If you didn’t know about dispersed camping, you’re absolutely missing out! Some of the best family camping in Colorado can be found at dispersed campsites around the state. These are generally found on National Forests, outside of designated campgrounds. We were lucky enough to explore many different campgrounds around Colorado last summer and created this list as a reference.
Free camping, or BLM camping in Colorado can be found by looking on thedyrt.com or freecampsites.net. These are visitor submitted dispersed campsites and most of them have reviews about road conditions and general availability.
Twin Lakes
If you’re looking for lakeside camping in Colorado, Twin Lakes is a winner in our books. Twin Lakes is a cozy little town with a population of just under 200, which sits at an elevation of 9603′. It easily offers some of the best lake camping in Colorado since there are multiple options and all of them have fantastic views. There are several serviced campgrounds by the lakes and some dispersed campsites on the hill overlooking the lake. Sunrise here is phenomenal!
Twin Lakes Camping options
Dexter Point Campground
Open between late May to Labor Day
First-come, first-served, no reservations
$20 per site per night
Lakeview Campground
Open between June to September
Reservations can be made at recreation.gov
$21 per site per night
White Star Campground
Open between June to September
Reservations can be made at recreation.gov
$21 per site per night
There are several dispersed campsites located just up the road from Lakeview Campground.
Crested Butte
Crested Butte has no shortage of beautiful campsites. There are several areas for dispersed camping and some serviced campsites as well. We loved camping here so much we returned to the same spot several times last summer and added it to our list of favorite mountain towns in Colorado. I’d say this area has some of the best campgrounds in Colorado for families. It’s also an incredible spot to photograph the night sky!
Crested Butte Camping options
Gothic Campground
First-come, first-served, no reservations available
$12 per night per camping unit
Open season is 06/19 – 09/29
Oh Be Joyful Campground
Reservations can be made at recreation.gov
$10 per night per camping unit
Open season is 05/27 – 09/30
Lake Irwin Campground
Reservations can be made at recreation.gov
$20 per night per site
Open season is July 1 – September 30
Lost Lake Campground
First-come, first served, no reservations available
$20 per night per camping unit
Open season is 06/18 – 10/05
Crested Butte Dispersed Camping
Portal Campground
Cost: Free
Portal Campground is maybe one of the toughest and most rewarding campsites to get to. It’s located just off of Independence Pass, and you need a high clearance vehicle to drive the very bumpy, one-way 6 mile road to the campsite. Here you will be rewarded with one of the most beautiful and remote camping lakes in Colorado; Grizzly Reservoir.
We almost turned around 2934587 times because I was worried we would pop a tire or get stuck somewhere with our teardrop camper with no service and no way to turn around! Luckily enough we made it, and even managed to get the last camping spot at the campground.
Twin Peaks Campground
Cost: $23 per site, per night
We stumbled across this campground while looking for a dispersed camping near Aspen Colorado. I usually don’t rely on paid campsites to have last minute availability since the odds are never in our favor. But somehow we were able to snag the last campsite here and were rewarded with spectacular views of the Sawatch Range.
This campsite is only open between late May to end of September and is entirely first-come, first-served.
Rabbit Ears Pass
Cost: Free/$10
There are several Rabbit Ears Pass camping options, including several dispersed campsites as well as serviced campgrounds. These campgrounds are open late June to Mid October and highly dependent on the weather. Rabbit Ears Pass sits at an altitude of 9426′ and snowstorms are likely to happen in late spring and early fall.
The two serviced campgrounds in the area are Meadows Campground and Dumont Lake Campground which are both first-come, first-served and cost $10 per vehicle per night.
Cottonwood Pass
Cottonwood Pass in Colorado is a breathtaking mountain pass in every way; it rises to an elevation of 12126′ and has some incredible views throughout the drive. There are several dispersed campsites available along this pass, and you can find them by looking for the National Forest signs along the road. These signs are located next to service roads and dispersed campsites can be found along those roads. You’ll most likely need a high clearance vehicle to reach some of these campsites but we’ve seen some smaller sedans make their way as well.
Taylor Reservoir Camping
Taylor Reservoir has several serviced campgrounds, all of which are accessible via Cottonwood Pass. With its vast mountain views and beautiful large lake, it’s no wonder it made our list of best camping lakes in Colorado!
Rivers End Campground
First-come, first served; no reservations
$14 per night per camping unit
Open season is 06/01 – 09/29
Lakeview Gunnison Campground
Some first-come, first served, some reservations available through recreation.gov
$22 per night per site
Open season is 06/14 – 09/30
Lottis Creek Campground
Some first-come, first served, some reservations available through recreation.gov
$30 per night
Open season is 05/07 – 09-30
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Leave No Trace
As usual, when going out to nature it’s important to adhere to the principles of Leave No Trace.
That means
- Plan ahead (research weather, terrain, regulations, group size)
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors