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Best Tent Camping near Purgatory, CO

1,337 Reviews

Tent camping near Purgatory, Colorado provides access to numerous dispersed sites within the San Juan National Forest. Old Lime Creek Road offers tent-only camping just 2.5 miles past Purgatory Ski Resort, with sites scattered along a meadow and near a small pond. Hermosa Park Road Dispersed area provides secluded tent camping with a 4.8/5 rating, while Forest Road 316 Roadside Camp offers walk-in tent sites with established fire rings. Jersey Jim Lookout stands out as a designated tent-only area with picnic tables and toilet facilities, though fires are not permitted at this location.

Most tent campsites around Purgatory require visitors to pack in all supplies and pack out all trash. No drinking water is available at these primitive tent camping areas, and vault toilets are rare except at Jersey Jim Lookout. Fire regulations vary seasonally, with bans common during dry periods. Many sites feature established fire rings, though campers should verify current fire restrictions before their trip. Bear activity is prevalent throughout the region, making proper food storage essential for backcountry tent camping. Weather conditions can change rapidly at these high-elevation sites, with afternoon thunderstorms common in summer and cold nights even during peak season.

The primitive tent camping experience near Purgatory offers exceptional mountain views and access to hiking trails. According to reviews, Old Lime Creek Road provides "beautiful views, tons of wildflowers, and amazing weather" with convenient access to Durango, Silverton, and Ouray. Most dispersed tent sites fill quickly, especially on summer weekends, with campers recommending arrival before noon to secure a spot. Hermosa Park Road Dispersed camping is noted for its "little streams running nearby, wildlife viewing" and beautiful approach drive. Many sites require high-clearance vehicles or 4WD to access, particularly after rain when dirt roads can become muddy and challenging for standard passenger vehicles.

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Best Tent Sites Near Purgatory, Colorado (32)

    1. Forest Road 316 Roadside Camp

    11 Reviews
    Mancos, CO
    19 miles

    "Can definitely hear some road noise, but good place to set up for a night or two."

    "Awesome spot, TONS of places to pitch a tent or park a camper.

    That being said - lots of generators, moderate views, cars driving by often."

    2. Bay City Campground

    2 Reviews
    Hesperus, CO
    13 miles

    "No bathroom but there was a fire ring."

    3. Cherry Creek Gravel Lot

    4 Reviews
    Hesperus, CO
    15 miles

    "You can hear the highway, but it's not much. Just ambient background noise. I got a spot with shade all day, so that was awesome."

    4. Hermosa Park Road Dispersed

    12 Reviews
    Rico, CO
    23 miles

    "Dispersed camping, no amenities, but beautiful location. Little streams running nearby, wildlife viewing, the drive up the slope is beautiful as well"

    "There is also a decommissioned forest service campsite on the north side about halfway in with tables and fire rings still. Creek was a bit high but not bad."

    5. Alta Lakes Campground (Dispersed)

    39 Reviews
    Ophir, CO
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 327-4261

    "Perfect lake views, snow capped mountain tops, and wildflowers for days."

    "Beautiful views of surrounding mountains and Alta lakes as well as access to the ghost town of Alta."

    6. Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area

    22 Reviews
    Ophir, CO
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 874-6600

    "We had plenty of room on our site to set up camp around the picnic table and fire ring. 

    We snagged the last site with a picnic table and fire ring around 10AM on a Friday morning."

    "Pulled into this area late one evening on a fall camping trip across Colorado. Totally expected it to be full but there were a couple areas left to setup thankfully."

    7. Jersey Jim Lookout

    1 Review
    San Juan National Forest, CO
    22 miles

    8. Lime Creek - Dispersed Sites

    2 Reviews
    Cascade, CO
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 247-4874

    9. Old lime creek road beaver bond

    2 Reviews
    Cascade, CO
    23 miles

    "We almost went to the wrong spot though, as there is another Lime Creek dispersed area in Creede, several miles down the highway."

    "Smaller RVs can pull off at South entrance to the road and high clearance can continue on to the lake and trailhead further up the road.  

