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Freeman Reservoir Campground allows horses with designated pens near the camping area. Horses are not permitted to walk through the main campsite areas, but facilities exist specifically for equine visitors. Campsites at this 9,000-foot elevation location are well-spaced with trees providing natural separation between sites. Each campsite includes a picnic table and fire ring, with most sites featuring partial shade from pine trees. The campground offers basic amenities including trash service, potable water access points, and pit toilets that are regularly maintained. Multiple trailheads originate directly from the campground, providing immediate access to surrounding trails suitable for horseback riding.
Located approximately 30 miles from Slater, Colorado, Freeman Reservoir provides horse-friendly camping from June through October, weather permitting. Fall colors typically begin changing in mid-September, making this an ideal destination for equestrians seeking autumn trail rides. The reservoir itself allows non-motorized watercraft, combining riding opportunities with fishing and other outdoor activities. Mosquitoes can be prevalent during summer months, so appropriate protection is advised for both humans and horses. The campground's remote location means visitors should arrive prepared with necessary supplies for themselves and their horses, as services are limited in the immediate area. Mountain weather can change rapidly even during summer months, requiring appropriate preparation for potential temperature fluctuations.
"We hit this place coming from the northern Colorado border with Wyoming on a Sunday night. I've grown up and camped in Colorado my whole life, this place was 10/10, and one of my favorite spots ever!"
"Horses are allowed. There are pens for horses. They're not allowed to walk through the campsite though. The reservoir is kind of small. There are picnic tables. Many locations around it."
"This was our first stop on a week long road trip from Colorado Springs to the Oregon Coast and, honestly, we could have just hung out there and saved all the miles."
"I had just done Rock Creek's drive up to dispersed near Dillon and thought that was bad, but this was worse. "
"There is a sign at the beginning of the dirt road for high clearance and 4 wheel drive. This is not a suggestion. This spot was beautiful, peaceful and primitive."
"Great spot for car camping in Colorado except its distance from Denver. It’s a trek! Takes at least 4 hours (that’s if you’re lucky). Lots to do."
"Big Creek Lakes Campground, Colorado (close to Wyoming border): camping here is only open for 3 months out of the year: June, July & August."
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TravelerGreat spot for car camping in Colorado except its distance from Denver. It’s a trek! Takes at least 4 hours (that’s if you’re lucky). Lots to do. Great fishing, beautiful hiking trails to a water fall, and trails for the RZR near by.
ScoutWe hit this place coming from the northern Colorado border with Wyoming on a Sunday night. I've grown up and camped in Colorado my whole life, this place was 10/10, and one of my favorite spots ever! With hiking, biking, and fishing, you could spend some time here!
GuideBig Creek Lakes Campground, Colorado (close to Wyoming border): camping here is only open for 3 months out of the year: June, July & August. It's camping at over 9,000ft elevation and requires for you to be extra prepared for snow even in the summer months, bears, mountain lions, mosquitos, aggressive horse flies, leeches, strong winds, thunder storms and altitude sickness. They do provide water which tastes fresh like newly melted snow. You can boat, fish, even hunt at some spots with a permit, hike, and swim at your own risk (can be cold, leeches, snakes). It is truly beautiful up here and the drive up the Poudre river makes it worth it. You can also spend the day rafting down the river or fishing.
RangerBeautiful spot. Almost at 9,000 ft. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Most of them are slightly treed. There is garbage pickup. The fall colors are just starting to show. Horses are allowed. There are pens for horses. They're not allowed to walk through the campsite though. The reservoir is kind of small. There are picnic tables. Many locations around it. We arrived late so we didn't get to see how beautiful it was until the morning.
GuideThis was our first stop on a week long road trip from Colorado Springs to the Oregon Coast and, honestly, we could have just hung out there and saved all the miles.
It was a such a beautiful area mid September. All the leaves were changing, it was cool and misty, the view was spectacular, yes it was rough as hell to get there, but totally worth it if you’ve got the rig for it.
My only note for the area was that there were a lot hunters walking through and around our camp, but everyone was polite and respectful.
GuideWe camped here July 25th-29th, 2018 with our 5 children (4-13) in our pop up camper.
First thing to know is this is a remote area of CO at 9,000+ ft. elevation. It is also an area that has been affected by wildfire (2016). It is still absolutely gorgeous!
Worst part—> You will have to travel down a gravel/dirt road for ~30 miles to get to the lake and campground. Sections of it are TERRIBLY washboarded. Plan for over an hour to navigate through. You will be rewarded at the end!
There is zero cell service (we have Sprint and Verizon), no electric/water/sewer hook ups or bathhouses. There are pit toilets throughout the campground that appeared to be very well maintained and cleaned often. There are also numerous water spigots throughout with potable water.
The sites are all HUGE, almost all are pull through and many offer beautiful lake views with trails directly from your campsite to the water. We were in site 14. It did not have a water view, but was still amazing. All sites are gravel and appear to be fairly level. Most have pine trees, boulders and other natural landscaping that adds to the beauty of the campground. Very nice metal fire pits and sturdy, large picnic tables (though many are slightly bowed) were present at each site we saw. Bear proof dumpsters were easily accessible.
We had hundreds of chipmunks visit us each day to clean up the kids’ crumbs. We also saw antelope and deer on the drive in and several moose, elk and a coyote off the highway heading to RMNP.
