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Western Colorado's Norwood area features diverse camping environments ranging from free dispersed sites to established campgrounds with basic amenities. Campgrounds like Thunder Road Dispersed and Busted Arm Draw offer free primitive camping in ponderosa pine forests at elevations around 8,000 feet. BLM-managed sites such as Lower Beaver Campground and Caddis Flats provide developed camping along the San Miguel River. Most locations accommodate both tent and RV camping, with a few sites like Ledges Rockhouse Campground also offering cabin options.
The San Miguel River Recreation Area includes several BLM campgrounds with varying amenities and a 7-day camping limit. Many developed sites feature vault toilets, picnic tables, and established fire rings but no drinking water, trash disposal, or hookups. Road conditions can be challenging, with several campgrounds requiring travel on narrow, bumpy gravel roads. Some areas have cattle gates that must be closed after passing through. Summer temperatures often reach the 90s during the day while dropping to the 50s at night. As one visitor noted, "The road is narrow and a bit bumpy, at times a higher clearance vehicle is nice but I think I've seen cars back there too."
Campers report excellent stargazing opportunities in the region's designated dark sky zone. Sites along the San Miguel River are particularly popular, offering water access for fishing, swimming, and boating. Wildlife sightings are common, with visitors reporting encounters with foxes, bears, and diverse bird species. Several campgrounds feature spacious sites with good separation for privacy. While some locations experience highway noise, others offer exceptional quiet. A visitor camping at Thunder Road noted, "Easy to get to, well maintained gravel roads, each site is designated and has a fire ring, super quiet and private." Cell service varies significantly throughout the area, with some campgrounds receiving adequate coverage while others have none at all. Most visitors recommend bringing all necessary supplies as the nearest towns and services can be quite distant.
"Some of the best in Colorado. I had good cell service too (working remotely). There are some larger dispersed campgrounds near the top trailhead that are more in the woods."
"We drove in from ouray side and took the long 40 min dirt road and I will say, the road was rough.. we made it just fine in my hyundai tuscan but I will say, I was sh*ting myself driving it!"
"Campground Review Caddis flats is located not too far from Placerville, and a short distance farther in the opposite direction from Norwood."
"This site was tucked in by the water. No amenities but perfect to put a tent for the night and be close to the river."
"Good spot but 15 min off the highway so it can be difficult if you are short on time or tired.. Private. Only 2 or 3 spots available."
"Pine trees, MTB & hiking trails, flat. Very private and quiet. Will happily camp here again."
"We have stopped here before but didn't really see any sites, except one that was tucked back by a tree that had a note on it saying "don't camp under this tree". The tree was, well, dead."
"Beautiful views of surrounding mountains and Alta lakes as well as access to the ghost town of Alta."
"One of those classic colorado vistas, with outdoors feel, safe swimming for children and all round good times."
"Thunder Trails are it! Easy to get to, well maintained gravel roads, each site is designated and has a fire ring, super quiet and private, and the trails are fun cross country style loops."
"There was also a fire ring next to a picnic table covered by a pavilion."
"It's out a ways down a dirt road but it's worth the drive back. There is a campground before it but keep going another mile. There are a lot of sites, all free. Some have fire rings, many don't."
"Campground Review This campground is tucked back a little ways. We had to go through a cattle gate, it's not always closed but this trip it was."
"No worries, the road is public so just close the fence/gate behind you. We had a spot right on the river. Not much to do there unless you like to fish or bird watch. "
"The site was huge, we could see our neighbors but the site was still huge, backed right up to a path that led down to the reservoir."
"first come first serve with easy access to the water not too crouded, large camp spaces with daily clean up."
"Steps away from Woods Lake and the trails!"
"We found site 12 open and it was a nice roomy site with a long drive leading down to our picnic table, and beyond that there was a tent pad."
GuideThis will do in a pinch; however, there are no trees to keep you shaded from the sun. It is very windy at the top of this hill, but the views are pretty, and it is secluded with some minor traffic along the logging road next to the area.
GuideKendall is definitely a busy dispersed camping spot, with everything from tents to large RVs. I was still able to find a nice secluded spot tucked away for my Bronco and tent. Despite the crowd, it was surprisingly quiet overnight. There was some generator noise from the larger rigs during the busier hours, but nothing that really bothered me. Great location just outside Silverton, vault toilets available, and Verizon service was good enough for calls and texts. I’d definitely stay here again.
ScoutWe were initially going to only spend a night, but ended up staying 2. The 360 Mountain View’s are stunning, easy walking distance to everything Silverton has to offer. Cleanest bathrooms we’ve seen in a campground, and staff was super friendly. There is a stream behind the campground, and I’m told there’s a beaver that lives 100 yds away. Other campers report seeing moose and bears wandering through. We will definitely return!
ScoutWe had this campground practically to ourselves on Labor Day weekend. Beautiful mountains and a stream running right through. Not a ton of great spots to pitch a tent but we had our pick of the lot and found a great spot! Highly recommend
GuideNot very crowded easy in and out. Fresh water bathrooms were closed for renovations
GuideVery nice campsite I enjoyed so much more than south rim, but a long drive on unsaved road
GuideVery nice campground, I had to get a full hookup site because I needed a pull through, so a little extra cost. Level concrete pads, covered picnic tables etc. I like that they have extra dumpsters and camp hosts if needed. The cost for full hookups is $41 + a park fee. The big difference between this and an RV park is the space between sites is really nice. Also my Verizon phone got one bar
GuideHorrible rutted roads, huge areas of tree trimmings and branches lining the already narrow road. Other areas have branches hanging down No place to turn around.
GuideThis is a very accessable site that anyone can get to. Not too many spots and it looks to be mostly RVs. Not too far from telluride and there's a hiking trail nextdoor.
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.
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."
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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Norwood, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Norwood, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 234 campgrounds and RV parks near Norwood, CO and 93 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Norwood, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Norwood, CO is Last Dollar Road with a 4.3-star rating from 30 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Norwood, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 93 free dispersed camping spots near Norwood, CO.
What parks are near Norwood, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Norwood, CO that allow camping, notably Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests and Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests.
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