Best Dispersed Camping near Rye, CO
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Best Dispersed Sites Near Rye, CO (37)
1. Sacred White Shell Mountain
Blanca, Colorado53 Reviews•137 Photos•940 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
2. Medano Pass Primitive Road — Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
Crestone, Colorado8 Reviews•23 Photos•377 SavesRoadside camping is permitted at 21 campsites in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve beginning 5.2 miles from where the road begins near Pi__on Flats Campground. These designated sites are free of charge and first-come, first-served. All 21 sites fill on summer weekends. Passable only in the warmer months and only with high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles. This road crosses areas of deep sand, traverses Medano Creek nine times, and passes through excellent habitat for bighorn sheep.
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Firewood Available
- Toilets
- Alcohol
3. The Dunefield — Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve, Colorado8 Reviews•50 Photos•338 SavesExplore any part of the 30 square mile dunefield you wish; there are no designated trails in the sand. A dunes-accessible wheelchair is available for free loan at the Visitor Center. Summer air temperatures are pleasant at this high elevation, but during afternoon hours the sand surface can reach 150F degrees, and dangerous thunderstorms can develop. Plan to hike the dunes in early morning or evening to avoid heat exhaustion, burned feet, or fatal lightning strikes.
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Market
- Firewood Available
4. Penrose Common Rec Site
Penrose, Colorado9 Reviews•29 Photos•84 SavesPenrose Commons Recreation Area offers a warm, arid climate among pinon and juniper woodlands. The best time to visit is September through May when temperatures are comfortable and the snowy peaks of the Sangre De Cristo mountain range are visible in the distance. With 30 miles of motorized trail, the area is popular for ATVs, motorcycles and four wheeling. Independence Trail system is known for its extreme 4x4 rock crawling opportunities with easy access for spectators to enjoy the trail activity. Penrose Commons is also popular for horseback riding, hunting and dispersed camping. The area has a restroom, trail map information and ample parking space for trailers. A wet weather gate closes the area to motorized use during wet conditions. For more information, please contact the Royal Gorge Field Office.
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
5. Lake Deweese state wildlife area
Westcliffe, Colorado5 Reviews•10 Photos•190 Saves- Pets
- Dispersed
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Toilets
6. Great Sand Dunes Dispersed
Blanca, Colorado10 Reviews•51 Photos•273 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Group
- Dispersed
7. BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed
Blanca, Colorado8 Reviews•36 Photos•159 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
8. South Colony Basin
Crestone, Colorado2 Reviews•8 Photos•101 SavesSouth Colony Basin and the surrounding 14,000-foot peaks offer a broad range of recreational opportunities, including camping, hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, fishing and hunting. This diversity of activities, combined with the natural beauty of the basin and the rough but passable access provided by the road, has made South Colony Basin the most popular destination in the Sangre de Cristo Range. Trailhead register data indicate 3,500 to 4,500 persons (7,000 to 9,000 visitor days) visit the small (1500 acre) upper basin at the head of the South Colony drainage during the summer season. Since 1996, the Forest Service has worked in partnership with Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, Colorado Outward Bound, and other educational and environmental service organizations to reconstruct trails and climbing routes within the basin, stabilize eroding alpine slopes (caused by user-created trails), inventory and restore undesirable campsites and social trails. To date, nearly $1,000,000 (of mostly non-federal funds) and 40,000 volunteer hours have been spent restoring long-term recreational impacts, rebuilding the lower road, constructing trailhead facilities and creating sustainable summit trails in South Colony Basin.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
9. Huerfano State Wildlife Area
Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve, Colorado1 Review•36 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
10. BLM Near Great Sand Dunes Hwy 150
Blanca, Colorado6 Reviews•17 Photos•117 SavesBLM off grid camping - please remember to Leave No Trace in this area. Thank you.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Rye
131 Reviews of 37 Rye Campgrounds
- d
danny H.
ScoutOil Well Flats
Great views
Did the shelf trail from cripple creek to canon city. Was good place to camp for the night quite a few spots, flat, big. Amazing views! Incline getting up to isn’t bad, TT’s might have some trouble. Everyone else should be fine.
Paulina B.
Ranger
The Dunefield — Great Sand Dunes National Park
Wild and Untamed
Backcountry dispersed camping in Great Sand Dunes National Park offers an unforgettable and truly unique wilderness experience. If you’re seeking solitude and raw, untamed landscapes, this is the perfect spot to pitch your tent. With no designated sites, you have the freedom to find your ideal spot beyond the busy dunes and under an expansive star-filled sky.
