Outdoors and wildfire - Mountains

Near Crested Butte, forest camping has moved to designated sites

In several drainages around Crested Butte, the national forest now limits camping to designated sites or established campgrounds rather than camp-anywhere dispersed use.

Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 15, 2026

On national forest land, “dispersed camping” usually means you can pull off and camp away from a developed campground. Around Crested Butte, that has changed.

To ease crowding and protect popular drainages near town, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest moved camping in those areas to designated sites or established campgrounds. A designated site is a marked spot, often with a numbered post and a metal fire ring, rather than an open invitation to camp anywhere. The Forest Service made this change through a Forest Order after years of growing impacts such as trampled vegetation, expanding campsite footprints, and litter.

Why this matters for a visitor or a new resident: the old “find a spot and pull in” habit may no longer apply in these drainages, and what is allowed can differ from one road to the next. The rules also evolve, so a printout from a few seasons ago is not a safe guide.

Camping plans near Crested Butte should start with the current GMUG National Forest camping pages and the Gunnison Ranger District, which post where designated camping applies.

Filed under: Outdoors and wildfire Gunnison County

Keep reading

Related Porch Notes

More notes from Gunnison County and nearby topics.

Outdoors and wildfire

Crested Butte, the Wildflower Capital of Colorado

The Colorado legislature named Crested Butte the state's Wildflower Capital in 1990, and the valley's summer meadows back up the title.

Read note ->

Outdoors and wildfire

Hartman Rocks is BLM land with free dispersed campsites and a spring closure

Hartman Rocks Recreation Area south of Gunnison is BLM land with trails and free first-come dispersed campsites, but part of it closes each spring for sage-grouse.

Read note ->

Outdoors and wildfire

The West Elk Wilderness is remote and closed to bikes and motors

The West Elk Wilderness in the Gunnison National Forest is a large, lightly visited area where, as in all wilderness, bikes and motorized vehicles are not allowed.

Read note ->

Outdoors and wildfire

The Gunnison sage-grouse shapes life across the Gunnison Basin

The Gunnison sage-grouse is a federally listed bird whose sagebrush habitat covers much of the Gunnison Basin, and its protection touches land use and recreation here.

Read note ->

Outdoors and wildfire

Motorboats on Blue Mesa need an inspection before launch

To keep out invasive zebra and quagga mussels, motorized and trailered boats must pass an aquatic-species inspection before launching at Blue Mesa Reservoir in Curecanti.

Read note ->

Outdoors and wildfire

Almont Triangle is a wildlife area, not a park, and closes in winter

The Almont Triangle State Wildlife Area near Gunnison needs a license or SWA pass to enter and closes to the public each winter to protect wintering big game.

Read note ->

Sources and review

Where this information comes from

This note uses official or primary sources where practical. Local details can change, so confirm before acting.

Last reviewed: June 15, 2026