Pinon Flats Campground

BLM-San Luis Valley Field Office, 1313 U.S. Hwy 160 E., Monte Vista, CO 81144

High above the San Luis Valley at 9,088 feet, Zapata Falls Campground offers an unforgettable mountain escape where dramatic vistas stretch endlessly before you. Wake to sunrise painting the Great Sand Dunes golden while the jagged peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains pierce the morning sky. This mountain sanctuary welcomes adventurers with 11 cozy tent sites tucked among piñon pines, 12 RV sites with room to breathe, plus a spacious group tent site perfect for family reunions or friends seeking shared adventure under star-filled skies.

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Venture off the beaten path into the raw wilderness of Medano Pass Primitive Road, where adventure seekers discover secluded camping spots scattered along this challenging backcountry route in Great Sand Dunes National Preserve. This rugged journey rewards those with capable 4-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicles with pristine, first-come, first-served campsites that cost nothing but promise everything—solitude, starlit skies, and the gentle murmur of nearby Medano Creek. As you navigate this primitive road, keep your eyes peeled for majestic bighorn sheep traversing their natural habitat. While these coveted spots remain delightfully uncrowded during weekdays, savvy adventurers know to arrive early on summer weekends when word spreads about this hidden gem.

46525 State Hwy 114, Saguache, CO 81149

Step back in time at Duncan Cabin, where the whispers of 1880s prospectors still echo through weathered log walls. Perched at 8,120 feet in the majestic Rio Grande National Forest, this authentic one-room sanctuary offers adventurers a rare blend of rustic charm and mountain solitude. Inside, cozy bunk beds and a crackling wood stove promise warmth after days spent exploring, while outdoor vault toilets maintain the frontier spirit. Whether you arrive on horseback to graze in nearby meadows, seek pristine dark skies for celestial photography, or use this historic haven as your basecamp for discovering the otherworldly Great Sand Dunes National Park, Duncan Cabin delivers an unforgettable high-country experience.

SAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT, 3028 EAST MAIN STREET, CANON CITY, CO 81212, USA

Nestled among towering pines and whispering aspens, Ponderosa Group Campground beckons to families, reunions, and adventure groups seeking the perfect basecamp in Colorado's high country. This thoughtfully designed group retreat features a spacious picnic shelter for communal gatherings, recreational facilities for endless entertainment, and easy access to the sparkling waters of Lake Isabel. From your shaded campsite, drink in panoramic views of the majestic Wet Mountains while enjoying the cool mountain air that makes summer camping here a refreshing escape.

SAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT, 3028 EAST MAIN STREET, Canon City, CO, 81212, USA

Nestled in the heart of the Wet Mountains at 8,600 feet, Spruce Group Campground offers an exclusive mountain retreat perfect for family reunions, scout troops, and outdoor enthusiasts seeking togetherness in nature. This spacious group sanctuary within Lake Isabel Recreation Area welcomes up to 50 day visitors or 40 overnight adventurers, providing a private basecamp for your mountain memories. Smooth paved roads wind through towering spruce forests, leading to your group's own corner of Colorado wilderness where days are filled with fishing pristine waters, paddling across mirror-like surfaces, and exploring trails that reveal the secrets of the high country.

SAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT, 3028 EAST MAIN STREET, Canon City, CO, 81212, USA

Tucked away in the enchanting Lake Isabel Recreation Area, St. Charles Campground offers an intimate escape where towering Douglas firs and quaking aspens create a natural cathedral overhead. The melodic babble of St. Charles Creek provides the soundtrack to your stay, while modern conveniences like bear-proof lockers, fire pits, vault toilets, and fresh drinking water ensure comfort meets wilderness. This peaceful mountain retreat invites you to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature's timeless rhythms.

SAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT, 3028 EAST MAIN STREET, Canon City, CO 81212, USA

Nestled along the shores of Lake Isabel, Southside Campground offers an intimate RV camping experience in the heart of the Wet Mountains. This cozy facility features smooth, paved roads winding through pull-through sites perfectly sized for RVs under 30 feet. While designed with RV enthusiasts in mind, adventurous tent campers are welcome to stake their claim among the mountain pines. Essential amenities include vault toilets and fresh drinking water, creating a back-to-basics atmosphere that lets you truly disconnect and immerse yourself in Colorado's high-country splendor.

SAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT, 3028 EAST MAIN STREET, Canon City, CO, USA

Perched in a wildflower-dotted meadow with sweeping views of Lake Isabel's western shores, La Vista Campground lives up to its name—'the view' in Spanish. This mountain retreat beckons outdoor enthusiasts with its perfect blend of water and wilderness activities. Whether you're casting a line into the crystal-clear lake, paddling silently across its glassy surface, or spotting mountain bluebirds among the pines, La Vista offers an authentic Colorado mountain experience. Towering ponderosa pines and quaking aspens provide natural shade throughout the campground, creating cool microclimates even on warm summer days. At 8,600 feet, the crisp mountain air and star-filled nights remind you just how far you've climbed from the everyday world below.

