The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Rand. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Find the best campgrounds near Rand, CO. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
"The coordinates are a bit early on 4. Roads are easy to navigate. Continue up the road for multiple flat locations. Some of the roads were closed but 4 is open."
"Even though this forest was impacted by the troublesome fire in 2020, this place is still very beautiful. We found a great camping spot close to a hiking/biking trail."
"Some sites need high clearance, our minivan was able to manage most of the road. There's vault toilet in the beginning of the road. View is not the nicest, but the our site was large and convenient."
"Also many trees blown over perfect for firewood!"
"Everything is burned as far as you can see from the 2020 colorado east troublesome fire.
25 min drive to RMNP gate entrance.
Ocasional OHV traffic (maybe 5-10/day) but nothing into the night."
"You can drive for miles up this area and find a whole area all to yourself! The views alone are insane. Mosquitos will carry you away so lots of bug spray."
"Plenty of shade, easy footing at the site. It was a little difficult to find a flat spot big enought o park my truck on (since my tent pitches in the bed) but we did end up making it work."
"As a result, no shade/cover but temperatures are cool enough even in mid-June. You are right by the county road but “traffic” is only the occasional ATV/car."
"It is dispersed camping and it’s first come first serve. There is a camp ground near by with a porta-potty and there is a small market about 10-20 miles away."
"There’s a lake & a cute lil creek that runs off from it, that makes wonderful sound atmosphere but does mean bugs. The road is very easy going, made it out in my Prius with no problems."
"simple, and easy place to get to… flat awesome sunset"
"Sites aren’t really marked/but are right next to the reservoir. No fires/water pumps."
"Which is a real treat when you spent two weeks on dispersed areas all over the west with no bathrooms. Mosquitoes are a little heavy so bring spray."
"Burn area so no a whole lot of shade in the back portion. Road is closed just before creek crossing. Beautiful Views."
"Once you turn off main road onto dirt road from 14 you will find a wide well groomed road that could easily be driven by a 2WD car."
"You can't drive in to Barnes Meadow so we took County Road 103 north around Chambers lake and found a lot of open spots beneath lodgepole pines."
"I had just done Rock Creek's drive up to dispersed near Dillon and thought that was bad, but this was worse. "
"Good camping right close to the road. Secluded and private with beautiful views. Currently a stage 2 fire ban so no campfires allowed."
ScoutDon’t believe the navigation apps and go through lyons, it’s private property ; furthermore if you like I did make the drive though Estes park, have 4WD high clearance and a small vehicle… maybe you’ll make it to this brutally elusive last free camping spot off the main mountain roads
TravelerRecommend 4x4 high clearance to get to the campsites. If you have low clearance, there are a couple right at the start but they don't have much tree clearance.
We drove about a quarter mile down the road and got a campsite that was lush with a ton of tree coverage. It felt like we were alone in the world, no other campsites in site. We even saw elk walking around the mossy ground. Bring bug spray!
Dog friendly, no amenities.
RangerSo the Gordon Gulch dispersed camping area has around 15 numbered sites that are ok... but if you keep driving further down 233.1 you will find many more unnumbered campsites. I am reviewing one of these unnumbered campsites in particular, because this one had the best view. Before you read too far, I can't guarantee you will be able to reach this campsite without a 4X4 high clearance vehicle. We got to the site with a Jeep Wrangler and Toyota Tacoma TRD so we had no problems... I can't definitely say a Subaru would make it though. In the pictures I have included a map of the Gordon Gulch trail system. Entering through the Gordon Gulch entrance and taking 226.1 to 233.1 is the hardest route - there is one very steep and washed out spot. Entering via 120J/Switzerland Trail from the Peak to Peak Hwy and then turning right onto 233.1 is the easier option. On that map I have marked the general area of the campsite with a pink dot and here are the coordinates.
DMS: 40°01'18.5"N 105°28'37.6"W
DD: 40.021814, -105.477103 - if you type this into Google Maps it will locate it
As for the actual campsite, it is a great option for spring/fall camping in Colorado. The elevation is about 8,800 ft and it is on the south side of a hill so it gets a lot of sunlight and is protected from northern winds. In terms of privacy, there are no other campsites that can be seen from this one. However, Gordon Gulch is a popular off-roading area so dirt bikes and Jeeps pass by frequently. This campsite is set up high above and away from the road though, so it is really not that bad. Another thing to point out is that this is a popular area for shooting as well, so if you absolutely hate guns it may not be the place for you. Also, as stated before, this is a dispersed campsite the only thing it has is a fire ring. Pack it in, pack it out!
LegendWe stumbled upon this campground by chance, and what a wonderful chance it was! After deciding to take a weekend rafting trip along the Wyoming/Colorado section of the Platte River, we planned to just find dispersed camping options within the surrounding National Forest area. We initially put our boats in at the Routt Access Trailhead which is where we were able to find this amazing group of campsites (see directions below). There are plenty of campsites designated by fire rings along the road that are well spread out and offer plenty of seclusion. We were surprised to not encounter any other campers despite it being a beautiful summer weekend. The campsite we used offered much appreciated shade from the June sun with plenty of big trees. The ground is relatively flat on top of the hill so we had quite a few options to spread out with our group pf 3 tents. Another huge plus of this area is how pristine it is, not a piece of trash to be found. If camping here, please continue that by following Leave No Trace principles.
Camping in this area is complimented by tons of nearby activities including hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding trails, class I-IV white water rafting opportunities, rock climbing, fishing and wildlife viewing. On our weekend adventure we went on a 4-hour boat trip from the Routt Access boat put-in to the Six-Mile Gap take-out point, the river felt like a private get away and we didn’t see any other people except for a few fly fishermen at the access points. The wildlife we encountered was the highlight of our trip, we saw moose, a golden eagle, foxes, pronghorns, and marmots.
