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Free dispersed camping in National Forest near Woodland Park, Colorado. This is a trailhead spur suitable for popping the camper for a night. Decent site with some interesting rock formations tucked away between the aspens, but features no amenities. Good cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Meh. Camped here out of necessity. It was okay.

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Turtle Rock Campground is a free camping area near Buena Vista, Colorado. Mostly tent sites with fire rings, but a few spurs suitable for vehicle-supported camping. Awesome, rolling rock formations. Setting similar to Alabama Hills. Great for bouldering and climbing. Surrounding wilderness area ripe for vehicular exploration. Good cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Recommended.

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A large grassy clearing at the foot of Uncompahgre Peak, at a high elevation along a rough forest road that recommends four-wheel drive. Beautiful mountainous setting. Primitive with fire ring. No cell service. Enough room for multiple vehicles. Great place to stay for a few nights! Strongly recommended.

Not a campsite at all. We just slept in our vehicles at the side of a road that was gated at the time. It was a lovely peaceful stay, but we camped here only out of necessity. No fire ring. No amenities. There are nearby free dispersed camping options, but gates closed during cold season. Not recommended. No cell service.

A grassy meadow with a historic cabin where overnight camping is allowed. Primitive clearing features a fire ring. Very close to dirt road and a short drive from Lake City, Colorado. Private, peaceful, and convenient. Surrounded by mountains. No cell service. Enough room for multiple overland vehicles. Recommended.

An improvised clearing in the mountains north of Grand Junction. While this clearing was beautiful, peaceful, with decent protection from the elements, the nearby BLM land was very spoiled with garbage, brass, and heavy OHV activity. Had to drive far for a nice place to spend the night. Good cell service. Somewhat recommended.

Along the Alpine Loop near Ouray, Colorado, at the junction for Engineer Mountain and Poughkeepsie Gulch. A little campsite with fire ring tucked in a grove of pines next to roaring mountain stream. Amazing four-wheel drive destination, and very dramatic terrain. This is a good place to stop for the night if you're on a four-wheel drive adventure. Surrounded by mountains. No cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Strongly recommended!

In a public recreation area in eastern Colorado. This is a spacious clearing that can accommodate three or four vehicles. Features sheltered picnic tables, vault toilets, no fire rings. Overlooks muddy, empty reservoir. Very close to interstate. Flatland. Good cell service. Recommended due to convenience.

A free campsite at the end of a spur off of a forest road at the base of the mountains. Surrounded by aspen trees and dandelions. Very grassy. Popular spot for other campers are RVers. Small stream runs through it. Lovely setting for hiking, walking, or mountain biking. No cell service and enough room for two or three vehicles. Not very private due to other campers. Recommended.

A small, high elevation primitive campsite, with fire ring, in San Isabel National Forest. This is in a valley with decent protection from the elements. Some tree coverage. Lovely and private with enough room for a couple of vehicles and no cell service. May be other similar campsites near this one along forest road. Recommended.

A free, primitive campsite at the end of a spur in the mountains above Georgetown, Colorado. Near a raging mountain stream. Access requires decent clearance and four-wheel drive. Good cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Dramatic scenery near charming town. Recommended.

A spacious, primitive clear area with a fire ring in BLM land south of Dinosaur National Monument. Enough room for a few vehicles. Some cell service. Large network of dirt roads to explore in and around Dinosaur. High desert. Some red stone. Dramatic scenery. While surrounding scenery is impressive, campsite is comfortable, but not spectacular. Recommended.

A high-elevation clear area in the mountains northeast of Steamboat Springs. Has fire ring. Enough room for one or two vehicles. This mountain is very popular for boondockers and outdoor enthusiasts. There are numerous potential campsites in the area, but many will be occupied in peak season. Some cell service. Recommended due to proximity to Steamboat.

Nice! A secret, well-hidden grove along a mountainous forest road west of Denver. Fire ring. Poor cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Tight spaces. Must be maneuverable. Nice spot to stay for a couple of nights. Peaceful and remote. Recommended.

A pull-off along a mountainous forest road in the mountains west of Denver. Great view. Good cell service. Limited space. Room for two vehicles. Recommended due to view, and cell service, but property boundary questionable. A good place to sleep if you're just passing through, but not a destination campsite.

An ideal primitive campsite for a single vehicle located at a higher elevation but sheltered in a narrow canyon. Picturesque mountain stream runs through it. Four wheel drive required. No cell service. Robust stone fire ring. En route to Mt Antero and high elevation forest roads. Beautiful natural setting. Subject to high mountain weather. It snowed during my visit in June. Will encounter other hikers and light vehicle traffic. Several other wonderful camping opportunities along this stretch.

