🏕️ 20 Expert Camping Tips for Colorado

🏕️ 20 Expert Camping Tips for Colorado

Whether you’re heading into the backcountry or settling in at a campground, these tips will help you stay safe, comfortable, and respectful of Colorado’s wild places. 🌲💚

⛺ Choose Your Campsite Wisely:

Look for flat ground on durable surfaces like dirt or gravel. Avoid cliffs, avalanche paths, or dead trees that could fall.

🌊 Camp at Least 200 Feet from Water:

Stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams to prevent pollution and avoid wildlife corridors and flood risk.

🔥 Know the Fire Rules:

Always check local fire restrictions. Use established rings only, and never leave a fire unattended.

🐻 Use Bear-Resistant Storage:

Store food and scented items in bear-proof containers or properly hung away from camp. Never keep food in your tent!

🎒 Pack Layers for Changing Weather:

Colorado weather is unpredictable. Bring base layers, a rain shell, and warm gear — even in summer!

💨 Stake Down Your Tent Securely:

High winds can come fast in the mountains. Always stake and secure your tent, even if it seems calm.

💧 Purify All Water:

Filter, boil, or treat any water from natural sources — even if it looks clean. Giardia doesn’t care how clear it is!

🧻 Pack Out Your Toilet Paper:

TP takes forever to decompose in dry climates. Use sealable bags to pack it out responsibly.

🦟 Bring Bug Protection:

Mosquitoes love alpine lakes. Wear long sleeves, use DEET or picaridin, and consider a head net in bad areas.

🌄 Follow Sunset and Sunrise Times:

In the mountains, light fades fast. Arrive at camp early and pack a headlamp just in case.

📵 Expect Limited Cell Service:

Download offline maps and share your plans ahead of time. Don’t rely on bars that won’t be there.

🧭 Carry a Paper Map:

Tech fails. Bring a backup map and know how to use it for safe navigation in remote areas.

🪵 Don’t Move Firewood:

Buy local firewood to avoid spreading invasive pests. Never bring wood from home across regions.

🚫 Respect Quiet Hours:

Keep camp noise down between 10 PM and 6 AM. Let the forest sounds be your lullaby. 🌙

🦺 Be Weather Aware:

Check mountain forecasts. Storms come fast and fierce — especially in July and August.

🚽 Learn the Rules for Human Waste:

In sensitive zones, pack it out. Elsewhere, dig catholes 6–8 inches deep and 200 feet from water/trails.

🪣 Bring a Camp Towel or Wipes:

You won’t have a shower. Wipes or a quick rinse can help you feel fresh after a dusty hike.

📸 Leave No Trace—Even in Photos:

Avoid geotagging fragile areas. Help protect wild spaces by not giving away every secret spot.

🎯 Plan Backup Campsites:

Popular sites fill up fast. Always have a plan B (and maybe a C) to reduce stress and protect the land.

💡 Pack a Headlamp (and Extra Batteries!):

Your phone flashlight isn’t enough. A headlamp keeps your hands free and your camp setup easy after dark.

The Dyrt An all-in-one platform for campground reviews, dispersed camping zones, and trip planning. Their Pro version includes offline maps and public land layers — great for Colorado.

Campendium Ideal for free and low-cost camping options. Includes road access info, user reviews, cell coverage, and RV suitability.

FreeCampsites.net A grassroots resource for finding dispersed camping on public lands — especially helpful for national forests and BLM land in Colorado.

Recreation.gov Book campsites at federal campgrounds in National Parks, Forest Service lands, and BLM areas. Crucial for reserving high-demand spots like Maroon Bells or Indian Peaks.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife Camping The official resource for reserving campsites in Colorado’s state parks, from Chatfield to Golden Gate Canyon.

Colorado’s stunning wilderness is no stranger to wildfire. With its dry summers, frequent lightning, and human activity, the state has faced some of the most destructive wildfires in the western U.S. These fires leave a lasting impact — not only on forests, but also on communities, wildlife, air quality, and trail access.

• Hayman Fire (2002) – Colorado’s largest fire at the time, burning over 137,000 acres southwest of Denver. It was started by a campfire during a fire ban.
• Cameron Peak Fire (2020) – The largest in Colorado history, burning over 208,000 acres in Larimer County. Fueled by extreme drought and wind.
• East Troublesome Fire (2020) – Spread rapidly through Grand County and into Rocky Mountain National Park, forcing widespread evacuations and destroying hundreds of homes.
• Marshall Fire (2021) – Though not a forest fire, this suburban wildfire near Boulder destroyed over 1,000 structures, proving fire danger exists even in developed areas.

• Every time you camp, hike, or light a fire in Colorado, you carry a responsibility to protect the land. Over 85% of wildfires are caused by humans — often from small, preventable acts like leaving a campfire smoldering or dragging chains on a trailer.

• Many popular trails are still closed or heavily damaged from recent wildfires.
• Recovery takes decades — for ecosystems, trail crews, and local towns.
• One careless decision could put lives, homes, and whole forests at risk.

✅ Check for local fire bans

✅ Use a stove instead of flame

✅ Keep water and a shovel nearby

✅ Never leave a fire unattended

✅ Fully extinguish with water and stir

Love Colorado? Then protect it.

Fire safety isn’t just a rule — it’s part of being a responsible steward of the wild places we all love.