Best Tent Camping near Timnath, CO

Tent camping near Timnath, Colorado provides access to diverse natural settings within a short drive, from mountain foothills to reservoir shorelines. Backcountry Campground at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space offers tent-only sites just 15 miles west of Timnath, with first-come, first-served walk-in tent sites about 1.5 miles from the parking area. Lory State Park Backcountry Campsites, located near Bellvue, provides hike-in tent camping opportunities with views of Horsetooth Reservoir. For tent campers seeking established sites with more amenities, Hermits Hollow Campground in Hermit Park offers spacious tent campsites with bear boxes, fire rings, and picnic tables.

Most tent campgrounds in the area require advance reservations during peak season (May through September), while dispersed camping in Canyon Lakes Ranger District provides free primitive tent camping options. Bear-resistant food storage is required at most locations, with bear boxes provided at established campgrounds. Water availability varies significantly between sites, with no potable water at most backcountry locations. According to reviews, campers should pack in all water needed for Horsetooth Mountain Open Space backcountry sites. Fire restrictions are common during dry summer months, so tent campers should check current regulations before planning to have a campfire. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds but not at dispersed sites.

The backcountry tent camping experience near Timnath offers notable solitude and scenic views. One visitor reported that Horsetooth Mountain Open Space backcountry sites are "secluded enough so you don't see hikers or bikers" and provide "nice views of Horsetooth Reservoir." Primitive tent camping in the area typically features flat tent pads surrounded by ponderosa pines and rock formations. Tent campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters, including bears, and practice proper food storage. Weekday visits are recommended for greater solitude, as one camper noted that Hermits Hollow "was full for the holiday weekend, but staff mentioned there's usually a lot of availability during the week." Elevation at most tent sites ranges from 5,500 to 9,000 feet, requiring appropriate cold-weather gear even in summer months.

Best Tent Sites Near Timnath, Colorado (37)

    1. Backcountry Campground — Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

    3 Reviews
    Masonville, CO
    12 miles
    +1 (970) 498-5610

    $25 / night

    "This would be a perfect first backpacking trip for beginners! Once you park, you sign in to the backpacking log to the right of the main entrance by the kiosk. The sites are first come first serve."

    "Great sunrises and away from traffic noise tho you may have to deal with a little bit of noise from the hiking trail but other than that horse tooth has 3 back country sites that are perfect. highly recommend"

    2. Boat In Sites — Horsetooth Reservoir

    2 Reviews
    Masonville, CO
    10 miles
    +1 (970) 619-4570

    $30 / night

    "The water also will go from so far above the trees that there is no shade to so far below that you're hoofing your gear 100 yards from the boat in the mud up to your campsite."

    3. Lory State Park Backcountry Campsites

    3 Reviews
    Bellvue, CO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 493-1623

    $18 / night

    "We did a quick overnight backpacking trip to one of the backcountry sites at the top of the Timber trail. It’s a beautiful meadow with wildflowers in the summer."

    "We did a quick overnight backpacking trip to one of the backcountry sites at the top of the Timber trail. It’s a beautiful meadow with wildflowers in the summer."

    4. Hermits Hollow Campground — Hermit Park

    25 Reviews
    Estes Park, CO
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 577-2090

    $35 / night

    "Best place to camp in Estes Park/Northern Colorado! Wooded sites mean privacy from your neighbors and shade during the day. Vault toilets are very clean, well kept."

    "Very conveniently located, only a short drive into Estes Park. Lots of trails for hiking and biking in the park. Each campsite had a bear box, picnic table, and fire ring."

    6. Allenspark Dispersed Camping

    28 Reviews
    Allenspark, CO
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 295-6600

    "Our spot was near the creek, the sound was beautiful. The only downside was absolutely no cell service."

    "Fire ban was in effect when we went, but lots of fire circles available otherwise. Bring bug spray, the flies are bold."

    7. Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area

    54 Reviews
    Nederland, CO
    46 miles
    Website

    "So the Gordon Gulch dispersed camping area has around 15 numbered sites that are ok... but if you keep driving further down 233.1 you will find many more unnumbered campsites."

    "Prior campers have left some trash, bullet casings and obviously neglected to dig cat holes. After a quick clean up, the site was fine for my purposes."

