You must be here to see the Best Tent Camping In Colorado? Rugged snow-capped peaks, river canyons, abundant wildlife and Wild West history come together to create some of the country’s best campsites in the colorful state of Colorado! Thousands of sites in National Forests and Parks, State Parks and local nature preserves await tent campers of all skill levels.
From the arid deserts of the east to the ancient cliff dwellings of the west, you’re sure to find a spot you love. Sweeping vistas, alpine lakes and dozens of outdoor activities available year-round make this the perfect state for tent campers in search of adventure – or just relaxing by the campfire with a beautiful view.
Here are some of my favorite places for tent camping in Colorado.
Indian Paintbrush Campground – Bear Creek Lake Regional Park – Lakewood, Colorado
With downtown Denver only 20 minutes away and the Red Rocks Amphitheater even closer, This well-developed campground with 47 sites features electric hookups, bathrooms with running water and showers. The park has it’s own lakefront beach, miles of trails and horse stables. The fee is $25.00 per night, and reservations should be made ahead of time if you plan to visit on a busy weekend.
Crow Valley Family Campground – Pawnee National Grassland – Briggsdale, Colorado
When most people think of Colorado, they picture towering mountains and pine forests, forgetting that a large portion of the state is made up of arid desert and grassland. This lightly used family campground offers 10 tent-only reservable and first-come-first-serve sites with vault toilet and potable water when temperatures are above freezing. Some cottonwoods provide shade; otherwise, the area is surrounded by northeastern Colorado’s short-grass prairie. The nightly fee is $13.00.
Belleaire Lake Campground – Roosevelt National Forest – Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
Hiking, biking, ORV and equestrian trails surround this campground, about an hour from Fort Collins. Canoeing, fishing and non-motorized water sports are permitted on the lake. Flush and vault toilets are available; most of the 26 sites have electric hook-ups, save for five designated tent-only sites without. Each site has a tent pad, picnic table and fire ring with grill. Afternoon storms are common in the spring and summer months, and bears frequent the area so take extra care to properly store all scented items. An on-site camp host sells firewood. The fee to camp is $22.00 during the peak season.
Dry Lake Campground – Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest – Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Nestled beneath aspen, spruce and fir trees, this small 8-site camping area is located 8 miles from Steamboat Springs. The nearby Spring Creek Trail offers hiking and biking opportunities. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table; vault toilets and trash cans are available, but you’ll need to bring water with you. The campground typically operates from June until October (or the first snow of the season) on a first-come-first-served basis. Sites are $10.00 per night.
Saddlehorn Campground – Colorado National Monument – Grand Junction, Colorado
Enjoy the iconic redrock canyons and cliffs of one of the most incredible landscapes in the West at the monument’s only developed campground, which boasts 80 sites with picnic tables and charcoal grill. Campfires are not permitted on the monument. With first-come-first-serve and reservable individual and group sites, there’s something here for every size party. The fee is $20.00 per night, open year-round. The campground has comfort stations with flushing toilets, and water is available in the summer. More adventurous campers are welcome to obtain a permit from the visitor’s center before heading into the backcountry for a night under the stars; however, the water is not safe to drink out there, even during the spring runoff, so bring plenty.
Valley View Hot Springs – Orient Land Trust – Moffat, Colorado
24 unique tent sites offer degrees of seclusion that will suit all campers, from spots close to parking areas and facilities to sites that require hiking up to ¼-mile into the woods. Most are shady, level and include a picnic table (some share tables). This all-ages, clothing-optional nature preserve features full bathrooms, drinking fountains, and best of all, world-renowned natural pools filled with hot spring water and incredible mountain views. Different temperatures and soaking areas make it easy to get comfortable. Some campsites are first-come-first-served; others are on a reservation system, and all regularly fill in the summer. The fee for overnight tent campers is $40.00 per night (including access to the grounds until 10PM on the day of departure) during the summer season, and $26.00 during the winter.
Longs Peak Campground – Rocky Mountain National Park – Estes Park, Colorado
You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world here, and rightly so – at an elevation of 9,500 feet above sea level, this 26-site tents-only campground is often used as a base camp for climbers looking to summit Longs Peak, a famous 14-er. Surrounded by forest about 20 miles from bustling Estes Park, this is a rustic campground with water pump, vault toilet and bear-safe food storage containers. A host is available seasonally. The fee to camp is $26.00 per night.
Wilderness Camping – Rocky Mountain National Park
There are dozens of designated wilderness campsites in the RMNP backcountry, accessible by hiking in only after obtaining a permit from the Park Headquarters’ Wilderness Office. Permits are $26.00 for parties of up to 7 campers, for up to 3 nights per visit. With technical orienteering zones free of trails, technical climbing zones, stock sites and even a wheelchair-accessible camp, there are options for backpackers of all skill levels. Fishing is permitted only with a Colorado State Fishing License. Campfires are prohibited in the backcountry.
Rainbow Lakes Campground – Roosevelt National Forest – Nederland, Colorado
Picnic tables, gravel tent pads, fire rings, vault toilets and trash receptacles are provided at each of the 18 first-come-first-served sites here. Water is available from the lake and seasonal streams. Pets are allowed on leashes, and the town of Nederland is nearby for supplies. Rainbow Lakes is Boulder Ranger District’s smallest, and one of its least developed campgrounds; the last five miles of dirt road are rough, but passable even by sedans. This campground is open only during the summer months and is at high elevation. It usually fills for the weekend early on Friday, so get here early if you want a spot! It’s $15.00 per night to camp.
