Tag
dispersed camping
30 Porch Notes tagged “dispersed camping,” from counties across Colorado.
Outdoors and wildfire - Summit County
In Summit County, dispersed camping is not 'camp anywhere'
On the White River National Forest around Summit County, free dispersed camping is limited to designated, signed sites — not any open spot.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Gunnison County
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.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Gilpin County
Much of Gilpin County is national forest — and that comes with rules
A large share of Gilpin County is public land, much of it Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest, where dispersed camping and motor use follow ranger-district rules, not a free-for-all.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Hinsdale County
The Alpine Loop is public land, and camping rules vary along it
The Alpine Loop backcountry byway out of Lake City crosses BLM and Forest Service land, and camping rules differ by stretch and can change, so check current agency rules.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - San Miguel County
Around Telluride, dispersed camping has rules that change by agency
Public land near Telluride is managed by the Forest Service and BLM, and dispersed camping rules differ by unit, so 'camp anywhere' is not the rule.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Delta County
Delta County is ringed by public land, and the rules change with the unit
National forest and BLM lands, including a national conservation area, surround much of Delta County, with a national park nearby, and each manages camping and access under its own rules.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - El Paso County
Dispersed camping on the Pikes Peak Ranger District has rules
The Pike National Forest land around Pikes Peak is managed by the Pikes Peak Ranger District, and dispersed camping there follows posted limits, not a camp-anywhere rule.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Chaffee County
Dispersed camping on the Salida district has real limits
Free dispersed camping on the Salida Ranger District around Chaffee County comes with a stay limit, a buffer from water, and a move toward designated sites.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - La Plata County
On the San Juan National Forest, camping rules change by ranger district
The San Juan National Forest covers much of northern La Plata County, and where you can disperse camp or have a campfire depends on the specific area and any current restrictions.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Archuleta County
The Weminuche Wilderness has its own set of rules
Much of the high country above Pagosa Springs is designated wilderness, where camping and travel follow stricter rules than the rest of the San Juan National Forest.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Conejos County
The west side of Conejos County is national forest, with its own rules
Much of western Conejos County is the Rio Grande National Forest, managed by the Conejos Peak Ranger District, where camping and access follow Forest Service rules rather than open-anywhere freedom.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Jackson County
Around North Park, national forest camping has rules even when it is free
Much of the public land ringing North Park is national forest, where dispersed camping is allowed under Forest Service rules that vary by ranger district.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Ouray County
Most of the high country here is national forest, with its own camping rules
The mountains around Ouray are largely Uncompahgre National Forest land, managed as part of the combined Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests, where dispersed camping and motorized travel follow Forest Service rules rather than a camp-anywhere free-for-all.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Boulder County
Around Gross Reservoir, camping means designated sites only
The national forest around Gross Reservoir and Winiger Ridge in southwest Boulder County restricts camping to posted designated sites, not open dispersed camping.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Clear Creek County
Dispersed camping here has rules and a mix of private land
The Clear Creek Ranger District of the Arapaho National Forest allows dispersed camping under day limits, but it is checkerboarded with private land, so it is on you to know where you are.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Routt County
On the national forest around Steamboat, dispersed camping has rules
Much of the high country around Routt County is national forest, where free dispersed camping is allowed in places but is not the same as camping anywhere you like.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Park County
A lot of Park County is national forest, and the rules vary by ranger district
Much of Park County's public land falls under the Pike-San Isabel National Forest's South Park Ranger District, where camping and access rules are set locally rather than statewide.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Montezuma County
On the San Juan forest near Dolores, dispersed camping has rules
Free dispersed camping on San Juan National Forest land in the Dolores Ranger District is allowed in places but comes with distance and stay rules, not 'camp anywhere.'
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Eagle County
Dispersed camping on the White River forest is not camp-anywhere
Free dispersed camping on the White River National Forest around Eagle County follows real rules: use existing sites near open roads, stay setbacks from water, pack everything out, and watch the stay limit.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Garfield County
Dispersed camping on the White River forest has real limits
Free dispersed camping is allowed on much of the White River National Forest around Glenwood Springs, but stay limits, distance-from-water rules, and area restrictions apply, so it is not camp-anywhere.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Gunnison County
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 - Douglas County
Rampart Range camping means designated sites, not 'camp anywhere'
The Rampart Range Recreation Area in Pike National Forest allows camping only in designated sites and closes its roads to vehicles in winter and mud season.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Larimer County
Dispersed camping up the Poudre is not camp-anywhere
Free dispersed camping is allowed on much of the national forest along the Poudre, but the Canyon Lakes Ranger District sets real limits on how close to roads, water, and busy areas you can camp.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Teller County
Pike National Forest camping in Teller County has rules by district
Much of Teller County borders Pike National Forest, where dispersed camping and campfires follow Forest Service rules that vary by ranger district and season.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Montrose County
The Uncompahgre Plateau is Montrose's big backyard, with travel rules
The Uncompahgre Plateau west of Montrose is mostly BLM and national forest land where dispersed camping and off-road travel follow designated-route rules, not 'drive and camp anywhere.'
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - San Juan County
Around Silverton, dispersed camping follows Forest Service rules
Much of the land around Silverton is San Juan National Forest, where dispersed camping and motorized travel follow designated-route rules, not 'camp anywhere.'
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Alamosa County
Dispersed camping in the Rio Grande National Forest
The Rio Grande National Forest around the San Luis Valley allows free dispersed camping outside developed campgrounds, but with real limits on where you park, how close to water, and how long you stay.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Grand County
Dispersed camping near Granby follows the forest's vehicle-use map
On the Sulphur Ranger District around Granby and Grand Lake, dispersed camping with a vehicle is allowed only along forest roads where the Motor Vehicle Use Map permits it.
Read note ->Outdoors and wildfire - Conejos County
Camping along the Conejos River road follows a special designated-site order
Forest Service Road 250 up the Conejos River is under a special order that limits where you can park and camp, so the usual dispersed-camping freedom does not apply along this corridor.
Read note ->Cars and driving - Pitkin County
Lincoln Creek Road is a rough 4WD route with dispersed campsites off Highway 82
Lincoln Creek Road climbs off the Independence Pass highway to dispersed campsites and Grizzly Reservoir, but it is a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive road with no services.
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