Dispersed camping options near Norwood, Colorado offer a mix of mountain forest settings and desert canyon environments at 7,000-9,400 feet elevation. The region features primarily primitive sites with most dispersed locations requiring visitors to be self-sufficient. Thunder Trails and Busted Arm Draw provide designated dispersed camping areas with established fire rings in ponderosa pine forests, while more developed campgrounds along the San Miguel River offer basic amenities.
What to do
Fishing at multiple locations: Woods Lake Campground, situated at 9,400 feet, provides access to productive fishing waters. A camper noted, "Enjoyed fishing there with beautiful views. The campground is over 9400 feet in elevation. I did some huffing & puffing while walking around there."
Mountain biking on forest roads: The area around Thunder Road Dispersed offers direct trail access for cycling enthusiasts. According to a review, "There aren't many places where you can camp in a cool pine forest, hop on your mtb or dirt bike, and ride right from camp. Thunder Trails are it!"
Paddle sports on reservoirs: Miramonte Reservoir provides opportunities for canoeing and paddle boarding. As one visitor mentioned, "We brought our canoe so that we could try and catch lunch for the couple days we were there. Of the three species of trout (rainbow, brown and cutthroat) we caught two rainbow trout and they were lunch both Saturday and Sunday."
Wildlife viewing: The region hosts diverse wildlife throughout the camping areas. A visitor at Ledges Cottonwood Campground reported, "We watched golden eagles soaring along the canyon rim above us and added a couple of high desert birds to our life list. We did have a fox visit us one morning."
What campers like
Dark sky stargazing: Busted Arm Draw Dispersed sits in a designated dark sky zone. A camper reported, "The entire area sits at about 8,000 ft in ponderosa forest. Many of the sites have excellent views of the Lone Cone mountain. The area is a designated dark sky zone, the night sky and the stars will blow your mind!"
Spacious, quiet sites: Campers value the privacy at several locations around Norwood. At Caddis Flats, a visitor found unexpected solitude: "We are in a 25 ft class C RV. No one else was here so it was nice and cozy. The area was quiet and the stars were amazing."
River-side camping: Sites along the San Miguel River provide a relaxing soundtrack. One camper at Lower Beaver Campground described their experience: "We found a site right behind the bathrooms, to some that is unappealing but with small children, it's perfect. When you hike back in to the woods you find a picnic table, a grill and a fire ring. It had plenty of space when you went in to the clearing for a tent and was right on the river."
High altitude views: Camping at higher elevations rewards visitors with scenic vistas. At Last Dollar Road, a visitor shared, "Most beautiful campspot I have seen yet! The views were unreal!! Sadly it was pretty rainy that week but the storms were so cool to watch roll in, the clouds were basically our level."
Scout
