Washington Gulch Dispersed 2, near Crested Butte, Colorado, is a fantastic spot for those who crave a bit of solitude in nature. This area offers a rugged camping experience with fire pits at each site, allowing you to enjoy cozy evenings under the stars.

Visitors rave about the stunning scenery, with many noting the beautiful canyon views and the soothing sounds of nearby creeks and rivers. One camper mentioned, “The area is VERY beautiful,” highlighting the picturesque surroundings that make this place special. While the sites are dispersed, they’re spaced out enough to keep noise levels down, giving you a chance to unwind and connect with nature.

You’ll find pit toilets available, which is a nice touch for a more rustic experience. Just remember, it’s a pack-in/pack-out location, so be prepared to take your trash with you. The campground is pet-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friends along for the adventure.

For those looking to explore, the nearby Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and [Gunnison National Forest](https://thedyrt.com/camping/colorado/near/gunnison-national-forest)s offer a wealth of outdoor activities, from hiking to wildlife spotting. Moose have been spotted in the area, adding a bit of excitement to your stay. Just be sure to pack some bug spray, as the reviews suggest the bugs can be quite persistent during the summer months.

Due to new ordinance in 2024, this area is no longer permitted for dispersed camping. Please use the designated established campgrounds in Crested Butte.

Washington Gulch Dispersed 2 - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

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

Accessible in our 2WD Sprinter van, there were many spots in this area. Cell service was spotty but we had pretty good coverage with Verizon. We found a nice spot off the road through some trees so it was nice and quiet. Fire pits were available. 

Beautiful canyon

My boyfriend &amp; I stayed here Friday 06/14/2024 through Sunday 06/16/2024. There is a creek &amp; river nearby, you can hear the running water from the campsite :) 

The nights did get a bit chilly, around 38 degrees to 42 degrees, but doable if you come prepared.

There are a total of 47 campsites, a lot of them are marked for 4x4 vehicles but a few sites like the one we stayed at was accessible by the FWD van we traveled in. Dirt road was smooth, with a few bumps here and there. We had neighbors on #WG-43 through #WG-46, even though they were nearby, we still felt secluded enough. 

The last campsite, #W-47 is about 0.5 miles from #WG-46, making it about 10 miles down from the town of Crested Butte. 

Campsites 12-26 are pretty concentrated but very accommodating to RV's &amp; trailers. Fire pits are large &amp; require a lot of work to make sure they are out, so please please please make sure you spend the time to reassure your fire is completely put out. 

Restrooms are available near #WG-2 campsite- so even though it is a pack in/pack out site, you can always rely on a walk or drive to the restrooms. 

I had a great weekend here &amp; I will be saving this spot to come back in the future :)

Calm & Beautiful

Very disappointed to see the amount of site saving here. Came up on Thursday for the weekend and ended up getting skunked on spots because half of them were saved with miscellaneous coolers, lone chairs, etc.

Dispersed camping is first come first served! Spot saving is not okay.

Disappointed in people

The area is VERY beautiful.  Pit toilets available.  Some sites were exposed but still beautiful.  Noise was not a problem even though a lot of people were in the area.

Our site was away from people so great for us

we camped here the first week of July. Fire pits at each site, the further dispersed sites are a little further apart from neighbors, so noise levels were fine! Moose were spotted in the area but never bothered anyone. Bugs were CRAZY though, definitely bring bug spray. our spot was up a little dirt road off the main road, up to 4 dispersed sites.

Beautiful Campsite!

Loved it 

I stayed in the main WG dispersed area just before the "Narrow &amp; Steep" road sign an that appears to be the divider between WG &amp; WG2. WG2 has more spread out locations, and there are multiple RV spots within the single sign posts. It's best to go inspect them on foot as some are on steep hills.  No cows in the WG2 area.

Multiple spot per marker

I camped for 2 nights a few days apart in different sites. The first one was WG30 and it had an amazing view. I forgot to take note of the second one, but it was a little bit more down the road. Fire pits here which is nice. There’s a few spaces in the wide open and some nestled into some trees. 

Both nights that I stayed here there was a site that had a tent and table, but no one came back that night. Tuesday night and Friday night and nothing had changed. Kind of a bummer when someone snags a nice spot like that and isn’t there for multiple days. 

Photos of Washington Gulch Dispersed 2 - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Real photos from real campers