Top Tent Camping near Northglenn, CO
Searching for a tent campsite near Northglenn? With The Dyrt, it's easy to find Northglenn campgrounds for you and your tent. Search nearby tent campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Searching for a tent campsite near Northglenn? With The Dyrt, it's easy to find Northglenn campgrounds for you and your tent. Search nearby tent campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Five miles north of Nederland, National Forest System Road (NFSR) 226, commonly known as Gordon Gulch, turns east off of Colorado Highway 72. NFSR 226 intersects other forest roads: NFSR 314, 228, 233 and their off-shoots. There are 15 numbered, designated campsites scattered along the road system within 1.5 miles east of Highway 72. Camping is permitted in designated sites only. Take care when driving in this area. Snow and mud can persist through most of the year. The free Boulder Ranger District Motor Vehicle Use Map displays National Forest System (NFS) routes open to motorized travel and is available online and at the Boulder Ranger District offfice.
Streams; treat water for drinking.
Camping is allowed at numbered designated campsites. No fee is charged. Practice Leave No Trace Principles.
Camping is limited to 14 days in one location. After 14 days, your camp must be moved at least three miles away.
Maximum stay is 28 days within a 60-day period. After 28 days, all property and people must leave the Roosevelt National Forest.
NOTE: Campers who build any fires face fines up to $5,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment for open fire violations.
Leave No Trace must be observed, as in any outdoor space.
In any season this area is prone to very strong dry winds that can pick up a hot coal from a campfire that has lain dormant for as much as three days and ignite dry vegetation, causing horrific devastation. People from outside Colorado may not understand how tinder dry this area can be. 197 homes in this area have been destroyed by wildfires. All of these fires were started by humans.
Local residents overlook this area and if they see visible flame or smoke they will call the Boulder County sheriff. Any campers who require a campfire are recommended to disperse camp near Sugarloaf Mountain where fires are permitted.
With a few exceptions, dispersed camping is allowed on National Forest System lands. Restrictions protect resources, minimize road damage, and reduce conflicts between landowners and visitors. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days in one location. After 14 days, the campsite must be moved a minimum of three miles. Camping can then continue for another 14 days. Camping is restricted to 28 days in any 60-day period. Some areas may require the use of designated campsites, and some areas, such as Indian Peaks Wilderness, require camping permits. More than 40% of lands within Boulder Ranger District's boundaries are private property. It is your responsibility to know if you are on private or public land.
Longs Peak Campground is closed for the 2024 season. This campground opens in early July and closes each year in early September. Located about 20 minutes south of Estes Park on Hwy 7. This small, tents-only campground is located in a forested area that is 9,500 feet above sea level (3000 m). This campground has vault toilets and there is no water available. Campers must bring their own drinking water when camping at Longs Peak Campground.
The Brainard Lake Recreation Area is the most popular destination on the Boulder Ranger District. Because of the area's high elevation, the best time to visit is after the snow melts in July and August. For road status, check the Road Status Table. PLEASE NOTE: Visitors that hike trails leading west from the Long Lake or Mitchell Lake Trailheads are responsible for following all Indian Peaks Wilderness permit requirements and regulations including group size, camping and campfire restrictions. Late June through mid-October (summer operating season): Summer Season Map Motor vehicle access is available 24 hours a day To protect muddy and snowpacked trails, the Long Lake and Mitchell Lake Trailhead parking areas do not open typically until late June A fee applies. A self-service fee station is located beyond the entry booth Expect 1-2 hour traffic delays on weekends (there is no bypass route for campers with reservations) Camping is allowed at Pawnee Campground (open July through early September). Check summer trail conditions before your visit See "Restrictions" below for additional regulations Mid-October through late June (winter season): Winter Season Map The gate is closed and the area free of charge for winter recreationists Park at the Brainard Gateway Trailhead Between November 15 and April 30, dogs are only allowed on the Brainard Lake and Lefthand Park Reservoir Roads Check winter trail conditions before your visit See "Restrictions" below for additional regulations Recreational shooting closures exist year round in this area. Hunting is allowed in accordance with regulations set by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Moose are present in the area. Be considerate of all wildlife. Approaching closely can be threatening to the wildlife and their reactions are dangerously unpredictable.
Dispersed Camping information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd577265.pdf
With a few exceptions, dispersed camping is allowed on national forest public lands. Camping in the national forest at one location is limited to 14 consecutive days. The campsite must then be moved a minimum of three miles. Camping can then continue for an additional 14 days. Camping is restricted to a maximum of 28 days in any 60-day period.
