Best Dispersed Camping near Paonia, CO
Several dispersed camping options exist on public lands around Paonia, Colorado, primarily on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and in Gunnison National Forest. Black Canyon Dispersed Camping near Montrose provides year-round primitive sites, while Overland Reservoir offers lakeside camping accessed via Stevens Gulch Road. Additional camping can be found at Throughline/Coal Creek, Horse Ranch Park, and along the Gunnison River in Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. Cottonwood Lakes also permits dispersed camping with both tent and RV access.
Access roads to many dispersed sites require careful navigation, with several campgrounds only reachable via rough, unpaved routes. The road to Overland Reservoir features gravel surfaces and may be challenging for low-clearance vehicles. Most sites lack amenities such as drinking water, toilets, or trash service, though some areas like Gunnison Gorge do provide vault toilets and picnic tables. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with some locations permitting campfires while others enforce bans. Cellular coverage is limited or nonexistent in many areas, particularly around Throughline/Coal Creek where "there is ZERO cell service or gas for 15+ miles."
The dispersed camping areas near Paonia provide opportunities for fishing, wildlife viewing, and scenic landscapes. Campsites around Overland Reservoir offer fishing for rainbow and brook trout, though campers note mosquitoes can be problematic during summer months. One visitor described the reservoir as "one of my favorite camp spots so far" with "a lovely sunset and fish jumping." Gunnison Gorge sites feature river access with "beautiful views of the sunrise and sunset." Black Canyon dispersed sites provide convenient access to the North Rim of Black Canyon National Park, with one camper noting "it's only 5 miles from the North Rim" and offers "extreme solitude."