4-Pass Loop – Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, White River National Forest – Aspen, Colorado
This is one of the most scenic spots in all of Colorado – and accordingly, one of the most popular areas for a summer backpacking trip. The 24-mile 4-Pass Loop trek requires stamina and about 5 days at high altitude as it traverses West Maroon Pass, Frigid Air Pass, Trail Rider Pass, and Buckskin Pass – all over 12,000 feet. The views of the red and gray peaks are unforgettable, especially at sunrise and sunset times. Free parking is available at the Aspen Highlands Resort, where a shuttle ($3.00-$6.00 per person) provides service to the trailhead. Bear canisters are required, and camping is only permitted at designated sites a short distance off the trail. Remember to be mindful of wildlife, and ALWAYS practice the seven Leave No Trace Principles while you’re enjoying this wilderness.
Cold Springs Campground – Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest – Yampa, Colorado
With only 5 sites, this is one of the smaller campgrounds on our list. Sites are $10.00 per night; no reservations are accepted. A vault toilet and potable water are available, and each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire pit. A crystal-clear stream runs through the campground, but the real highlight is the waterfall! A boat launch and fishing pier can be found at nearby Bear Lake Campground. The town of Yampa has a general store for supplies.
Morefield Campground – Mesa Verde National Park – Cortez, Colorado
This concessionaire-operated campground has 267 sites and an adjacent full-service village, complete with a grocery store, laundry, gas station and coin-op showers. Rangers host daily programs, tours and activities. Some sites have water and electric for $40.00 per night; otherwise, the fee is $30.00, and all have fire pits and/or grills, picnic tables and tent pads. Reservations are accepted, but not required – this campground rarely fills. Several hiking trails start at the campground and lead to views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. With lots of space to spread out, it’s a great place to rest after checking out all that Mesa Verde has to explore: MVNP is home to 5,000 known archeological sites, including hundreds of ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings, some nearly 1,300 years old!
Alta Lake Camping Area – Uncompahgre National Forest – Telluride, Colorado
Getting down the one-lane road to this primitive dispersed camp requires a high-clearance vehicle, but the bumps are worth it for the alpine scenery and solitude. Bonus: you’ll pass the ghost town of Alta on your way. Double bonus: there is no fee to camp at one of the 16 first-come-first-served sites surrounding the lake. There is one older vault toilet here, but that’s all in the way of amenities; water from the lake should be treated before use. Hiking, biking, snowmobiling and equestrian trails are nearby; so are the historic mining towns of Telluride, Ouray and Silverton along the renowned Million Dollar Highway.
Blue Lakes Trail – Mount Sneffels Wilderness, Uncompahgre National Forest – Telluride, Colorado
This strenuous trail through the San Juan/Mount Sneffels Wilderness leads to three alpine lakes; at 3.5 miles to the lower lake, this is an easy overnight backpacking trip for beginners. From the designated sites around the lower lake, continue half a mile to the middle lake, and another quarter mile to the upper lake where you can spot pikas and marmots among the wildflowers.
East Portal Campground – Curecanti National Recreation Area – Montrose, Colorado
The Curecanti NRA is adjacent to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and this 15-site campground is at the bottom of Black Canyon just east of the park boundary. There’s a vault toilet and water pump, and sites have picnic tables, grills and some shade trees. East Portal Road is extremely steep and narrow, with a grade of more than 15 percent, so vehicle/trailer combos of more than 22 feet are not permitted. The fee for this campground is $16.00 per night. Two additional campgrounds can be found within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, along the north and south rims – all the details are the same (except the South Rim Camp has some electric sites).
Piñon Flats Campground, Medano Pass Primitive Road Camping & Backcountry Dispersed Camping – Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve – Mosca, Colorado
Restrooms with sinks, flush toilets, dishwashing sink, and water spigots are available in three loops totaling 88 sites at Piñon Flats. Reservations are available, and the season runs from April to October. Campers traveling without trailers in 4WD vehicles may try camping at one of the 21 sites along the Medano Pass Road: this rugged backcountry road travels through soft sand, through creeks and up a forested canyon before going over Medano Pass at 10,000 feet. For those looking for backpacking opportunities, you can camp anywhere in the 30-square-mile dunefield outside of the day use area, about 1.5 miles in. The best backcountry camp spot is in a ponderosa grove near the Escaped Dunes; these small dunes have blown past the main field and buried some trees, creating a ghostly forest. Make sure you obtain a free permit from the visitor center.
Mueller State Park – Divide, Colorado
This campground is located within daytripping distance of some of Colorado’s best attractions: Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs and Broadmoor Seven Falls. Sites are $20.00 per night and offer views of Pike’s Peak, the Continental Divide and lots of wildlife including bears, eagles and deer. There are 22 walk-in sites and 134 drive-up sites, all with tables and fire rings. The walk-in sites have bear boxes. Water pumps and full bathrooms with coin-operated showers and laundry are available seasonally; vault toilets are open year-round.
Arch Rock Trail Dispersed Camping – Comanche National Grassland – La Junta, Colorado
Petroglyphs, historic trails and even dinosaur tracks are just some of the exciting things to discover in this grassland, located in the southeastern part of the state. Dispersed primitive camping is permitted at the Picket Wire Corrals Interpretive Site and along the nearby Arch Rock Trail, which is 8 miles long and home to rattlesnakes and cacti. Vault toilets are available, but water from the stream may not be safe to drink. Make sure to tour Picket Wire Canyon, home to the largest dinosaur track site in the US with over 1,500 prints.
Conclusion
With endless outdoor recreation opportunities, unbeatable views and diverse landscapes to explore, Colorado is the perfect destination for campers and nature lovers of all skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a glam camp resort with all-you-can-eat pancakes and a place to charge your phone or a chance to get out into the wild for a little adventure, we’re sure you’ll find your next favorite spot here.
(Prices may change or be seasonal)
Author – MaryJean Cienski