Camping in the Gunnison Valley

Gunnison and Crested Butte are wild and scenic destinations for a camping trip. Camp close to your favorite hiking or mountain biking trails in spring, summer or fall. The Gunnison Valley offers campsites for those camping in a car, tent or RV. Most car-accessible campsites in Crested Butte and Gunnison are designated sites, meaning that camping is only allowed in sites marked by signs.

Sites fill up quickly, especially during summer weekends. Can’t find a campsite? Browse hotels instead.

While you’re here, please take good care of our beautiful 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 public lands users. Keep reading to learn more about where to camp and how to plan ahead for a successful trip.

Designated camping

Sites fill up fast – make a backup plan

Camping is a popular activity in Crested Butte and Gunnison. A few campgrounds take reservations, but most sites are first-come, first-served. Sites are extremely limited. Weekends in June, July and August are the busiest times for camping and thus the most difficult times to find an open campsite.

Research camping spots before your trip to avoid surprises—for example, expecting a bathroom at camp but finding out that there are none when you arrive. Decide what amenities you need at camp and where in the valley you want to go, and then select a desired area. Then, make a backup plan for what to do if all the sites in your desired zone are full.

LODGING IN CRESTED BUTTE AND GUNNISON

Looking for alternatives to camping? Stay in a hotel or vacation rental near trails and activities across the Gunnison Valley. Use the tool below to search our database of all Gunnison County lodging options. Select the dates of your trip, then click “Check Rates” to view available options during that time.

Gunnison Valley camping map

Where to camp in Crested Butte and Gunnison

Browse the map below to find a campsite in Crested Butte, Gunnison or the surrounding area. Click on a site to see amenities and notes about the site, such as whether four-wheel-drive is required to access it.

Find a Campsite in Crested Butte

This guide from the U.S. Forest Service provides detailed information and maps of all designated camping areas in Crested Butte.

View the Crested Butte camping guide

TYPES OF CAMPING IN THE GUNNISON VALLEY

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.

WHAT IS DISPERSED CAMPING?

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 reduce impact on the land, only camp where people have camped before.

WHAT IS DESIGNATED CAMPING?

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. With increased use, 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.

WHAT IS A DEVELOPED CAMPGROUND?

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. Some developed campgrounds allow reservations; others operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

WHAT IS A PRIVATE CAMPGROUND?

A private campground is a developed campground managed by a private company, rather than a government entity such as the Forest Service. Browse private campgrounds in the Gunnison Valley here.

CRESTED BUTTE CAMPING: ONLY CAMP IN DESIGNATED SITES

Nearly all vehicle-access camping in the north valley is only allowed in designated sites. This means that in most public lands around Crested Butte, you may only camp in sites marked by a sign like the one in this photo. Visit Crested Butte Mountain Biking Association’s website for a map and more information.

Designated camping in CB

WHERE TO CAMP NEAR CRESTED BUTTE

Most of the camping near Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte 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.


AREA	TYPE	AMENITIES
Gothic/Schofield Pass Road	Designated and developed	Amenities vary
Upper East River/Poverty Gulch	Designated	Fire rings
Kebler Pass	Designated and developed	Amenities vary
Lake Irwin	Designated and developed	Amenities vary
Washington Gulch Road	Designated and developed	Amenities vary
Slate River Road	Designated and developed	Amenities vary
Brush Creek Road	Designated	Fire rings
Cement Creek Road	Designated and developed	Amenities vary

WHERE TO CAMP NEAR ALMONT

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	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

WHERE TO CAMP NEAR GUNNISON

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 area, click its name in the chart below.


AREA	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
Blue Mesa Reservoir/Curecanti National Recreation Area	Developed	Metal fire rings, picnic tables, toilets

Advice for Trailers and RVs

Vehicles greater than 35-40 ft. should not attempt to drive beyond the following locations within each drainage due to lack of turn-around space, rough roads or lack of adequate parking for large vehicles.

