Dispersed camping spots near Erie, Colorado concentrate in Roosevelt National Forest where elevations range between 8,000-9,500 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 70-85°F during day and drop to 40-50°F at night. Free camping areas follow the standard 14-day stay limit on national forest lands with most sites requiring visitors to pack in water and pack out all waste.
What to do
Hiking and climbing access: Dream Canyon Campsites offers direct access to canyon hiking trails. "Lots of climbing routes nearby and easy to find some good spots away from others," notes one visitor to Dream Canyon Campsites.
Mountain biking: West Magnolia Campground provides extensive single-track trails. "Great spot for mountain biking, hiking, and camping," mentions a reviewer who found the West Magnolia Campground sites "all pretty large" with good distance between them.
Fishing opportunities: Several campsites provide fishing access in the warmer months. "Caught lots of trout (none big enough to keep)" reports one camper at Ceran St. Vrain Trail, describing the stream as having "amazing views" with "ample room for lots of tents."
What campers like
Proximity to towns: Most dispersed camping areas remain within 30-60 minutes of supplies. "This was a close 1 night get away spot. Pretty area, the sites we saw were numbered... Nederland is close enough to run into town if needed," mentions a camper at Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area.
Creek-side camping: Several areas feature sites alongside flowing water. "We camped on a pseudo island between the two streams and the running water helped drown out any noise," reports a visitor to Ceran St. Vrain Trail Dispersed Camping.
Wildlife sightings: Free camping near Erie offers chances to observe local wildlife. "Lots of wildlife; squirrels, rabbits, and a moose that walked right by our campsite," notes a camper at Beaver Park Reservoir who also mentioned some trash near the fire ring but found the rest of the site clean.
What you should know
Vehicle requirements: Many access roads deteriorate further from main entrances. "The road gets worse as you go further. Lots of trash at the campsite. Overall, woke up to a nice view of mountains," reports a camper about Forest Road 332 Dispersed.
Weather variability: Mountain elevations experience rapid temperature changes and precipitation. "It was windy and snowing in February but overall a very good time! The snow was pretty deep in and especially behind the campsite, probably 3 feet at some places from accumulation," describes a winter visitor to Beaver Park Reservoir.
Tick awareness: Some camping areas report tick presence in warmer months. "The only thing I would caution about this area is the ticks. We brushed about five off of us just during the visit," warns a camper at Gold Lake Area Dispersed.
Tips for camping with families
Stream camping options: Sites near water provide natural entertainment. "The camp spots are pretty spread apart. They are set up along the river with fire pits and plenty of trees around," notes a visitor to Ceran St. Vrain who also mentions morning hikers can sometimes create noise at sites closest to the trail.
Wildlife encounters: Prepare children for possible animal sightings. "We had a fox visit our site!" reports a camper at Beaver Park Reservoir, who also mentioned finding "several good sized RV spots" where their 25-foot camper fit nicely.
Easy access sites: Some areas offer shorter walks to campsites. "We camped a very short walk from the parking lot. Amazing camp site with not many people around," shares a camper about Dream Canyon, noting the camping was peaceful with few other people nearby.
Tips from RVers
Reservoir camping: Some reservoirs allow RV access with size limitations. "Nice dispersed camping with zero amenities but man made fire pits. Windy and cold but beautiful!" notes a visitor to Beaver Park Reservoir.
Road conditions: Higher clearance vehicles fare better on forest roads. "About 1 hour from Boulder. Was super simple to access... A 2wd car can access quite a bit but if you want to go further up Ski road, definitely bring a 4x4 with high clearance," advises a camper at Allenspark Dispersed Camping.
Site selection timing: Weekday arrivals improve chances for ideal spots. "We went on a Sunday, the weekend after the 4th of July. It was quite easy to find a campground for dispersed camping with other sites marked," reports a visitor to Gordon Gulch who recommends "a 4-wheel drive vehicle to reach some of the spots, especially if there is poor weather."
