Free Camping in Colorado

200 sites across 8 federal and state land agencies. 0 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

Bureau of Land Management sites

87 sites. Bureau of Land Management camping rules →

  • Bent Creek Dispersed Campsite 5
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Cottonwood Grove Campground Group Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cunningham Dispersed Campsite 7
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Cunningham Gulch Dispersed Campsite 10
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Hartman Dispersed Campsite 10
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Hartman Dispersed Campsite 22
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Lake Fork Dispersed Campsite 5
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Molas Pass Dispersed Campsite 23
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Penitente Canyon Site 4
    Developed· Indexing
  • Zapata Falls Site 5
    Developed· Indexing
  • (Overflow A)
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • (Overflow B)
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • (Overflow C)
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • (Overflow D)
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • (Overflow E)
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • (Overflow F)
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • 18 Road - North Fruita Desert
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alder Creek Campsites
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Alpine Loop
    Developed· Indexing
  • American Basin Dispersed Campsite 1
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • American Basin Dispersed Campsite 2
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aspen Dispersed Camp Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Baby T-Rex
    Dispersed· Indexing
63 more Bureau of Land Management sites in Colorado.

Bureau of Reclamation sites

2 sites. Bureau of Reclamation camping rules →

  • Bonny Reservoir (Bonny Lake State Park)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Carter Reservoir (Carter Lake)
    Developed· Indexing

National Park Service sites

6 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Amache National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP Red Rock Canyon Wilderness Permits
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP Wilderness Permits
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Canyon Of The Gunnison South Rim Campground
    Developed· Indexing

PRIVATE sites

46 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • Alamosa Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Almont Camp Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alpen Rose RV Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alta Lakes Campground (Dispersed)
    Developed· Indexing
  • America's Tent Lodges
    Developed· Indexing
  • Anderson Hole River Camp
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Aspen Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aspen Glade Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aspen Glen Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aspen Loop
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aunt Sara's Riverdance RV Resort
    Developed· Indexing
  • Barr Camp
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Basecamp Palisade RV Resort
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaver Creek Camp 1
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaver Lake Camground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bellaire Lake Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Belle of Colorado Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Blue Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Cimarron
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Joe River Camp
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Big Meadows Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison South Rim Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Canyon/Montrose KOA Kampground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blanco River Campground
    Developed· Indexing
22 more PRIVATE sites in Colorado.

State Parks sites

7 sites. State Parks camping rules →

  • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area — Railroad Bridge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Boyd Lake State Park — Cottonwood Shores
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chatfield State Park — A Loop
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chatfield State Park — B Loop
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chatfield State Park — C Loop
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chatfield State Park — D Loop
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chatfield State Park — Group Loop
    Developed· Indexing

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

2 sites. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • Bear Creek Lake
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chatfield Lake
    Developed· Indexing

US Forest Service sites

46 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • AA Bar Ranch (AA Barn) Group Picnic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Acorn Creek #71
    Developed· Indexing
  • Almont
    Developed· Indexing
  • AMPHITHEATER (CO)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Angel of Shavano
    Developed· Indexing
  • ANGEL OF SHAVANO GROUP
    Developed· Indexing
  • ANSEL WATROUS
    Developed· Indexing
  • Anthracite Pass #1969
    Developed· Indexing
  • Antones #1871
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests Christmas Tree Permit
    Developed· Indexing
  • ARAPAHO BAY
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arapaho National Recreation Area Passes
    Developed· Indexing
  • Argentine Pass #77
    Developed· Indexing
  • BABY DOE
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bailey Lakes #1859
    Developed· Indexing
  • Battlement #2160 (West)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaver Lake (CO)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beaver Lake #2109
    Developed· Indexing
  • BELLAIRE LAKE CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Cimarron
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Creek (CO)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bighorn #2013
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blair Lake #2048
    Developed· Indexing
22 more US Forest Service sites in Colorado.

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

4 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bamforth National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Colorado

How long can you camp on public land in Colorado?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Colorado is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Colorado have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Colorado right now?
Fire restrictions in Colorado change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Colorado state office page and the USFS Colorado forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Colorado?
Dispersed camping in Colorado means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. BLM land in Colorado carries most of the dispersed sites. USFS national forests in Colorado allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Colorado?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Colorado with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Colorado prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Colorado?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Colorado when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Colorado are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Colorado in winter?
Winter access in Colorado depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Colorado often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Colorado?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Colorado do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Colorado?
Coverage in Colorado varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Colorado sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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