Sam B.
Traveler
TravelerRampart Reservoir Dispersed
Lots of options for spaces and the road was fairly easy to get in! Just a little bumpy but fine if you take it slow
Tent Camping near Penrose, CO
3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Tent camping near Penrose, Colorado ranges from free tent campsites at Red Canyon Park with picnic tables and fire rings set among red rock formations to primitive Bureau of Land Management sites along Phantom Canyon Road offering secluded backcountry tent camping with minimal amenities. These areas provide access to the mountainous terrain between Cañon City and Colorado Springs.
Most tent sites in the Phantom Canyon area require moderate preparation as they lack basic facilities. The dirt road through the canyon becomes narrow in sections with rock tunnels limiting access for larger vehicles. Fire rings constructed by previous campers mark established sites, though campers should check current fire restrictions before arrival. The more developed Red Canyon Park includes vault toilets, covered picnic tables, and established camping areas. During summer months, sites fill quickly on weekends, particularly those closest to creek access. One camper noted, "Some great spots close to red bluffs and seasonal river. Stayed the full three days and loved the hikes and quiet without anyone close by."
Walk-in tent sites throughout the region offer varied terrain and privacy levels. Phantom Canyon sites typically provide more seclusion, with tent pads situated near a small seasonal creek that may run dry in late summer. Higher elevation sites feature mountain views but less shade coverage. Bears are active in the area, requiring proper food storage. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "The sites were well used but sadly had a good bit of trash left from the previous occupants. Not much traffic on the road so it was a peaceful night." Campers at Red Canyon Park can find flatter camping surfaces and some sites with natural rock formations providing wind protection. Most backcountry tent areas permit stays up to 72 hours and follow standard BLM dispersed camping regulations.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Penrose (33)
1. Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites
"Driving down to this campsite I was happy to have a small car because the road is very narrow to say the least. I cannot imagine the feeling of driving a large rig here."
"We arrived the Phantom Creek Road around 4:30pm. 10miles and 30 minutes later we found our spot."
2. Phantom Canyon
"I’m a rooftop tent camper and the views are amazing but was hoping to be close to the water and isolated from other campers."
"It is in a canyon so you won't have any cell phone signal, though I had my Starlink set up and it worked flawlessly. We will go back, and I hope to get that spot before any other!"
3. Phantom Canyon Road Pull-Off
"Every summer I go on a road trip , camping ,backpacking and visiting national parks , while driving through Colorado we drove through phantom canyon road and we stopped about 20 times through our drive"
4. Oil Well Flats
"Did the shelf trail from cripple creek to canon city. Was good place to camp for the night quite a few spots, flat, big. Amazing views! Incline getting up to isn’t bad, TT’s might have some trouble."
5. Tricki's (Travis and Vicki) Glamping under the stars
"We're happy to have this property on our platform. Check them out and come back here to leave them some love!"
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $200 / night
6. Lone Duck Campground and Cabins
"Our site had grass, shade, a picnic table, and a fire ring - everything you need for a basic campsite."
"Lone Duck Campground was a good home base for us during our visit to Colorado Springs. The campground is several miles down from Woodland Park and about the same down to Manitou and the Springs."
25 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $40 - $87 / night
7. Shelf Road Sites
"There are vault toilets that are clean and have toilet paper. One vault toilet part way on the hike to the walls did not have TP."
"Wonderful access to Shelf climbing. Very peaceful."
8. Davenport Campground
"Good tent sites. Have to carry gear to camp site but only shoeRt hike to campsite. Maybe 50 yards. Has a couple of sires with shelter. Picnic tables are big and heavy."
"Has a fire pit with grill, picnic table, and sites 2, 5, and 9 have the log covering. The sites are pretty close together, but we had no problem with our neighbors."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 / night
9. Wye
"Has fire rings and picnic tables. Closed for good, apparently because of bears, but far down the road so it’s very unlikely you’ll be bothered"
10. Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite
"Some have pre existing fire rings. Would definitely come back."
"Most spots are taken by the weekends but if you’re fine with a more sloped spot, there can be some open ones for late arrivals."
Drive Time
- 22 min from Pueblo, CO
- 47 min from Colorado Springs, CO
- 1 hr 39 min from Denver, CO
- 2 hrs 2 min from Boulder, CO
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Penrose, CO
132 Photos of 33 Penrose Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites
Phantom Canyon
Shelf Road Sites
Turkey Roost Group Camp — Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Davenport Campground
MountainAirNMeI
"Glamping" Pike's Peak Camping Spot- Reservation Only SiteA
Lone Duck Campground and CabinsB
Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite
Mydnyt Mountain
Hummingbird RanchH
Vallie Bridge Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Tent Camping Reviews near Penrose, CO
1262 Reviews of 33 Penrose Campgrounds
- Kay W.Traveler
Greenhorn Meadows Park
I came into the campground after dark, and their website was down. So I just picked a spot that I didn’t see anyone I could pay. A nice easy gravel road end, lots of types of sites to pick from. Nice Mountain View.
- CCarolyn K.Traveler
Witcher's Cove Campground — Eleven Mile State Park
Beautiful Lakeside Camping, Worth the Bumpy Drive!
