Best Tent Camping near Norwood, CO
Tent campsites around Norwood, Colorado range from established sites at Miramonte Reservoir to dispersed camping areas in the surrounding mountains. Alta Lakes Campground offers primitive tent camping at higher elevations, while Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area provides designated walk-in tent sites with basic amenities. Fall Creek Camping offers additional options for backcountry tent camping within driving distance of Norwood.
Most tent sites in the Norwood area feature fire rings but limited other amenities. Miramonte Reservoir provides vault toilets and picnic tables, though campers should bring their own toilet paper. At Alta Lakes Campground, the access road requires high-clearance vehicles, with one reviewer noting that "you will want a high clearance vehicle, we took our F350 up." Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area features designated tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings, plus a vault toilet. Bear activity is common in the region, particularly at higher elevations, requiring proper food storage in vehicles or bear canisters.
The tent camping experience varies significantly with elevation and season. Miramonte Reservoir tent sites offer fishing access and open views with limited shade. One camper described it as having "huge sites backed right up to a path that led down to the reservoir." Alta Lakes provides alpine scenery at higher elevation, though sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area offers more secluded tent camping with some sites under tree cover. Weather conditions change rapidly, particularly at higher elevations where afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer months. Fall and spring camping brings cooler temperatures, with overnight lows potentially dropping below freezing even in early September. Tent campers should prepare for temperature swings and bring appropriate gear for cold nights, especially at the higher elevation backcountry sites.
