Dispersed camping here has rules and a mix of private land

Much of the high country in Clear Creek County is national forest, managed by the Clear Creek Ranger District of the Arapaho National Forest. You can camp on it for free outside developed campgrounds, but “dispersed camping” is not the same as “camp anywhere,” and this district has rules that catch newcomers off guard.

There are stay limits. You can stay in one spot only for a set number of days, often 14, before you have to move a required distance away, with a cap on total days in a stretch of time. Some areas require you to use designated sites rather than picking your own. Fire restrictions can also apply, and during dry spells campfires may be banned entirely.

The biggest trap here is land ownership. This district is checkerboarded, with private parcels mixed right in among the forest. It is your responsibility to know whether you are standing on public or private ground. The Motor Vehicle Use Map shows which roads are open to vehicles, and a forest map or app helps you stay on public land and off someone’s property.

Pack out everything, camp away from water, and use existing sites where you can. The land near a busy highway corridor takes a beating, and care keeps it open.

For stay limits, current fire rules, and the Motor Vehicle Use Map, check the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.