New Castle, CO is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. New Castle is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Colorado camping adventure.
"Had a quick stop over here on the way to Dinosaur National Monument. No ATT phone service beyond a certain point. This is all primitive camping and heavily used by 4x4 ATVs."
"There are easy sites next to the main gravel roads and more secluded sites off of many various "Jeep trails"."
"The ground was exceptionally muddy so my subaru forester did some off roading which was a bit of an adventure, but otherwise had a lovely view and a great place to car camp."
"There's a gravel lot right off the road where people were car camping. Good place for a safe one night stop if you're passing through."
"There are two off-road trails coming off the parking area and you can see the water and people paddle boarding at the beach from the Sites"
"Heart lake, and the surrounding areas, are truely a wonderful place to stay. Only available for a few months each year. Most camp sites are above 10,300ft, and it often rains every day."
"Easy to find the site, ours was near the river. Lots of bugs so bring bug spray. Very calming and felt safe. Would recommend!"
"Drive to the camp ground and you can keep driving to find campsites. There are sites along the creek and along the road. There is a pit toilet and it's a long road with lots of sites.
No service"
"Lots of dispersed camping. Fire pits. No toilets. Pack it in, pack it out."
"North facing slope behind me and not too much wind! Only seen one car since 7 and only 3 other people on the long road! Pretty solid little two truck site!"
"Great views overlooking the Colorado River. It is an open area with some flat spots and some areas requiring leveling. Can handle big rigs, but space is limited."
"Right off the road, quiet, flat, a few other campers, it was clean and free. 5g was good"
GuideHad a quick stop over here on the way to Dinosaur National Monument. No ATT phone service beyond a certain point. This is all primitive camping and heavily used by 4x4 ATVs. There are no facilities ie: Toilets, power, water or fire pits. The road was easy no need for high clearance or 4wheel drive. Heavy wildlife area, had a fox come right up to my car as I was making coffee. Only 30 minutes from Glenwood Springs. Would stay again 9/10 would recommend.
Remember to pack in pack out.
RangerHubbard Mesa area is an off highway vehicle area that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
There's not much in this area except a small little campsite right off the road. I didn't explore all the rest of the HOV cuz I wasn't in a four-wheeler, but it was perfect for an overnight stay on a motorcycle trip to Sturgis.
The Road in is dirt and there are no durable paved surfaces anywhere, so I would imagine if it had rained this would be a muddy mess.
ScoutThere are many sites all over the place up there. Some are big enough for groups of RV's some are small, private tent spots. Some offer magicians views others are in dense vegetation along water. We found no cell reception for miles. There are easy sites next to the main gravel roads and more secluded sites off of many various "Jeep trails". No services, no running water, no electric, no cable TV, no bathrooms, no showers, no dump stations, no picnic tables, etc. It's the forest.
GuideThis dispersed campsite has an incredible view, but it’s located on a “primitive road,” so google maps won’t show you the route all the way. I was using the OnX off-road app when I found it. If you approach from the south side (County Rd 48?), you will need a high clearance 4wd. If you approach from the north side (County Rd 51) it is accessible by any mid-clearance AWD vehicle, unless it’s wet. Then you’ll probably need a legit 4wd. I was there in mid-October, and there were hunters camped out all over the forest. But I found this place and had complete privacy, great view, and occasional Verizon service.
TravelerThe ground was exceptionally muddy so my subaru forester did some off roading which was a bit of an adventure, but otherwise had a lovely view and a great place to car camp. We cleaned up some trash in the area but otherwise pretty clean. The entrance was muddy and difficult for my car so if you don't have high clearance I don't recommend driving further past the gravel path. Saw some vans parked up there and we decided to travel out a little further.
LegendStocked reservoir with rainbow and brook trout. Smaller fish but fun fishing.
The dispersed camping is located on the east side of the reservoir. Vault toilets located here and no water(except the reservoir). All camping is first-come, first-serve. Bring bug spray as the mosquitoes are pretty bad here.
TravelerRoad was very easy to find and was very smooth. The first couple sites on the water were already taken so we headed up further. Found a steep, secluded pull-off just past marker #6 that looked like an old off road trailhead or access road that didn't seem to be in use anymore.
The site was a good size but there wasn't a great flat option for the tent but it would be great for a van or small trailer and could easily fit 2-3.
