Best Tent Camping near Northglenn, CO

Dispersed camping areas populate the mountains and foothills west of Northglenn, Colorado, providing tent campers with both primitive and established options. Winiger Ridge at Gross Reservoir offers designated tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings, while Dream Canyon and Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area provide more rustic experiences in the Roosevelt National Forest approximately 30-45 minutes from Northglenn.

Many tent campsites in this region require high-clearance or 4WD vehicles to access. Winiger Ridge's access road features rough terrain with deep ruts, making it unsuitable for standard passenger cars. The designated tent sites typically include fire rings and some have picnic tables, but few offer drinking water or toilet facilities. A review noted, "Stayed at campsite 18, had great views and nice weather, no water though but there is a lake down the road. 4x4 Required as roads were rough." Most dispersed camping areas maintain a 14-day stay limit and require campers to pack out all waste, as trash service is nonexistent.

Walk-in tent locations at Sawmill Hiker Campground provide a beginner-friendly backpacking experience with more amenities than dispersed sites. A visitor commented that "It is a 1 mile, easy hike. The first 1/3 of a mile is dirt, the remainder is gravel," making it accessible for most tent campers. The walk-in tent sites at this location include picnic tables, pit toilets, and bear boxes for food storage. Tent campsites throughout the region fill quickly on summer weekends, particularly those closest to Boulder. Sites farther from population centers offer greater solitude but require more planning and self-sufficiency. During fire ban seasons, which frequently occur in summer and fall, open flames may be prohibited even in established fire rings, requiring campers to use camp stoves instead.

Best Tent Sites Near Northglenn, Colorado (72)

    1. Winiger Ridge at Gross Reservoir

    24 Reviews
    Eldorado Springs, CO
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 541-2500

    "Came here for my birthday a few years ago, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking—mountains, lake views, the whole deal!"

    "Stayed at campsite 18, had great views and nice weather, no water though but there is a lake down the road. 4x4 Required as roads were rough"

    2. Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area

    54 Reviews
    Nederland, CO
    28 miles
    Website

    "So the Gordon Gulch dispersed camping area has around 15 numbered sites that are ok... but if you keep driving further down 233.1 you will find many more unnumbered campsites."

    "Prior campers have left some trash, bullet casings and obviously neglected to dig cat holes. After a quick clean up, the site was fine for my purposes."

    3. Dream Canyon Campsites - Dispersed Camping

    22 Reviews
    Nederland, CO
    23 miles
    Website

    "However, proximity to Boulder is a huge plus if you are looking for a quick and easy get away."

    "Was desperate to find "something" after driving 11 hours that day, and normal paid camp grounds were full. HOWEVER I was pulling a smaller trailer, and that turned out to be a real issue."

    4. Aspen Meadows Campground — Golden Gate Canyon

    8 Reviews
    Black Hawk, CO
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 582-3707

    $28 / night

    "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)."

    "This site is surrounded by pine trees, aspens and boulders. Parking is a bit tight and the some of the sites pretty steep. Dude's Fishing Hole is within walking distance."

    5. Allenspark Dispersed Camping

    28 Reviews
    Allenspark, CO
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 295-6600

    "Our spot was near the creek, the sound was beautiful. The only downside was absolutely no cell service."

    "Fire ban was in effect when we went, but lots of fire circles available otherwise. Bring bug spray, the flies are bold."

    6. Sawmill Hiker Campground

    2 Reviews
    Arvada, CO
    19 miles
    Website

    $12 / night

    "This semi-primitive campsite requires a permit from the Open Space Office of Jefferson County, CO. The permit is free, however you must pick up the permit in person at their offices."

    "Great hike in campground. It was our first hike in and we loved it! Spots aren’t too close to each other and there’s great views!"

    7. N Boulder Creek Dispersed Camping

    6 Reviews
    Nederland, CO
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 295-6600

    "Nice spot not to far from the roadside"

    "Nice views, plenty of space. Dirt road for The last mile or so but it’s in great condition."

    8. Ceran St. Vrain Trail Dispersed Camping

    8 Reviews
    Jamestown, CO
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (303) 541-2500

    $1 / night

    "My son and I joined a friend from Longmont and headed to this trail to camp for a couple days."