To get there: The GPS coordinates entered on this page are for the Routt Access Trailhead. Following these directions from there is the easiest way to find the campsites. I have also included a screenshot of google maps in this review. When approaching the trailhead from the main road, just a few hundred yards before the trailhead/river access parking area, the road forks. To the right is the trailhead, and to the left is FS 939.1 (Mahogany Road). With a normal clearance vehicle and 2wd, you should be able to easily reach the first campsite along this road, marked by a well-appointed fire ring. For those with slightly higher clearance cars (my friends had a Subaru Forester and did just fine) I would highly recommend continuing along the road a bit higher and up the hill. 4wd is probably not necessary unless the road is muddy, but some large holes and rocks will be problematic for very low clearance vehicles. From up here, you will have amazing views of the grasslands, mountains and river.
RangerBeautiful Aspen groves surround you as you roll on endlessly down well maintained dirt roads. I've put in specific coordinates, but you can follow any of these FS roads after you pass through the "town" of Columbine. I prefer to go up to the right along 550. But you can't go wrong.
Free range sheep are being guarded by Great Pyreneese dogs, Moose and Pronghorn are all abundant. Bears too, so lock it all up.
Great easy MTB on the roads and some smaller trails.
Leave no trace.
TravelerJust to update this since the last review had it closed. The road leading up to the summit is back open, but it is ROUGH. I had just done Rock Creek's drive up to dispersed near Dillon and thought that was bad, but this was worse.
You will not be able to get anything low clearance or anything you're towing that does not have independent suspension + high clearance (I dropped my 18' TT at Walmart and went to scout - glad I did) While I was 1/4 up into the climb, a Sprinter Van was stopped at what is probably the worst portion of the road. If you can make it past that first choke point, you'll pass a park then walk-in camp site on the left and then shortly after another camp spot on the right that is more van friendly. Both are not good for trailers. It is after those two sites the road goes from bad to worse.
If you have a Camper on a F350 or high clearance + tent, it has some of the best views I've seen at a park spot. It's worth the drive up there for pictures if you're curious, but I would unhook anything you're carrying before doing so.
GuideWent up Rollins pass road (you can access it from the Lakota Trail neighborhood or down the road a bit on 80). The first gate was open but not the second or third to get to the top where there are def more spots and fire rings. You can only camp places where there are dots on the side of the road on the official county map. Check the Rollins pass website it’s very informative and a sacred land so leave no trace. We got one of the like 3-4 spots we saw with a fire ring that wasn’t taken yet. (No fire ban 6/14/25 I check don’t worry :).. Some back trails are very hairy, pretty busy with motor vehicles but a lot of the new electric dirt bikes which don’t make much noise, probably 10-15 ppl the entire night riding by only once. Got great weather and the main trail is pretty easy up to the second gate which is supposed to be open June 15-Sept 15 I think.
ScoutMy son and I joined a friend from Longmont and headed to this trail to camp for a couple days. Very accessible road, lots of spots to choose from (we showed up on Thursday, it did get a little busier on Friday and Saturday). Our spot was set back from the trail, right next to the stream. Just an amazing view, ample room for lots of tents, nice fire rings and huge logs around them for sitting. Fire wood abounds but it was all a little wet still from the rains they've been getting. Some folks didn't seem to be aware of the "leave no trace" rule when it comes to going to the bathroom, which was a little gross. Overall, great experience, pretty trail views, caught lots of trout (none big enough to keep). A great getaway.
TravelerI went here the week before campgrounds opened in this area, around May 7th. I had a pop up trailer and got there around 5pm on a Friday. Most spots were already taken and the road was a bit washed out. We got stopped by a camper letting us know not to go further because of the road condition and we shared a spot for the night. I would recommend this spot if you have a 4 wheel drive car with high clearance. Later in the season when the water levels are lower it might be easier to navigate but we saw a car or two get towed out
Dispersed camping near Rand, Colorado, offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning views and a variety of sites, this area is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Stillwater Pass dispersed camping located near Rand, Colorado?
Stillwater Pass is located in the Arapaho National Forest approximately 20 miles northeast of Rand, Colorado. It sits between Grand Lake and Granby, providing access to the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The area can be accessed via County Road 4, also known as Stillwater Pass Road. This mountainous region offers beautiful views of the surrounding forest and is popular for its accessibility to outdoor recreation areas.
What amenities are available at Stillwater Pass dispersed camping sites?
Stillwater Pass dispersed camping sites offer very minimal amenities, similar to other dispersed areas like Buffalo Pass Dispersed and Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area. You'll find primitive camping with no developed facilities - no potable water, no trash service, and no restrooms. Some established sites have fire rings, but you should bring everything you need, including water and waste disposal bags. Many sites offer enough space for RVs and trailers, though high-clearance 4WD vehicles are recommended for accessing the more remote spots. Cell service is typically limited throughout the area.
What are the regulations for dispersed camping near Rand, Colorado?
Dispersed camping near Rand follows standard National Forest regulations. At sites like Dispersed Camping in Routt National Forest and Rabbit's Ear Pass East Summit FR 251, the typical 14-day stay limit applies. Campsites must be at least 100 feet from water sources and 150 feet from roadways. Campfires are permitted in existing fire rings when no fire bans are in effect. Pack out all trash, and practice Leave No Trace principles. Some areas require free permits during peak season, so check with the local ranger district office before your trip.
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