Dispersed camping spots near Indian Hills, Colorado range across multiple national forest areas with sites at elevations between 7,000-9,000 feet. The surrounding Pike National Forest offers numerous camping options outside designated campgrounds, particularly along forest roads 550 and 552. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing at night, with summer daytime temperatures typically reaching 70-85°F.
What to do
Mountain biking trails: Buffalo Creek Recreation Area has an extensive trail network popular with cyclists. As one camper noted, "Great place to spend a day to a few weeks depending on lifestyle. Fire pits and hiking near." Another visitor mentioned it's "A mountain biker's dream... Not whistler in terms of terrain but plenty of trails for various ability levels."
Water recreation: Indian Paintbrush Campground—Bear Creek Lake Park offers multiple water activities. A camper shared, "Loved the hiking and biking trails. Beautiful lake for swimming and paddle sports. Will definitely be returning for the archery and horseback riding." The park features both natural areas and developed recreation facilities.
Hiking access: Golden Gate Canyon State Park provides extensive trail systems. One visitor explained, "Golden Gate Canyon State Park is enormous. The options for trails are endless. Great for mountain biking or hiking enthusiasts." Another noted, "We stayed here in early June to avoid the chaos of RMNP and were not disappointed."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Multiple campgrounds offer good separation between campsites. At Chief Hosa Campground, sites feature "water spigots, vault toilets and garbage cans equally dispersed throughout." A camper observed the campground is "Orderly, camp hosts seem inclined to enforce rules. Quiet. No campfire pits so no burning allowed."
Urban convenience: Applewood RV Resort by Rjourney (formerly Prospect RV Park) offers proximity to metro amenities. A visitor explained, "If you want to be close to the city and have easy access to any kind of shopping imaginable, this will meet your needs... It does have easy access to Prospect Park and a series of greenways that are virtually endless."
Wildlife viewing: Many campsites provide opportunities to observe local fauna. At Chatfield State Park Campground, a camper reported, "My husband and I stayed in this beautiful campground in 2018 June. The wild life was beautiful, the facilities were clean, and the staff was friendly and helpful!"
What you should know
Seasonal crowding: Popular camping areas fill quickly during peak season. At Buffalo Creek Recreation Area, "This is a very nice area with many walking/biking trails. The area is busy and can easily fill for the weekend by Thursday mid-day." Another camper confirmed, "Beautiful spot with easy access to lots of trails and Wellington lake. Only downside is that it is very difficult to find a spot on a weekend."
Campfire restrictions: Many areas have strict fire regulations. At Chief Hosa Campground, "No campfire pits so no burning allowed at all and most folks seem to knock off early." During high fire danger periods, additional restrictions may apply across all areas.
Highway noise: Several campgrounds experience traffic noise. One camper at Chief Hosa noted, "The campground is unfortunately too close to the highway and the noise makes it difficult to sleep or relax. Nice parking spot if you need to see the sights for a day or two."
Tips for camping with families
Bathroom access: Consider site location relative to facilities. At Chief Hosa, "They use a keycode system to restrict access to the centrally-located bathhouse (there is only one in the campground)... We were lucky that our site was relatively close to the bathhouse, but some of the tent sites on the perimeter of the campground would have a decent trek."
Kid-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds offer specific facilities for children. At Clear Creek RV Park, one visitor described it as "Perfect for visiting the iconic Golden, Colorado!" while another mentioned, "This small, but clean, campground is located perfectly a walk, or bike ride, away from the town of Golden."
Alternative accommodations: Several campgrounds offer cabins or yurts. Bear Creek Lake Park provides these options, as one family explained: "was just beautiful all the staff was wonderful and made our first in Co wonderful I would deffiantly recommend this place for sure beautiful views the yurt was awsome."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Some campgrounds have uneven sites. At Clear Creek RV Park, "Sites 8 & 9 are extremely unlevel, but the other sites are pretty fine." Bringing leveling blocks is recommended for most area campgrounds.
Utility connections: Water pressure varies between campgrounds. One RVer at Applewood RV Resort warned, "Be sure to have a water pressure regulator or you'll come back to a flooded RV." Another noted, "The sewer is 6 inches above grade and slinky support wasn't tall enough. You might be lifting your hose to assist emptying."
RV size limitations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger rigs. At Denver West-Central City KOA, "Must be an experienced driver to navigate the tight lots and roads." However, a visitor mentioned, "Our space was a big rig space on concrete pad with ample seating, a table, a fire pit, and a propane grill stove."