A very nice primitive campsite at ten thousand feet with good cell service and enough space for one vehicle. Just off of forest road nestled in a grove of conifers with a stone fire ring. The tree cover provides decent shelter from elements. Very long forest road convenient to Durango, Colorado. Some traffic so not necessarily private, but a lovely place. Likely encounter other campers. Subject to high mountain weather.

A fee campground operated by forest service. Enough room for one or two vehicles at each site. No cell service. Fire rings, picnic tables, vault toilet. Accessible by two wheel drive off pavement. Located in Chalk Canyon with a lot of opportunities for hiking and recreation. A short drive from St Elmo ghost town. Wooded area surrounded by towering cliffs.

Popular dispersed camping area near hiking trailhead. Uneven ground. A lot of other camping spots nearby. It was crowded during my stay on summer weekend. Primitive sites with stone fire rings. Wooded area at low elevation. Near small stream. Vault toilet at trailhead a half mile away. Next to busy forest road, two wheel drive ok. Convenient to the town of Salida.

Official forest service free campground located in valley next to stream. There are pit toilets here, fire rings, picnic tables. First come, first serve. Lovely wooded area with some dramatic rock formations. No cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. Sites next to stream are clean. Other sites are a little overgrown. Some light traffic and there might be other campers in close proximity. Stay limit 14 days, donations accepted.

Flat primitive spot with small stone fire ring on the shore of Boss Lake. High elevation alpine lake along the Continental Divide Trail. This is a very small spur with enough room for a single vehicle. Good cell service. Beautiful mountainous setting nestled in conifers. Tent camping opportunities. Might see some daily fishing traffic during the summer, but very quiet and private at night. High clearance four-wheel drive required. Recommended.

A flat spot next to a stream just outside of Creede, Colorado. Completely primitive with no fire ring or amenities. Four-wheel drive with good clearance required. Rustic cabin and waterfall nearby. Enough room for single vehicle. Just off of forest road with very light traffic. Some hikers and possibly ATVs, but dead end so traffic is minimal. In lush valley with abundant wildlife and beautiful mountainous setting. No cell service. Very quiet.

Wow! Love this remote, four-wheel drive accessible site next to creek. Forested area surrounded by mountains. Primitive with stone fire ring. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Ground is not level but it is smooth and not too bad. Pristine with very little traffic near the end of a rugged forest road. No cell service. Recommended spot.

Secluded dispersed camping spot with small stone fire ring on the edge of the National Forest near Buena Vista, Colorado. Relatively low elevation. Tall mountains to the west, valley to the east. Short drive to town. Decent tree coverage. Great cell service. Clean. Enough room for a few vehicles. It is quiet but possibly other traffic, campers, hikers, in peak season.

Party spot. Avoid. Dispersed campsite with stone fire ring tucked away in the woods just a few minute drive from pavement near Crested Butte South. Enough room for several vehicles. Primitive with no cell service. A few other sites with fire rings along this stretch, near popular hiking and mountain biking area. Lower elevation in valley surrounded by aspens. Power line runs above. Not recommended, possibly party.

Nice dispersed camping area on the edge of canyon overlooking forest road and creek. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Primitive site, stone fire ring, not perfectly flat, no cell service. Wooded area with a lot of hiking and mountain biking nearby. There will likely be other campers nearby and this stretch of road has several camping options, some very nice. Four wheel drive very helpful. Low privacy, but a nice spot.

Near top of mountain pass, this primitive site is along a very demanding four wheel drive route. High risk of vehicle damage unless dedicated wheeling rig. Nestled among some trees at high elevation offering some protection from elements. Stone fire ring. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Ground is not level. No cell service. Alpine lakes nearby. Scenery extraordinary with deer and moose.

Wow! A spacious primitive site nestled in a canyon next to a beautiful stream with waterfalls. No cell service. Enough room for a few other vehicles. Just off of a forest road that demands high clearance four wheel drive. Very remote. Its possible you will see other people but relatively few. Great site to settle in for a few nights. There are other lovely campsites along this stretch if this one is taken. Recommended.

Secret knoll. This is a primitive flat spot atop of a grassy BLM hill just off of a faint 4wd track, just a short distance off of pavement. Good cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Great view of Paoria town and somewhat private. You are visible from surrounding hills but how to get to you is not obvious. Be discreet here. Not an official campsite. Convenient to Paoria but does require 4wd and good clearance for short stretch.