Slate River – Musicians Camp: Approx. 6 miles from Gothic Road
Washington Gulch – Rendezvous Meadow: Approx. 4.5 miles from Gothic Road
Kebler Pass – Kebler Pass can accommodate RVs and trailers at all points, but avoid Splain’s Gulch and beyond the Lake Irwin established campground
Brush Creek – Tent City: Approx. 6 miles from Highway 135. Avoid Strand Hill Road and West Brush Creek Road, as they are very rough and require high-clearance 4×4 vehicles
Cement Creek – Cement Creek Site #8: Approx. 6 miles from Highway 135
Gothic Road – Gothic site #13: Approx. 3.5 miles past the town of Gothic

Learn more

Find a private campground

Browse the Gunnison Valley’s private campgrounds below. Private campgrounds take reservations in advance, sparing you the trouble of having to search for first-come, first-served site.

Fire restrictions and travel information

Planning on having a campfire during your visit to Gunnison and Crested Butte? Check our Travel Alerts page first to learn about current fire restrictions and other important alerts.

Learn more

Camping Tips

Here are some tips on how to make your trip stress-free and low-impact.

PRINCIPLES OF LEAVE NO TRACE: GUNNISON VALLEY EDITION

Plan ahead and prepare. Especially if you’re planning on dispersed camping, it’s best to research several different areas and sites in advance. That way, if one area is full, you will have backup options. Informational charts on different camping areas can be found by scrolling up on this page.
Travel and camp on durable surfaces. Drive only on established roads, and camp only in established campsites. Camp at least 200 feet away from water. Manage your vehicle and gear in a way that minimizes impacts on the land, water, plants and animals. Check out this Car Camping 101 video to learn more about how to car camp in a way that minimizes impacts on the land.
Dispose of waste properly. Before your trip, arm yourself with both the knowledge and the gear needed to pack out all your waste. Bring enough garbage bags to pack out all your trash (even fruit peels and cores!). Learn how to properly bury human waste in case a bathroom isn’t available. Portable camp toilets and WAG bags are sold at several outdoor gear shops in Gunnison and Crested Butte. We’ve collected some helpful videos so you can learn how to deal with some of the less glamorous aspects of spending time outside.

Leave what you find. Leave any natural or cultural objects where you found them. Never carve into the bark of Crested Butte’s famous aspen trees. Do not construct rock cairns.
Minimize campfire impacts. Wildfires are a serious threat to the forests around the Gunnison Valley. Research and obey seasonal campfire restrictions. Use existing fire rings rather than creating new ones. Keep fires small. Always have water nearby while a fire is burning, and thoroughly extinguish fires. Several zones in the valley, including Hartman Rocks, do not have abundant firewood. If you’re not sure how plentiful wood will be in your desired camping area, purchase firewood locally to mitigate any risk of spreading parasites or non-native species. Before you camp in Crested Butte or Gunnison, be sure to check the Gunnison County fire restrictions webpage. Check out this helpful video about campfire etiquette in Colorado. Learn how to use a fire pan to limit your impact on our beautiful public lands. If campfires aren’t allowed, there are several campfire alternatives.
Respect wildlife. Crested Butte and Gunnison are home to many different types of wildlife, including black bears. Never approach or feed animals. Store food securely. Use these three tips to respect wildlife. Learn more about hiking with moose and elk, both of which are a common sight in the Gunnison Valley. Respecting Colorado’s wildlife is important to keep our native animals and plants safe.
Be considerate of other visitors. Everyone deserves a peaceful outdoor experience. Keep noise to a minimum and take good care of the land so future visitors can enjoy it. Follow leash laws and clean up after dogs. Learn more about how to Leave No Trace and be considerate of other visitors while doing your favorite outdoor activity, whether it’s mountain biking, hiking, fly fishing, or general trail etiquette in Colorado.

For more information on Leave No Trace ethics, visit the Center for Outdoor Ethics website.

Planning your Colorado camping trip

Be sure to check out the other spring, fall and summer activities Crested Butte and Gunnison have to offer. There are hundreds of miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, rivers to raft and fish, rocks to climb, good food to eat, and cool towns to see. Check out our trip planning page to learn more!