Best Tent Camping near Rico, CO

Recent Tent Reviews in Rico

1243 Reviews of 35 Rico Campgrounds

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 15, 2024

  Blue Lakes Trailhead Dispersed

  Remote Wilderness

  Blue Lakes Trailhead Dispersed Camping, located near Mount Sneffels in Colorado, offers an incredibly remote and breathtaking camping experience. If you're looking to escape the crowds and immerse yourself in pristine wilderness, this spot is ideal. The campsites are dispersed along the trailhead, offering peace and solitude with stunning views of the surrounding peaks and alpine lakes.

  The beauty of this dispersed camping area is its complete immersion in nature. With no designated campsites or amenities, you get to choose your own perfect spot in the forest, whether it’s near the rushing creek or with views of the towering mountains. This is truly a wilderness experience, so you’ll need to be fully self-sufficient—bring your own water, food, and a solid plan for waste disposal.

  The Blue Lakes Trailhead offers some of Colorado’s most scenic hiking, including access to the famous Blue Lakes and a challenging ascent of Mount Sneffels. The hike itself rewards adventurers with awe-inspiring views of alpine lakes, wildflowers, and rugged mountain terrain. It’s perfect for those seeking an immersive backcountry experience.

  One downside of this dispersed camping is that the road leading to the trailhead is rough, so it’s best suited for high-clearance vehicles, and be prepared for the possibility of unpredictable weather, as storms can roll in quickly in the mountains.

  Overall, Blue Lakes Trailhead Dispersed Camping is an incredible option for experienced campers looking to enjoy the wild beauty of Colorado’s high country. It’s remote, peaceful, and surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in the state.

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 15, 2024

  Morefield Campground — Mesa Verde National Park

  Mesa Verde’s Gateway

  Morefield Campground, located just inside Mesa Verde National Park, offers a convenient and scenic basecamp for exploring the park’s incredible ancient cliff dwellings and stunning landscapes. The campground is spacious and well-organized, with over 250 sites that accommodate tents, RVs, and trailers. The setting is peaceful, with sweeping views of mesas and easy access to trails like the Point Lookout Trail.

  Amenities are a highlight here, including flush toilets, showers, a well-stocked camp store, and even a fuel station. It’s an excellent choice for families or those who appreciate a few comforts while camping.

  However, campers should be prepared for sudden and severe weather. The high desert location can bring intense storms with strong winds. During our stay, our tent nearly flew away despite being staked down securely, so it’s worth bringing extra gear like sandbags or heavy-duty stakes to keep your setup anchored.

  Overall, Morefield Campground is an excellent choice for exploring Mesa Verde, combining convenient amenities with a beautiful natural setting. Just keep an eye on the weather and pack accordingly to ensure a comfortable stay.

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 15, 2024

  Matterhorn — Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre And Gunnison National Forest

  Comfort Meets Adventure

  Matterhorn Campground, located near Telluride and nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, offers an excellent balance of comfort and outdoor adventure. This well-maintained campground is perfect for campers seeking easy access to Colorado’s stunning alpine scenery without sacrificing convenience.

  The campsites are clean, spacious, and equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Some sites even offer electric hookups, making it a great option for RV travelers. The surrounding area is breathtaking, with panoramic views of rugged peaks, lush forests, and wildflower-filled meadows.

  One of the campground’s standout features is its proximity to the Uncompahgre Wilderness and nearby trails, such as the iconic Ice Lake Basin or Blue Lakes hikes. It’s also just a short drive to Telluride, where you can enjoy its historic charm and famous gondola rides.

  The elevation keeps the temperatures cool, even in summer, and the nights are peaceful—perfect for stargazing. The campground is accessible via a paved road, which is a bonus for those with larger vehicles.

  Whether you’re here for hiking, fishing, or simply soaking up the mountain views, Matterhorn Campground provides a great basecamp for exploring Colorado’s high country. With its mix of amenities and natural beauty, it’s a solid choice for both novice and seasoned campers alike.

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 15, 2024

  Amphitheater Campground

  A Scenic Mountain Escape

  Nestled just minutes above the charming mountain town of Ouray, Amphitheater Campground is a true gem for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Surrounded by the breathtaking San Juan Mountains, this campground offers stunning views, a peaceful atmosphere, and convenient access to hiking trails, hot springs, and the iconic Million Dollar Highway.

  The campsites are well-spaced, offering a mix of shade and sun. Many sites provide spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and valley below. The facilities are basic but well-maintained, with clean vault toilets and potable water. While there are no hookups for RVs, the campground’s rustic vibe is perfect for tent camping or smaller camper setups.