Popular dispersed camping area in National Forest. While RVs and trailers line the forest road just a short distance away this is a serene spot that likely will not be taken. Surrounded by aspen trees. Primitive with big fire ring and no cell service. Next to private stream. Decent privacy. Stream crossing to access but a stock 4wd can do. Room for two or three vehicles. Very lush and green setting with cattle. Good spot.

A nice secluded site with room for one or two vehicles nestled in trees on the other side of stream crossing. Four-wheel drive with good clearance required but not challenging. Along popular forest road for ATV and hikers that descends into canyon. Small fire ring here. Primitive. Impressive waterfalls in short walking distance. No cell service. Good spot but you will see other people.

Dispersed camping area with fire ring in lovely mountain valley. Small stream nearby. Grassy clearing next to tree-line to the south offering good protection. Free campground nearby and popular area for hiking. You will likely encounter other campers. Spacious. No cell service and enough room for a few vehicles. Ground is just a little uneven.

A spur at the end of a mountain road. No fire ring. Enough room for three vehicles. Nice view of mountains to the west. Tall mountain to the east. Surrounded by scattered conifers. This is a good secluded spot just off the highway between Ouray and Silverton. Not a destination but a lovely place to spend the night. No cell service. Four wheel drive required.

A large flat spot at the end of a switchback with a phenomenal view of the mountains to the west. Next to a defunct mine on road up to beautiful alpine lake but less windy than lake. No cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Poor privacy. There will be other four wheel drive traffic to access lake. Most other campers are down in the valley. Recommended for view. Four wheel drive required.

A flat spot next to a secluded alpine lake. Better kept secret. High elevation and four wheel drive required. Uneven surface but there is a primitive fire ring. Exquisite scenery in basin surrounded by mountains. Some cell service at edge of basin. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Prepare for wind and colder temperatures. Recommended for scenery.

Primitive flat spot with stone fire ring in old townsite of Carson, Colorado. Directly next to ghost town structures. Enough room for one or two vehicles. No cell service. Picturesque valley visible from forest road. Townsite is a popular destination so visitors likely. Four wheel drive required. Scenic camping but high elevation with poor protection from elements. Small streams nearby.

Primitive dispersed lower elevation site in valley tucked away in a tree line just off of a forest road. Small stone fire ring directly next to a nice stream. Great water source. No cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Conifers offer shade and good protection from elements. The flies were really bad during my stay in July. Some very light forest road traffic but good privacy.

Primitive campsite in a quiet wooded area off at the end of a short unmarked two track. Four wheel drive recommended. No cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Two stone fire rings. Surrounded by wooded hillside. Charming shadowy forest with beautiful mountain view just out of site. A lot of other campers on this mountain in peak season but this spot is a bit more obscure. Very peaceful during my stay. No nearby streams or water sources. Spacious with decent protection from elements.

Popular fee campground on lake in Lake City, Colorado. Each site has enough room for single vehicle. Picturesque lake ideal for boating. Tree lined shore on edge of cliff. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. Picnic tables, fire ring, pit toilets, running water. Affordable but popular in peak season. Short drive from town and access to Alpine Loop. Poor cell service.

Hidden primitive campsite just off of Cinnamon Pass Road tucked in the conifers. No cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Off of high traffic forest road but still a nice clean and secluded site. Beautiful stream nearby with excellent view of valley beyond the trees. Floor of pine needles. High activity area in peak season and four wheel drive strongly recommended. Good protection from the elements just within the tree line.

Just within the southern boundary of Canyons of the Ancients, a dispersed campsite on a hillside among some rock formations, just off of the dirt road, and a little over a mile from pavement. Rough, but accessible via car. Primitive stone fire ring. Some cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles, but uneven ground. Very sparse vegetation, so fairly exposed except for boulders. Picturesque location with some mild traffic. Moderate privacy.

Designated dispersed camping area on scenic ridge on eastern boundary of Canyons of the Ancients. Found on iOverlander app. Several primitive sites on ridge with stone fire rings. Good cell service. Great view of mountains to the south. Rough road, but accessible by car. Lovely spot, and somewhat well known. Some junipers and vegetation. Low privacy and sites are fairly close together. Recommended.

A dispersed campsite with a small stone fire ring next to a small stream. Within a wooded canyon, surrounded by trees. Road in requires high clearance four wheel drive. Archaeological sites in walking distance, but hard to find across stream. Looks like a popular turn around spot for ATVs. Beautiful in fall when leaves are golden. No cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles.

