1 campground with availability next weekend
Tent camping options around Pike and San Isabel National Forests (PSICC) in Colorado include both developed campgrounds and dispersed sites on BLM land. Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites offers multiple tent camping areas along a scenic canyon road with creek access, making it one of the most popular tent campsites in the region. Other tent-friendly options include Davenport Campground and the remote Wye Campground, though recent reviews indicate Wye may be permanently closed.
Tent sites throughout the area vary considerably in accessibility and amenities. Phantom Canyon Road provides primitive tent setups along a well-maintained gravel road, though many require high-clearance vehicles to access the more secluded spots. Most tent camping areas have fire rings but limited facilities. A review mentioned that "spots are on the side of the road and a few are on a small branch of road down to the creek." Two vault toilets are available further along Phantom Canyon Road, but campers should bring all necessary supplies including water. Weekends see high usage, making weekday visits preferable for finding available tent campsites.
The tent-only camping in this region offers excellent opportunities for solitude, particularly at sites set back from the main roads. Areas along Phantom Canyon Road feature beautiful canyon views and creek access, with many sites among trees providing natural shade. A camper noted that "we found an amazing camp site that was down a slope...right next to the water," highlighting the secluded nature of some spots. Wildlife sightings are common, and the area is known for excellent stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. Insects can be problematic during summer months, with multiple reviews mentioning biting flies. For the best experience, tent campers should arrive early on weekdays and be prepared to explore side roads to find the most private sites.
"Driving down to this campsite I was happy to have a small car because the road is very narrow to say the least. I cannot imagine the feeling of driving a large rig here."
"We arrived the Phantom Creek Road around 4:30pm. 10miles and 30 minutes later we found our spot."
"Our site had grass, shade, a picnic table, and a fire ring - everything you need for a basic campsite."
"The site is right next to a lovely stream that really drowned out any road noise. We slept great with the white noise the stream produced. Our site had a picnic table and fire pit (with grill grate)."
Available next weekend
from $40 - $87 / night
"I’m a rooftop tent camper and the views are amazing but was hoping to be close to the water and isolated from other campers."
"It is in a canyon so you won't have any cell phone signal, though I had my Starlink set up and it worked flawlessly. We will go back, and I hope to get that spot before any other!"
"Some have pre existing fire rings. Would definitely come back."
"Most spots are taken by the weekends but if you’re fine with a more sloped spot, there can be some open ones for late arrivals."
"We set up in site 20, which actually was very spacious and more private than a lot of the others. Plenty of trees, a small creek, and trails. Woke up to an 8-point deer munching in the bushes."
"Well spaced and shaded sites. Bath house is far from most of the primitive sites. The showers are clean and the water is hot."
"Wonderful tent pads and facilities with space to wash dishes and store goods from wildlife."
from $144 / night
"Good tent sites. Have to carry gear to camp site but only shoeRt hike to campsite. Maybe 50 yards. Has a couple of sires with shelter. Picnic tables are big and heavy."
"Has a fire pit with grill, picnic table, and sites 2, 5, and 9 have the log covering. The sites are pretty close together, but we had no problem with our neighbors."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $25 / night
"Has fire rings and picnic tables. Closed for good, apparently because of bears, but far down the road so it’s very unlikely you’ll be bothered"
"Every summer I go on a road trip , camping ,backpacking and visiting national parks , while driving through Colorado we drove through phantom canyon road and we stopped about 20 times through our drive"
"Lots of open meadows with some tree/big bushes for shade. Clean showers!"
"Large area to park away from others!"
from $30 - $33 / night
ScoutGreat spot for relaxing weekend getaway for our family. Plenty of room for the kids to explore and they even had a blow up bouncy house for them during the day. Hot tub under the stars at evening time. Very clean bathrooms!
RangerCool spot. I like there were different sized spots and a clearly marked line where a 4WD/AWD vehicle is needed and no large rigs. I found a spot that was visible by the road, but there was water access and cool surroundings. The main road was well paved, but turning into my site was a bit rough and I needed the 4WD. There were large animal (I assume black bear) prints to give that extra bit of camping excitement, but no actual sitings (one day, Juliana. One day). Some mosquitos but not overwhelming. The scenery was gorgeous. Definitely a bit desert-esque but it was legitimately perfect weather in mid September. Cool creek rocks and a stunner of a sunset. Would absolutely return again. No numbered sites. Toilets about 1/4 mile beyond the drive through boulder.