    Tent spots are available the entire way up. "

    10. Roche Gulch near Delores River

    3 Reviews
    Rico, CO
    25 miles

    "We were heading west and found this spot off the highway. Far enough off the highway and light traffic that would couldn’t hear cars that much.

    Fish were JUMPING so get your fly rods ready!"

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Purgatory, CO

73 Photos of 32 Purgatory Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Purgatory, CO

1337 Reviews of 32 Purgatory Campgrounds

  • Matthew K.
    Aug. 3, 2020

    Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area

    Secluded and Beautiful

    This was a great site for our group of 3 couples. We had plenty of room on our site to set up camp around the picnic table and fire ring. 

    We snagged the last site with a picnic table and fire ring around 10AM on a Friday morning. Throughout the weekend more people showed up and there seemed to be a bit more space to camp throughout. 

    The sites vary from right out in the open to being completely tree covered. Ours was right near a stream and had good shade during the day. 

    There's nothing but a vault toilet here so be sure to bring lots of water. If you're in need of a shower, head down to Trout Lake for a quick dip.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2024

    Brown Springs Campground

    Very Nice Campground & Free

    Brown Springs OHV Campground : (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

    (71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)

    Overall Rating: 4.5 Price 2024: $ Free Security: No, though patrolled Usage during visit: 3/4s Site Privacy: Dispersed junipers Site Spacing: Good Pad surface: Gravel Reservations: No Campground Noise: No Outside Road Noise: If there are OHVs then there will be a lot. Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: No Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Pit toilets , moderately clean Showers: No Cell Service (AT&T): 4 bars Setting: amongst rolling hills, juniper and sagebrush Recent Weather: 70s Solar: Great Insects: None during our stay Host: No Rig Size: Large Sites: All 9 or so sites are nice w covered picnic tables.

  • Carol A.
    Sep. 23, 2021

    Sunshine Campground

    Pretty spot close to Telluride!

    Sunshine is a first come-first serve campground with 15 sites. There are several sites with beautiful views and full sun, but those were taken when we arrived. We stayed in site #8 which was quite lovely, tucked in the aspen trees with a picnic table and fire ring. The small pond behind our site was dried up, probably due to the ongoing drought. There is a short viewing trail just off site #9 that provided spectacular views of the mountains. We set up a couple of chairs on the trail and watched the fabulous sunset. The vault toilets were closed and the sign said they’d be closed through the ‘22 season. Portable toilets were provided in their place. The camp hosts, Don & Linda were super helpful by providing us with info about the adjacent bike trails and a short cut to get to Telluride. The campground was very quiet and while we heard some road traffic when we first arrived we never heard any during the night. I got 2 bars of AT&T cell service, enough to stream a movie on my iPad!

    Camp fees are $20/day or $10/day with a Senior America the Beautiful Pass. We’ll definitely stay at this gem again!

  • Patricia O.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2018

    Woods Lake Campground

    Good camping in Carson Pass area

    Nice campground if you can get a spot, we've stayed at several different sites. The hosts are nice and will let you know the best one available. No running water or electricity or anything fancy. It's quiet, the stars are amazing, and there are good hikes in the area. Downsides are that it fills up fast (I think just 25 sites) and there can be a lot of mosquitoes. Bears may wander through too.

    Vault toilets, bear boxes, picnic table, fire ring.

    You can walk to the lake from the campground.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Nicole J.
    Jun. 27, 2022

    Lake Farmington

    Nice camping spot

    It's a decent place to campout. There is no showers but there is a place to use the restroom. Restroom facilities were very clean and stocked with toliet tissues. The surrounding area was fairly clean. There is a picnic table available at every site with shade. Right now due to fire restrictions, there is no fire or charcoal fire allowed, only camp stoves are accepted. There is a fire burning pit for whenever the fire restrictions are lifted. We got a site near the lake which was very nice and peaceful. You are allowed 2 vehicles per site, up to 8 people per site. There is spaces for small/ large tents and RV as well. (No hookups). At night the gates do locked by themselves so you are unable to leave or enter the Lake after 10pm, gates unlock at 6am. There is a beach like area west of the camping area that allows people to rent any water gear(paddle board, kayak, lake floats). You can fish with a permit. You can call ahead to reserve a spot or you can walk in there is FCFS spots available!