More than 40% of lands within the Arapaho National Forest boundary are private or otherwise owned. A map showing land ownership is recommended. It is YOUR responsibility to know if you are on private, city, county, state, national park or national forest land.
Pack out all trash. There are no services.
Practice Leave No Trace ethics
White Ranch Park is one of two Jeffco Open Space parks that allows for permitted camping. Sawmill and Sourdough Springs Campgrounds offer semi-primitive, tent-only, walk-in camping in designated sites is available by online permit. Required camping permits must be obtained at least 24 hours in advance. Permits are $12 per campsite, per night and valid for up to three consecutive nights. Camping is limited to a total of six nights within a 30 day period.
$12 / night
Strenuous hike to Upper Chipmunk from Lawn Lake TH. Approximately 4.2 miles to the campsite. Water was not close. You will have to hike down to Ypsilon Lake then back up to the site. Overall, it was quiet no complaints but not my favorite site.
The road is still closed
It can get a little windy, don't expect to do anything with the lake other than look at it. Locals are protective of it. Drove my Class C with no problem. A truck and trailer will also get down here with ease. I don't believe a Class A would be able to find anything. But the view is beautiful. There are a few spots coming in. Keep driving until you hit the lake and there is a large open area with several spots to park.
3 nights starting Thursday after Labor Day. Was able to get the reservation 2 weeks ahead as it was released for use. Camping at this campground also gives you a time+ entry permit good for bear lake road. After 1 pm the first day and then anytime on following days. They have planted many new pine trees a few years ago to replace the ones destroyed years ago. Even then the shade in much of C loop is nonexistent. Thus a tarp is a good thing. Sites are reasonably well separated. In a few years as the new trees mature the privacy between sites will be good or very good. Restrooms were clean. Their time actuated lights makes the campground dark if no one is using the head. That is very good because star watching was excellent (near a new moon). Evening ranger program was held in the amphitheater each night. Hiking trail to sprague lake is about a mile with plenty of birds and other critters. We saw a weasel and a flock of turkeys. At sprague lake around 9 am the local moose goes wading to eat. And of course you are in the park, so you can drive to see elk, coyotes, pika, marmots and more. Great place. T-Mobile varied from 2 bars LTE or 2 bars 5G. Sufficient connectivity
Found a nice big spot with sun and shade and a great overlook. Was a touch concerned that it would get ATV trafficy over the weekend as it was at a junction where 3 roads jet off. However upon inspection on mountain bike, they all dead end and aren't very long, so fun for a little bike ride but not much of an ATV or dirt bike adventure.
Being towards the end we saw very few people and it was quite and serene. We did it in our sprinter camper van with 2WD and pickup.
Only issue we had was due to the nature of disbursed camping not the site or area. A car with 3 men showed up Saturday evening. In the morning one of their dogs wandered over to our site (my husband had run into town so I was alone). Owner meandered over and retrieved her, without a word. Later the 3 of them started walking up one of the roads, them one walked across and just with the dog on the rock outcropping technically on our site. He eventually went back to their site. A while later one of the walkers returned and decided to use his metal detector on the road 30 from our site and right behind where I was sitting. There was oddles of space to explore so it was creepy that's he chose to be that close to me. As I got up to walk back to my van, the second dog came running at me barking. The guy eventually called it back and it left me alone, but again not a word.
I LOVE dogs, but I'm not a fan of their humans who don't keep them within their boundaries and let them charge after "the neighbors"
Except for the creepers, it was a wonderful place
Sites weren’t marked like other places I’ve been but I expected it being dispersed. Had a wonderful time the sky was pretty it was secluded and lots of space for dogs to run!
Lots of room to spread out but some weird regulations. Like only 3.2% alcohol?
We camped right on the reservoir and watched the sun set from our site. Nice allocated areas to set up tents on flat ground and a good sizes fire pit. Just know there’s no firewood left to scavenge on the grounds.
Just a couple small things: There was lots of big rigs (although not right next to you) and you could hear highway 34 for a good portion of the stay.
The pulloff is one of many along the road. It's big, gets you quite far back from the road. Very little traffic on the road at night, I didn't notice any. Peaceful area. Not sure you could get a tent set up off of the pavement, but you could set one up on the gravel. I slept in my car.
Beautiful views and a great spot of Bear Lake Rd.
Nice campground right along the lake. Friendly host that had a few supplies and provided firewood. We saw a bull moose too!
Woke up on the first morning pretty much alone on a Tuesday after Labor Day, fishing happens but the lake remains nice and quiet. Night two had snow and woke up to some white caps. Will be back for sure!
