Best Tent Camping in Colorado
Colorado tent camping ranges from developed campgrounds with designated tent pads and bear boxes to primitive walk-in sites accessible only on foot. Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area near Nederland includes around 15 numbered sites plus additional unnumbered options along Forest Road 233.1, while Portal Campground near Aspen offers only five sites tucked high up on Independence Pass with stunning mountain views. Most developed campgrounds provide tent pads, picnic tables, fire rings, and bear-proof food storage boxes at each site, as food storage regulations require proper containment to prevent wildlife encounters.
Tent-only camping areas like those at Rocky Mountain National Park require bear canisters for backcountry sites, while frontcountry campgrounds typically include shared or individual bear boxes. Walk-in tent sites provide more privacy and often better positioning compared to drive-up locations, though campers must carry gear from parking areas that can be several hundred yards away. Alta Lakes Campground requires 4x4 vehicle access but rewards tent campers with lakefront views and wildflower displays, while Phantom Canyon Road BLM sites demand small vehicles due to extremely narrow access roads.
Colorado tent camping elevations range from 5,000 feet in desert areas to above 10,000 feet in alpine locations, where overnight temperatures can drop below freezing even during summer months. Sleeping pads with higher R-values become essential at elevation for insulation from cold ground, and proper clothing layers are crucial as temperature swings of 40 degrees between day and night are common. Fire restrictions frequently apply during summer months across national forests, and tent campers must pack in water at primitive sites since many locations lack potable water sources. Reservations through Recreation.gov fill quickly for popular tent campgrounds, especially those near national parks and wilderness trailheads.