Best Dispersed Camping near Pagosa Springs, CO

Searching for the perfect place to dispersed camp near Pagosa Springs? Here you'll find a diverse selection of places to camp, including remote dispersed camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Pagosa Springs's most popular destinations.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Pagosa Springs, CO (46)

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Showing results 1-10 of 46 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews in Pagosa Springs

88 Reviews of 46 Pagosa Springs Campgrounds


  • jsjsjdn I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from West Fork Dispersed
    Oct. 28, 2024

    West Fork Dispersed

    Nice spot by the river

    There were about 4 spots clustered together right after the second bridge (a little over 2 miles from the main road). i took the right fork after that towards the rainbow springs trailhead and didn’t find anything else, but there might be more spots if you take the left fork after the second bridge instead. at the end of october the paid campground you pass by is closed for the season, no water and vault toilets are locked

  • Rick T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Beaver Creek Site 4
    Oct. 18, 2024

    Beaver Creek Site 4

    Nice

    This spot is pretty open with room for a small rv or tent camping. Area Code It's a short drive up to Poage Lake at the top of the mountain and also a short drive to Beaver Creek Reservoir down the mountain.

  • Erik F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from New Jack Road
    Oct. 11, 2024

    New Jack Road

    numerous campsites

    area is pretty rocky so i would be careful with a ground tent. We stayed in our van and it was great.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Elk Creek Trail
    Oct. 11, 2024

    Elk Creek Trail

    spacious creekside hiking area

    Parked on edge of flat in trees close to creek. Nice ambient noise. Fire rings, metal and stone. Plenty of room. Two vault toilets were clean plenty if TP. Lots of trails, bridge over creek, lakes are near by foot.

  • Alice S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping
    Oct. 2, 2024

    Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping

    Really Convenient Location

    The site is literally right off of hwy 160. If your gps tries to send you through residential areas or on county roads don’t listen to it.

    There are quite a few available spots and most are pretty big. Roads can be a bit rough the farther back you go but it’s got large easy to access spots close to the front. It’s pretty busy but still plenty of room for everyone to have their own space.

    Phone and internet connection is excellent!

  • Mark B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pass Creek
    Oct. 1, 2024

    Pass Creek

    Over night sleep stop.

    Stop here just for and sleep stop overnight. Road is well maintained. Several places to pull off the side of the road or actual sites too. We have a 35' 5th wheel and had no problems menivering the area. Nice lake with a parking lot at the end the turn around at if you wish to take the road all the way to the end.

  • Kaltra B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping
    Sep. 24, 2024

    Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping

    Next to highway, 5g connection

    Going east from Durango, you make a right turn on silver hills road. You will see the blm sign. Gravel road, fire pits. We stayed in a camper van at one of the first spots and had 5g internet with AT&T. Can hear highway noise

  • Gayle T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Sultan Dispersed
    Sep. 1, 2024

    Sultan Dispersed

    Accessible but secluded

    This site is easily accessed from the highway; I think even sedans could get to the first few sites if they went slowly. Sites 1-5 are close enough to the highway to get some road noise, but have good tree cover and great views of Grand Turk Mountain! The sites further in are more sheltered from road noise. Beautiful area to camp!

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from East Fork San Juan River, USFS Road 667 - Dispersed Camping
    Sep. 1, 2024

    East Fork San Juan River, USFS Road 667 - Dispersed Camping

    Fun location

    There are 20+ campsites along FR667. Some can accommodate RVs, some only tents. We parked a popup at the 1st campsite past the bridge near the trailhead. 2 waterfalls are close, Pagosa Springs is 30ish mins away. Our kids tubed down the creek. Lots of ATV traffic, some bikes, but overall quiet.

  • Sonny C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from FS Road 631/633
    Aug. 26, 2024

    FS Road 631/633

    Excellent Dispersed Camping Site at end of FS Road 633

    Drove to end of FS 633 to find an unoccupied clean, dispersed campsite with plenty of room. From there, hiked along the adjoining irrigation ditch to Piedra River Falls trailhead for breathtaking views of the multi-tiered waterfalls.

  • Allen The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Beaver Creek Site 4
    Aug. 25, 2024

    Beaver Creek Site 4

    Cliff high exposure

    No water sources within walking distance. The lake is aways away. It's a pull off on the dirt road that's big enough to fit a small camper on the side of a cliff with high exposure. No cover for thunderstorms.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from New Jack Road
    Aug. 18, 2024

    New Jack Road

    Long road, lots of choices!

    Down a dirt road, you get to where you make a turn, and immediately you’ll start seeing unimproved site. The better sites appear to be closest to that turn, but if you keep driving you’ll find plenty of sites not within earshot of anyone else.

    One think I noticed with ATT service you’ll get 2, sometimes 3 bars by my location (below). As I drove the road I was seeing mostly 1-2 bars.

    Bring your own everything and enjoy the peaceful and quiet!

  • Heather M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping
    Aug. 9, 2024

    Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping

    Quiet but popular spot

    Camped here a few weeks ago on our cross-country trek from Utah back to the east coast. Easy to find but as others noted use the coordinates. There is signage for BLM land right as you pull up.

    We got to our spot a little before sunset but noticed that most spots were filled (late july, midweek) so keep that in mind.

    Overall a nice spot, bug free for the most part and accessible with a stock truck.