Just stayed here as our Basecamp for our RMNP adventures. This has moved to the top of my list of favorite campsites! Some sites are smaller, but several are good size and spaces far enough apart for the perfect amount of privacy. The vault toilets were the cleanest we have ever seen! Basically no cell service unless the wind blew just right. Also, they do charge an additional $15 to use the dump station. That felt like a rip off considering what we already paid to stay here with no services, but wasn’t much we could do about it.
This campground has everything. Full hook up, shower, restrooms, a great playground and a fantastic river.
Super awesome fishing out here if you know where to go. Great camping. We’ve enjoyed this area!
It’s a place I’ve camped so many times. Just beautiful and in the park so don’t deal with timed entry.
You really want a 4x4 in this area to get to good spots. It’s crowded and can be sketchy in my experience as a fire fighter up there. Bike riders take offense to people shooting and vice versa. Can be loud at night and day with motorized vehicles.
We loved camping here! We were very surprised that our site #14 did have trees and privacy after hearing from others that the Elk loop was bare from beetle kill. Lots of sites are bare, but this one is on the edge close to the Moose loop so plenty of trees. We did have to wait at the entrance gate until almost exactly our check in time at 2:00, but that was ok. Also, rec.gov had the check in and out times incorrect which was confusing, but the flexible and friendly campground hosts allowed us to finish our morning hike, giving us until noon to check out and into our second site(regular check out is 11:00). Something else surprising, the hosts said they often have same day availability due to cancellations and people who leave earlier than expected. Not sure I would take a chance and come up just for that, but it could extend your stay.
We ended up changing from Moose site 17 to site 34 for the second night. Both were amazing and private, but 34 had more space and suited us better. Wonderful experience with friendly and helpful hosts, very clean restrooms, quiet, peaceful, and fantastic hiking- oh and the views from the lake! Book early but don't give up- we got in on cancellations!
So wonderful to walk to the trails and there are many to choose from from. The restrooms are super clean, although not as many and as closely spaced as usual, but it wasn't a problem. We were so happy to make reservations on cancellations as it is super hard to get a spot here. We will try again in the future! Such a gorgeous place.
Went a little further up to a different pull out (same road, maybe 1/2 mile or less up), which ended up being a little more secluded. No outstanding views but a good spot. No cars at night so it was very quiet. If you keep driving on the same road you’ll find a bunch of pull off spots. No internet but starlink was great.
Please text 603 404 8514 if you find a phone at site 15 !
Great spacious spot with picnic table and walkable to the reservoir
Very beautiful place, there is a waterfall a little ways up the mountain, found a beautiful place to pitch up a tent and spend the weekend, definitely going back more often
There was about 36 spots on a Friday morning (@1000am), was lucky to grab a spot that had a pull through and the spot was beautiful. We were lucky enough to find some leftover firewood when we got here and we were close enough to the river. The two major problems are the flys that will not leave the dogs alone and the constant cars that come through since the camping spots are so close to the road. Lots of campsites had spots saved 👎🏻 (if your friends wanna come up, tell them to get there on time 😒) other than that, great site, close access to shelf lake trail, which was beautiful and absolutely worth it.
A few spots available, there is an opening perfect for a group, I stayed very close to a little water stream, awesome
Camping is prohibited now within 1/4 mile on either side of NFS Road 148 (county hwy 7) and NFS Road 156.
Clinging to the side of the mountain, each well appointed site fits the camper's needs, from basic tent pads up to full water and electric connections for RVs. Common bathroom, shower, dish and clothes washing facilities centrally located, clean and well maintained. Sites are spread out a bit if also a little small. Every day I had mule deer visiters. I would definitely stay here again.
Amazing and wonderful absolutely love the view
Came here with my roommates in July after only dispersed camping earlier in the summer. Nice spot with a metal fire pit (good for stage 1 fire ban), picnic table, and tent pad. Tent pad was big enough to squeeze two 3-person tents and a 6-person tent (barely). Walking distance to vault toilets. Some nice foresty hikes between Aspen Meadows and Reverend's Ridge. We could see some other campsites but didn't feel too squished. There's an actual parking lot but we just parked next to our campsite, off the road enough to let other cars pass by easily.
Camping near Northglenn, Colorado, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From established campgrounds to more rustic options, there's something for everyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors.
Camping near Northglenn, CO, has its perks and quirks, but with the right planning, you can have a fantastic outdoor adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Northglenn, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Northglenn, CO is Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area with a 3.6-star rating from 48 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Northglenn, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 64 tent camping locations near Northglenn, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.