    "We went here with our 2 dogs for a quick overnighter-only about 45 minutes outside of Boulder. It was a Sunday morning and the lot was almost full when we got there around 9am."

    9. Bear Creek Lake Campground

    3 Reviews
    Morrison, CO
    23 miles
    Website

    $34 - $40 / night

    "Nice big sites, open space without a lot of trees, beautiful views, clean restrooms, showers (pay for) water fill stations, dump station, several restrooms."

    "Super close to Denver and offered through the City of Lakewood. The sites are for tent/RV and have electric hookups. Beautiful area."

    10. Hermits Hollow Campground — Hermit Park

    26 Reviews
    Estes Park, CO
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 577-2090

    $35 / night

    "Best place to camp in Estes Park/Northern Colorado! Wooded sites mean privacy from your neighbors and shade during the day. Vault toilets are very clean, well kept."

    "Very conveniently located, only a short drive into Estes Park. Lots of trails for hiking and biking in the park. Each campsite had a bear box, picnic table, and fire ring."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Northglenn, CO

2034 Reviews of 72 Northglenn Campgrounds


  • C
    Aug. 2, 2018

    Glacier Basin Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    Great Campground

    This Rocky Mountain National Park campground is fantastic. I tent camped with my husband for 3 nights in Loop B. We saw tents and all sizes of campers many with families. Our tent site included a nice tent pad, picnic table, fire ring, and a shared bear box. The fire ban had been lifted and we could buy fire wood each evening-and ice cream! Clean bathrooms with flush toilets. This campground is very close to a number of trails. We hiked the Sprague Lake Trail. It’s 2 miles round trip and pretty easy. Breathtaking views. If you don’t hike, you can drive all the way to the Trail Ridge gift shop and cafe at the top. This park fills up quickly-amost 3 million visitors a year-so plan to get started early. We love RMNP. We will be back this fall!

  • Florian J.
    Jul. 5, 2021

    Buckingham Campground

    Great location, sites next to creek, but very busy

    We came here in early July to hike up South and North Arapahoe Peaks (and Diamond Lake for warm-up). The sites are nice right next to a creek, with very few mosquitos. Make sure to stay close to the designated areas (fwiw, Rangers monitor the site). No campfires were allowed and they are no fire rings, so I assume that the fire ban is typical rather than the exception. Bear-proof food storage is provided at each site.

    We made it up the dirt road in our little Honda Fit but that was touch and go at times, and required some careful driving. 99% of the cars at the campground and trailhead were 4x4s. 

    The location is great with plenty of trailheads right next to the campground. But that also means that site is very busy. The trailhead parking fills up as early as 5am. It wasn't much of an issue in terms of loudness, but it does mean that the only two restrooms are also used by hundreds of hikers each day …

    There are no trash bins (i.e., pack out whatever trash you produce), there is no drinking water (except for the creek if you have filters), all sites are walk-in though parking is just a few meters away (one is ADA accessible with parking right next to the site). With Google Fi (Spring) we had no cell reception (we lost signal even prior to the start of the dirt road, so many miles before the campground). Sites are in the shade below trees, and there are picnic tables.

    Overall, I'd visit this place again, just because of the convenient access to amazing trails and scrambles. Trails to Diamond Lake (10km out-and-back) and Arapahoe pass were quite busy, but not unpleasantly so. The trail up to the Arapahoe Peaks (13km out-and-back to South Peak) was *much* less busy though we still saw about 8-10ish groups throughout the day (took us 2:10h up to South Arapahoe Peak, about 30-40 minutes to traverse to North Arapahoe).

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 18, 2021

    Kelly Dahl

    Stark

    Sites:  46   20 sites FCFS

    Reservation:  877-444-6777 or recreation.gov

    Sites that fit tent, trailers, RV's

    Open Mid May - Mid Oct

    Firewood from camp host, picnic table, fire ring/grill, bear box at tent sites, pit toilet, water, trash, no electric, hookups, dump station or showers

    Sites are very small

    Great sightseeing to check out.  Several historic mining towns and some great hiking trails.  Views of the surrounding mountains are totally amazing.

