Colorado Camping is the quintessential activity and plentiful in Gunnison and Crested Butte. You’ll likely be able to find a spot close to your favorite hiking or mountain biking trails in spring, summer, or fall. Whether you are car camping, tent camping, or staying in an RV, there are many campsite options in the Gunnison Valley. Most car-accessible camping in Crested Butte and Gunnison is in designated dispersed sites, meaning that camping is only allowed in sites marked by signs. While camping in the Gunnison Valley, please take good care of our precious public lands so everyone can continue to enjoy them in the future. Follow the principles of Leave No Trace and be courteous to other campers and recreators.
There are many places to camp in the Gunnison Valley. Some sites are for tent camping; others can accommodate RVs and fifth-wheel trailers. It’s important to research camping spots before your trip to avoid surprises (for example, expecting a toilet at camp but finding out that there are none when you arrive). We’ve put together this handy guide to help you learn about the different Colorado camping options in Gunnison Valley. Once you know what type of camping you want to do use the contact information and websites we’ve collected to learn more about specific camping areas and campgrounds.
There are four different types of camping areas in Gunnison-Crested Butte — dispersed, designated, developed and private. Discover which type is the best fit for you.
Dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated campground. This type of camping is available on public lands, such as National Forest or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Dispersed campsites have no amenities. This type of camping is sometimes referred to as “boondocking.” Dispersed camping is first-come, first-served, and is almost always free. To abide by the principles of Leave No Trace, dispersed camping should take place only in sites where people have camped before. See the Leave No Trace section below for tips on how to camp responsibly.
Designated dispersed camping, usually referred to simply as designated camping, is dispersed camping in sites that have been marked by land managers. Much of the camping in the Gunnison Valley is designated. As camping here increases in popularity, more and more dispersed camping zones will move to designated camping only. In designated camping zones, people who camp outside of marked sites can be ticketed (or worse). Having designated sites isolates wear and tear on the land in accord with the principles of Leave No Trace.
A developed campground is a campground managed by an entity that provides amenities. Most developed campgrounds in the Gunnison Valley are managed by the Forest Service. Amenities at developed campgrounds may include toilets, tent platforms, metal fire rings, picnic tables, running water, electric hookups, showers, and more. There is usually a fee to camp in developed campgrounds. It’s important to research developed campgrounds before you arrive so you know what amenities to expect. Some developed campgrounds allow reservations; others operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
A private campground is a developed campground managed by a private company, rather than a government entity such as the Forest Service.
Most of the non-private camping near Crested Butte and Mt. CB is managed by the Forest Service. For more information on campground locations and amenities, check out the Forest Service’s Gunnison Basin Camping Guide. Certain developed campgrounds in this area, including the Lake Irwin and Lost Lake campgrounds, require reservations. Visit recreation.gov to learn more and reserve your spot.
Starting summer 2021, camping in the north valley will start to move from dispersed to designated. Visit Crested Butte Mountain Biking Association’s (CBMBA) website or click on the buttons below for more information.
AREA | CAMPING TYPE | AMENITIES |
---|---|---|
Gothic/Schofield Pass Road | Dispersed and developed | Amenities vary |
Upper East River/Poverty Gulch | Dispersed | No amenities |
Kebler Pass | Dispersed and developed | Amenities vary |
Lake Irwin | Dispersed and developed | Amenities vary |
Washington Gulch Road | Designated and developed | Amenities vary |
Slate River Road | Designated and developed | Amenities vary |
Brush Creek Road | Designated | No amenities |
Cement Creek Road | Designated and developed | Amenities vary |
The Forest Service manages all the non-private campgrounds in Almont, Taylor Canyon, and Taylor Park. For more information, view the Forest Service’s Gunnison Basin Camping Guide. Some campgrounds in Taylor Canyon, including Rosy Lane and One Mile, require reservations. Reserve your site and learn more at recreation.gov.
AREA | CAMPING TYPE | AMENITIES |
---|---|---|
Taylor Park | Dispersed and developed | Amenities vary |
Taylor Canyon Road | Developed | Metal fire rings, picnic tables, pit toilets |
Spring Creek Road | Dispersed | No amenities |
Public camping areas near Gunnison are managed by many different entities, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Forest Service, and the National Park Service. To learn more about each campground or camping area, click its name in the chart below.
Blue Mesa Reservoir/Curecanti National Recreation Area
AREA | CAMPING TYPE | AMENITIES |
---|---|---|
Mill Creek Road | Dispersed | Pit toilet in main parking lot |
Hartman Rocks | Designated | Metal fire rings, picnic tables, some pit toilets |
Black Canyon National Park | Developed | Metal fire rings, picnic tables, toilets |
Leave No Trace is a set of guiding principles for behavior in the outdoors. These principles minimize human impacts on the natural world. Abiding by the principles of Leave No Trace will preserve the land in its untarnished state for future generations to enjoy. Below, we’ve customized the seven principles of LNT for our little corner of Colorado camping.
For more information on Leave No Trace ethics, visit the Center for Outdoor Ethics website.
Be sure to check out the other fall and summer activities Crested Butte and Gunnison have to offer. We have stellar mountain biking trails and an abundance of hiking trails, rivers to raft and fish, rocks to climb, good food to eat, and cool towns to see. Check out our activities page to learn more!
If camping isn’t your thing, browse traditional lodging options in the Gunnison Valley.