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Dispersed Camping

Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site, near Buena Vista, Colorado, is a fantastic spot for those looking to escape into nature without the fuss of traditional campgrounds. This area offers a laid-back vibe with ample space for tents and RVs, making it a great choice for anyone wanting to soak in the stunning mountain views and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Visitors rave about the spacious sites, with many noting the privacy and seclusion they found during their stays. One camper mentioned, “Our camping spot was excellent and provided great views and seclusion.” While there’s no drinking water or electric hookups, the freedom to have campfires and the absence of permits make it a hassle-free experience.

For outdoor lovers, the location is a gateway to numerous hiking trails, including access to the Colorado Trail. Campers have enjoyed exploring the nearby Browns Creek and taking in the breathtaking scenery. As one reviewer put it, “It was very quiet and the sky was amazing at night,” highlighting the area's natural beauty and tranquility.

If you’re looking for a place to unwind under the stars, Raspberry Gulch is a solid pick. Just remember to pack in your water and firewood, and you’ll be set for a memorable camping adventure.

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Location

Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

38.69302924751395 N
106.13521391453963 W

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Connectivity

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    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
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    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

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Drive Time

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Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Dispersed
  • Group
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • Phone Service
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site needs a permit.

Contact

General Info


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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

18 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 31, 2025

Great for a quick camp session

I absolutely loved everything. It was easy to locate, it was a beautiful set up, the views were amazing, spaces were plentiful. The only thing I personally wasn’t too found of was the amount of dogs barking all night. But that’s the campers fault, not the sites.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Morgan L., August 31, 2025
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Morgan L., August 31, 2025
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Morgan L., August 31, 2025
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 14, 2025

Busy holiday weekend

Came up early in May on Memorial Day holiday weekend and it was super busy as expected. Lots of larger sites for RV’s and large groups. Found an area right off the Colorado Trail trailhead. You don’t really need 4wd, but it is a dirt road and some parts are less smooth than others. Very close drive to the Mt Princeton Hot Springs

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Lilliana S., August 14, 2025
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Lilliana S., August 14, 2025
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Lilliana S., August 14, 2025
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 23, 2025

Monotonous place...

This is a clean place with huge sites and spread out trees on a relatively flat area. It's ok but it's a little boring, nothing spectacular here except maybe the view of the mountains from some areas but that's about it

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Ray L., July 23, 2025
Reviewed Jun. 19, 2025

Nice spot!

Pretty busy for a Wednesday but the farther you keep driving the more private spots start popping up, quiet and nice!

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Blake K., June 19, 2025
Reviewed Jun. 17, 2025

Lots of Space and Great Views!

One of our favorite spots on this trip! The “spots” were very far apart which was great and if they’re full you can honestly find a flat grassy spot to park. The creek was dry but other than that we loved it!!

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Ashlyn H., June 17, 2025
Reviewed Aug. 18, 2024

Cows?

Great site, plenty of room, but there were so many open-range cows wandering around. Really didn’t mind during the day, until they started loudly mooing and screaming during the night. All the reviews here say it was quiet at night, so this must be a new development or we just got unlucky with timing. Never experienced anything like it. Put a damper on what was otherwise a great area for camping

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 29, 2024

Great views, lots of options

We loved it! Very spread out, lots of space. Our camping spot was excellent and provided great views and seclusion. The creek on the map didn’t have any water in it though and the sun was brutal for a few hours.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by nicole W., July 29, 2024
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by nicole W., July 29, 2024
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by nicole W., July 29, 2024
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 8, 2024

Super accessible huge sites

We camped here ahead of whitewater rafting and found a huge, private site. Arrived mid-day Friday and plenty of sites available, definitely filled up through Friday evening. Great views and areas to walk around. Road was in great shape when we visited.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Anne L., July 8, 2024
Reviewed Jun. 6, 2024

Beautiful views

It is gorgeous and so easy to access. From the 285 going north turn left on County road 270 until it becomes the 272 we went straight to the 274. At the cross of 2 National Forests, San Isabel and pike . We arrived around 5 pm on a Wednesday and most of the spots were taken but we were able to find one to fit our 40 feet toy hauler. We went for a hike, there were multiple hiking trails including access to the Colorado Trail. We also rode our mountain bikes on 272, 274A and the 273. It was very quiet and the sky was amazing at night. I highly recommend it if you are traveling on the 285.

Sitedispersed
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by marine J., June 6, 2024
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by marine J., June 6, 2024
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by marine J., June 6, 2024
  • (9) View All
Reviewed May. 28, 2024

Perfect spot

Will definitely be back to this area. Plenty of spots to pick from on memorial day weekend when we rolled in around 5pm. The spot we found had 360 views of mountains. Plenty of open space with trees for shade and hammock hanging. Loved the porta potty option. Dogs loved the freedom and we loved not being on top of other campers.

