Gunnison National Forest dispersed camping near Pitkin, Colorado offers numerous options along forest service roads above 9,000 feet elevation. Most camping areas remain open from late May through September, with site availability varying based on snowmelt and weather conditions. High mountain areas frequently experience freezing overnight temperatures even during summer months, particularly in sites near Alpine lakes.
What to Do
Hiking access: Lottis Creek Campground provides excellent trail access directly from camp. "Great hiking from the site," notes one camper, while another visitor mentioned that "hiking trail right next to the campgrounds leads to a beautiful valley."
Fishing opportunities: At Cottonwood Lake Campground, anglers find regular trout stocking. "The lake is just breathtaking scenery. Lots of fish within, but was difficult to catch any," explains one visitor. Another camper notes "It has decent fishing for small rainbow trout and is stocked on the regular."
Ghost town exploration: Near Iron City Campground, the preserved mining town of St. Elmo provides historical interest. "It's just outside of St. Elmo which is an amazing old ghost town with lots of life still," writes a reviewer. Another notes, "If you drive past the campground entrance, you'll be in the ghost town of St. Elmo. There is an effort to restore it...43 buildings."
What Campers Like
Mountain solitude: Road 240 Dispersed camping offers seclusion away from developed sites. "It's accessible but still feels a bit wild," explains one camper. Another notes it's "one of the best kept secrets for dispersed camping in Colorado."
Water features: Many campers value streamside sites. At Collegiate Peaks Campground, "The site was large and sloped down right to a stream that was simply gorgeous," while Road 240 campers appreciate that "we found a campsite that had a little waterfall and fast flowing creek next to it."
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campgrounds offer animal watching opportunities. "I got to see moose swim in the lake!" reports a Mirror Lake visitor. At Lottis Creek Campground, reviewers note "Lots of birds and deer. Cattle drive in late June skirts the boundary, but it's kind of fun to watch the cowboys and their dogs work."
What You Should Know
Road conditions: Access to Mirror Lake Campground requires navigating difficult terrain. "The three miles from Tincup, Colorado were challenging...we took it slow and crawled our way over and around the 12-inch rock covered road," explains one camper.
Weather preparedness: Temperature fluctuations occur rapidly in these mountains. A Mirror Lake visitor reported, "Went in late September and nights were around 35 degrees." Similarly, at Monarch Park Campground one visitor experienced unexpected conditions: "As soon as we camp at altitude a cold front moves through, the temps drop and it gets rainy and/or snowy. Snowed about 1.5 inches Saturday morning."
Limited amenities: Most campgrounds provide basic facilities only. "No service, no host, bring your own wood," notes one Mirror Lake camper. Browns Creek dispersed camping is completely undeveloped: "Great place for dispersed camping. Each campsight has lots of space between each other."
Tips for Camping with Families
Accessible trails: Cascade Campground provides family-friendly recreation options. "North pole is really rad if you have kids," suggests one visitor, referring to a nearby attraction. Other families appreciate that "Ghost town at the top of the valley. Hot springs at the bottom. Fishing all along."
Wildlife education: Animal encounters create learning opportunities. At Road 240, visitors noted "cows grazing around our campsite in the morning (it was adorable)." Families at Lottis Creek appreciate how "the hosts were great and kept the place very cleaned and maintained."
Weather planning: Temperature swings affect children most. Visitors to Brown Creek noted "Watch out in the wet weather-road super muddy a bit difficult to get through," while another camper explained that this area is "a great early season spot because the southern Sawatch tend to melt out sooner."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Pitkin Campground provides accessible options for larger vehicles. "The site was manicured and level. A great place to stop for the night or for longer stays," reports one RVer.
Road navigation: High clearance vehicles navigate better on mountain roads. For Mirror Lake, a visitor with a 2017 CRV AWD explained, "we took it slow and crawled our way over and around the 12-inch rock covered road." At Browns Creek, one camper noted, "I was able to get my 25ft rig pretty far up the mountain on road 274A. There was 30-40ft class A in the spot closest to me."
Water access: RVers should plan for water limitations. At Monarch Park, one camper explains, "The water is extremely clean. We used the stream water for our RV." Another notes "There is a beautiful creek with tiny waterfalls right near by."