    8. Allenspark Dispersed Camp Spot

    10 Reviews
    Pinewood Springs, CO
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 295-6600

    "Clear skies at night, but tree cover if you prefer. Quick drive to Estes Park. No Verizon cell service."

    "Spacious site with a fire ring. Easy time finding, just follow all the arrows when there is a fork in the road."

    10. Longs Peak Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    14 Reviews
    Allenspark, CO
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 586-1206

    "The camp sites near the top of Longs Peak in the Boulderfield are worth the long hike (6 miles up steep terrain)."

    "Amazing hikes and plenty of wildlife. The spaces are small but accommodate an RV or a single tent. Bear boxes and toilets close to everything."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Timnath, CO

1612 Reviews of 37 Timnath Campgrounds


  • C
    Aug. 2, 2018

    Glacier Basin Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    Great Campground

    This Rocky Mountain National Park campground is fantastic. I tent camped with my husband for 3 nights in Loop B. We saw tents and all sizes of campers many with families. Our tent site included a nice tent pad, picnic table, fire ring, and a shared bear box. The fire ban had been lifted and we could buy fire wood each evening-and ice cream! Clean bathrooms with flush toilets. This campground is very close to a number of trails. We hiked the Sprague Lake Trail. It’s 2 miles round trip and pretty easy. Breathtaking views. If you don’t hike, you can drive all the way to the Trail Ridge gift shop and cafe at the top. This park fills up quickly-amost 3 million visitors a year-so plan to get started early. We love RMNP. We will be back this fall!

  • Chad K.
    Aug. 3, 2019

    Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    Great campground

    This campground is in the middle of Rocky Mountain NP. Our site was in loop D. The sites are a little packed but give you enough space to spread out. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring with a shared bear box. The tent pads are level as d have plenty of shade. The bath rooms have no showers and are a little dated but adequate for a national park. It is centrally locates to bear lake and Estes Park. We will be back.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2021

    Dowdy Lake Campground

    Reflections

    Status: Open year round 

    Reserve mid spring through September 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov 

    weekend reservations recommended 

    70 sites including 10 walk-in tent 30 sites year round $24.00 tent sites $32.00 electric $64.00 double sites 

    Vault toilets, water during season ,tent sites have bear boxes, picnic table, fire ring/grill, trash no sewer or water hookups The campground has beautiful Ponderosa Pines but the Pine beetle is beginning to take its toil. 

    The back loop closes early fall. all sites have electric except the tent sites. There are 5 double sites. The campground can accept various size rigs. The day use area with a boat ramp and pit toilet with a nice size parking lot. There were a lot of people fishing from the shore. The lake is beautiful with small islands and rock formations. The road to and in the campground is gravel and rather dusty. Potholes 

    Directions: Drive 21 miles north of Fort Collins on US Highway 287. Turn left (west) onto the Red Feather Lakes Road (County 74E) and travel approximately 22 miles. Turn right (north) and travel another mile to signed campground entrance on the right.

    LNT

    Better than when you found it 

    Stay safe Happy travels

  • I
    Aug. 31, 2020

    Vedauwoo Tent Campground (Wy) — Medicine Bow Routt N Fs & Thunder Basin Ng

    Pretty, close to HWY, nice trails, not much water

    Checked in about 8:30pm on weekday for car/tent camping.  Got last spot on upper tent loop (FC/FS-self serve).   Upper tent loop also has some RV spots. It seems like a very popular spot for XC RV drivers. The upper loop was very quiet, both the people and the area, and far enough from Interstate that Hwy noise was not an issue. The only problems were the wind(strong in am), and the lack of running water. Vault toilets were clean enough. The faucets near toilets did not work. The only available water was from the green well pump, and it had noticeable color to it. I used it for cooking and cleaning, but not drinking. Great trails! We did a nice 3.5 mile loop around Turtle Rock. It has good and climbing/bouldering, wish I had more time for that. It was cool due to a recent rainfall, and the 8000'ish elevation kept it that way at night. All creeks were dry in late august, and the 3 ponds were nearly so. Very pretty spot that feels more remote than it is. There is a lower tent walk in loop, which is much better sheltered from road noise and wind.  The lower tent loop has vault toilets, but it does not have water as far as I could tell.  Lower tent loop was completely vacant and available, while upper RV/tent area was full.