The journey begins with a hike deep into the park’s rugged terrain, where you’re surrounded by towering sand dunes, alpine forests, and sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The lack of light pollution makes stargazing an absolute highlight—this is one of the best places to witness the Milky Way.
Keep in mind, this is true backcountry camping: no facilities, no water sources, and you must pack out all waste. Permits are required, so be sure to plan ahead. The environment can be challenging, with extreme temperature swings and strong winds that shift the sand beneath your feet. Good preparation and Leave No Trace practices are a must.
The rewards are well worth the effort. From sunrise hikes to the serene sound of nothing but wind across the dunes, this camping experience immerses you in nature’s raw beauty like few others can. It’s an adventure you’ll carry with you long after you’ve left the dunes behind.
Highly recommend skipping the tent and sleeping under the stars!
- CCaitlin C.
Traveler
BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed
Great Spot
Was able to find a really nice open spot with amazing views of the mountains. Was big and spacious enough for me and my friend to camp in our vans. No one around for miles!
Grace R.Scout
BLM Near Great Sand Dunes Hwy 150
Not accessible
Gated off. Not accessible
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!
- PPeterScout
Wild Cherry Creek Trailhead
Blocked off by private gate
Couldn’t get to trail head due to private gate blocking the road.
Levi S.Traveler
Sacred White Shell Mountain
Easy free camping
Got here on a Saturday night in September and found a spot right away. It had been raining for awhile too. No issue on the road with a kia sorento.
Kevin M.ScoutBLM Near Great Sand Dunes Hwy 150
Area Gated; No Access
Locked gate at indicated entry point.
- DDeitz B.
GuideSacred White Shell Mountain
Wide Open Spaces
Not much tree cover at a lot of these spots. Great location to be close enough to the dunes.
Was pretty windy and sandy while we were there
- SStephenTraveler
Sacred White Shell Mountain
Good dispersed sites
Dispersed sites start about 1 mile east of Hwy 150. Very quiet! T-Mobile 5G at 4 bars.
- JJason
Legend
Sacred White Shell Dispersed Camping
Peaceful BLM camping
Very easy access to several spots in the area. Can hike up the mountain.
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
- 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.
- AAshley W.Traveler
Great Sand Dunes Dispersed
Good spot if you get there early
There’s plenty of spots off the main road, but seems like you need to get there early. We showed up around 6 pm. The road does get pretty rough eventually, and we didn’t trust our minivan going through the “unmaintained” section, we turned around and were able to find a connecting side road that had plenty of open space out there. When entering the road initially, the side road would be about half way up to your left. Pretty close to Great Sand Dunes National Park, so we were happy with this location! Nice mountain view.
- Edward P.Scout
Sacred White Shell Mountain
Free- bumpy road, windy, and lots of sand
It's a nice spot with a spectacular view but it's very windy and there's a lot of sand.
Erika L.Guide
Dispersed Sand Area 1
Door and peaceful
Loved hearing the creek roaring in the background and feeling the sun on my skin surrounded by cactus - an I in Texas!?
- Matt B.Traveler
Lake Como Road Dispersed Colorado
Lake Como Dispersed
Great for a quick overnight stop. Woke up to people unloading there side by sides.
- MMark P.Traveler
Crestone Needle Trail
I stayed for days. Really liked the location.
There are more than one listing for places to camp along FS 949. I stayed on a pad that was build along with the road. Loved the views, The area is very interesting. Crestone is a tiny town with just about anything you might want within a walk from where I parked. Plenty of camping spots all the way up to the end of the road where there is a fairly busy trailhead.
- CColyer D.Guide
Phantom Canyon
Beautiful, but Far from Pristine.
Absolutely beautiful area! We pulled in on a Friday evening with thunderstorms all around. There were plenty of sites available when we showed up, but they were all full by Saturday morning. We weren’t able to get one of the spots near the creek, but had our own hidden ravine tucked away on the left side of the road. I believe it was the 3rd to last pull out and the last one on the left side of the road. Stunning… but the smell from previous campers unsuccessfully trying to burn their trash in the fire rings (thankfully we brought our solo stove to cook on) and all the litter was a bit overwhelming. Broken glass, toilet paper/feces not buried, cigarette butts, and just trash everywhere. Unfortunate for the area, our spot was the cleanest one we came across. We took some walks past others near the creek that looked like they had just hosted full on frat parties.
It was just super unfortunate and disgusting to go to such a beautiful area and have previous campers all but ruin it for us.
- HHunter L.Guide
BLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed
Quick Stop
Quick and easy to find. Area was easily accessible. A great option for those on a budget and attempting to avoid paying fees for one night stays. Nice views of the valley and mountain behind. Sites were not the most level going up the mountainside and a bit rocky. Would stay there again!
Laneha E.ScoutBLM Near Great Sand Dunes Hwy 150
Beautiful views & Isolated
This place is good for those who have clearance and a 4WD. Road can be rough but pretty much all pickups are good. Don’t need a jeep. If it rains, you could get in trouble. The views are beautiful. Especially higher up. Some spots, I didn’t find tons of spots. I was the only one here on a Friday night last week if July 🤷🏼♀️. Or if there were others I didn’t know it. You get cover of some trees quicker than the sacred mountain location farther south on same road. You have to open a gate to get in. I would recommend it, and will probably be back at some point.
Morgan E.GuideBLM Mt. Blanca Rd. Dispersed
Dispersed Mountain Views !
This campsite is very popular, I would definitely recommend arriving early morning time to secure a spot. We got in fairly late in the night from Texas and had to drive in a ways. Many people left early in the morning so sites opened up fairly quickly. The road is graded and then turns into a rocky road that is manageable in a crossover for a ways then high clearance will be needed. There was a small flooded portion that is next to the helipad but we just drove up onto the helipad to get around it as to not risk getting stuck. There are plenty of sites available and even a circle drive in the front of the road if you don’t feel like venturing in during the night. There are A TON of flies! Lots of bug spray and loose clothing to avoid those pesky biting flies. We had a beautiful view of the mountain and Great Sand dunes is a short 20 minutes away. Our pups loved the large open spaces but beware of cacti and tiny burrs.
- Charles L.Traveler
Phantom Canyon
Late July camping trip
I’m a rooftop tent camper and the views are amazing but was hoping to be close to the water and isolated from other campers. Definitely was isolated and found one spot that worked out well for rooftop camper. Like 14 miles on dirt road, on the right, 20 feet before a sign that reads “leaving public land.” Had fire ring and more than enough room. About 20 yards away from creek. Quiet. No Att cell service but don’t expect anyone can get service in that canyon.
Carissa G.Traveler
Hermit Pass OHV
VERY ROUGH ROAD
Your vehicle will prob need new brakes after this trip. Super beautiful but the road never eases up.
Macy E.TravelerPhantom Canyon
Great Spot
It was absolutely beautiful! Upwards of 20 spots to park. There is no service which is fine but something to leave in a review. It is a very populated area so if you plan to go on a holiday weekend plan accordingly. We showed up around 10 at night on a Monday night of the fourth week and found lots of open spots. they were all very secluded away from everyone else Over all great spot!
phil G.ScoutDispersed Sand Area 1
Beautiful views, remote feeling, near town
There are about 10-15 dispersed camping spots along the dirt road that leads up to trailheads at the end. The spots are spread out enough to where I did not see or hear a soul while camping 2 nights. A large gathering of mountain goats hanging out along the road was a fun surprise! Gorgeous views of Crestone peak and other neighboring mountains. The only negative was the mosquitos. They are horrendous. If you can’t handle it or find a way to keep them away it could ruin someone’s ability to enjoy the beauty.
andy B.TravelerSacred White Shell Mountain
Wow
What a fantastic stop!! You don't get this at koa!!
Guide to Rye
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Rye, Colorado, where nature's tranquility meets adventure. This area offers a variety of spots for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle and immerse themselves in the great outdoors.
Dispersed campers should check out Ophir Creek Road
- Ophir Creek Road is perfect for those who prefer a drive-in experience without the hassle of permits. The scenic views along the way make it a delightful journey.
- With no amenities, campers can truly connect with nature, enjoying the peace and quiet that comes with dispersed camping.
- The area is known for its stunning landscapes, making it an ideal spot for photography enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Top activities while free camping near Rye
- Hiking opportunities abound, especially near Huerfano State Wildlife Area, where you can explore the beautiful trails and enjoy the serene environment.
- Fishing is a popular pastime in the region, particularly at Lake Deweese State Wildlife Area, where you can cast a line and relax by the water.
- Wildlife watching is another highlight, as the area is home to various species, providing a great chance to observe nature in its natural habitat.
Medano Pass for dispersed campers
- The rugged terrain of Medano Pass offers an adventurous experience for those with high-clearance vehicles, making it a thrilling destination for off-road enthusiasts.
- Campers can enjoy the unique landscape, including creek crossings and stunning views, which are perfect for those looking to explore the outdoors.
- This area is also known for its proximity to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, allowing for a combination of activities such as hiking and sandboarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Rye, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Rye, CO is Sacred White Shell Mountain with a 4.5-star rating from 53 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Rye, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 37 dispersed camping locations near Rye, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.