  One of the highlights is its proximity to the Perimeter Trail, a scenic loop around Ouray, and other popular hikes like the Box Canyon Falls trail. You’re also a short drive from town, where you can enjoy the famous hot springs or grab a meal.

  A word of caution: the road to the campground is steep and narrow, so it may not be ideal for large RVs. Be sure to plan for cool nights, as temperatures drop significantly due to the elevation.

  Overall, Amphitheater Campground offers an unbeatable combination of solitude, accessibility, and breathtaking scenery. Whether you’re looking for a basecamp for outdoor adventures or simply a serene spot to relax, this campground delivers.

  Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• 

  Paulina B.

  Ranger

  

  Dec. 7, 2024

  Madden Peak Road - Dispersed

  Scenic and Secluded

  Madden Peak dispersed camping is a fantastic option for those seeking a peaceful and scenic camping experience near Mesa Verde National Park, Cortez, and Durango. This area is big rig accessible, with relatively flat camping spots, though the access roads can be bumpy at times . Campfires are allowed, making it a cozy spot for evenings under the stars.

  The location offers stunning views of the La Plata Mountains and the surrounding wilderness, providing a serene backdrop for your stay. For outdoor enthusiasts, nearby hiking options include the Madden Peak Trail, which spans 4.5 miles and can be extended to summit Parrot Peak and Gibbs Peak. It's an ideal choice for campers who enjoy combining relaxation with outdoor adventure​.

• 

  Shannon E W.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 5, 2024

  Chutes and Ladders Dipsersed

  Pleasant stay

  We stayed for 3 nights due to the convenience of Mesa Verde NP. The GPS coordinate on Google were spot on. The driveway was a little rough and can get very pitted with wet weather. We have a 38 foot 5th wheel that had plenty of clearance. We stayed in site 9. They do recommend 30ft and under but we got lucky there was an available site.

• 

  Kim S.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 27, 2024

  Morefield Campground — Mesa Verde National Park

  Tons of sites

  While kind of on the pricier side for campgrounds I really enjoyed my 2 nights there in early Oct 24. Easy access to get on the road to the cliff dwellings early in the day, flush bathrooms, tons of sites, trails nearby, a little center with a store, cafe, gas, and most importantly showers. 

  They let you pick your site which is nice so I got a site with a flat spot for my rooftop tent, but some sites are definately more geared to tent camping, but there are tons of site options.

  Would stay again.

• 

  Kim S.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 27, 2024

  Angel Creek Campground

  Good campground with some bearboxes

  Stayed for 4 nights in early Oct 2024. Nice little campground with large bear boxes for food storage. I felt it's at a good location to venture off each day from.

  Not too many sites, had leveled tent areas, pit toilets, deer went through the campground adding to the nice views there and a river by it.

  The cons were there's no trash disposal there you need to go up the road to the other campground to get rid of it, cars were constantly going by looking for a campsite which was constant noise into the evening and they went really fast making the campground road not feel very safe to walk along, not the flattest of parking spots if using a rooftop tent or car camping without anything to level with

  Enjoyed the place.

• F

  Fred E.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 24, 2024

  Golden Horn Dispersed

  Perfect for Solitude and Views

  Great campground just 10 minutes from Silverton. Several spots are right next to a small stream, creating a peaceful atmosphere. The vault toilet helped us conserve water, and we used the public shower/bathroom in Silverton, which was very convenient. It's also close to many hiking trails, making it a great base for outdoor activities.

• D

  David O.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 24, 2024

  Morefield Campground — Mesa Verde National Park

  Beautiful, quiet restful

  Two nights here. Boondocks go, no water needed, but great location, restrooms nearby. Very peaceful.

• 

  Jennifer C.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 20, 2024

  Orvis Hot Springs (Clothing Optional)

  Love it here. Be nice to it.

  This is my second time here and it is always such a great experience. I don’t even want to brag about it because I want to keep it to myself.

• D

  Diana K.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 18, 2024

  Mesa Verde National Park Boundary (BLM Land)

  Great spot!

  Camped at site #11. Beautiful sunset view. We drove a 4WD truck with truck bed camper with no problem. Never took it out of 2WD.

• J

  Juliana R.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 13, 2024

  Haviland Lake Campground

  Amazing campsite

  Reasonable prices & open during the winter.

  The lake is beautiful and a great trail network around the camp, good for trail running.

• J

  Juliana R.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 13, 2024

  United Campground of Durango

  Good location, quite expensive

  Clean, hot showers and large laundry room.

  One of the more beautiful RV sites, sitting along the silverton & Durango tourist train.

  However given we don’t even plug in, $78 including tax is too expensive for us.