The views were absolutely amazing which is why I'm giving 3 stars. The mosquitos and thunderstorms were insane. Shout out to the REI base camp tent holding dry and not too many bugs in the tent.
We also had the pleasure of a bunch of night riders on the first night traversing up and down the road all night which was incredibly loud. 2nd night was much quieter. I also moved the car to block the entrance to the site so people could see it was taken instead of driving up right next to us just to turn around the first night.
Overall, easy access to the site, views were stunning, easy to get to Glenwood Springs.
Edited to add that this site did have cell service
ScoutHere on a Friday in early May and it’s absolutely gorgeous. The public land area is ginormous and there’s only one other group camping here that I know of. Upon arrival, I drove about 3 miles down the creek just to check it all out. It was beautiful but very remote and the roads definitely require 4wd. Found a spot about 2 miles down the stream that I liked a lot but found animal bones, a ripped down barbwire fence, and bear tracks. Took that as a sign to go back towards the entrance a bit before setting up. Campgrounds are well maintained and close to creek. Very spacious. Nice and flat. Great one night spot if you’re headed to Moab from Denver.
LegendFor those looking for an amazing backpacking experience in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, this one is not to be missed!
Many people take on the Cathedral Lake trail as a day hike, with the most adventurous (and in shape) pushing on towards Electric Pass. However, following a recommendation I read online, I decided to make this trail into a weekend backpacking trip. This was our general itinerary:
On Friday afternoon we hiked in the ~3 miles to Cathedral Lake. We set up camp just off the trail, about a 1/2 mile before the lake, below the tree line (see more below about the camping sites). On Saturday morning we intended to make the hike to Electric Pass but woke up to a rainstorm that lasted until about noon. We spent the afternoon hanging out by the lake and fishing where we caught some rather impressive trout! We were delighted when all of the lingering rain clouds began to clear out in the late afternoon and decided to make an evening attempt at the Electric Pass hike (~6 miles RT from the lake) where we were rewarded by amazing sunset views. We then returned to camp and spent another night. We left mid-morning on Sunday and had a much easier (all downhill) hike back to the trailhead.
About the camping at Cathedral Lake:
If you plan to make this a backpacking trip, you will really be able to enjoy the area far more than the day hikers who only spend a bit of time at the lake and have to turn around. I would highly recommend staying a night or two and attempting to summit the Electric Pass as we did. Be sure to fill out a permit (no cost) at the trailhead, per wilderness regulations. There is plenty of water available near the lake and in the surrounding creeks, but a water filtration device should be used for safety of course. Following wilderness regulations, campsites cannot be within a certain distance of the lake, which is no issue as there are plenty of sites just off the trail after the grueling last set of switchbacks. You’ll know when you have finished the switchbacks I am referencing because they are quite strenuous, especially with a heavy backpack on! The primitive sites are marked by previously built stone ring fire pits, many of which have well placed logs and stumps to sit on. The sites are all far enough apart that you cannot see your neighbors and have plenty of seclusion to enjoy the woods. Dense forest surrounds the camping area which adds to the privacy and provides protection from the sun and storms that often roll through this area. A note on the storms-due to the high altitude and mountainous location, this area is frequented by strong thunderstorms and caution should be taken to avoid lightning strikes, especially on Electric Pass which was named for just this reason! Even on the sunniest day, I would not set out on this trail without proper rain gear and lots of layers in my pack. It also gets quite cold up here! We stayed in early August and it definitely felt like the air temperature was below freezing at night. Bear canisters are required for camping here and the proper precautions should be kept in mind to avoid any potentially dangerous encounters with the amazing wildlife in this area. Please also follow all of the additional wilderness regulations and leave no trace principles to keep this beautiful place in pristine condition!
Overall, I would recommend the Cathedral Lake and Electric Pass hikes to anyone visiting the Aspen area…but for those willing and able to turn this into a backpacking trip, you will be rewarded with an even more amazing backcountry camping adventure!
For more info:
https://www.outdoorproject.com/adventures/colorado/hikes/cathedral-lake-trail
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5186764.pdf
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near New Castle, Colorado, where nature meets adventure. With a variety of locations offering stunning views and unique experiences, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to unwind and connect with the great outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near New Castle, CO is Four Mile Road Dispersed with a 4.3-star rating from 17 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 38 dispersed camping locations near New Castle, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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