Hikers, mountain bikers, ATV riders, and equestrians all have reason to head up Stillwater Pass Road 123 in Arapaho National Forest, where a stretch of free dispersed camping runs through forested terrain above Grand Lake, Colorado. The road climbs from a mix of homes and businesses near the highway into the trees, and campers can pull off at various points along the route. Sites are first-come, first-served with a 14-day limit. No reservations exist, so arrival time matters, especially on weekends.
The area carries visible evidence of past fire damage. Black soot coats surfaces, standing dead trees line portions of the road, and the canopy is patchy in places. N I. notes that "limbs or even trees may come down with just a bit of a breeze," so setting up camp in a clearing rather than under compromised snags is worth the extra attention. Some sites have been recently cleared, though cleared ground with no vegetation can turn muddy quickly when rain moves in. A few pit toilets are scattered along the route, but water, power, and trash service are not available.
Noise is a consistent factor. ATVs and SxSs pass through regularly, and neighboring campers are close enough to hear. Most of that activity tends to quiet down around sundown. Cell service is variable but several campers with T-Mobile report fair to good signal, which is more than most dispersed sites in the region provide. Views of the mountains and lake open up from higher elevations, and those willing to drive further up the road tend to find fewer neighbors and more flat ground, though the road narrows and roughens with altitude.
Vehicle compatibility is a real consideration here. Meisa M. recommends against bringing a trailer, noting most spots "would only suit suv/tent," though at least one reviewer mentions seeing RVs find workable pull-offs lower on the road. Fire rings are not present at all sites, and burn bans are common in summer. Continuing past this area to the next dispersed zone requires crossing roughly ten miles of private property on an unpaved road, so most campers treat this stretch as the destination rather than a through route.
Campers who find this area full on a busy weekend have nearby alternatives worth checking: Stillwater Pass sits just north up the road, and those looking to compare campgrounds around Grand Lake will find several other free and low-cost options within the same corridor of Arapaho National Forest.
Description
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.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsStillwater Pass Dispersed Campsite is located in Colorado near Grand Lake
Coordinates
40.2140002 N
105.88500018 W
Connectivity
- T-MobilePossible CoverageVerified by 26 usersLast on 8/6/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 12 usersLast on 8/6/26
- AT&TLTEGood CoverageVerified by 25 usersLast on 8/6/26
Connectivity
- T-MobilePossible CoverageVerified by 26 usersLast on 8/6/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 12 usersLast on 8/6/26
- AT&TLTEGood CoverageVerified by 25 usersLast on 8/6/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
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 Stillwater Pass Dispersed Campsite needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 1 hr 56 min from Denver, CO
- 2 hrs 6 min from Boulder, CO
- 2 hrs 38 min from Greeley, CO
- 2 hrs 42 min from Fort Collins, CO





































