Dispersed camping near Granby follows the forest's vehicle-use map

The national forest around Granby and Grand Lake — the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho National Forest — has plenty of free dispersed camping. But “dispersed” does not mean “drive anywhere.” If you are camping out of a vehicle, where you can pull off and park for the night is set by a specific map.

That map is the Motor Vehicle Use Map, or MVUM. It is a plain black-and-white map that shows which forest roads are open to vehicles and which stretches allow camping alongside them. The general pattern is that you park along a designated road, within a short distance of it, on forest land — not bushwhacking off into the trees with a vehicle. The map governs motorized travel, so backpackers heading into the backcountry on foot follow a different set of rules. Inside the Arapaho National Recreation Area, the rules are tighter and fees often apply.

A few habits keep this legal and open. Use existing sites and fire rings, follow any stay limit, pack out everything, and check for fire restrictions before any flame. Motorized trail riders should note the Stillwater area near Grand Lake has its own designated OHV trails.

The map changes, and so do seasonal and fire closures, so confirm which roads allow roadside camping before you load the truck.

For the current vehicle-use map and camping rules, start with the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho National Forest.