This is a dispersed site—pack in/pack out (especially garbage; the nearest dumpster is in the town of Telluride). There is no running water, one outhouse, no service, no electrical outlets or RV pumps. Bears (and moose) are extremely active in this area, so it is especially important to store food in bear canisters and tie up properly. This site is not for the faint of heart! That said, the campers at this site have been some of the most genuine and good-natured humans I have ever met. The views are spectacular, and it’s not far from some fantastic hikes!

This site takes reservations, but we had great luck with finding a campsite same-day. The sites are very well-maintained, accessible, and perfect for car camping or RV camping. They also have running water in the bathrooms, a dishwashing station, and a drinking water spout. Such luxury! From the campsite, it was only a short saunter into the Dune field (15 min), so this gave us plenty of time to explore the Dunes and preserve. The sites seemed very family-friendly and had ADA compliant sites.

The campsites on the South Rim do take reservations, so I would recommend reserving ahead of time—especially during the summer. The campsites are well-maintained, private, easily accessible, and family friendly. The campers around were all respectful, which made for a great community of campers!