Looking for the best dispersed camping near Wellington? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campgrounds for your Colorado camping adventure.
Free camping (dispersed) is allowed on most national forest lands except in highly developed areas - such as trailheads, campgrounds and picnic sites - and in some of our most visited places. Be sure to check for regulations in advance and look for signs in the area to indicate if camping is allowed.
Some areas allow camping in designated sites only.
Know Before You Go
Check the weather and road closures before heading up. Follow Leave No Trace principles. There are no facilities or trash receptacles. Pack out what you pack in. Make sure camping is allowed. Many lands within the national forest boundary are private or otherwise owned. Check that you’re on National Forest lands: maps. Don't stay too long. Camping is limited to 14 days within any continuous 30-day period at any location within the same 20-mile radius. See Order Plan on building a campfire? Campfire restrictions can occur any time of year. Check for fire restrictions and if you build a campfire, know how to extinguish it.
With a few exceptions, dispersed camping is allowed on National Forest System lands. Restrictions protect resources, minimize road damage, and reduce conflicts between landowners and visitors. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days in one location. After 14 days, the campsite must be moved a minimum of three miles. Camping can then continue for another 14 days. Camping is restricted to 28 days in any 60-day period. Some areas may require the use of designated campsites, and some areas, such as Indian Peaks Wilderness, require camping permits. More than 40% of lands within Boulder Ranger District's boundaries are private property. It is your responsibility to know if you are on private or public land.
Free camping (dispersed) is allowed on most national forest lands except in highly developed areas - such as trailheads, campgrounds and picnic sites - and in some of our most visited places. Be sure to check for regulations in advance and look for signs in the area to indicate if camping is allowed.
Some areas allow camping in designated sites only.
Know Before You Go
Check the weather and road closures before heading up. Follow Leave No Trace principles. There are no facilities or trash receptacles. Pack out what you pack in. Make sure camping is allowed. Many lands within the national forest boundary are private or otherwise owned. Check that you’re on National Forest lands: maps. Don't stay too long. Camping is limited to 14 days within any continuous 30-day period at any location within the same 20-mile radius. See Order Plan on building a campfire? Campfire restrictions can occur any time of year. Check for fire restrictions and if you build a campfire, know how to extinguish it.
Comanche Peak Wilderness, named for its prominent 12,702 foot peak, was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System by the United States Congress in 1980. Elevations within the Comanche Peak Wilderness range from 8,000 to 12,702 feet.
Located within the Roosevelt National Forest, this 66,791 acre wilderness area features lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine and spruce-fir forests below expanses of alpine tundra. Many scenic trails provide access to the area that borders the north and east sides of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Camping and campfires are prohibited within 200’ feet (or more if posted) of all lakes, streams and trails to protect water quality, sensitive vegetation and to help assure solitude. Thin soils and mountain vegetation are easily damaged by fire and fires scar rocks and soil. Use a stove, a fire pan or an existing fire ring when and where fires are allowed.
This walk-in dispersed campground provides access to biking, hiking and fishing.
Guide
Stayed 5 days here (stat limit 16 days). Close to Summit Rest Area (potable water March-October, flush toilets), Laramie for restocks, and the Vedauwoo Recreation Area. So much free camping here, only downsides are wind, & road noise. Absolutely beautiful views of the valley. Would stay again 100%
Traveler
-Moderate to heavy foot traffic -Busy, mostly big groups staying at sites having their own fun but plan ahead for finding a site -Friendly and respectful people -Very well maintained sites, trails, signage, and other infrastructure -I’d recommend at least AWD but 2wd should absolutely be able to go on the main road and access most sites (2-4) wil require awd/4wd
Scout
I went up Pole Hill road in a 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD off-road and it took everything in me to not scrape or bottom out. Lifted 4x4 is highly recommended.
Once you get past the off-road portion, the camping is amazing.
Scout
We parked in the parking lot and walked into the valley. After a while we found quite a lot of options with fireplaces already there. So you should mostly find something.
It is quiet, but also a popular spot for hikers so early in the morning, some people arrived. But you can camp far enough in the valley and away from the trail. Water is available if you have a purifier or filter system.
Traveler
Stayed here 2024/09/11. Easy access, well marked and well separated dispersed campsites. Good views. Only downside was distant traffic noise from I-80. Would stay here again.
Scout
The road is still closed
Scout
It can get a little windy, don't expect to do anything with the lake other than look at it. Locals are protective of it. Drove my Class C with no problem. A truck and trailer will also get down here with ease. I don't believe a Class A would be able to find anything. But the view is beautiful. There are a few spots coming in. Keep driving until you hit the lake and there is a large open area with several spots to park.
Guide
You really want a 4x4 in this area to get to good spots. It’s crowded and can be sketchy in my experience as a fire fighter up there. Bike riders take offense to people shooting and vice versa. Can be loud at night and day with motorized vehicles.
Guide
Stayed here over a weekend and wanted to stay longer. Pulled our 33’ travel trailer and there were good spots off the road.
Scout
Great Verizon signal.
Windy but we more could hear the winds than feel them.
Bugs weren’t too bad. No animal (bear/moose) encounters or sightings, just lots of squirrels.
You can hear road noise from 36.
Driving down to town during the day, there were some people (probably from the adjacent campground) hiking the road.
