Colorado is one of the favorite camping states in the US. Tucked away in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado is also known as “Colorful Colorado” because of its beautiful scenery of mountains, plains, and rivers. Here is our list of the finest and best places to camp in Colorado.
By: Camping Feed Staff | Last Updated: February 13, 2022
Camping is a fun way to connect with nature, especially in these Colorado’s best places to camp. Tucked away in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado are some of the finest campsites around. Jagged peaks, deep valleys, crystal clear rivers, streams, and lots of wildlife are just part of what’s this great outdoors has to offer. So whether it’s a trip with family or friends or to enjoy solitude, camping is a fun way to make memories while enjoying nature.
Colorado is a favorite destination for campers. And the wide variety of camping opportunities in Colorado makes it popular among all types of campers, whether they opt to stay in an R.V. or other kinds of accommodations.
Countless sites didn’t make this list, which is are good as any. So this list of best places to camp in Colorado probably will grow over time.
1. Maroon Bells
The Maroon Bells are a pair of peaks in the Elk Mountains, a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. At 14,156 feet (4,300 m), Maroon Peak is the 27th highest peak in Colorado. Located in the White River National Forest, 12 miles (19 km) west-southwest of Aspen, between the Maroon Creek valley to the north and the Crystal Creek valley to the south. The peaks are on private land managed by the US Forest Service as part of the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District.
The Maroon Lake, a small mountain lake nestled amidst the spectacular peaks of Maroon Bells in Colorado’s White River National Forest, is spectacular with vibrant colors. Towering snowcapped mountains and the surrounding trees reflect in the pristine waters of this most photographed lake.
2. Golden Gate Canyon State Park
The park is located in a broad canyon between Golden and Morrison. Its high, expansive meadows make it a great place to view wildlife, including deer, elk, moose, and black bears. Other wildlife includes snakes and lizards, songbirds, and raptors. The park is perfect for the hiker, camper, or horseback riding enthusiast.
It has trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. It also has six cabins and two yurts for rent. There are also 152 backpack-style campsites, six with electrical hookups. The park was established in 1962, but fragmentary evidence of Native American inhabitation exists from as far back as 800 A.D.
3. Tunnel Campground
Tunnel Campground is a pleasant place to spend a few days. You can hike into the Rawah Wilderness and see some wildflowers, or you can relax and enjoy the lovely surroundings. But if you are looking for solitude, you should probably avoid Tunnel Campground during the summer. If you are looking for privacy, keep in mind that campground rules require that your campsite be at least 100 feet from any other site. And if you are looking for a luxurious camping experience, you should probably look elsewhere; there is no running water at Tunnel Campground.
4. Indian Paintbrush Campground
The campground’s name comes from the Indian Paintbrush, a beautiful purple flower that grows in the park. The Indian Paintbrush is Colorado’s state flower and can bloom from June through August in Bear Creek Lake Regional Park.
The park has a wide variety of wildlife and nature to explore. Hikers will love the Loop Trail, which circles a peaceful pond and winds through lush vegetation. The 1.5-mile trail surrounds the pond, so you can take as long as you like to discover all the animals and plants that live there. You might even see turtles or ducks hanging out on logs or swimming in the water! You can also take a stroll through some nearby wetlands—these areas are home to many small mammals and waterfowl, including beaver, muskrats, and mink.
5. Chatfield State Park Campground
Chatfield State Park is located 30 minutes northwest of downtown Denver, Colorado, in Jefferson County and is open year-round. The park is the closest, largest site to Denver and encompasses nearly 4,000 acres, and has amenities for all seasons: skiing, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, horseback riding, camping, and water sports.
The park features a campground with nearly 200 campsites, a large fenced dog park that’s divided into two sections (one for large dogs and one for small), a 69-acre dog park with a small lake, a 137-acre reservoir stocked with trout, miles of biking, and hiking trails, picnic areas and shelters, playgrounds, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, boat ramp with dock, and other amenities.
6. Mud Springs Campground
Mud Springs Campground is located in Grand Junction, Colorado. It is an excellent place to camp. The campground offers nine campsites that can hold about three to eight people each. There are no hookups for electricity or water, but there is a dump station for your convenience.
The sites are rustic and are surrounded by pinion pine, Aspen, and oak trees. The campground also has picnic tables, fire rings, and grills at each site. Each campsite also has a small storage shed where you can store your tents, coolers, and other camping equipment.
The facility is open from mid-May through the end of November and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, there are some rules and regulations that the management asks you to follow so the experience can be pleasant for all the campers.
7. Camp Dick, Roosevelt National Forest
The Camp Dick Campground is located in Roosevelt National Forest, just outside of Peaceful Valley, Colorado. It is in a scenic location alongside Middle Saint Vrain Creek and offers a beautiful valley setting with tall pine trees and meadows. The campground is also adjacent to Buchanan Pass Trail, allowing great hiking and biking opportunities.
The Camp Dick Campground features 41 sites that can accommodate both tents and R.V.s (30 amp service), with R.V.s being limited to no more than 15 people per site. There are restrooms with flush toilets, but no showers or dump stations are available. The campground does have picnic tables at each location and fire pits.
8. Great Sand Dunes National Park
The Great Sand Dunes National Park is a perfect place for people who enjoy the outdoors. Whether you enjoy hiking up a 13,000-foot peak, sliding down dunes along Medano Creek, or just building sandcastles, this is the perfect place for you. This park has plenty of activities for all ages and various skill levels.
Trying new things can be scary. But it’s rewarding to do something you haven’t done before. So if you’re going on a trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, here are some tips to help you enjoy yourself and keep yourself safe while you’re there.
