Best Dispersed Camping near Poncha Springs, CO
Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Poncha Springs? Dispersed camping is the perfect way to get off the grid. Find the perfect dispersed campsite for your next adventure.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Poncha Springs, CO (95)
1. Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area
Poncha Springs, Colorado14 Reviews•21 Photos•392 Saves- Electric Hookups
- Dispersed
- Market
- Firewood Available
- Drinking Water
2. Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site
Nathrop, Colorado13 Reviews•46 Photos•557 SavesDon't want to camp in a developed campground? There are many places on the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands where you can pitch a tent and practice low impact camping techniques. Dispersed camping is primitive, undevleoped, frontcountry "car camping".
Remember: when dispersed camping, no toilets, trash service, or potable water, are available. Store all food and trash securely, and pack out what you pack in. Practice Leave No Trace.
Please observe the following requirements when dispersed camping:
In some areas, dispersed camping and parking is allowed in designated sites only. Do not create resource damage by driving off-road, beyond designated parking locations, or behind barriers. Parking should be within 30' of site markers where posted. Developed sites, including trailheads and picnic areas, are closed to overnight camping and allow for day use activities only. Tread lightly, and avoid trampling sensitive vegetation. Locate your camp at least 100' from any water source. Use catholes to properly dispose of human and pet waste; bury waste in a cathole at least 6-8" deep and 200’ from any water source. Packing out human and pet waste using self-contained waste disposal systems is encouraged. Campfires are allowed at overnight sites as long as fire restrictions aren’t in place. You may gather small amounts of down, dead wood for a campfire. Use existing fire rings; keep your campfire small and always make sure it is completely extinguished before leaving. No campfires outside of designated overnight sites. BEARS and other wildlife When you go to the mountains and forest, you are in bear county. Do not leave ANY food, trash or other animal attractant unattended. Store all food and trash securely and pack out what you pack in. Failing to do so can result in a fine. Also be aware that; where not otherwise restricted, camping or leaving camping equipment at any location more than 14 days within a continuous 30 day period, and/or occupying any campsite within three miles of any prior camping or equipment location for a combined total of more than 28 days within any continuous 60 day period, is prohibited. Also, leaving camping equipment unattended for more than 24 hours is not allowed. In addition; discharging a firearm is prohibited within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area; or across or on a National Forest System road or a body of water, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge. Plan your trip; phone ahead for restrictions and special regulations. Contact your local Ranger District office for more information.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
3. Mount Shavano Dispersed Camping
Poncha Springs, Colorado9 Reviews•44 Photos•555 SavesDispersed camping at the base of Mount Shavano outside Salida, CO.
WARNING! Hikers descending from Tabequache should not descend into McCoy Gulch! This is a dangerous route and a number of climbers have been injured or killed.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
4. Road 240 - Dispersed
Monarch, Colorado9 Reviews•51 Photos•574 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
5. Browns Creek (South) Dispersed Camping
Nathrop, Colorado8 Reviews•73 Photos•599 SavesThe Browns Creek trail offers beautiful scenery with changing vistas and vegetation. The trail follows the stream and small waterfalls can be found along the way. The lower portion of the trail begins in primarily a Ponderosa pine environment and gradually moves into spruce/fir forest. At higher elevations the trail travels through pristine meadows that end at Brown's Lake. Camping is not permitted at the trailhead, in order to prevent erosion of the banks along Little Browns Creek. Campers are encouraged to find camp sites further south on County Road 272.
- Pets
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
6. Marshall Pass
Poncha Springs, Colorado6 Reviews•25 Photos•199 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
7. Browns Canyon Dispersed
Poncha Springs, Colorado5 Reviews•27 Photos•255 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
8. Shavano Mountain
Poncha Springs, Colorado3 Reviews•11 Photos•79 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
9. 228A Dispersed Campsite
Monarch, Colorado4 Reviews•11 Photos•69 SavesRemember: when dispersed camping, no toilets, trash service, or potable water, are available. Store all food and trash securely, and pack out what you pack in. Practice Leave No Trace.
Dispersed camping and parking here is allowed in designated sites only. Do not create resource damage by driving off-road, beyond designated parking locations, or behind barriers. Parking should be within 30' of site markers where posted.
- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
10. North Cottonwood Trailhead Dispersed Camping
Buena Vista, Colorado8 Reviews•33 Photos•961 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Group
- Equestrian
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Showing results 1-10 of 95 campgrounds
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Poncha Springs
281 Reviews of 95 Poncha Springs Campgrounds
- c
chris R.