ScoutI want to start on a positive because that is the type of person I am, and because this review is going to have a lot of negative. This park is a great location for sightseeing, especially if you are going to Pikes Peak by way of the Cog or shopping in Manitou. My GM and I worked hard to make the park as great as we could with the very little funding that we got. As seen in the reviews we had excellent customer service and had high standards for keeping the park clean. I was very good at my job and I loved doing the work until the new owners took over. When the park was sold, we had high hopes that the new owners would be good people and want to put real work into the park. We were very disappointed that they turned out to be money grubbing horrible people. Ken, one of the owners, treats people and his business very Trump like. He and his wife must state that they are religious more than a few times when having a conversation; I personally think this is to make themselves look good to cover the toxicity that truly lies under the surface. When they meet people, they put on a façade and lie and say whatever they think people want to hear to get what they want; proven to me by the broken verbal promises they made to me. They are not community driven; they are money driven; you can make money and still be good people, but they chose not to be. They practice wage theft just like big corporations by over working employees and under paying them; in their words“you must wear all hats”. They are the type of people that use others until they don’t need them then throw them away like garbage. I was bullied into quitting on a phone call where Ken was very disrespectful and unprofessional with me. The phone call was me trying to explain that I could no longer do the FB post due to our deferent ethical viewpoints, and he would not let me talk by saying“you are not doing your job, are you going to quit” repeatedly. I found out that I was not allowed to post about Manitou Pride parade because he said,“it is not family friendly, and the company and I do not promote the LGBTQ+ community”. I am a proud member of that community and so I should not be the one to post on FB for the company. The groundman quit a day later because of disrespect and broken verbal promises. Then a few days later my boyfriend was fired and then Sheryl the GM was fired.(I believe they were fired for retaliation) Ken only wants employees that are easy to exploit or controlled, because he is incapable of managing people without fear and bullying. He boasted that he is called the grim reaper in business, but I don’t think that is the flex he thinks it is. But yes, he was the destruction of the community we put so much work into. I also want to voice my disappointment in Dana, who Sheryl worked hard getting to be allowed to come back as an employee. Dana did great work her first summer with us, so it was a shock to see her true colors show when she started to brown nose Ken. She spread multiple rumors, I feel the worst one was about Melinda’s daughter and the things she wrote about in her diary. I also did not like how she used David, the guy that does the golfcart tours in Manitou, was nice to his face then talked so badly about him when he was not around. I truly think Jesue and her father would be ashamed of her for how she acted to get her new position.
ScoutFound a great spot a bit further in surrounded by Juniper trees and a bit of grassy patches and rock fire pit. Love the open space and secluded spots! Definitely not ideal for the cacti. Our pup ended up sniffing one and got the needles in her muzzle. 😬 Weather is pretty nice with highs in the 80s and lows in the 40s
LegendGreat view of pikes peak. Located between woodland park and colorado springs this place is a good launch pad for mountain adventure. Its on a hillside directly facing the mountain, directly off the highway. The good thing about that is hwy 24 chills out alot at night so there wont be a ton of road noise. The downside is it can get busy in the morning and afternoon so pulling out directly onto the highway with a big rig could be a challenge
LegendSmall place right off hwy 24 at the base of the mountains. Coffee place across the street and an auto parts store out front, not a bad combination for an RV park. Ita pretty much just a gravel lot but there are some trees. Not a bad stop but not a destination
LegendNice little campground, and the front desk lady was super friendly and welcoming. The location is really the key factor—very convenient to all the major hiking trails, most of which are about 15 minutes or less away. You can hear a little road noise, but it wasn’t too bad. The sites are fairly close together, and the showers and bathrooms were very clean.
Unfortunately, I did have one negative experience the evening before we left.
I went to use the bathroom, and as I was exiting, I was approached by a man who lives in the camper directly next to the bathhouse. His first words to me were, “If I see you go back into the bathhouse with those wipes in your hand, I’m going to boot and ban you.”
I apologized and explained that I didn’t realize the wipes were not allowed. There were no signs indicating this policy, it isn’t listed on the website, and no one at the office had mentioned it. I even showed him the package, which states that the wipes are biodegradable and septic/sewer safe. He responded that people should use common sense and again told me that if I used them, I would be booted and banned. He also said he had just done the same thing to another camper two days earlier.
I completely understand the need to protect a campground’s septic and sewer systems, and I would have respected the rule if I had been made aware of it. My issue was the way the situation was handled. Instead of simply and politely saying, “Please don’t use those wipes because they can cause problems with our system,” I was immediately threatened with being booted and banned.
The interaction felt unnecessarily hostile and unfriendly. It also left me feeling uncomfortable, as though campers are being watched closely rather than simply being approached respectfully when there is an issue.
That was especially disappointing because, aside from this encounter, our stay was pleasant. A little communication and a more courteous approach would have made a big difference in the overall experience.