If you are looking for a place that is close to the water and where you step out of your vehicle and immediately feel the breathtaking beauty and peacefulness of nature around you, this is the place. We were here for four nights over Labor Day weekend. We don’t usually camp in Colorado on holiday weekends because everywhere is so busy. However, our son had Tuesday off from school, so we extended our trip to avoid the Monday traffic. I was pleasantly surprised that even though the campground was fully booked, it didn’t feel busy or overcrowded. We fished for trout and crawfish and caught plenty of both!
We were in site#803. The site was level, we had good Verizon cell service, and we loved being close to the water. We were able to leave our fishing raft and paddleboard on the shore overnight. There are only two campsites on this side of the campground which is great, especially if you have a curious dog! But, there is activity during the day at the boat dock, not a lot, but enough to note. You’ll want sites at the other end of the campground if a few cars coming in and out during the day bother you. No RV hookups at Witcher’s Cove, but if you need that you can camp on the other side of the lake at Rocky Ridge Campground.
The only downside is that the dirt road driving in and out is terrible. It is heavily washboarded and bumpy, for a few miles. We took it slow and still had minor damage to our camper trailer as one of our cabinet doors fell off on the drive in! It was probably loose to begin with, but the bumps were so bad it made the screws come out of the wood. That won’t keep us away, though. We will just tighten everything up before our next trip, and we will definitely be back!
- EElizabeth W.
GuideNorth Round Mountain
Great packed road into the camp. We stayed in November and had the place to ourselves. Lots of sites. We stayed back near the end of the camping area and had a beautiful sunrise and sunset.
Fran K.TravelerEast Ridge Campground - Royal Gorge
Primitive but very clean with lots of trails and great views of the canyon. Only 5 mins from the Royal Gorge Bridge.
Daniel H.
ScoutMountaindale Cabin & RV Resort
Great spot for relaxing weekend getaway for our family. Plenty of room for the kids to explore and they even had a blow up bouncy house for them during the day. Hot tub under the stars at evening time. Very clean bathrooms!
Juliana J.
RangerPhantom Canyon
Love a little history/camping combo!
Cool spot. I like there were different sized spots and a clearly marked line where a 4WD/AWD vehicle is needed and no large rigs. I found a spot that was visible by the road, but there was water access and cool surroundings. The main road was well paved, but turning into my site was a bit rough and I needed the 4WD. There were large animal (I assume black bear) prints to give that extra bit of camping excitement, but no actual sitings (one day, Juliana. One day). Some mosquitos but not overwhelming. The scenery was gorgeous. Definitely a bit desert-esque but it was legitimately perfect weather in mid September. Cool creek rocks and a stunner of a sunset. Would absolutely return again. No numbered sites. Toilets about 1/4 mile beyond the drive through boulder.
Lauren P.TravelerFive Points Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Very close to the highway
Basic amenities, but clean and easy to find. The campsite is very close to the highway, so if you're looking for something more off the beaten path, keep looking. However, if you just need a place to sleep with great views, this is a solid spot. We saw bighorn sheep and even heard what sounded like a bobcat possibly mountain lion at night.
Shannon F.ScoutPikes Peak RV Park
New owner are not good people
I want to start on a positive because that is the type of person I am, and because this review is going to have a lot of negative. This park is a great location for sightseeing, especially if you are going to Pikes Peak by way of the Cog or shopping in Manitou. My GM and I worked hard to make the park as great as we could with the very little funding that we got. As seen in the reviews we had excellent customer service and had high standards for keeping the park clean. I was very good at my job and I loved doing the work until the new owners took over. When the park was sold, we had high hopes that the new owners would be good people and want to put real work into the park. We were very disappointed that they turned out to be money grubbing horrible people. Ken, one of the owners, treats people and his business very Trump like. He and his wife must state that they are religious more than a few times when having a conversation; I personally think this is to make themselves look good to cover the toxicity that truly lies under the surface. When they meet people, they put on a façade and lie and say whatever they think people want to hear to get what they want; proven to me by the broken verbal promises they made to me. They are not community driven; they are money driven; you can make money and still be good people, but they chose not to be. They practice wage theft just like big corporations by over working employees and under paying them; in their words“you must wear all hats”. They are the type of people that use others until they don’t need them then throw them away like garbage. I was bullied into quitting on a phone call where Ken was very disrespectful and unprofessional with me. The phone call was me trying to explain that I could no longer do the FB post due to our deferent ethical viewpoints, and he would not let me talk by saying“you are not doing your job, are you going to quit” repeatedly. I found out that I was not allowed to post about Manitou Pride parade because he said,“it is not family friendly, and the company and I do not promote the LGBTQ+ community”. I am a proud member of that community and so I should not be the one to post on FB for the company. The groundman quit a day later because of disrespect and broken verbal promises. Then a few days later my boyfriend was fired and then Sheryl the GM was fired.(I believe they were fired for retaliation) Ken only wants employees that are easy to exploit or controlled, because he is incapable of managing people without fear and bullying. He boasted that he is called the grim reaper in business, but I don’t think that is the flex he thinks it is. But yes, he was the destruction of the community we put so much work into. I also want to voice my disappointment in Dana, who Sheryl worked hard getting to be allowed to come back as an employee. Dana did great work her first summer with us, so it was a shock to see her true colors show when she started to brown nose Ken. She spread multiple rumors, I feel the worst one was about Melinda’s daughter and the things she wrote about in her diary. I also did not like how she used David, the guy that does the golfcart tours in Manitou, was nice to his face then talked so badly about him when he was not around. I truly think Jesue and her father would be ashamed of her for how she acted to get her new position.