    AT&T and Verizon service but it is spotty.

    The Mountain Pine beetle is decimating the forest and it is so sad to see.  The forest service is working very hard to keep up with the removal of dead trees and it is creating expansive open area.  The plus side of the removal is for solar.  They are also removing the stumps thank goodness.  Be very careful while walking in the forest for falling limbs or trees.

    Directions:  About four miles south of Nederland, Colorado, on Colorado Highway (CO) 119, watch for the entrance to Kelly Dahl Campground on the east side of the highway at mile marker 22.

    LNT

    Better than when you found it

    Stay safe and happy travels

  • Mike S.
    Oct. 12, 2018

    West Chicago Creek

    Great place to stay, but Mt. Evans is 10 miles away

    I love this place. The campground is full every weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day due to reservations made at recreation.gov up to 6 months and more than 48 hours in advance, and being so close to metro Denver.

    The campground has 16 sites; 4 Walk-In, 1 host and 11 are reservable. Check in after 2:00 and check out by 1:00. If someone has a reservation, like a hotel, their site is held until 1:00 the next day because of the Forest Service rule that the campsite must be occupied the first night and they could have had delays.

    The campground is at 9600’ and the last mile of the dirt road is a bit rough, but I have seen low profile cars and 42’ Class A motor home with a towed vehicle. Well water normally supplies the campground to faucets, but has not been productive the entire 2019 season and there are vault toilets. Each site has its own bear box and fire ring. The creek is less than 100 meters from the campground and fishing this year was poor... water level was low. Lots of great hiking and climbing in the area. About a 40 degree difference between day and night. During the fire ban, dispersed camping is limited to just a few areas so the campground is a great place to stay and you might still be able to have a fire in the fire ring. Privately owned cabins can be seen as you walk through the woods. Hell’s Hole Trail is a few hundred yards from the campground. I’m looking forward to going back there as host next year.

  • Chad K.
    Aug. 3, 2019

    Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    Great campground

    This campground is in the middle of Rocky Mountain NP. Our site was in loop D. The sites are a little packed but give you enough space to spread out. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring with a shared bear box. The tent pads are level as d have plenty of shade. The bath rooms have no showers and are a little dated but adequate for a national park. It is centrally locates to bear lake and Estes Park. We will be back.

  • Jessica K.
    Oct. 13, 2018

    Sawmill Hiker Campground

    Easy Backpacking Experience

    My husband went to this campsite with a group of Scouts and took me and our 1 year old a few weeks later. I had never been backpacking up until this point because I was always intimidated by the experience. This was an excellent "beginner" foray into backpacking!

    This semi-primitive campsite requires a permit from the Open Space Office of Jefferson County, CO. The permit is free, however you must pick up the permit in person at their offices. Be prepared with a valid ID. This is a popular campsite for Scout Troops, so calling ahead for availability is a great idea.

    There is an exact address available on the website and at the Open Space Office that you can put into your GPS and drive straight to the parking lot of the trailhead.

    My husband and I came in through the West Trailhead. It is a 1 mile, easy hike. The first 1/3 of a mile is dirt, the remainder is gravel. It is fairly hilly, but easy enough that we actually opted to push our Jogging Stroller with our kid the entire way (which is very doable) whilst wearing our backpacking gear.

    The campsites are well maintained and quite spread out from one another. So although there was a group of scouts, a group of friends, and a bigger youth group who all hiked in, it did not feel crowded or noisy.

    We brought our dog, as pets are allowed on a leash. We set up our tent on the graveled pad at each site and boiled up some soup on the provided picnic tables. The website as of 2018 will tell you that fires are permitted in the designated fire rings, however a permanent fire ban has recently been put into place (which is too bad!) and all the fire rings and wood piles have been removed from the area - so really, NO FIRES ALLOWED. The pit toilets are very accessible and clean. It is technically Bear Country, so bear boxes and trash cans are provided for the overall campground.

    My favorite thing about our particular campsite (site 15) was the view. At night you can see all the city lights of sprawling Denver, but then have a perfect view of the sunrise in the morning. Witnessing the sunrise from this spot will always be one of my favorite memories. Seriously so amazing!