TravelerWell spaced and shaded sites. Bath house is far from most of the primitive sites. The showers are clean and the water is hot.
LegendI love canyon camping and this was a guddin. Would be a 5 but for trash and traffic. Found a nice little creekside pull through between the tunnels that scratched the itch.
Tent camping near Pike and San Isabel National Forests offers diverse options for overnight stays at elevations ranging from 5,800 to 10,000 feet. The region experiences dramatic temperature shifts, with summer days often reaching 80°F while nights drop into the 40s even in July and August. Seasonal thunderstorms frequently occur during summer afternoons, making morning arrivals practical for setting up camp before weather changes.
Hiking nearby trails: Several tent sites provide access to hiking opportunities within walking distance. At Davenport Campground, campers note that a "trail right off campgrounds is an easy, beautiful hike." The surrounding Pike National Forest area has multiple day hiking options accessible from most camping locations.
Wildlife viewing: The canyon roads and reservoir areas offer excellent opportunities to spot native animals. One camper at Rampart Range Area Dispersed Campsite mentioned seeing a "bighorn sheep loved the stream" during their stay. Early mornings and evenings provide optimal wildlife viewing times when animals are most active.
Historic exploration: The region contains remnants of mining operations and historic sites. At Phantom Canyon, one camper described how "the history is awesome, the drive is beautiful, and there is a creek that runs along close by at every site." Many campers combine tent camping with day trips to nearby historic mining towns for a fuller regional experience.
Creek access: Water features rank highly among tent campers' favorite aspects. At Phantom Canyon, one visitor found the creek setting invaluable: "We camped here a few times. The spot closest to the mining town has been my favorite so far!" Another camper at a different site noted they "found a great, large spot. No bugs, and a bighorn sheep loved the stream."
Dark night skies: The minimal light pollution creates exceptional stargazing conditions. A camper at Red Canyon Park noted the area is "known for excellent stargazing opportunities" and another stated, "we were treated with the Northern Lights November 10th through the 12th." Areas farther from Colorado Springs offer the darkest skies.
Morning tranquility: Early risers appreciate the peaceful mornings before day visitors arrive. One camper described waking to "deer walking and eating down the creek right next to us." The canyon areas particularly benefit from morning shade when temperatures remain cool before the midday heat.
Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites lack amenities beyond basic fire rings. A camper at Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites noted: "No service, no noise, just the sound of the creek and an occasional car driving by." Plan to bring all supplies including water, as most sites have no potable sources.
Road conditions: Access to many tent sites requires navigating unpaved roads. One visitor experienced: "It took us three attempts to get our overweight 2-wheel drive van up the hill and back onto the road. There are a lot of loose rocks." Another mentioned "the road is loose gravel, long and winds through large cliff rock faces on both sides, which block out the sun."
Weekday advantages: Arrivals Monday through Thursday significantly improve site selection. A camper advised: "Always visit during the week, weekends spots are gone." Another noted, "We camped along this canyon road a few times and will never forget it. It is magical, always visit during the week."
Site selection strategy: Families benefit from choosing areas with natural boundaries. At Turkey Roost Group Camp, a camper noted the "wonderful tent pads and facilities with space to wash dishes and store goods from wildlife." Sites further from main roads provide better containment for younger children.
Bug preparation: Insect activity varies by season and location. One family camper warned: "Bring those fly bags that attract them away from you unless you're prepared to get eaten up by the flies." Another noted specifically "the flies and mosquitos were bad but our bug screens did their job until dark then we had to close up the van."
Weather planning: Mountain weather requires extra preparation for families. Pack warm clothes even in summer, as temperatures drop significantly after sunset. A camper described: "Gets warm during the day but it does get pretty cold at night." Another noted waking up with "few inches of snow" despite warmer conditions at lower elevations.
Site accessibility: RV camping options are more limited than tent sites. At Lone Duck Campground and Cabins, a camper observed it "could be a bit tough for fifth wheelers or people that need to pull through they only have a few of those." Another noted that sites "are super close together" which affects privacy and maneuverability.
Creek proximity considerations: Sites near water features present both advantages and challenges for RVers. One camper at Lone Duck recommended: "We have stayed here twice once in campsite 46 very nice 47 even nicer two best lots here for us cuz we like being the by the water." However, areas near water often have uneven ground requiring additional leveling equipment.
Connectivity concerns: Signal availability varies dramatically by location. While most canyon areas have no service, some higher elevations maintain connections. One RVer shared: "Starlink worked great as there is no Verizon cellular for miles." Another camper found "very good network coverage (T-mobile)" at higher elevation sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near PSICC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near PSICC is Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites with a 4.6-star rating from 40 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near PSICC?
TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near PSICC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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