  • L
    Jul. 16, 2018

    Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    Spacious and shaded

    This campground is beautifully designed. The spaces are slightly spread out and staggered to offer more privacy than others in the area. Lots of trees and big rocks to add to the privacy. Very clean facility, with easy access to bathrooms, water and bear boxes. We were very pleased with the quality of the tent space and table. (Technically we tent camped at a site for an RV, but it still has a level tent spot). It was one of the best in the area we have camped at. Also walking distance to a shuttle that will take you to nearby touristy trailheads (like Bear Lake). Only disappointing thing is the full fire ban currently in effect- so no campfire.

  • Judy B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Aspenglen Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    A quiet oasis in a busy park

    Aspenglen is located just inside the Fall River Entrance Station.  Once you have entered the park it is the first left that takes you down to the Aspenglen campground.  There are a few more trees in this area, so you are more likely to find shade.  There are some sites that are specifically for tents and others that accommodate small to medium RV's.  There are no hookups for electricity or water and cellphone service is mostly non-existent.  The sites are spaced more widely apart than at Glacier Basin.  There are bear boxes to store your food, fire rings, and tables.  Three loops, and some walk-in sites compose the layout.  There was a host at the campground.  They did sell firewood near the check-in post.

  • Isabelle K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 13, 2018

    Upper Chipmunk Backcountry Campsite — Rocky Mountain National Park

    Amazing backpacking campsite in Rocky Mountain National Park!

    I had the fortune of being invited along on a backpacking trip this past weekend in Rocky Mountain National Park. I say fortune in particular because obtaining Wilderness Permits for popular backpacking destinations can be difficult during the high season of tourism at RMNP. Thankfully, my friend had reserved this permit months in advanced so we were all set for our adventure! 

    To get to this campsite, backpackers typically park at the Lawn Lake Trail Head and hike the beautiful Ypsilon Lake trail. The site is located 4.2 miles from the trailhead just past Chipmunk Lake. The hike is moderately strenuous in my opinion, and is made more difficult with a full backpack of course. The approach to the site is all uphill (2100 feet of elevation gain) but that makes the hike out quite easy as your tired legs will be going downhill the entire way! From the campsite, the hike to Ypsilon Lake isn’t far and makes for a great additional day hike once you’ve set up camp. We also pushed on to the higher Spectacle Lakes, which is a very strenuous hike which requires some scrambling and route finding but 100% worth it. From the top there are amazing views of Long’s Peak, Estes Park and the Spectacle Lakes themselves which have the most magnificently glacial blue water. 

    About the campsites-

    There are two designated sites, we stay at the one on the right. At the site there is a designated space for tents which is relatively flat and free of rocks. There is plenty of shade from the dense surrounding pines. No fires are allowed at this site so a camp stove is necessary for cooking. Bear canisters are required and leave no trace ethics should be strictly followed. I was surprised to find that this site also had access to a privy. The privy itself was decently clean and signs indicated that no toilet paper should be thrown into it, although this rule was clearly not being followed as there was a good bit of trash in the toilet. Overall, the site itself was spotless and free of any trash. The views from the site were limited by the trees, but the nearby scenic lakes offer plenty of panoramic views. This is a great backcountry camp site and a fun backpacking trip overall. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone that enjoys the solitude of backpacking and has the time to obtain the necessary permits! 

    For more info, check out this site specific informational PDF: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/upload/019-Upper-Chipmunk-2017-2.pdf

  • Jackie S.
    Jul. 28, 2018

    Aspenglen Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park

    Quiet campground with occasion antlered visitors

    Campsites were nice sized, large food storage cabinets and the comfort station was new and cleaned well. Rangers were very helpful and happily answered questions for our kids. No electric at the campsites and no showers-par for the course at a National Park. Had a great stay


Guide to Timnath

Dispersed camping near Timnath, Colorado offers primitive tent sites throughout Canyon Lakes Ranger District, located within Roosevelt National Forest approximately 25 miles west of town. These free sites require campers to bring all necessary supplies including water, as most locations lack facilities. Summer temperatures typically range from 45°F at night to 80°F during day at higher elevations, with afternoon thunderstorms common from July through September.