A dispersed campsite off of the dirt road toward the southern side of Canyons of the Ancients. There is a very large solitary boulder here next to a primitive stone fire ring. Rough road in from the south, but accessible by car. Poor cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Moderate privacy. Right off main thoroughfare, but does not see too much traffic. Not much vegetation. Sweeping views to the east.

Dakota Terraces fee campground in state park north of Ridgway, Colorado. Open year round. Moderately priced with hook ups, heated bathrooms, running water, sheltered picnic tables and metal fire rings surrounded by concrete and pavement. Great place to camp not far from Ouray and Alpine Loop. Some cell service. Poor privacy. Overall a nice campground, clean, friendly, and well-maintained. Would stay there again. It is probably busy during peak season.

A super discreet dispersed campsite with small stone fire ring on BLM land north of Ridgway, Colorado. The site itself is mediocre, nestled within a network of hiking and biking trails. It's up a steep primitive track that requires low range four wheel drive, ensuring privacy. You will see cyclists, but you will likely have this spot to yourself. Recommended due to privacy and convenience. A great basecamp if exploring the area. Some cell service. Enough room for two vehicles. Some vegetation offering protection from elements.

Very nice riverside campsite in western Colorado on the shore of the Dolores River. Clean and unspoiled with nice stone fire ring. Enough room for a single vehicle under a large beautiful tree. Low canyon elevation flanked by walls of red rock on both sides. This site is nice and private as it only suits one vehicle. But many RVs and campers at neighboring sites a short distance away. Visitors likely as people come to check status of site. Very poor cell. Great spot!

Nice! A very lovely primitive campsite on a ridge in San Isabel National Forest overlooking mountains to the west. Phenomenal view and surrounded by aspens. Four wheel drive strongly recommended for primitive tracks. Van accessible. Stone fire ring. Decent cell service. Enough room for two vehicles. High elevation with some ATV traffic popping in and out so might be a sought after site. Recommended.

A Walmart parking lot in Canon City Colorado. A decent place to spend the night in a pinch but not ideal. There were other RVs there so this seems to be an acceptable. I was not bothered. If time allows, there is better camping to be had in the surrounding public land. The nice thing is that this is convenient to lovely Canon City downtown.

A lovely stream-side primitive campsite along a rugged forest road up to a mountain pass. High-clearance four-wheel drive required. With a stone fire ring. Picturesque mountain stream. Shady wooded area in valley between mountains. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Poor cell service. Good privacy but occasional 4x4 or ATV passerby. Recommended.

Primitive campsite in spacious mountain basin at high elevation. Up a primitive forest road a stock truck or SUV is fine. Enough room for a few vehicles. Great views of mountains in all directions. No tree cover here. Hiking trails nearby and directly next to a really nice mountain stream. A lot of people pass through as major hiking trails are right nearby. Low privacy. A lovely backcountry destination. Recommended.

Primitive campsite with stone fire ring at high elevation near the end of a rugged forest road. Demands a compact four-wheel drive with high clearance. Enough room for one or two vehicles. High mountain basin in alpine setting. No cell service. Other nearby dispersed campsites offer more vehicle space. Some coniferous tree cover and good privacy with occasional hikers. Near a mountain stream and short hike to a lake. Lovely remote backcountry destination. Recommended!

Excellent primitive basecamp with superb cell service for digital nomads. Van accessible one mile off of pavement up primitive track in San Isabel National Forest. Phenomenal view of mountains. Enough room for two or three vehicles, surrounded by conifers with primitive stone fire ring. Very low recreational 4x4 and ATV traffic. Good privacy. This is a great lesser known place to camp only a short drive from Leadville. Recommended.

Fee campground at Chatfield State Park, in Denver. Popular destination close to city. Very nice, well kept state park. Paved campground with concrete pads, metal fire rings, picnic tables, electricity, plumbing, RV hookups, laundry. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. Grassy with some trees and large lake for boating and recreation. Great place to rest and recharge close to city infrastructure.

Affordable forest service campground in wooded canyon overlooking Hermosa at end of winding forest road. Lovely coniferous setting with gravel loop and spurs, metal fire rings, and picnic tables. Clean vault toilet. Good cell service and enough room for two vehicles per site. Some tent camping. One of the lesser known campgrounds in the area a 20 minute drive to Durango. Still fairly busy in summer but with decent privacy between sites. Recommended. Hiking and mountain biking nearby. Great basecamp!