Guide to Penrose
The best tent camping near Penrose, Colorado centers on Bureau of Land Management lands between 5,500-6,500 feet elevation where desert meets mountain terrain. Primitive campsites typically feature seasonal creek access with heavy visitation during summer months when temperatures range from 85°F days to 45°F nights. Many dispersed sites require moderate hiking to access.
What to do
**Creek exploration: Access seasonal streams at Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites, where campers find secluded spots alongside water features. "We found an amazing camp site that was down a slope. We parked up top and lugged everything down the slope. It was tough but so worth it. There was 5 different camp site areas at the bottom right next to the water," reports Madi G.
**Hiking without trails: The terrain surrounding Oil Well Flats offers cross-country trekking opportunities through rocky outcroppings. Navigate carefully as many routes aren't marked. Danny H. notes, "Did the shelf trail from cripple creek to canon city. Was good place to camp for the night quite a few spots, flat, big. Amazing views!"
**Night sky viewing: The lack of light pollution makes stargazing exceptional from April through October. From secluded sites at Phantom Canyon, Hayden P. shared, "No service, no noise, just the sound of the creek and an occasional car driving by." Prepare for temperature drops after sunset by bringing extra layers.
What campers like
**Secluded water access: Campers value private spots near creeks. At Phantom Canyon, one camper reported, "Sweet spots along the creek side. Dispersed area that is very spread out so you are not near others. Also has access to climbing walls right by sites."
**Historic features: The area contains mining remnants and old rail tunnels. Evan W. mentioned about camping at Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites: "This is a fun spot to camp. Theres no good logs around for firewood but good twigs for kindle. Theres a cool tunnel to drive through too."
**Varied terrain options: Choices range from creek-side to higher elevation sites. Colby R. recommends, "The spot closest to the mining town has been my favorite so far! It is in a canyon so you won't have any cell phone signal, though I had my Starlink set up and it worked flawlessly."
**Affordability: Most primitive tent camping options near Penrose are free or under $10 per night. The Shelf Road Sites charge $7 per night with envelopes available at the exit. Alice C. confirms, "Fire ring and picnic table provided. $7/night pay with envelope at the exit to the camp area loop."
What you should know
**Fire restrictions: During summer months, fire bans often take effect by mid-June. Check current restrictions before arrival and bring a camp stove.
**Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites lack running water and restrooms. Sebastian from Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites advises: "There is no signal so get your communication out of the way before entering. I found no running water, had to melt snow."
**Site availability: Weekends fill quickly from May through September. Papa T. suggests, "Camped along this canyon road a few time and will never forget it. It is magical, always visit during the week, weekends spots are gone."
**Bug protection: Biting flies and mosquitoes affect creek-side camping, especially in June and July. "The worst and only bad part was the insane amount of biting flies. It was unbearable at times and our dogs were very stressed from them all over them. Bring those fly bags that attract them away from you unless you're prepared to get eaten up by the flies," warns Madi G.
Tips for camping with families
**Protected sites: Look for naturally sheltered areas when tent camping with children. Campers at Red Canyon Park appreciate the rock formations. Abby D. reports, "Stunning red rock formations and the campsites are spread out. It was easy to find an available spot Saturday afternoon."
**Animal awareness: Wildlife encounters require preparation. "BE SMART ABOUT FOOD! We did have a bear encounter as we were driving out of the park," warns Abby D. about Red Canyon Park. Hang food at least 10 feet high and 4 feet from any tree trunk.
**Bathroom locations: Some areas have limited toilet facilities. At Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites, Jayden W. shares, "BATHROOMS are pit toilets that are located around at sight (18) and I believe (8) the sights are relatively easy to find. And there are green mile markers all the way through."
Tips from RVers
**Road conditions: Many access roads become difficult for larger vehicles. At Davenport Campground, campers note tight parking areas requiring short walks to campsites. Noah mentions, "Have to carry gear to camp site but only short hike to campsite. Maybe 50 yards."
**Space limitations: Check site dimensions before arrival. Robert M. from Oil Well Flats cautions: "Fairly steep and rough road up into the campground. Once your in the roads are decent."
**Leveling requirements: Many primitive sites require blocks or leveling systems. Charles L. advises about Phantom Canyon: "I'm a rooftop tent camper and the views are amazing but was hoping to be close to the water and isolated from other campers. Definitely was isolated and found one spot that worked out well for rooftop camper."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Penrose, CO?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Penrose, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Penrose, CO is Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites with a 4.5-star rating from 40 reviews.
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Penrose, CO?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Penrose, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 33 tent camping locations near Penrose, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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