  • Abby H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Del Norte Dispersed Camping
    Aug. 5, 2024

    Del Norte Dispersed Camping

    Incredible spot during the week

    Incredible spot, river is incredibly cold even in August. Most sites have river access: Wildlife is abundant. Air is cool. One of the most beautiful spots I’ve ever camped at. The only downside? The F’n ATVS. Disrespectful to other campers and stir up SO much dust, also just out right dangerous? Because of this the road is full of washboards. Folks out here apparently also do not care to pick up their trash or have any common curtesy of how to leave a campsite. Very unfortunate:( PSA: clean up your trash and pack out your used toilet paper…. 🤢 We stayed at 3 different sites. Sites get better the further along you go, road is rough but nothing a standard 4x4 vehicle can’t handle. (We have a Toyota Tacoma) There are hiking trails/ ATV trails too. We will definitely be back. Great spot during the week when there’s less traffic!

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Junction Creek Rd Dispersed
    Aug. 4, 2024

    Junction Creek Rd Dispersed

    Nice spot

    We stayed at a site a couple down from this one but it wasn’t on the map so I thought I’d add it. This one has space for 2 vehicles. Road in is decent, fine for bigger rigs. From the trailhead at the point to Quinn creek there are 4 spots. None were occupied when we went, probably more the further down you go

  • Ben H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lower Piedra River Camp
    Jul. 24, 2024

    Lower Piedra River Camp

    Beautiful

    Great camping area, stayed here for just one night. There was plenty of camping areas along the river. About 8 spots. Some were large enough to handle RVs. Others you might require four-wheel drive.

  • Ben H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Forest Road 37
    Jul. 18, 2024

    Forest Road 37

    Remote

    There only seemed to be about 2 camping spots. However there is area to just pull off and park. I stayed here 1 night no issues. There is no Verizon phone signal. Stayed at the first large pull off with a stone circle fireplace. It was nice and quite, not a busy road.

  • Macy E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pass Creek
    Jul. 3, 2024

    Pass Creek

    Roof top tent camping

    This place was perfect for a little one night stop. I am not sure if I would stay much longer, the spots are pretty out in the open not much privacy. there was a couple of spots that are further away from others but most spots are near each other. No bugs, there was service, and saw quite a bit of wild life. It’s closer to the road so we could hear some traffic if it bothers you. roughly about 10 spots

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from New Jack Road
    Jul. 1, 2024

    New Jack Road

    Easy and beautiful

    Super easy to find, travel, and stay. Loved the tall trees and beautiful wildflowers. Despite the rain sites aren’t too muddy for our campervan. Dirt load leading in little bumpy but easy to drive. We stayed about half mile short of the coordinates. Barely any Verizon service. Fire rings, open space, nice fresh air, close to pagosa springs. Would stay again.

  • Greg M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from New Jack Road
    Jun. 21, 2024

    New Jack Road

    Remote, nice and quiet

    We rolled in about 5 pm on a Thursday and there were plenty of open sites. Big sites that are pretty flat with existing stone fireplace rings on all sites we saw. Only saw one person walking their dog and a couple of cars pass on the road. Very quiet, was a peaceful night.

  • Texas Roving Ranger The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from East Fork San Juan River, USFS Road 667 - Dispersed Camping
    Jun. 20, 2024

    East Fork San Juan River, USFS Road 667 - Dispersed Camping

    Boondocking near Pagosa Springs, Colorado

    Great boondocking sites about 45minues from Pagosa Springs. These sites are completely primitive. No restroom facilities, electricity, potable water or trash service.  No cell service.  Its worth it, so plan accordingly. 

    Follow US160E about 10 miles, turn right onto USFS 667.  Pass by the entrance to East Fork Campground and continue on the forest service road.  This is where the road becomes fairly rough.  Dispersed sites begin about 2 miles further. Most sites are clustered together in pockets near the river.  

    We arrived early in the day and found a great site near a vertical rock face.  Campsite was at 8000'.    We stayed a week and only saw other campers on the weekend.  The weather was perfect with day time temps in the 70s and overnight temps in the 50s.  Ideal hiking and fishing conditions.  

    The forest road gets busy with Jeeps and UTvs during the day on weekends.  Our site was far enough away from the road that we weren't bothered. 

    Access to several trails, beautiful valley views and waterfalls nearby .


Drive Time


Guide to Pagosa Springs

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where nature meets tranquility. With a variety of locations to choose from, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to unwind and connect with the great outdoors.

Dispersed campers should check out West Fork Dispersed

  • This area offers a serene experience right by the river, making it a favorite for those who enjoy the sound of flowing water at night. Check out West Fork Dispersed for a peaceful retreat.
  • With easy access just over two miles from the main road, it's a convenient spot for both tent and RV camping. Many campers have reported finding great sites after the second bridge.
  • Pets are welcome here, so you can bring your furry friends along to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Pagosa Springs, Colorado

  • Always be prepared for primitive conditions, as many sites, like Del Norte Dispersed Camping, lack amenities such as drinking water and toilets.
  • Arrive early, especially on weekends, to secure a good spot. Popular areas can fill up quickly, but there are often hidden gems further down the road.
  • Keep an eye out for wildlife and enjoy the natural beauty, but remember to pack out what you pack in to maintain the pristine environment.

Rainbow Hot Springs for dispersed campers

  • For those seeking a unique experience, the hike to Rainbow Hot Springs leads to natural hot springs nestled in the wilderness, perfect for a relaxing soak after a day of hiking.
  • The trail can be challenging, but the reward of soaking in the springs surrounded by nature is well worth the effort. Be sure to bring a water filter for hydration along the way.
  • Camping near the hot springs allows for a peaceful night under the stars, with the added bonus of having the springs to yourself during the quieter hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Pagosa Springs, CO?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Pagosa Springs, CO is West Fork Dispersed with a 4.6-star rating from 16 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Pagosa Springs, CO?

    TheDyrt.com has all 46 dispersed camping locations near Pagosa Springs, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.