    We hiked out the next morning, simple as that, but realized we had misplaced our car keys...after 2.5 hours of searching and walking back and forth between the campsite and our car, we found our keys in the bottom of our tent. So really, if I could offer one piece of advice, always know where your keys are! Despite this incident, the location was great and the experience worthwhile! And I feel like it gave me a good taste of what to expect when backpacking in the future, which is exactly what I was looking for.

  • William C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 5, 2023

    West Chicago Creek

    Quiet Campsite

    Quiet campground- especially early in the season.

    $22/night; Firewood bundles on-site for $9.

    Each site has a picnic table and a bear box for food storage.

    Bathrooms were clean. Sites are smaller and very close together. Little privacy if visiting during a busier time.

    Sites 7, 9, and 11 have trails that connect back to Chicago creek just a short distance away. Hiking trails are close by to nearby forests land. No cell service.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2022

    Buckingham Campground

    Beautiful setting, busy trailhead

    What an awesome site! Bear boxes and concrete picnic tables. There are only 5 campsites here and one is handicapped only. That and the next site, where I stayed, are right off the dirt road. There are 3 more sites past the barrier which are more secluded but require schlepping your stuff farther.

    Fourth of July trailhead is busy and parking fills up fast in the morning. The hike is breathtaking in beauty; the wildflower covered mountain meadows are glorious! It’s possible to backpack in and stay in the rough. I met several groups who’d done just that. Buckingham campground, however, makes a great base camp if you prefer, like I do, car camping.

    No fires allowed, of course, but a Ranger once told me as long as it has an off switch it’s okay. I brought my gas ring and was pleasant warm drinking tea and listening to a light rain hitting the awning as twilight turned to night.

    The one consistent drawback was airplane noise every few minutes. There’s a flight path right above. While I saw plenty of people in the trail the campsite was secluded and quiet, especially at night. Dogs on leash are welcome and there’s a vault toilet 😀

  • L
    Jul. 16, 2018

    Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    Spacious and shaded

    This campground is beautifully designed. The spaces are slightly spread out and staggered to offer more privacy than others in the area. Lots of trees and big rocks to add to the privacy. Very clean facility, with easy access to bathrooms, water and bear boxes. We were very pleased with the quality of the tent space and table. (Technically we tent camped at a site for an RV, but it still has a level tent spot). It was one of the best in the area we have camped at. Also walking distance to a shuttle that will take you to nearby touristy trailheads (like Bear Lake). Only disappointing thing is the full fire ban currently in effect- so no campfire.


Guide to Northglenn

Tent camping near Northglenn, Colorado offers campers access to Roosevelt National Forest dispersed sites situated between 7,000-9,000 feet elevation. These camping areas experience significant temperature drops after sunset even in summer months, with nighttime temperatures frequently dropping 30-40°F below daytime highs. Most dispersed camping locations west of Northglenn sit along drainage areas or creek systems that create natural divisions between campsites.

What to do

Kayaking at Gross Reservoir: Located approximately 45 minutes from Northglenn at Winiger Ridge at Gross Reservoir, visitors can paddle on the reservoir but must follow specific regulations. "Gross Reservoir is not gross! It is an awesome SUPing, kayaking, or canoeing option close to Denver and Boulder... There are a lot of inlets to paddle into and trails to explore. However, there are some cons to the reservoir; there are a lot of rules that are strictly enforced. There is no swimming in the reservoir, which is very tempting. You can only launch your boat at the boat launch on the southeast side of the reservoir."

Hiking to mountaintop views: Kruger Rock Trail at Hermits Hollow Campground offers panoramic views accessible to most fitness levels. "The Kruger Rock Trailhead is inside the campground, and it is a nice hike with an amazing view of the Rockies and Estes at the top. Bring your crayons - there are two trailmarkers on the trail that you can do rubbings of."

Wildlife watching at dawn and dusk: Many campsites offer opportunities to spot wildlife near Northglenn. "Moose visitors at dawn and evening, and hungry bears scavenging for food at night is a common occurrence," notes one camper at Hermits Hollow. Some sites like Allenspark Dispersed Camping require careful food storage, as one camper warned: "a huge bear got into my tent while I was gone for 2 hours and absolutely destroyed it."

