S
Susan W.
Scout
ScoutUncompahgre National Forest Thistledown Campground
Unit 8 is the best. Next to a stream. Only a restroom. Bring exerything you need otherwise.
Camping near Norwood, CO
235 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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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.
Best Campgrounds near Norwood (235)
1. Last Dollar Road
"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!"
2. Caddis Flats
"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."
3. Thunder Road North
"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."
4. Alta Lakes Campground (Dispersed)
"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."
5. BLM Lower Beaver Campground
"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."
6. Thunder Road Dispersed
"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."
7. Ledges Rockhouse Campground
"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."
8. Ledges Cottonwood Campground
"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. "
9. Miramonte Reservoir
"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."
10. Busted Arm Draw Dispersed
"Right off 44ZS (Lone Cone Road), there’s easy access National Forest access to gravel and 4x4 roads that connect Norwood to Telluride, Rico, Dunton, Dolores, & Naturita."
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 15 min from Grand Junction, CO
- 3 hrs from Farmington, NM
- 5 hrs 11 min from Pueblo, CO
- 5 hrs 32 min from Colorado Springs, CO
Recent Camping Photos near Norwood, CO
396 Photos of 235 Norwood Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
BLM Lower Beaver Campground
Ledges Rockhouse Campground
Ledges Cottonwood Campground
Sanborn Rd Powerline Dispersed Camping
Busted Arm Draw Dispersed
Miramonte Reservoir
Dan Noble State Wildlife Area Miramonte Reservoir
Caddis Flats
High Country RV Park
Last Dollar Road
Woods Lake Campground
Blue Lake Dispersed Camping- CLOSED
Recent Reviews near Norwood, CO
1276 Reviews of 235 Norwood Campgrounds
- TTravis R.Scout
Site near Black Canyon Gunnison NP
Great site with tons of options… slippery mud when wet… past the first few spots I would recommend 4x4 if wet…
- BBrigid K.
TravelerBlack Canyon Dispersed Camping
Very muddy but easily found a spot. Not crowded at all (granted it is mid to late October but still).
willem V.
GuideThe Views RV Park & Campground
The perfect and best campsite
Perfect, no negative comments. The views are amazing. The sites are large with full hook ups. There is glamping and tents. Everything looks brand-new. Restrooms/ showers are meticulous. There is firewood available, nice firepits. You can buy propane. Very friendly couple that own and host the camping/ rv site. They guide you to your campsite. In one word perfect, we will be back
Casey P.TravelerLong Park Rd Dispersed Camping
Cliffside views into Paradox Valley
There are several dispersed pullouts as you go up EE22 Rd (aka Long Park Rd) from CO 90. I stopped at the 3rd or so place, about 3.1 miles up. It was tight for my 25ft trailer, but made it work. There was a nice established fire pit, grand valley vista, and quiet solitude.
- aamber H.Guide
Red Mountain Creek
busy on weekends great river/ creek spots
I arrived around 4 on a Friday in the fall and it was packed. I had to leave but came back the following Monday and there were lots of spots right off 550 close to Ouray
James S.ScoutHermosa Park Road 578 - Dispersed
Stayed in the rain on the creek
This was the perfect spot to camp in the rain. It had a nice creek and several sites available. The creek behind the site was epic. The drive in was easy and way better and secluded spots than nearby Lime Creek. Do not drive above the frost spot at lime creek it sucked! We went all the way to the top at Potato Lake and nothing was better than the first few spots which were wide open to everyone else around. We stayed in the free spots directly across from Sig creek. Not sure what that's like, but there is no way it's better especially considering the cost ($0.00). We can pack our doo out for a few bucks and privacy. The post adjacent to our (to the right) was taken but had a small and fast flowing waterfall in the rain. I'd have loved to have snagged that.
- SSteve F.Traveler
McPhee Campground
Great park service spot
I have stayed here several times when traveling north and south. During the summer they have flush toilets that the hosts keep spotless. There is the Can Do trail to the north of the Pinon loop which overlooks the McPhee reservoir. The Juniper loop is FCFS and Pinon is reserved on Recreation.gov although in the shoulder seasons there have been plenty of FCFS spots in both loops. Weekends are busy and Pinon closes October 1.
- AAnthony M.Guide
Alta Lakes Campground (Dispersed)
Great spot
This is an amazing 7day spot with spectacular views but the rd here is rocky and rutted! I made it in my van but probably wouldn’t recommend it
Guide to Norwood
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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Norwood, CO?
What camping is available near Norwood, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Norwood, CO offers a wide range of camping options, with 235 campgrounds and RV parks near Norwood, CO and 94 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Norwood, CO?
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 4.4-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Norwood, CO?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Norwood, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 94 free dispersed camping spots near Norwood, CO.
What parks are 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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