Browns Creek (South) Dispersed Camping provides ample open areas and well-kept roads, making it easy to find a suitable spot for your tent.
- At North Cottonwood Trailhead Dispersed Camping, you can enjoy a peaceful setting with plenty of space between sites, perfect for a quiet getaway.
Tent campers like these nearby activities
- Hike the scenic trails around Mount Shavano and Mount Tabequache, where you can explore breathtaking views and enjoy the great outdoors.
- Experience the thrill of mountain biking near Turtle Rock Campground, which is known for its accessibility and beautiful surroundings.
- Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunities at Railroad Bridge, where you can cast a line in a serene setting.
Explore these local attractions
- Discover the stunning landscapes and hiking trails at Rich Creek Campground, which offers access to beautiful ponds and streams.
- Visit the nearby Gunnison National Forest Pitkin Campground for a peaceful retreat with easy access to local attractions and outdoor adventures.
- Experience the charm of the area while camping at Fooses Creek Dispersed Camping, where you can enjoy the soothing sounds of the nearby river.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Nathrop, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Nathrop, CO is Browns Creek (South) Dispersed Camping with a 4.7-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Nathrop, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 58 tent camping locations near Nathrop, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
- Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands
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- Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests