Dispersed camping near Rye, Colorado offers sites across elevations from 6,000 to 10,500 feet throughout the San Isabel National Forest and surrounding BLM lands. Most dispersed areas require high-clearance vehicles with some locations accessible via unmaintained forest roads that become impassable after rainfall. Camping areas in lower elevations remain accessible from April through October, while higher elevation sites typically close by mid-September due to early snowfall.
What to Do
Hiking to waterfalls: A trail leads directly from Davenport Campground to scenic mountain paths. "Trail right off campgrounds is an easy, beautiful hike," notes Becki S., making this an excellent base for day excursions without driving.
Wildlife viewing: Red Canyon Park delivers frequent animal encounters near campsites. "We saw some dear and rabbits near our campsite," reports Chrischelle N., while another camper mentioned seeing "a snake slither in the bricks of our fire pit."
Nighttime astronomy: Several high-elevation sites offer exceptional stargazing due to minimal light pollution. At Phantom Canyon Road, a camper found "the night sky viewing opportunities" remarkable with "plenty of spots to pull off and set up camp" along roads that access more remote viewing locations.
What Campers Like
Geographical isolation: Rabbit Hole Ranch offers uncommon seclusion. As Lissa L. describes, "The ranch is super out of the way from many buildings or even many other people for that matter. The uneven ground makes walking around the landscape seem like an optical illusion."
Geological features: The varied landscape around Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites creates distinctive camping experiences. "The dirt road took us up through the mountains with plenty of options to pull off and set up camp," writes Chelsea F., adding that "spots were already there to build a campfire."
Night sounds: The natural soundscape becomes a highlight at many camps. Sabrina L. at Davenport Campground describes how "The creek right next to the campground is very peaceful" while another reviewer noted the complete stillness that makes wildlife sounds more noticeable.
What You Should Know
Insects and wildlife precautions: Bug populations vary drastically by location. At Great Sand Dunes Dispersed campsites, Vanessa C. reports, "In our camp spot we saw mountain blue birds, tiger beetles, circus beetles, hover flies, common flies, plateau fence lizards, snake holes, pocket mice, deer droppings," requiring appropriate preparation.
Weather extremes: Temperature swings of 40-50 degrees between day and night are common in this region. "The temperature almost went down to freezing at night in early June, so be prepared with layers for both hot and cold desert conditions," warns one camper.
Road conditions: Many access roads require specific vehicles. For Red Canyon Park, Kallie B. cautions, "The road is dirt and goes for 7+ miles... after 2/3 miles the road get extremely rough for several miles to a point that we considered turning our 4Runner around. Cars and campers cannot make it past a certain point."
Tips for Camping with Families
Campsite layout considerations: Some sites offer natural boundaries that contain young explorers. Madi G. found at Phantom Canyon Road that camping "down a slope" was "highly worth the hard work as you're secluded from the road and have a lot of tree coverage for hot days. Also great to utilize this if you have young children who like to wander."
Wildlife encounters: Hummingbird Ranch provides opportunities for animal sightings while maintaining safety. "My girlfriend and I came here to watch the Perseid meteor shower and it did not disappoint. We had the place to ourselves and a great view of the stars," says Tara M.
Camp amenities: Family-friendly features vary significantly between sites. Jayden W. notes that Phantom Canyon has "BATHROOMS [that] are pit toilets that are located around at sight (18) and I believe (8) the sights are relatively easy to find. And there are green mile markers all the way through."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Finding flat parking for larger vehicles requires advance planning. At Great Sand Dunes Dispersed camping, John H. explains, "We were one of very few travel trailers on this road. On the other hand, the views were beyond incredible and for that alone I would use this location for an overnight stay again."
Site selection: At Greenhorn Meadows Park, site positioning matters significantly. One camper recommends, "Enjoy spot 20 very much. A quite little corner," while another advises, "For goodness sake, do not camp in space six. You will make everyone around you upset and there's no room for a camper let alone camper and vehicle."
Utilities access: Water and power access points don't always align with parking. One RVer reports, "There electric hook ups at your site; however the water is across the path and you need to port it to your rig. There is a laundry room and dump station."