There are two trailheads in the campground, lots of areas to fish, a boat dock and horse corral.
This was our very first run at dry camping. We were 10 hours from home with 5 kids! We may be crazy, but lots of memories were made and we are calling this trip a big success!
This campground was only $10/night and a true hidden gem in the Rockies. (Those roads though...ugh!)
TravelerWe just returned from a quick overnight at Freeman Res Campground and enjoyed it more than any other camping this Summer. The campsites are well separated, and screened by trees for good privacy. Despite a mostly full campground after dark it was very quiet, no generators, no barking dogs, and no big parties. There is a mixture of pull through, back in, and some tent sites for all camping types. Multiple trailheads start at the campground or close by it. The reservoir is for non-motorized watercraft only, not all campsites can see the reservoir but one loop of sites can. We will go back and hope to enjoy multiple seasons from this campground.
ScoutThis is a nice group site with plenty of staggered sites, and a large pavilion. Half of the sites have a fire ring and cement picnic table. also there is potable water next to the pavilion and restrooms next to the parking circle. good for a few small RVs or pop ups. The Continental Divide trail is directly across the seedhouse road from here. The site can accommodate about 30 people.
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.
Freeman Reservoir Campground sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet near the Wyoming-Colorado border. Most sites in this equestrian-focused campground are accessible from June through October, weather permitting. The campground provides designated horse pens and specialized facilities for riders who bring their horses for trail riding adventures. Mosquitoes are common during summer months, making repellent essential for both humans and horses.
Fishing at nearby lakes: Big Creek Lakes Campground allows fishing in its natural alpine lakes at 9,000+ feet elevation. According to Rosina A., "You can boat, fish, even hunt at some spots with a permit, hike, and swim at your own risk (can be cold, leeches, snakes)."
Hiking local trails: Buffalo Pass Dispersed offers multiple trail options with varied terrain. Visitor Colyer D. notes, "This was our first stop on a week long road trip from Colorado Springs to the Oregon Coast and, honestly, we could have just hung out there and saved all the miles." The Continental Divide trail is accessible across from Seedhouse Group Sites.
Visit nearby hot springs: When camping near Dry Lake Campground, make time for Strawberry Hot Springs. Jason P. recommends, "Be sure to visit Strawberry Park Hotsprings only a few miles away!! This is the best Hotspring in the state and you will not regret it!" The hot springs are approximately 15-20 minutes from campground.
Fall colors: Big Creek Lakes Campground offers spectacular autumn foliage viewing. Charlie B. from Freeman Reservoir shared, "We went up in Mid-sept with our dogs to photograph fall color change and were not disappointed. There is a short trail around the reservoir and we even got pictures of a couple beavers."
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the natural buffers at Freeman Reservoir. David M. notes, "Beautiful spot. Almost at 9,000 ft. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. Most of them are slightly treed."
Remote camping atmosphere: Medicine Bow provides isolation for those seeking quiet equestrian camping near Slater. Kerrie L. reports, "This spot was beautiful, peaceful and primitive. Pack in and pack out and make sure you have water. We saw two bull elk and a calf play in the valley and drink from the pond as the sun went down."
Road conditions: Dry Lake Campground is accessible via forest roads that require planning. Chad H. advises, "It's hard to find information on this campground, but if you see 20' trailer limit, don't buy it. The host is in a 36' trailer. A couple of the turns getting in and out could be challenging with a longer setup."
Weather preparedness: High-elevation horse camping requires planning for rapid changes. Rosina A. warns campers to "be extra prepared for snow even in the summer months, bears, mountain lions, mosquitos, aggressive horse flies, leeches, strong winds, thunder storms and altitude sickness."
Campsite availability: Sites fill quickly at popular locations. At Buffalo Pass, Doug B. notes, "This place is beautiful, found multiple spots on Monday June 30th that were beautiful and had fire pits."
Plan for mosquitoes: Freeman Reservoir Campground can have significant insect activity. Talia J. reports, "We just returned from a quick overnight at Freeman Res Campground and enjoyed it more than any other camping this Summer. The campsites are well separated, and screened by trees for good privacy."
Pack for elevation changes: Temperature swings at 9,000+ feet can be significant, even in summer. Sarah C. recommends, "First thing to know is this is a remote area of CO at 9,000+ ft. elevation. It is also an area that has been affected by wildfire (2016). It is still absolutely gorgeous!"
Bring wildlife viewing gear: Binoculars and cameras help spot local wildlife. Kerrie L. shares, "We saw two bull elk and a calf play in the valley and drink from the pond as the sun went down. There's cacti, sage and pretty wildflowers."
Water and waste management: Buffalo Pass Dispersed has no facilities for RVs. Toni K. advises, "Great free spot if you're looking for somewhere not too far from the town. Awesome bike trails not very far. No bathroom or water it is dispersed."
Road clearance requirements: Access to horse camping areas often requires high-clearance vehicles. Socious I. warns about Medicine Bow, "This spot is extremely private and very rugged to access do not attempt after a rain as its impossible to pass then."
Campsite selection for large rigs: At Freeman Reservoir, Talia J. notes there is "a mixture of pull through, back in, and some tent sites for all camping types." Sara F. adds, "Spot 23 is where we stayed and the pull through drive way is on a wicked hill. Made it tricky getting the camper level."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Slater, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Slater, CO is Freeman Reservoir Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Slater, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Slater, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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