Traveler
Twin Lakes Dispersed Camping - Site 2 West
Nice little spot
Drove straight to the back, not many others camping. Can hear a few cars passing in the distance and not a ton of tree coverage but a great spot nonetheless
Jordana P.Traveler
Mount Shavano Dispersed Camping
Beautiful views and great privacy
I stayed here for 1 night of car camping and will definitely go back. I only went about 4 miles in on the rocky/rutted road (vs the 5 miles that the directions say) and thought the sites were great. I stayed at a big site on the right with beautiful views and a fire ring. Aside from hearing some (maybe - not sure) coyotes at night, I wasn't aware of any other wildlife. I was in a 4Runner and my friend that I was with was driving a Highlander. As another poster commented, I saw a small sedan in one of the sites but wouldn't drive way out in anything but an SUV or truck. I have AT&T and had 2 bars of service.
Leah K.Traveler
Twin Lakes Overlook Dispersed Camping
Great Camping Spot
This was a great camping spot. There are several campsites by the water and other campsites, not by the water. The campsites are kind of close together, but not terrible. I went early on a Friday and got a beautiful spot by the water. By the end of the day, all the sites around the water were full. So if that's important to you, be sure to get there early. There were still plenty of other gorgeous campsites, not by the water available all weekend. There are also hiking trails located here. One of which is called "Interlaken Trail." It's about a 5 mile hike total and takes you to a "Ghost Resort" called "Inter-Laken" that was abandoned around WW1. You can even go inside one of the buildings, and there are Historical Marker plaques that talk about the abandoned resort. The signal is great so I had cell service and data the entire time. Highly recommend!
Wendy S.
Scout
Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area
Great views
Lots of open spots in mid October. Slow going on rocky and bumpy dirt road but Chevy express 2wd did fine. Low clearance vehicles take extreme caution. Stayed in loop A, also a B&C.
Angela E.Traveler
Cotton Creek Trailhead
Beautiful and peaceful 💚
The sky is GORGEOUS. The road is very rocky & very rough, so you'll want to have decent clearance and be prepared to take it slow. I've never seen so many stars!
- aandrew G.Traveler
Cripple Creek BLM Area
Great secluded spot!
We went on a Saturday and it wasn’t crowded at all. The dispersed sites aren’t far from the road since most of the road goes down a valley with hills on both sides however there’s a nice creek running down the whole way. Definitely check it out if you don’t mind a colder night in a valley. Not much room to explore outside your vehicle unless you’re okay walking down the dirt road to see other sites and views.
Alice S.
Legend
Twin Lakes Dispersed Camping - Site 1 West
Not Bad
The road up to the campground is pretty rough for the first 100 ft or so but then it gets a lot better. Quite a bit of space but no privacy. I would definitely not suggest for large rvs. I’m in a van and didn’t have much problems at all.
Dwight R.TravelerTwin Lakes Dispersed Camping - Site 2 West
Late Sept Fall colors
We had a blast with this spot, arrived late at night and woke up inside an aspen grove. There is a lot of hiking trails and some cool spots to visit down by the lakes.
- PPeterScout
Wild Cherry Creek Trailhead
Blocked off by private gate
Couldn’t get to trail head due to private gate blocking the road.
- LLydiaScout
Forest Road 130
Beautiful open campsites
We loved this campsite — still open in late September and already had a fire ring waiting for us. There were lots of dispersed spots right off the road and it was quiet and peaceful!
- KKanani C.Scout
FourMile Dispersed Camping
Tiny But Convenient
This dispersed camping area was extremely small but a convenient place to camp the night before summiting Sherman. It was a bit tricky to find/decipher what was dispersed and what was the intentional campground. Honestly not even sure if the place I found was the actual dispersed area. By other reviews left, it felt right to me. My friend and I car camped here, we had a quiet night. The neighbors were all very quiet and respectful of quiet hours and personal space. The vault toilet was extremely clean with no odor. I enjoyed the washboard road! During our time there were advisories for bear activity in the area.
- LLorene N.
Guide
Cottonwood Lake Dispersed Camping
More than 5 stars!
We got a spot with amazing views just past Cottonwood Lake campground. It’s awesome here. There is a creek full of Brook Trout right across the street.