Very convenient dispersed site with primitive fire ring off of a high traffic groomed forest road only a few miles from pavement. Wooded area. Not far from town of Mancos. Good cell service and enough room for three or four vehicles. This is a relatively clean popular site with poor privacy. Accessible by any vehicle type. Nice for basecamp or if you need to be near town.

Primitive forest road spur with a flat pull off along a high elevation bend with a great view of the mountains and valleys to the west. High clearance four wheel drive required and very remote. Enough room for one or two vehicles and great cell service. Ancient fire ring not used in a long time. Very nice and quiet place to spend one overnight if passing by.

Wow! A very primitive dispersed site overlooking an alpine lake. Stone fire ring with rocky uneven surface. In basin with great view of mountains across lake. No cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Very popular destination to view lake, so expect visitors. Low privacy. Proximity to major hiking trails. Great hiking in the mountains. Sparse vegetation. Demands high clearance four wheel drive. One hour from Silverton. Recommended for day trip or overnight.

Spacious dispersed camping area with three sites at the foot of Timber Hill next to the Rio Grande River. Grassy and flat, surrounded by aspen trees with view of cliffs to the north and mountains to the south. Spacious enough for several vehicles. No cell service. Moderate privacy. It seems like a well used site but was quiet and vacant during my stay. On a forest road spur. Main forest road requires high clearance four wheel drive from Silverton. Recommended for peaceful extended stay.

This is a coniferous flat spot with enough room for two vehicles off of a primitive logging road. Very quiet and secluded with minimal traffic so privacy is very good. No fire ring or amenities. Likely too dry for fires here. Great view of stars and tall mountains to the west are just visible beyond the trees. Fabulous cell service and only a ten minute drive to pavement and twenty minutes to Leadville. Four wheel drive or AWD required. Recommended.

Not a proper campsite, this is a flat spot at the end of a forest road spur, at the edge of a wash, between large rock formations. Primitive with no amenities. Somewhat of a view of the mountains to the west. Low traffic since it is a dead end so good privacy. Four wheel drive required as route is fairly primitive. Poor cell service. Decent shelter from rocks and trees. Enough room for one or two vehicles.

Boyd Lake State Park Campground in Loveland, Colorado. A fee campground with amenities such as running water, shower, rv dump, metal fire rings, picnic tables, electrical hookups, and laundry. Sprawling open setting with scattered trees and large lake very popular for boating. Easy to take kayak out from campsite. Low privacy as campground is popular. Short drive to downtown Loveland. Recommended if you need a place to stay for Overland Expo Mountain West or near Denver. Great cell service and enough room for two vehicles per site.

Wow! Amazing flat spot on a high elevation mountain saddle overlooking the neighboring peaks to the south and to the east. Enough room for one or two vehicles. No fire ring. No cell service or amenities but an astounding view. Requires high clearance four wheel drive to access. Some other 4x4 or ATV traffic so privacy is moderate. Very remote. Extreme exposure and possibly windy. Not suited for cold season. Decent hiking nearby to alpine lake.

A primitive dispersed campsite in the Four Mile recreation area near Buena Vista, Colorado. This is an extremely popular boondocking area with a multitude sites with fire rings. Road network is primitive, but terrain is smooth and rolling, surrounded by bulbous granite rock formations. Hot dry desert climate here despite altitude. Privacy is fairly poor due to popularity. Only a ten minute drive into town. Great cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles per site.

A unique double decker primitive campsite nestled among bulbous rock formations. Primitive stone fire ring here and not very flat. Some leveling will be required. High clearance four wheel drive required. Very poor cell service. High desert setting that can get warm but the rocks and vegetation provide nice shelter with hiking and drivable tracks nearby. Photogenic area. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Moderate privacy.

Lovely grassy campsite near a scenic pond in a high elevation woodlands near the tree line. There is a primitive stone fire ring here with enough room for two or three vehicles. No cell service. Just off of a well groomed forest road that sees a moderate amount of traffic. Some residential logging hunting and cattle here. Enjoyable hikes nearby. Very peaceful and remote. Some trees provide protection from exposure. Recommended!

Well established primitive campsite in a verdant mountain basin next to a crystalline stream. Stone fire ring. Enough room for one or two vehicles at site. High clearance four wheel drive required. Popular backcountry destination with a lot of hikers 4x4s ATVs and other campers. Lovely place to spend a few night but will likely encounter other people. Trees provide excellent coverage. No cell service. Beautiful mountain setting with multitude of hiking and rugged forest roads. Recommended!