1.3 miles north of Alder Street, Crestone, Colorado

Escape to North Crestone Creek Campground, where 13 intimate campsites wind along nearly a mile of pristine mountain creek. This hidden gem operates on a first-come, first-served basis, rewarding early arrivals with their choice of secluded spots beneath a canopy of whispering aspens, aromatic junipers, and towering firs. Each site comes equipped with bear-resistant food lockers, ensuring both your safety and the preservation of local wildlife. The generous spacing between sites creates a true wilderness retreat where the babbling creek provides nature's soundtrack to your mountain adventure.

SAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT, 3028 EAST MAIN STREET, Canon City, CO 81212, USA

Step back in time at Davenport Campground, where the romance of 1920s outdoor adventure lives on through thoughtfully reconstructed Adirondack shelters and vintage-inspired design. Tucked away in the secluded embrace of Colorado's Wet Mountains, this intimate campground offers a rare escape from the modern world. Here, where mountain trails beckon and pristine waters teem with trout, you'll discover the same unspoiled wilderness that captivated early Forest Service pioneers nearly a century ago.

PSICC

Tucked away in Colorado's scenic San Carlos District, Ophir Creek Campground invites you to disconnect and immerse yourself in mountain serenity. With 31 thoughtfully placed sites, including dedicated tent camping areas (sites 20-31) and coveted creekside spots (sites 17-19), this hidden gem offers the perfect balance of accessibility and wilderness escape. Wake to the gentle melody of Ophir Creek, spend your days discovering cascading waterfalls on nearby trails, or try your luck fishing in the crystal-clear mountain waters. Surrounded by towering pines and shimmering aspens, this campground serves as your basecamp for authentic Colorado adventures.

Co. Rd. 140, WESTCLIFFE, CO 81212, USA

Perched high at 9,000 feet in the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Alvarado Campground beckons adventurers seeking an authentic Colorado mountain experience. This versatile haven welcomes tent campers, RV enthusiasts, and equestrian explorers alike, with thoughtfully arranged sites spread across lower, upper, and middle sections. Whether you're lacing up hiking boots, saddling up for a backcountry ride, or revving up your ATV for trail adventures, this mountain sanctuary serves as your perfect basecamp for exploring endless alpine wonders.

SAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT, 3028 EAST MAIN STREET, CANON CITY, CO 81212, USA

Step back in time at Mingus Ranch, where a lovingly restored 1908 homestead cabin invites you to experience the authentic spirit of Colorado's pioneering past. Nestled in the heart of the Wet Mountains, this historic retreat combines rustic charm with modern comforts, featuring electric heat for chilly mountain nights and an electric stove for preparing hearty meals. The cabin's period-specific furnishings transport you to a simpler era while accommodating up to six guests in cozy comfort. Outside, gather around the crackling firepit under star-filled skies, let horses graze in the provided corral, or enjoy meals at the picnic table with sweeping mountain views. While the experience remains authentically rustic with vault toilet facilities and no running water, the cabin offers a perfect balance of historic ambiance and practical amenities.

BLM-San Luis Valley Field Office, 1313 U.S. Hwy 160 E., Monte Vista, CO 81144

High above the San Luis Valley at 9,088 feet, Zapata Falls Campground offers an unforgettable mountain escape where dramatic vistas stretch endlessly before you. Wake to sunrise painting the Great Sand Dunes golden while the jagged peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains pierce the morning sky. This mountain sanctuary welcomes adventurers with 11 cozy tent sites tucked among piñon pines, 12 RV sites with room to breathe, plus a spacious group tent site perfect for family reunions or friends seeking shared adventure under star-filled skies.

806 W. Hallam

Tucked away in the shadow of Colorado's most photographed peaks, Silver Bar Campground offers an intimate escape into the wilderness with just four secluded tent sites. This hidden gem invites adventurers to disconnect from the modern world and immerse themselves in the raw beauty of the Rockies. Each walk-in site comes thoughtfully equipped with everything you need for a memorable stay: sturdy picnic tables for mountain-side meals, bear-proof lockers to safely store your provisions, and stone fire rings where stories come alive under starlit skies. The gentle murmur of Maroon Creek provides nature's soundtrack, while vault toilets ensure basic comfort without compromising the pristine environment.