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Tessa P., May 28, 2024
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Tessa P., May 28, 2024
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Tessa P., May 28, 2024
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Sep. 4, 2023

Great place to spend the night or longer

We needed a place to camp on the road. This place sounded good and had the bonus of being next door to the Mt Princeton hot springs. It was in the middle of the holiday weekend and the place was pretty packed but we managed to find a site. There is loads of space in there and great views. We had to do some work to level our vehicle to make the roof tent comfortable as our site was on a slope but we got there. It was quiet despite the many people camping in the vicinity. We really loved the stay.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Omar R., September 4, 2023
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Omar R., September 4, 2023
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Omar R., September 4, 2023
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Aug. 13, 2023

Under big mountains

Kinda busy with good access to Browns creek and the Colorado trail, but otherwise quiet if you can squeeze in. Easy for trailers too.

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Aug. 12, 2023

In the boonies with cell service!

This is a great place to boondock. There is even one port-o-potty in summer. Plenty of sites suitable for trailers and RVs.

Sitealong Brown's Creek trailhead road
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Karen D., August 12, 2023
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Karen D., August 12, 2023
Reviewed Jul. 29, 2023

Endless Stars

This place is heavenly for dispersed camping. We had a wide open spot with some shade and no other people within sight or sound. The perfect spot for us was up and up past the trailhead and around the road to where there's a long pull off spot on the left. There's no creeks so plan for that. People left plenty of wood for campfires. It's so quiet at night. The definition of wide open spaces. When the moon goes down and the millions of stars come out - you feel like you stepped back in time a million years and like you're the only people on earth. It's spectacula!

Month of VisitJuly
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Stacey F., July 29, 2023
Reviewed Jul. 5, 2023

Loved this spot

Close to hiking at browns which is really pretty hike and lots of options. We found a place on Memorial Day without a reservation which never happens in Colorado. It is near the co trail too! Quiet enough for our 1 year old

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Lara S., July 5, 2023
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Lara S., July 5, 2023
Reviewed Aug. 14, 2022

Nice spot

Located at the bottom of Mount Princeton (14,199 ft) and Mount Antero (14,275 ft). 270-272 is one of the most unpleasant roads I’ve driven, but worth the traverse. Sites are heavily shaded. Great location if you’re visiting the Arkansas River. Apparently there is really great service here, but we didn’t experience it on T-mobile. Buena Vista and Salida are close. Stayed Sunday night and left in the morning. Very quiet at night, but busy during the day.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Izzy T., August 14, 2022
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Izzy T., August 14, 2022
  • Review photo of Raspberry Gulch Dispersed Site by Izzy T., August 14, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Raspberry Gulch dispersed camping located in Colorado?

Raspberry Gulch dispersed camping is located near Buena Vista in central Colorado, situated at the base of two 14,000+ foot peaks: Mount Princeton (14,199 ft) and Mount Antero (14,275 ft). To reach the area from Highway 285 heading north, turn left onto County Road 270, which eventually becomes Road 272 and connects to Road 274. The campground sits at the intersection of San Isabel and Pike National Forests. It's conveniently close to the Arkansas River and Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, making it an excellent base camp for exploring the Collegiate Peaks region.

What amenities or facilities are available at Raspberry Gulch dispersed camping sites?

Raspberry Gulch is a primitive dispersed camping area with minimal amenities. There is one seasonal porta-potty available during summer months. No potable water, hookups, or dump stations exist, so campers should bring all necessary water supplies. The area features spacious sites with some offering shade from trees, while others are in open areas with panoramic mountain views. Many sites can accommodate trailers and RVs. Some campers report good cell service in the area. The creek marked on maps is often dry, so don't count on it as a water source. Campers should be prepared for self-sufficient camping with no garbage service or established fire rings.

What hiking trails or outdoor activities are available near Raspberry Gulch?

Raspberry Gulch offers excellent access to multiple hiking options, with the Browns Creek Trail being particularly popular and scenic. The Colorado Trail also passes nearby, providing opportunities for day hikes or backpacking trips. For peak baggers, the area sits at the base of two 14ers: Mount Princeton (14,199 ft) and Mount Antero (14,275 ft). The nearby Arkansas River offers premier whitewater rafting adventures. After a day of outdoor activities, visitors can relax at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, which is just a short drive away. The surrounding national forest land provides additional opportunities for mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and photography with spectacular mountain vistas.

What are the rules and regulations for dispersed camping at Raspberry Gulch?

Raspberry Gulch follows standard dispersed camping guidelines for national forest land. There are no formal reservations required, and camping is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must practice Leave No Trace principles, pack out all trash, and properly dispose of human waste. A seasonal porta-potty is sometimes available during summer months. Camping is limited to 14 days within a 30-day period. Sites are spread far apart for privacy, but the area can become busy during holidays and summer weekends. Open-range cattle occasionally roam through the area. Fire restrictions may apply depending on conditions, so always check with the local ranger district before your trip.