• J

  Juliana R.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 13, 2024

  Mesa Verde National Park Boundary (BLM Land)

  Beautiful spot to camp when visiting Mesa Verde

  17 spots all pretty spaced out, filled up around 5pm on Sunday October 12 (but this could be due to the Indigenous Peoples day being tomorrow).

  The surrounding landscape is beautiful.

  We didn’t find the road too bad in our Ram Promaster, but we have a pretty high clearance.

• 

  taren C.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 11, 2024

  Cherry Creek Gravel Lot

  Beautiful views, flora and fauna

  Beautiful place! It's pretty easy to get into, there are more secluded places up the hill a ways but it gets kinda rough. 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. There was one night an inconsiderate person parked his company truck and camper as close to me as was possible with wide open space all over and ran his generator. Luckily he was gone the next day.

• 

  Erika R.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 10, 2024

  Alta Lakes Campground (Dispersed)

  LONG dirt road, but worth it

  The off road trail it get to Alta lakes took us about 40-50 minutes in my boyfriends F-150. The views were amazing so neither of us really minded. We enjoyed our 1 night stay and did not struggle to find a spot

• 

  J. F.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 9, 2024

  Tico Time River Resort

  Not worth all the hype

  We thought it would be great to check out Tico Time last weekend, but our experience was disappointing. We had reservations for Friday and Saturday night, but when we arrived, there was no one to help us find our campsite. After driving around aimlessly, we finally found our spot. 

  However, the place gave off a rundown, homeless camp vibe with old camp trailers, a hippie bus, and even a car on blocks, and another trailer had two motorcycles in various stages of being dismantled.

  The zip line was a letdown, and there wasn't much shade due to the lack of trees. We wished we could have gone to the river to cool off. After just one night, we decided to move on and found a better spot further up the road in the mountains north of Durango.

• 

  Tamara T.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 6, 2024

  Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area

  For free and nice view

  We arrived at a Saturday around 3 pm and still had many opportunities to find a place. Lovley place to stay. As a toilet. I can recomment to stay there in fall.

• F

  Francis W.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 6, 2024

  The Views RV Park & Campground

  Very tidy, very comfortable .

  Very well maintained campground. Stayed in tent. Bathroom and shower new and very clean. Excellent views.

• S

  Steven D.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 3, 2024

  Ouray KOA

  Quiet and clean

  Friendly staff. Clean restrooms and showers

• S

  Steven D.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 3, 2024

  Ouray KOA

  Clean facilities

  Very friendly staff. Easy access

• 

  Alice S.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 2, 2024

  Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping

  Really Convenient Location

  The site is literally right off of hwy 160. If your gps tries to send you through residential areas or on county roads don’t listen to it.

  There are quite a few available spots and most are pretty big. Roads can be a bit rough the farther back you go but it’s got large easy to access spots close to the front. It’s pretty busy but still plenty of room for everyone to have their own space.

  Phone and internet connection is excellent!

• 

  Mark B.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 30, 2024

  Mesa Verde National Park Boundary (BLM Land)

  Narrow, rough, steep service road

  The only reason I give this place a 3 is because of the close proximity to Mesa Verde NP. This stay is only for high clearance vehicles and small RV's. Deep drain ditches between service road and sites. All sites are extremely uneven. Also the road and sites have sharp crushed shale stone. I have a 35 foot 5th RV and was way too big for this place. But by the grace of God I managed to back into site 12. How the use planks to shore up the ditches so I could get in without bottoming out. I will not return.

• M

  Matt H.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 25, 2024

  Junction Creek Campground

  Awesome tidy and private sites

  Junction Creek campground is a lovely place to stay. The price is good, the hosts are just soo friendly and helpful. The site was even swept clean of pine needles as the toilets are very fresh. 

  The whole experience was very good with well spaced sites and flat ground all between the trees. 

  There is great walking and mountain biking right from camp too! Enjoy!

• 

  Kaltra B.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 24, 2024

  Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping

  Next to highway, 5g connection

  Going east from Durango, you make a right turn on silver hills road. You will see the blm sign. Gravel road, fire pits. We stayed in a camper van at one of the first spots and had 5g internet with AT&T. Can hear highway noise

• M

  Michael

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 24, 2024

  Mancos State Park Campground

  Nice stop in Southwest Colorado

  Monday evening, third week of September site 25. Quiet. Well spaced sites. Sloped towards lake. At least this site and 26 would be difficult to find level spot for tent and requires lots of rocks or blocks to level rv. Note west side of lake campsites are 6 miles from US160. Deer came out around 6 pm. Bear area, none seen. Nice stopping place.