Look, I get it – searching for the best places to camp in Colorado feels like trying to find a pine needle in a forest. When I first moved here 12 years ago, I wasted three weekends driving to overcrowded campgrounds with muddy tentsites before I figured out the real gems. This guide fixes that.
Rocky Mountain National Park Crown Jewels
Don't let the tourist buses fool you – RMNP has magic if you know where to look. Forget Glacier Basin (overrun by RVs). Here's what actually delivers:
| Campground | Why It's Special | Reservation Nightmare Level | Fee (2024) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moraine Park | Elk herds at dawn, epic Longs Peak views | High (book 6 months ahead!) | $35/night | Photographers, families |
| Timber Creek | Only RMNP campground open year-round | Low (first-come first-serve) | $30/night | Solitude seekers, winter campers |
Pro tip: Arrive at Longs Peak campground by 7am for walk-up sites. That sunrise hike to Chasm Lake? Worth the alarm clock.
But here's the ugly truth – Moraine Park feels like a parking lot in July. If you want real wilderness, skip the park campgrounds and hike into these backcountry spots:
- Thunder Lake (9.1 miles in) - Alpine waterfalls right by your tent
- Granite Falls (12.3 miles) - Saw an entire lynx family here last fall
Maroon Bells Secret Spots
Yeah, everyone knows about Silver Bell campground. But try getting a spot after 8am in summer – impossible. Here's what most tourists miss:
| Campground | Permit Situation | View Quality | Best Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Queen | Reservation-only ($10 fee) | Direct Bells view | Mid-September |
| Difficult Campground | First-come (arrive Wednesdays!) | Riverfront sites | Late July |
Honestly? The best camping near Maroon Bells isn't in designated spots. Hike 3 miles up East Maroon Trail and find dispersed sites with nobody around. Just pack out your TP!
Hidden Gems Most Coloradans Won't Tell You About
Skip the Instagram crowds. These spots prove why Colorado camping is unbeatable:
Great Sand Dunes Under-the-Radar
Pinon Flats gets packed. Instead:
- Mosca Pass Trail dispersed sites - Free, quiet, 10 mins from park entrance
- Zapata Falls BLM land - $10/night, insane valley views
Camping tip: Rent sandboards in Alamosa ($25/day) – way cheaper than at the park.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Steals
South Rim Campground's views are killer, but try these:
| Spot | Access | Perks | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Portal | Steep dirt road (no RVs!) | River access, no reservations | No showers, 45-min drive from rim |
| Curecanti dispersed | Forest Rd 721 | Free, epic canyon views | Bring ALL your water |
Don't even think about East Portal without checking road conditions first. That 16% grade wrecked my friend's brakes last summer.
Essential Colorado Camping Hacks
Learned these the hard way after 12 seasons:
Reservation Deadlines Nobody Tells You
- Rocky Mountain NP sites release 6 months ahead at 8am MT – set calendar alerts
- State parks: 3 months ahead at midnight
- Walk-up sites: Arrive Tuesday/Wednesday mornings
Altitude sickness isn't a joke. My first time at 10,000ft I puked for 3 hours. Now I always:
- Chug Liquid IV before arriving
- Sleep at least one night in Denver first
- Pack ginger chews ($6 at REI) - lifesavers
Bear Reality Check
That cute campground bear video? Not funny when they're ripping through your $300 cooler. Required gear:
- Bear canisters (required in many areas) - Garcia style works best
- Pepper spray (know how to use it!)
- Never cook near your tent - period
Yeah, canisters are annoying to pack. But cleaning up after some idiot camper who didn't use one? That's worse.
FAQs: Colorado Camping Questions I Get Constantly
When is the absolute worst time to find camping?
Fourth of July weekend. Seriously, don't even try unless you booked 6 months ago. Even dispersed spots look like Coachella.
Are campfires ever allowed anymore?
Depends. Stage 1 restrictions usually start June 1 in most forests. Always check coemergency.com before going. Pro tip: Pack a propane fire pit – never banned.
Can I actually camp for free legally?
Absolutely. Dispersed camping is allowed in most national forests unless signed otherwise. My go-tos: Pike NF San Juan NF White River NF Remember: Pack out EVERYTHING (including food scraps).
What's the one piece of gear you won't camp without?
Earplugs. Sounds stupid until you're listening to some dude's snoring through three tentsites. Mack's Ultra Soft are gold.
Beyond the Tent: Unique Colorado Camping Experiences
Sometimes you want more than just a dirt patch:
| Experience | Location | Cost Range | Why It's Cool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Lookouts | Pike National Forest | $40-75/night | Sleep in historic towers with 360° views |
| Yurts | State Forest State Park | $120/night | Heated winter camping with moose sightings |
| Hot Springs Camping | Mt Princeton area | Free dispersed + $25 hot springs entry | Soak in natural pools under the stars |
My Personal Top 5 Best Places to Camp in Colorado
After 200+ nights in a tent statewide:
- Great Sand Dunes backcountry - Camp behind the dunes under insane stars
- Chicago Basin (San Juans) - Take the train in, camp with mountain goats
- Lost Creek Wilderness - Crazy rock formations, no permit needed
- Yampa River State Park - Western Slope secret with riverside sites
- Guanella Pass dispersed - 90 mins from Denver but feels remote
Look, finding the best places to camp in Colorado isn't about fancy gear. It's about avoiding the crowds everyone else flocks to. That quiet spot by a creek? That's where the magic happens.
Got questions? Hit me up at [email protected] – I answer every email (though might be slow when I'm off-grid).
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