Hiking Campgrounds in Colorado
Discover the best hiking campgrounds across Colorado. Experience the best of both worlds with camping that puts you right at the heart of incredible hiking opportunities. Direct trail access and stunning mountain vistas.
Hiking Campgrounds in Other States
Featured Campgrounds
Handpicked destinations that define the region
White River National Forest
Trailheads to the legendary Maroon Bells depart directly from camp, launching you onto routes that wind through wildflower-carpeted meadows toward crystal alpine lakes beneath jagged, rust-colored peaks.
San Juan National Forest
Trailheads for the legendary Colorado Trail and Logchute Trail System lie mere steps from your tent, launching you into subalpine forests that climb toward windswept alpine meadows above the timberline.
Pike-San Isabel National Forests
Step directly from your tent onto the legendary DeCaLiBron Loop trailhead, where four 14,000-foot summits await conquest in a single ambitious day. Above-treeline terrain delivers sweeping alpine vistas across well-marked routes that challenge serious peak baggers while rewarding them...
About Hiking Campgrounds in Colorado
Hiking camping Colorado offers unparalleled access to some of North America's most spectacular alpine terrain, from iconic fourteeners to pristine wilderness trails that wind through aspen groves and above-treeline landscapes. The state's diverse mountain ranges—including the Sawatch, San Juan, Mosquito, and Front Range—provide hiking experiences ranging from gentle forest walks to challenging peak ascents, with campgrounds strategically positioned to serve as basecamp for your adventures.
Best Time
Peak hiking season runs from late June through September, when high-elevation trails become snow-free and wildflowers transform alpine meadows into kaleidoscopes of color, though July and August bring afternoon thunderstorms that require early morning starts for summit attempts. Late September and early October offer spectacular fall colors as aspen groves turn golden, with fewer crowds and more stable weather patterns, though nights grow cold and some high passes may see early snow.
Activity Highlights
- Direct trail access
- Mountain and forest settings
- Backpacking base camps
- Scenic wilderness views
Campground Locations
Showing top 16 campgrounds near Hiking Campgrounds in Colorado
Plan Your Trips
Popular Activities
Tips & Recommendations
- 1Reserve campsites as early as possible—popular trailhead campgrounds like those accessing Maroon Bells or fourteeners fill within minutes of becoming available on recreation.gov six months out.
- 2Acclimatize properly by spending a night at moderate elevation before camping above 10,000 feet, and always start summit attempts before dawn to descend below treeline before afternoon thunderstorms roll in around 1-2 PM.
- 3Pack layers for dramatic temperature swings—70°F afternoons can drop to below freezing at night even in July—and bring a quality four-season sleeping bag rated to at least 20°F for high-elevation camps.
- 4Water sources exist along most trails, but carry a reliable filtration system and start each hike with at least two liters per person.
Hiking Campgrounds in Colorado FAQ
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