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Best Tent Camping near Pagosa Springs, CO

766 Reviews

San Juan National Forest surrounding Pagosa Springs, Colorado offers several free dispersed tent camping options with Turkey Creek Road and Forest Road 37 being popular choices. These primitive tent campsites provide access to mountain views and trails while maintaining proximity to town amenities. Kenny Flats Dispersed Camping and Lower Piedra River Camp also accommodate tent campers with walk-in sites available at several locations. Stunner Campground, located near Del Norte, provides established tent-only camping with basic amenities during its Memorial Day to Labor Day season.

Most tent camping areas near Pagosa Springs feature uneven terrain that requires careful site selection. Turkey Creek Road includes approximately 4-6 designated sites along a 3-mile dirt road with established fire rings but no water sources or toilets. Campers should bring all necessary supplies including drinking water, as no services are available at these primitive tent sites. Four-wheel drive vehicles may be necessary to access some pull-offs, particularly after rain or during early spring when roads can be muddy. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most locations, with spotty Verizon coverage reported at Turkey Creek Road and T-Mobile service available at Forest Road 37.

The tent camping experience varies significantly by location. At Turkey Creek Road, campers report excellent mountain views but note the sloped terrain can make finding flat tent pads challenging. One visitor mentioned, "This entire area is at a slope, so you'd be hard pressed to find somewhere flat to set up your tent." Despite this limitation, the sites remain popular for their scenic value and proximity to Pagosa Springs hot springs. Poage Lake Primitive Campsite offers a different backcountry tent camping experience with a secluded lake setting ideal for fly fishing. According to reviews, "The lake is secluded and pristine and surrounded by old growth forest." Fall visitors often encounter fewer crowds and may experience early season snow at higher elevations, with nighttime temperatures frequently dropping below freezing even in summer months.

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Best Tent Sites Near Pagosa Springs, Colorado (34)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Pagosa Springs, CO

14 Photos of 34 Pagosa Springs Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Pagosa Springs, CO

766 Reviews of 34 Pagosa Springs Campgrounds

  • Texas Roving Ranger
    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 .

  • Sofia A.
    Oct. 6, 2020

    West Fork Dispersed

    Best so far

    This BLM at San Juan National Forest is gorgeous! (Se pics) the spots are kinda leveled, the road to get there is a dirt road but not that bad (I have a converted sprinter full of sh$&@$ and I did it great) it is primitive so no hook ups, restrooms nor trash cans, so PLEASE Leave no Trace! Everything was super clean so I guess people is finally getting it. Te river passes right next to you and the views are amazing! There are a few trails next (like the Rainbow trail). Awesome place to stargaze!

  • J
    Jul. 28, 2022

    Ute Campground

    Great place

    First off, the host was just wonderful and helpful. The sites were spread out enough for privacy. Bathrooms were clean. Wasn't crowded. Really a great place to camp. Not that far from Pagosa Springs if you need supplies.

  • Sarah M.
    Sep. 24, 2021

    Mill Creek

    Peaceful In gorgeous setting

    Nestled in pine trees alongside the lake fork of the Gunnison river. Most sites have tons of privacy. All have picnic tables and bear boxes. First-come first-serve. Very clean vault toilet restrooms. Camped here solo and felt very safe. Great access to fishing, hiking, and ATV trails.

  • Texas Roving Ranger
    Jul. 11, 2024

    Junction Creek Campground

    Quiet but busy campground

    Stayed 2 nights in July 2024. The campsites are well spaced apart with a variety of sizes for just about anyone except large Class As and long toy haulers. Most sites were occupied. You can reserve sites in advance. I would recommend booking at least a month out. Most sites were densely shaded. Not much option for solar. Quiet hours 10pm-6am. Generators allowed. Sites in the E loop have electricity. Restrooms were well maintained vault toilets. No showers anywhere in campground. Park host live on-site. Firewood for sale at host sites. Potable water is available. The gravel road leading to the campground is VERY rough wash-board. Secure your stuff and be ready for the bumpy ride.

  • Hayley K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 10, 2020

    Ute Campground

    Easy access to sites and nice camp host

    We stayed here on a trip between Pagosa Springs and Mesa Verde. It was a great stop as the campground is only $20 and it is only about 25 mins from Pagosa Springs so you can easily drive into the town and soak in the springs and then spend a semiquiet night in the trees. 

    I say semi-quiet because it is right off the road but the sites go back deeper into the trees. 

    But the bathrooms were super clean and the camp host is on top of people coming in a out and making sure the site is super clean.

    It is right across from Chimney Rock National Monument so check that out too!

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 19, 2023

    Cimarrona Campground

    Pretty Location

    Stayed at site #20 in early June. Elevation around 8400 feet. Beautiful Spring green foliage on the aspens. Clean vault toilets with tp. One potable water station with hand pump. No water & electric hook ups.  There is also trash service in-season. The host, Mike, was very helpful. Firewood for sale at $8/bundle. The campground consists of a handful of sites in an open field, suitable for big rigs, with the remainder of the sites back in the woods which are more suitable to tent, van, car & truck campers. Each site has a metal fire ring and table. Some of the sites in the woods are on a slight slope. Beautiful views of nearby mountains & meadow. Cimarrona Creek runs along side of the campground; fishing doesn't appear to be good in it. Fishing is better south of Williams Creek Reservoir - about 5 miles away. The Cimarrona trail head is behind site #18; this trail leads up into the Weminuche Wilderness area.