- DDeitz B.Guide
Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area
Lots of Options
A lot of stuff if the road. I was pulling a popup trailer so we didn’t go too far up the road just in case it got choppy. Seemed like there is quite a few spaces. Talked to a few people who had been staying there for around a week.
- SSofia T.Scout
Hendricks Flat
Beautiful little spot
My friend and I are roadtripping around a couple states and found this cute little camp site!! There is no running water or toilets but we didn’t mind :)) absolutely gorgeous place!
Luke R.Traveler
North Cottonwood Trailhead Dispersed Camping
Solid Camp Spot for early September
My sister drove up from Denver Saturday morning. My daughter and I drove from Paonia and met her there. Road was bumpy but manageable in my Outback. Drove down the road and took a hike with the dogs. Great trail. Rained a little but it was not a big deal. Decent amount of traffic on the road throughout the day and into the evening. Really cool to be able to snag a spot around lunchtime on a Saturday.
- JJeff C.Scout
Shavano Mountain
Amazing vistas
Amazing vistas! Big private sites. Tough road that gets progressively technical as you go farther up towards trail head.
- Emma H.Guide
Road 240 - Dispersed
mount shavano camping
believe the reviews when they say the road to get to these campsites are ROCKY. i was able to get there in my hyundai santa fe but got nervous a couple of times. despite this, we found a campsite that had a little waterfall and fast flowing creek next to it. it was the perfect little spot. got cold at night but it was to be expected. access to a lot of hiking and if you continue driving up the rocky road, you’ll get to billings lake which was gorgeous.
JoshScoutTwin Lakes Dispersed Camping - Site 1 West
Party town
Too much partying and loud music until midnight-1am.... Campsites are nice though.
- LLorene N.Guide
Forest Road 130
Labor Day Weekend
We found huge spots spread far enough apart that you can’t see or hear neighbors on Labor Day weekend. Tried spots by Twin Lakes first but SO crowded. Close to Twin Lakes and Leadville. Bring your huge RVs cause this is the place for that.
- bbrandon W.Guide
Forest Road 130
Nice stay close to Mt. Elbert
This was a great stay which was close to Mt. Elbert. Many sites available as I came late around 9pm. Close to the town as well. I got there via the old trusty Honda Accord and pitched a tent.
- RRachelScout
North Fork Lake Creek Dispersed
Friend recommended this spot
I haven’t been here yet, but my friend has been to this spot and recommends it!
W D.TravelerWild Cherry Creek Trailhead
Quiet camping and stars
Several good spots with fire pits right near the trailhead. A few bugs in late August but nothing terrible. Very quiet except for the sound of the rushing creek. Verizon cell service was between 1 and 3 bars LTE depending on your line of sight to the tower. Road in is rougher towards the end but definitely doable in any SUV
- mmichelle H.Traveler
Hayden Creek Roadside Camp
great spot!
This is a terrific find! level, shaded, right by nice size creek. perfect for exploring and quiet. we were in tent but saw several largeRV. some traffic but never heard another person. were a few spots right next to us but we were the only ones there . several a long road though nicely spaced out. small gas station close for gas and ice if needed otherwise about 45 min for supplies. ark river couple miles great spot to enjoy also rafting close etc.stayed couple extra days we just enjoyed the quiet. was also very clean and maintained. will definitely be back!
Ashton R.Traveler
Twin Lakes View Dispersed
Beautiful
Went and stayed for a few day, it was beautiful! I would definitely go again there were plenty of camps sites
Ai-Ai T.Guide
Twin Lakes Dispersed
Very busy but nice if you find a spot
It was mildly off roady getting to the camping area. It seems you can just pull off into the areas that are worn down to camp. People were cramped and close to each other for this campground! Didn’t see any toilets but there are good hikes right nearby.
Will H.Guide
Browns Creek (South) Dispersed Camping
Great Dog camping trip
Gorgeous place lots of trails no bugs .nice Creek
- Amy L.Guide
Lake Deweese state wildlife area
Fine for a night
The directions from this app didn’t exactly take me to the campsites. The campsites are along Lake Deweese Rd at the NE end of the reservoir. There are several sites all in very close proximity. There is virtually no privacy from neighbors but it worked from me for a night. It looked like some campers may be permanently occupying the sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Poncha Springs, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Poncha Springs, CO is Mt. Shavano Wildlife Area with a 4.5-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Poncha Springs, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 95 dispersed camping locations near Poncha Springs, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.