Most likely, you’ll want to spend most of your time playing in Medano Creek. The water in the creek is pretty shallow, but it can get deep quickly after rainfall. You should avoid swimming in the stream if there is any chance of thunderstorms in the area, as flash floods frequently occur after rainstorms and can sweep people away. Also, stay out of the creek if there are any signs that flash flooding could occur, such as dead animals along the banks or water rising quickly.
9. Flat Tops Trail
Flat Tops Trail is the name of a scenic byway that winds through northwestern Colorado. It’s also the mountain range’s name that stretches from Utah to Wyoming and from the Wyoming border southeast to Meeker.
Tucked into the heart of this mountain range is one of the state’s most beautiful drives, which travels along Highway 130 as it climbs up and over a pair of passes – Dunton Pass and Battle Mountain Pass. The 82-mile road is aptly named as it meanders its way through towering pines and aspen groves that shimmer with golden hues in autumn. It descends into lush valleys dotted with grazing cattle before climbing back up over another pass. The road winds along Battle Mountain Lake and through fields of wildflowers before ending at Meeker’s Main Street, lined with historic buildings.
10. Buffalo Pass
If you’re looking for a scenic drive, Buffalo Pass is one of the best in Colorado. The approximately 15-mile road crosses diverse habitats within the Park Range of the Rocky Mountains. The elevation ranges from 6,700 feet in Steamboat Springs to 10,400 feet in Summit Lake Camp Ground. This road offers spectacular views of the Yampa and North Park valleys below, multiple alpine lakes within walking distance, access to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, multiple dispersed camping sites, and Summit Lake Campground with restroom facilities. Additionally, there are numerous hiking, horseback, and motorized vehicle trails to suit a range of outdoor activity needs.
The Buffalo Pass Scenic Byway begins on Colorado Highway 131 at mile marker 58. Approximately 10 miles northwest of Steamboat Springs near the small town of Walden, this byway has a high concentration of elk and deer year-round. A gravel road winds through Sagebrush and Gambel oak habitat turning into a narrow dirt road as it climbs higher into spruce-fir dominated forests from the highway access point. You are treated to wide-sweeping views across the Yampa and North Park valleys during this climb. At 8 miles, you’ll reach Trail Ridge Road, which offers additional attractions along its 61-mile length from Estes Park to Grand.
11. Guanella Pass
The Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway is a breathtaking 21-mile mountain drive located on the east side of Mount Evans. The scenic byway begins at Georgetown Lake, one of Colorado’s most popular fishing lakes, and ends at the Mount Bierstadt trailhead, one of Colorado’s most popular hiking trails.
Traveling through the heart of the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, this gravel road weaves through pine forests and patches of aspen groves before climbing to timberline beneath alpine peaks such as Mount Bierstadt and Mount Evans. The high-country scenery is stunning—take your time to soak it in.
Starting from Georgetown Lake, take CO-82 north over Berthoud Pass, then turn right (east) on Guanella Pass Road (CR-62). After ascending through dense forest at the base of the mountains, you’ll start getting glimpses into some of Colorado’s most beautiful vistas. As you climb further, the trees will thin out and give way to wildflowers, aspen groves, and even small meadows where elk have been spotted grazing.
12. Mueller’s Campground, Mueller State Park
Mueller State Park is located in the mountains on the north side of Boulder, Colorado. It is a beautiful area, with plenty of wildlife and many different activities. You can hike or ride horses, mountain bike, hike cross country, and snowshoe. The campground has beautiful scenery; there are aspen trees everywhere! I love this park because it is so beautiful and peaceful. There are also several canoeing trips nearby, allowing you to see even more of the beauty that Colorado offers. The park is open year-round so that you can enjoy it any time of the year. I would recommend this park to anyone who enjoys hiking and sightseeing.
13. Turquoise Lake, San Isabel National Forest
The Turquoise Lake Area is a popular destination on the San Isabel National Forest. The area offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities in addition to the lake itself, including campgrounds, numerous trails, fishing, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Turquoise Lake is located in the shadow of 14,000-foot Mt. Massive and provides fantastic views of this massive mountain. For fishermen, Turquoise Lake is stocked with catchable rainbow trout and has larger brown trout populations.
14. Angel of Shavano Campgrounds
Angel of Shavano Campground is an excellent place to take the family for a weekend getaway. The campground is located on the west side of Highway 149 between Salida and Buena Vista. Amenities at Angel of Shavano include a playground, game room, and horseshoe pits. There is also a corral for those who have horses for their use.
The campground has 20 sites with picnic tables and fire rings. Sites are $20 per night with a two-night minimum stay on weekends during the summer months. The campground opens during the winter months when Colorado Parks and Wildlife declares that snow accumulation prevents access to the area by vehicles.
15. Bear Lake Campground, Rocky Mountain National Park
With over 6 million acres of land, there are plenty of places to explore and enjoy in Rocky Mountain National Park. So make it a point to visit Bear Lake. It’s located in the Wild Basin area of the park, designated for day-use only.
The lake is surrounded by rolling meadows with plenty of spots to set up camp and enjoy the scenery. Campers often stay at nearby Glacier Basin Campground, a first-come, first-serve camping facility in May, depending on weather conditions. Facilities at Bear Lake include restrooms, drinking water, grills, and picnic tables. The road leading to the lake also features parking spaces and an accessible boat ramp and dock.
Tranquil and peaceful, Bear Lake is one of the most popular destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park for both visitors and residents alike. The nearby Glacier Basin campground is a perfect place to set up camp for an extended stay at the lake or just for a quick overnight trip.