  • K
    Jun. 28, 2020

    Big Meadows Reservoir Campground (south Central Co)

    Hidden Gem

    Great campground all around. The Reservoir has some of the best fishing we have found. We caught our bag limit every time we fished. The campground is nicely treed and the spaces are more private than most. The vault toilets are the cleanest and nicest I have ever seen! Be advised that if you are in an RV, you must bring your own water. There are no water hook ups, only to fill containers. There is trash service, but no electric or dump station. There is a really nice trail around the lake.

  • Brooke C.
    Aug. 14, 2018

    Ute Campground

    Easy access, quiet campsite

    Ute Campground is a sweet little camping spot, just a turn off of hwy 160 between Bayfield and Pagosa Springs. Nice flat spacious campsites with picnic tables and a fire ring. Dirt roads were great for the kids to ride bikes. Endless hiking options. Wildlife viewing. Chimney rock across just across the road

Guide to Pagosa Springs

Dispersed camping opportunities surround Pagosa Springs in the San Juan National Forest at elevations ranging from 7,000 to 9,000 feet. Nighttime temperatures can drop significantly even in summer, often falling into the 40s during July and August. The region's free camping areas typically sit on former logging roads with variable terrain requiring careful site selection.

What to do

Fishing access points: Pass Creek Road Dispersed Camping provides excellent proximity to fishing opportunities. "Excellent access to nearby ponds," notes one camper, while mentioning the road is "smooth, right off of HWY 160" making it accessible for most vehicles.

Hot springs visits: Turkey Creek Road serves as an ideal base for day trips. A visitor explains, "We stayed from Thursday to Tuesday in the big camping spot. It was plenty big for 2 cars, 2 tents, and a common area... It was a perfect base camp to spend time at the hot springs in Pagosa Springs."

Fall foliage viewing: The autumn colors peak in late September through mid-October. "View is killer - we hit it at about peak color," reports one Turkey Creek Road camper who experienced the spectacular seasonal display during their stay.

What campers like

Relative solitude: Despite proximity to town, many sites offer peaceful settings. A camper at Forest Road 37 reported, "It was mostly quiet. The cows come by once in awhile to say hi. Easy to get to."

Spacious campsites: Most dispersed areas provide ample room between sites. At Lower Piedra River Camp, a visitor noted, "There was plenty of camping areas along the river. About 8 spots. Some were large enough to handle RVs."

Cell connectivity: While spotty, some sites maintain usable connections. A Forest Road 37 camper confirmed, "T-mobile works from here," while another at Pass Creek Road mentioned, "Excellent T-mobile service. 5G closer to 160, very strong LTE throughout."

What you should know

Wildlife encounters: Local cattle freely roam many camping areas. A Turkey Creek Road camper observed, "Kind of cool until they started mooing incessantly at 6am," highlighting the authentic but sometimes disruptive ranch country experience.

Variable road conditions: Access routes range from well-maintained to challenging. At Kenny Flats Dispersed Camping, a visitor warned, "The road has deep ruts but was manageable in my little van, just had to take it slow."

Weekend traffic patterns: ATV use increases dramatically on weekends. A Pass Creek Road camper advised, "Heavy ATV use on weekends, but we left on Saturday morning," suggesting midweek stays for those seeking quiet.

Tips for camping with families

Bug preparation: Insect protection is essential in wooded sites. At Stunner Campground, one family reported, "There were tons of bugs that did not give a darn about our multiple citronella candles or campfire smoke," suggesting stronger repellents for summer visits.

Stargazing opportunities: Clear mountain skies offer exceptional night viewing. A Stunner Campground visitor shared, "Were there during the Perseids meteor shower and the clear dark sky was perfect for viewing," noting the benefit of having children walk "up on the hill on the way in the park for a nice view."

Site selection for tent pads: Finding flat terrain requires scouting. Turkey Creek Road campers repeatedly mention sloped ground, with one noting their site "had a pull through driveway of sorts with enough room by the fire pit for a tent or 2."

Tips from RVers

Site size limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller RVs only. A visitor at Lower Piedra River Camp observed that while "some were large enough to handle RVs," others "might require four-wheel drive" to access.

Fire restrictions: Rules change seasonally and require advance checking. One camper at Turkey Creek Road mentioned, "We grabbed a spot with a fire pit even though no fires are allowed right now," highlighting the importance of verifying current regulations.

Leveling challenges: Come prepared with leveling blocks. A reviewer from Turkey Creek Road mentioned, "Not PERFECTLY flat for the tent-folk," a concern that affects RV campers even more significantly when attempting to stabilize larger vehicles on mountain terrain.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Pagosa Springs, CO is Turkey Creek Road with a 4.4-star rating from 17 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 34 tent camping locations near Pagosa Springs, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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