Public land camping

Camping in Colorado

350 federal places to camp in Colorado, from Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service, on the land they sit on.

Camp Bird Road, Ouray, Colorado

350
federal places to camp: 305 Forest Service, 23 Bureau of Land Management, 22 National Park Service; 6,286
campsites you can book ahead: At the 246 places that take reservations on Recreation.gov. 69 more are first come, first served; 11,259 ft
the highest you can drive to: Cordova Pass; 41
counties with federal camping: 106 gateway towns, each with three or more within 30 miles

Camping near a town

Every federal campground in Colorado

350 places

Camping rules worth knowing in Colorado

Dispersed camping guidance differs by forest: The White River publishes its camping and cabins page with the designated-site rules that now apply in Summit County; the San Juan publishes its own dispersed camping guidelines separately. Two adjoining forests can take different positions on where a vehicle may sleep, so read the forest you will actually be on rather than a general Colorado rule. Source 31
Dispersed camping limits change with the land: On BLM land in Colorado the limit is 14 days in any 30-day period at one location, after which you must move at least 30 air miles. The White River National Forest allows 14 days in 30 and then a move of at least 20 miles, with 7-day limits in some areas. The San Juan National Forest allows 16 days and then a move of at least 5 road miles. Check the office for the ground you are on. Source 30
State trust land is closed unless posted open: Trust land looks public on a map and is not. The State Land Board says it is not open to the public unless a parcel is leased for recreation, and the large hunting and fishing lease held by Colorado Parks and Wildlife allows only that, in season. Source 11
Fire restrictions are set county by county: The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control keeps a statewide page of fire bans and restrictions and tells travelers to confirm with the county sheriff, the local fire department or the federal land office, because each sets its own. Source 33
Dispersed camping is becoming designated camping: In the busiest parts of Colorado the Forest Service has replaced open dispersed camping with numbered sites. Summit County national forest land is now limited to designated sites only, with over 60 of them in areas such as North Rock Creek, Boreas Pass Road, Peru Creek, Spruce Creek and McCollough Gulch, marked by a numbered post, free to use and generally not suitable for RVs or trailers. On the Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District a seven-day summer stay limit applies to Homestake, Muddy Pass and Red Sandstone, Piney Guard and Shrine Pass roads, and Forest Road 703 at Homestake requires a self-contained camper system and packing out solid human waste. On the Pike and the San Isabel the prohibition is on camping at any location within the same 20-mile radius for more than 14 days within any continuous 30-day period, and on the Pike you may not camp within 100 feet of a lake, stream, pond or river unless you are at a developed or designated site. The Leadville Ranger District allows motorized dispersed camping within one car length of a designated route. Source 80

The full guide to overlanding Colorado

By agency

By county

Campground records: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), read September 19, 2026. Elevations: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Fees, seasons and limits change; confirm with the managing office before you go.

The Colorado campground map

Camping rules worth knowing in Colorado

By agency

By county