5575 CLEORA RD

Tucked away in the breathtaking Chalk Creek Canyon at 9,000 feet, Cascade Campground beckons adventurers seeking an authentic Colorado mountain experience. This beloved retreat features 21 thoughtfully spaced campsites, ranging from spontaneous walk-up spots to reservable havens, each equipped with sturdy picnic tables and inviting campfire rings where stories and s'mores come to life under starlit skies. Modern vault toilets and fresh drinking water ensure comfort without compromising the wilderness experience. Whether you're casting a line into pristine mountain waters, discovering hidden hiking trails, or venturing onto rugged off-road paths, Cascade serves as your perfect basecamp for mountain adventures and peaceful escapes alike.

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Tucked away in the pristine wilderness of Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, Pines Campground offers an authentic high-country camping experience at 9,200 feet. This intimate campground features just 11 sites along the babbling South Fork of the Michigan River, where the sound of rushing water provides nature's soundtrack to your mountain retreat. While beetle kill has opened up the forest canopy, creating sun-drenched sites perfect for stargazing, visitors appreciate the campground's easy accessibility and rustic charm. As one camper noted, it's a 'great little campground' that delivers simplicity and natural beauty in equal measure.

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Perched in the heart of the Trappers Lake Recreation Area, Trapline Campground offers 11 thoughtfully arranged sites along a single loop, where the landscape opens up to endless Colorado skies. Unlike the dense forest campgrounds below, Trapline embraces its high-altitude setting with sun-drenched sites that bask in natural light from dawn to dusk. Here, the commanding presence of the Flat Tops Wilderness stretches across the horizon, creating a backdrop that transforms with each passing hour as shadows dance across ancient peaks and valleys.

46525 State Hwy 114, Saguache, CO 81149

Step back in time at Duncan Cabin, where the whispers of 1880s prospectors still echo through weathered log walls. Perched at 8,120 feet in the majestic Rio Grande National Forest, this authentic one-room sanctuary offers adventurers a rare blend of rustic charm and mountain solitude. Inside, cozy bunk beds and a crackling wood stove promise warmth after days spent exploring, while outdoor vault toilets maintain the frontier spirit. Whether you arrive on horseback to graze in nearby meadows, seek pristine dark skies for celestial photography, or use this historic haven as your basecamp for discovering the otherworldly Great Sand Dunes National Park, Duncan Cabin delivers an unforgettable high-country experience.

WHITE RIVER

Nestled in a tranquil Rocky Mountain valley, Camp Hale Memorial Campground offers 15 intimate campsites where history and wilderness converge. This hidden gem welcomes tents, trailers, and RVs alike, providing a peaceful retreat enhanced by attentive campground hosts who ensure every visitor feels at home. Adventure seekers will appreciate the direct access to the legendary Colorado Trail, making this modest campground a perfect basecamp for mountain exploration.

FS 520, CREEDE, CO 81130, USA

Nestled along the pristine banks of the Rio Grande River, River Hill Campground beckons adventurers seeking an authentic Colorado wilderness experience. This beloved riverside retreat serves as your gateway to endless outdoor pursuits—cast a line into crystal-clear waters teeming with trout, explore winding trails that disappear into the backcountry, or launch your kayak for a peaceful paddle. Just steps from your campsite, trailheads lead directly into the magnificent Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado's largest designated wilderness area.

San Juan NF, Colorado, USA

Perched at 7,643 feet in the Colorado high country, Target Tree Campground serves as your gateway to the Southwest's most treasured destinations. Just a scenic drive from the ancient cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park and the vibrant mountain towns of Mancos and Durango, this historic campground takes its name from a fascinating chapter in Ute Indian history. Here, centuries-old Ponderosa pines still bear the distinctive scars from when Ute hunters honed their marksmanship skills, while these same majestic trees provided life-sustaining sap and bark that supplemented their traditional diet.

REDFEATHER LAKES, BELLEVUE, CO, 80512, USA

Nestled along the pristine shores of Dowdy Lake, this mountain retreat offers 70 thoughtfully designed campsites that blend modern convenience with natural beauty. Choose from 60 spacious sites equipped with electric hookups for RVs and trailers, or embrace a more traditional camping experience at one of 10 dedicated tent-only sites. Each campsite serves as your personal basecamp, complete with a sturdy picnic table for lakeside meals, a dedicated tent pad, and a campfire ring with grill where evening stories and s'mores come to life. Modern vault toilets, fresh drinking water stations, and regular trash collection ensure comfort without compromising the wilderness experience.

46525 ST HWY 114, Saguache, CO 81149, USA

Nestled deep within the Rio Grande National Forest at 9,500 feet, Stone Cellar Guard Station beckons adventurers seeking true mountain solitude. This remote cabin sanctuary, perched at the edge of the La Garita Wilderness, serves as your gateway to pristine fishing streams, untamed hiking trails, premier hunting grounds, and exhilarating winter sports terrain. Here, where the modern world fades away, you'll discover the Colorado high country as it was meant to be experienced.