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 17, 2023

    Woods Lake Campground

    Camping among aspens with mountain views

    Fantastic national forest campground. Mountain views all around. Woods Lake itself was a short hike away. Enjoyed fishing there with beautiful views. The campground is over 9400 feet in elevation. I did some huffing & puffing while walking around there. Our campsite, #4, was narrow & deep; no problem for a camper van. It has a table, metal fire ring/grill, lantern poll and a tent pad set back deeper in the woods. Surrounded by aspens. Camped there in early June. Vault toilets were not yet open, but clean portable chem toilets were provided. Potable water stations were not yet turned on. Helpful camp host was on duty. Firewood was available at $10/bundle. Our site, as well as others, were private & reasonably separated from others. No shower and hookups. Deer everywhere. Saw sign of mountain lions & bears on the nearby hiking trails. This is one of the prettiest national forest campgrounds that I ever camped in.

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2018

    Matterhorn — Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre And Gunnison National Forest

    Glamping about as far from roughing it as Telluride Gets

    Deluxe Camping in Telluride, and by that I mean that they have flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water, trash collection and hook ups for your RV or tent. If you have no “roughing it” bone in your body this is the campground for you!

    I went here to check out the site since I had heard it was so improved and yes indeed I was impressed by the amenities.

    Each site had the typical fire ring and picnic table and with two loops you can choose from either a more wooded feel or more open feel depending on your preference.

    Tent sites here have a nice even feel to them clear of obstructions and sharp rocks which for me meant an easy 5 minute set up of my camp. That to me means that I can immediately start enjoying my stay without having to work hard to just prepare my site.

    I chose site #12 which was an unimproved tent site, one of only a few they have. I didn’t feel just because I was at a campground that had electricity I needed to pay for it since I didn’t need it. There is a cost of $8 just for electricity. I paid $18 for my site.

    My views here were nice and there were not a lot of people at the site mid week, however when I spoke to someone in town (only about 10 minutes away) they said this campground is the weekenders destination during September before it closes and during summer is busy throughout the week with vacationers.

    At night this place was a little chilly in September but during the day the weather was ideal. I had a light jacket I carried with me for hiking and I made sure to have my 40 degree sleeping bag for night when temps dropped.

    The views here area spectacular much like all of those in Telluride area. In the distance you always will see a snow capped mountain and in September you start to see the fall leaves emerge with their golden tones.

    The only negative I could see from this campground was in cell signal for those looking to not be “roughing it” being plugged in with AT&T was a little tough. I had to leave the camp and go toward town before I picked up on signal and even then it was a bit spotty at times.

Guide to Purgatory

Tent camping near Purgatory, Colorado, offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying stunning mountain views and a variety of outdoor activities.

Local Activities for Tent Campers

  • Enjoy fishing and hiking along the Hermosa Creek Trail, accessible from the Hermosa Park Road Dispersed, where you can catch cutthroat trout.
  • Explore the beautiful wildflower-filled meadows and scenic views at Old Lime Creek Road Beaver Bond, perfect for family picnics and wildlife spotting.
  • Experience the thrill of mountain biking on the trails near Lower Piedra River Camp, which also offers ample space for tent camping along the river.

Tent Camping Amenities

  • At Columbine Campground, you’ll find picnic tables and clean restrooms, making it a comfortable spot for families.
  • The Cherry Creek Gravel Lot provides shaded areas and easy access for both tents and RVs, ensuring a pleasant camping experience.
  • For those seeking a more remote experience, Roche Gulch near Delores River offers plenty of secluded spots with no amenities, perfect for a true back-to-nature feel.

Pricing for Tent Camping

  • Tent camping at Lime Creek - Dispersed Sites is free, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious campers.
  • Rates at Columbine Campground can vary, but expect to pay around $20 per night for a reservable site.
  • For a unique experience, consider Jersey Jim Lookout, which is free but offers no amenities, allowing for a peaceful escape into nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Purgatory, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Purgatory, CO is Forest Road 316 Roadside Camp with a 4.4-star rating from 11 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 32 tent camping locations near Purgatory, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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