Washington Gulch - Dispersed Camping

Near Crested Butte, CO, and surrounded by the Rocky Mountains are some of the best camping and skiing opportunities in the state. The Colorado Rockies are crisscrossed with mountain bike and ski trails campers can enjoy throughout the year. Campgrounds in the area put you close to wilderness areas where you can spot deer, bears and other wildlife. In the fall, campsites alight with colorful foliage on the quaking aspen trees. RV drivers can stock up on supplies at the shops on Elk Avenue before heading out along the West Elk Loop Scenic and Historic Byway for a beautiful drive.

Crested Butte

The Best Camping Near Crested Butte, Colorado

Stunning views at this FREE campground. Most sites don’t need 4x4. Sites can be hard to come by. I must have got lucky with mine. Dry Bathrooms near sites 6-8. 

Bugs not too bad.

Had several deer sightings while there.

Chilly nights and nice days. 

Incredible views! 

Wow! 

Drove around about few hours around and around to find all of the sites were taken. Would have thought there would be some available but due to the holiday weekend I’m sure it is expected. 

All sites were taken 

We got their around 8 and it took us awhile to find a spot in a truck but we eventually did an was worth it . When it’s not a busy time of the year you can find some amazing spots out here . Great views and really close to town road is a little rough . 

Great camping spots 

We just got back from this spot. We camped at campsite 44 and 45. Camped with friends. The views were amazing and plenty of room for activities! We even saw 3 bears (from afar with binos) and a ton of elk! Deer were very curious and coming into our site. They are so sneaky! 10/10 will go back in a heartbeat. We came on a Sunday-Monday and not a lot of campers. Ton of people driving the pass, hikers, bikers and dirt bikes. This is first come first serve!! 

Amazing spot!

We got here Sunday night to escape the crowds but it was still pretty full and we got super lucky with campsite #38. The road is quite rough but I could get here with my FWD sedan (just make sure to drive slow and carefully). Saw some deer right by our site and Gothic mountain looked stunning. Highly recommend!

Beautiful spot but very popular!

On a friend’s recommendation, we ventured out to this fantastic camping area, just 20 minutes outside of Crested Butte. We were eager to pitch our tent and secure a spot, as our friend had mentioned that it was likely to be “popular.” Surprisingly, at 2:30 PM on a Friday, it seemed to be the last campground available.

  

We were thrilled with our choice. The campsite offered a breathtaking view of Gothic Mountain, surrounded by a mix of RVs, campervans, and car campers. What truly set this place apart were the cows grazing peacefully around us.

  

While our section of campers didn’t offer much privacy, other sections further up the road provided more seclusion but at the cost of the stunning views of Gothic Mountain.

  

After setting up camp and taking a short hike up the road, we returned to Crested Butte to watch our son play soccer. Afterward, we had a quick and delicious dinner at the renowned Secret Stash before heading back to the campsite.

Photos of Washington Gulch - Dispersed Camping

Real photos from real campers