Overall quiet at night (other than some road noise from 36). Not a bad spot!
TravelerCame up just before the sunset to the campsite and there were 3 other cars near to us. For a Saturday night it was no problem for us to find a site.
TravelerDrove out to this spot off Ski Road in Allenspark. 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. Clear skies at night, but tree cover if you prefer. Quick drive to Estes Park. No Verizon cell service.
Traveler
Nice spots along the creek that runs along ski road.
TravelerAllenspark Dispersed Camping provides an exceptional spot to stay. Our spot was near the creek, the sound was beautiful. The only downside was absolutely no cell service. The directions landed us near someone’s home, however dispersed camping is about 1.5 miles further down Ski Rd. No fire due to the current fire ban.
Guide
had to drive pretty far on some dirt roads to get to the location maps took us too. also checked to see if there was service before going and said we would on verizon but not exactly true. there was some service at the sight we stayed at, 1 bar, but most of the road/sights there was nothing. not that odd for dispersed camping but just something to note.
we only saw one car drive in while we were there and saw a set up not too far from where we stayed but besides that didn’t hear or see anyone. very beautiful area and saw lots of deer on the drive in and drive out.
very good experience if you’re used to dispersed camping or being far from anyone else.
Traveler
Took a chance on this place for Saturday camping, arrived here around 10am, so many spots! My group of 6 took the second spot on the right, we hiked about a mile to the lake only to discover a whole different area for camping! The lake is private, but pretty cool rock formations that you can climb up. There's fire rings at every site, FYI there were little to know mosquitos at the first couple spots, but got worse as we walked towards the lake. No amenities, no cell service for ATT, Verizon, & T-mobile. Solid spot, close to Boulder!
Guide4x4 drive is a requirement. Good Verizon signal. Narrow road, however not busy at all. Stayed here for 4 days, no issue. The Google Maps directions is slightly wrong. There is a paid camping ground at the entrance that Google Maps attempts to make you drive through. Do not follow this direction. Instead take the road directly next to the campground. Google Maps incorrectly mistakes a hiking path that connects with this dirt road.
ScoutWe left on a Friday afternoon had a great spot next to the trail and just a little walk to the main lake. Our camp site had trash still so the previous didn’t pick up after themselves, the lake was “private” so couldn’t fish it unless you were a member of the place. So we had to drive down a few miles to even be near water and fish. We are in a fire ban which of course we were okay with no fires and respected the rule. But the folks across didn’t seem to think it applied to them so they had a huge fire going.. over all we made the best of it but there were things that didn’t make it our favorite place to be.
GuideWe had the spot that was right on the creak. The sound of it made you fall right asleep! It was so so pretty! Only 30 minutes away from Estes Park. The only downside to it was that there was absolutely no service whatever.
TravelerAmazing spot to camp, prob top 5 dispersed spots in Colorado that ive been to so far. But unfortunately, the bears know about it and tear into cars. Bear opened our door (key fob was too close and unlocked) and ripped up food bags (Yes I know how to store food now, I've been lectured by a million people already), and we were not the only ones. Happend at 4am so we packed up and bounced, saw two other cars broken into by bears. We were actually woken up by the bear and scared it off but it really didn't feel like it needed to leave, just trotted away.
Traveler
We did not find a campsite right on the pin we drove up a little ways and came to a couple different dispersed spots. When you hit a Y in the road head left you will come across a couple fire pits. Great camping for dirt bikes, four wheelers and toys. We were right next to private property but the only ones out here.
GuideGreat area all up Pingree Park Rd. The spots you can stay in without being bothered are all in the first mile or two. Good road, rather washboarded, but go slow and you'll be fine.
The first main area, and the top of the first hill is the best. Two areas of sites, and the one on the left as you go up has access to the rocks on the hill, which are from another world. Best sunset spot by far.
Farther up, there's a road, 127, off to the left with even more spots. The ones at the top of here have a veiw of the mountains on the north side of Estes park: Stormy, Evaline, the Mummy Range, etc.
ScoutGreat spot right outside of boulder, easy to navigate to. No access to the lake which sucks but other than that 10/10.
TravelerGold Lake Road is one of the best spots for dispersed camping in the area. There are a ton of spots on the way to the lake. I've been able to find a spot even on a summer Saturday, which can be hard to do in many of these dispersed camping zones outside of Boulder. Convenient access to RMNP and Indian Peaks Wilderness.
ScoutDon’t believe the navigation apps and go through lyons, it’s private property ; furthermore if you like I did make the drive though Estes park, have 4WD high clearance and a small vehicle… maybe you’ll make it to this brutally elusive last free camping spot off the main mountain roads
Traveler
There seems to be a number of sites up in this area. Maybe 5 or so as far as I can tell so far. I think it’s great and it was just what we were looking for. No water source that I know of.
ScoutBeautiful view all around. The sites that are close to the reservoir with nice views don’t have a lot of protection from the elements or shade. The road is pretty well kept and you should be able to make it with 2WD.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Wellington, Colorado, where nature enthusiasts can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations to choose from, campers can enjoy the great outdoors while embracing the freedom of primitive camping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Wellington, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Wellington, CO is Forest Service Road 700 Designated Dispersed Camping with a 4.4-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Wellington, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 50 dispersed camping locations near Wellington, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