What to do

Hiking to waterfalls: The area near Backcountry Campground — Horsetooth Mountain Open Space provides access to several scenic trails. One camper notes, "This site would be a perfect base for exploring Horsetooth rock/Horsetooth falls!" The trailhead is approximately 1.5 miles from the backcountry camping area.

Creek exploration: At Allenspark Dispersed Camping, most sites are positioned along flowing water. According to a visitor, "Most spots sit on a creek that gives a good ambiance. Few spots need 4x4 or really good tires, but there's a spot for everyone." The sound of running water creates natural white noise for sleeping.

Stargazing: Clear mountain nights provide excellent star viewing opportunities away from city lights. A reviewer at Backcountry Campground mentioned, "Falling asleep underneath a crystal clear sky filled with stars; then waking up to a sun peeking over the mountain range is inspiring." For best viewing, camp on weekdays when fewer people are around.

What campers like

Secluded camping spots: Many tent campers appreciate the privacy found at Lory State Park Backcountry Campsites. One reviewer shared their experience: "At night, you've basically got the park to yourself because it closes at dark to all other users. We hiked to the top of Arthur's rock to watch the supermoon rise and it was pretty special!"

Short backpacking trips: Several campgrounds offer walk-in tent sites that don't require long hikes. A camper described Lory State Park as having "A relatively short hike in with multiple routes so good for a quick trip or with kids." This makes it ideal for beginners or those wanting a backpacking experience without a strenuous journey.

Urban proximity: The best tent camping near Timnath provides wilderness experiences surprisingly close to civilization. A camper at Allenspark Dispersed Camp Spot explained, "Quick drive to Estes Park. No Verizon cell service." This balance of accessibility and disconnection appeals to weekend campers.

What you should know

Fire restrictions: Check current regulations before planning campfires, especially during dry summer months. At Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area, visitors should be aware that "You'll hear dirtbikes during the day. The only main complaint I had was the lack of peace due to constant checks from boulder sheriffs." These checks often include fire regulation enforcement.

Bear safety: Most camping areas require proper food storage. A camper at Allenspark Dispersed Camp Spot warned, "The second day staying there we ran into a bear and scared him off. Two hours later he came back and we scared him off again. He's afraid of humans but he did try to get into the car while we were sleeping."

Water planning: Tent campers must carry all necessary water for backcountry sites. One camper advised about Backcountry Campground, "There isn't a water source close by so you'll have to pack all your water. Also leave no trace and pack all your trash when you leave!"

Road conditions: Many dispersed camping areas require appropriate vehicles. At Allenspark, a reviewer noted, "The road gets tougher the further back you go, but my low clearance vehicle made it by driving slow." Four-wheel drive is recommended for accessing more remote sites during wet conditions.

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly backpacking: Hermits Hollow Campground — Hermit Park offers an excellent introduction to overnight hiking. According to a visitor, "The Kruger Rock Trailhead is inside the campground, and it is a nice hike with an amazing view of the Rockies and Estes at the top. Bring your crayons - there are two trailmarkers on the trail that you can do rubbings of."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children often enjoy spotting local animals. One camper reported, "We saw a lot of animals, but saw no sign of fresh running water anywhere. We were the only campers at this time of year in all 3 campgrounds. So it was very peaceful."

Mid-week advantages: For a more relaxed experience with children, avoid weekends. A camper at Hermits Hollow noted, "It was full for the holiday weekend, but staff mentioned that there's usually a lot of availability during the week."

Bear box education: Use the bear boxes at established campgrounds as teaching moments about wildlife safety. A visitor mentioned, "Each campsite had a bear box, picnic table, and fire ring. There are plenty of trees for shade and some privacy, but you are still near other campers."

Tips from RVers

Limited dispersed options: Larger RVs have fewer choices for tent camping near Timnath. At Allenspark, a visitor cautioned, "This is not meant for travel trailers, pop ups, or anything except tents. Even then, while the 1 area was tiny, the second was large and open but the ground was all dust-ash."

Campground alternatives: When RV camping, consider established sites with amenities. One visitor to Gordon Gulch shared, "It was pretty empty in January, one big pile of trash that was unfortunate and a few people seemed to be there long term. No one bothered me and all the campsites were pretty clean."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Timnath, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Timnath, CO is Backcountry Campground — Horsetooth Mountain Open Space with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Timnath, CO?

TheDyrt.com has all 37 tent camping locations near Timnath, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.