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area features numbered sites with sufficient separation. "We went on a Sunday, the weekend after the 4th of July. It was quite easy to find a campground for dispersed camping with other sites marked. Recommend a 4-wheel drive vehicle to reach some of the spots, especially if there is poor weather. It is populated with people on ATVs, as well as other campers near you if you decide on an easy-to-access campsite."

Creek-side locations: Many campers value water features at N Boulder Creek Dispersed Camping, where sites exist along natural water courses. "I loved this spot! it's only about 10 minutes from Nederland and 45 minutes from boulder. There are mountains and aspen forests and wildflowers everywhere! i also saw elk nearby. the road isn't terrible but there are some rocks and bumps. i made it in a volkswagen tiguan while towing a camper."

Peaceful weekday experiences: The dispersed areas near Northglenn become considerably less crowded midweek. At Allenspark Dispersed Camping, one camper noted: "Lots of spots available. Just keep driving along Ski Road and pick one that looks good. Lots of fire pits already build and most camp spots are along the creek. A 2wd car can access quite a bit but if you want to go further up Ski road, definitely bring a 4x4 with high clearance."

What you should know

Vehicle clearance considerations: Roads into many campgrounds deteriorate seasonally and require appropriate vehicles. "Gnarly ass road, not for trailers/sedans. Camp sites are nice, but except for a few (~5) the rest require a serious climb (drive) up a gnarly hill with deep ruts. I wouldn't try this with a camper/RV, or anything that doesn't have high clearance and power," noted one visitor about Winiger Ridge at Gross Reservoir.

Permanent resident concerns: Some dispersed camping areas have semi-permanent occupants. One camper at Gordon Gulch observed: "Overall a nice place to camp but as soon as you drive through you are met with run down sites filled with trash bags that look like people permanently live there. It gives meth lab vibes through out the camp until you get further out."

Regional wildlife precautions: Bears and other wildlife present consistent challenges in camping areas near Northglenn. At Dream Canyon Campsites, campers should be particularly vigilant: "Basic primitive dispersed camping. Just watch your food or the Huskies might get it if you're not paying attention."

Tips for camping with families

Beginner backpacking experience: Sawmill Hiker Campground offers families an introductory backpacking opportunity with minimal commitment. "This semi-primitive campsite requires a permit from the Open Space Office of Jefferson County, CO. The permit is free, however you must pick up the permit in person at their offices. Be prepared with a valid ID. This is a popular campsite for Scout Troops, so calling ahead for availability is a great idea."

Playground access: Bear Creek Lake Campground features multiple play areas for children. "Super close to Denver and offered through the City of Lakewood. The sites are for tent/RV and have electric hookups. Beautiful area. There's a few playgrounds within the campground and park area, with access to trails to the lake, a boat launch and boat rental, equestrian stables, and archery."

Larger group sites: Some areas accommodate multiple tents and vehicles for family gatherings. One camper at Winiger Ridge noted: "The best part? Our campsite was huge—plenty of space for our whole group, multiple tents, and a couple of cars. With a picnic table and fire pit included, it made for the perfect outdoorsy hangout spot."

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most dispersed camping areas near Northglenn lack RV amenities, but established campgrounds offer alternatives. "Nice big sites, open space without a lot of trees, beautiful views, clean restrooms, showers (pay for) water fill stations, dump station, several restrooms," reports a visitor to Bear Creek Lake Campground.

Road condition challenges: Many access roads deteriorate seasonally. "The road was pretty mild but on up gets a lot more rough! The pull offs are great and most of them have fire rings," noted one camper at Allenspark Dispersed Camping.

Weather preparations: RVers should plan for rapid temperature changes and sudden weather systems. "It snowed on me overnight and the road was still very passable. The last few sites felt just a little too sketchy for my driving skills. It was pretty empty in January, one big pile of trash that was unfortunate and a few people seemed to be there long term," shared a winter visitor to Gordon Gulch.

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 Winiger Ridge at Gross Reservoir with a 3.8-star rating from 24 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Northglenn, CO?

TheDyrt.com has all 72 tent camping locations near Northglenn, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.