10 Remote Camping Spots In Colorado Far From Crowds

Colorado’s wilderness offers some of the most breathtaking landscapes for campers seeking solitude away from tourist hotspots. These hidden gems provide peaceful retreats where you can reconnect with nature without the noise of crowded campgrounds. If you’re looking to pitch your tent where the stars shine brighter and the only sounds are rustling leaves and distant wildlife calls, these Colorado remote camping destinations are worth the extra effort to reach.

1. Dominguez Canyon: Desert Wilderness Escape

For something completely different from Colorado’s mountain camping, Dominguez Canyon offers a desert wilderness experience with red rock canyons, ancient petroglyphs, and seasonal waterfalls. Located near Grand Junction in western Colorado, this BLM wilderness area remains unknown to most visitors. Camp along the Gunnison River where cottonwood trees provide welcome shade. The night skies here are among the darkest in Colorado, offering spectacular stargazing opportunities. Spring and fall provide ideal temperatures for exploring the canyon’s hidden alcoves and swimming holes, while avoiding summer’s intense heat.

2. Trujillo Meadows Reservoir: Alpine Serenity

Nestled in the southern San Juan Mountains near the New Mexico border, Trujillo Meadows Reservoir offers dispersed camping amidst wildflower-dotted meadows and pine forests. The high-altitude setting (10,000 feet) ensures cool summer temperatures even when the rest of Colorado bakes. Anglers will appreciate the well-stocked waters teeming with rainbow and brown trout. Access requires navigating Forest Service Road 118, which keeps casual visitors away and rewards those with high-clearance vehicles. Best visited July through September when the snowmelt has cleared but before fall storms arrive.

3. American Basin: Wildflower Paradise

Hidden between Silverton and Lake City along the Alpine Loop, American Basin showcases Colorado’s most spectacular wildflower displays during July and August. The basin sits at 11,500 feet, creating a natural amphitheater of colorful alpine blooms beneath towering peaks. Primitive camping spots can be found along the edges of this remote basin. Morning light illuminates Handies Peak (14,048 feet) with golden alpenglow, creating photographer’s paradise moments. Four-wheel drive is essential for reaching this isolated wonder, as the rough road deters all but the most determined adventurers.

4. Comanche Peak Wilderness: Untamed Forests

Bordering Rocky Mountain National Park’s northern edge, the Comanche Peak Wilderness offers 67,000 acres of pristine forests and alpine terrain without the park’s crowds. Ponderosa pines give way to spruce-fir forests and eventually alpine tundra as you ascend through diverse ecosystems. Primitive camping near Comanche Reservoir rewards visitors with excellent fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities. Moose, elk, and black bears roam these remote woods freely. Several trailheads provide access, with the Blue Lake Trail offering the most solitude and stunning mountain views after a moderate 5-mile hike.

5. Kelly Dahl: Mountain Solitude Above Boulder

Just an hour from Denver but worlds away from city life, Kelly Dahl offers secluded camping in the Roosevelt National Forest. Perched at 8,600 feet, this lesser-known area provides sweeping views of the Continental Divide without the reservation scramble of more popular spots. Massive granite boulders scattered throughout the pine forest create natural windbreaks and privacy screens between campsites. Wildlife enthusiasts might spot mule deer, foxes, and various raptors soaring overhead. Access remains open longer than higher elevation sites, making it perfect for early spring and late fall camping when other areas are snowbound.

6. Buffalo Pass: Steamboat’s Secret Backyard

Located just outside Steamboat Springs, Buffalo Pass offers dispersed camping along Forest Road 60 with surprising solitude despite its relative accessibility. Aspen groves shimmer with golden light in late September, creating one of Colorado’s most magical camping experiences. Summit Lake provides a perfect reflection of the surrounding peaks at dawn when the water sits perfectly still. Wildflowers carpet the meadows from late June through August, while mushroom hunters discover prized specimens after summer rains. The road becomes impassable after heavy precipitation, naturally limiting visitors and preserving the peaceful atmosphere.

7. Shelf Road: Rock Climber’s Desert Haven

Tucked away near Cañon City, Shelf Road Recreation Area offers primitive camping in a dramatic limestone canyon that feels more like Utah than Colorado. Vertical cliff walls rise dramatically from the desert floor, creating a stunning backdrop for overnight adventures. While popular with rock climbers during prime seasons, numerous secluded camping areas can be found along the dirt access road. The unique ecosystem supports prickly pear cactus alongside juniper trees and hosts abundant wildlife including golden eagles. Year-round accessibility makes this an excellent winter camping destination when mountain areas are deep in snow.

8. South Colony Lakes: Fourteener Base Camp

For adventurous souls willing to work for their solitude, South Colony Lakes sits at the base of three fourteeners: Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, and Humboldt Peak. The Forest Service closed the upper 4×4 road years ago, requiring a 2.5-mile hike to reach this alpine paradise. Campsites nestle among massive boulders with trickling streams providing natural white noise. Mountain goats often visit camp, curious about their human neighbors in this rocky domain. The extra effort keeps crowds away, rewarding backcountry campers with front-row seats to alpenglow on some of Colorado’s most dramatic peaks.

9. Rawah Wilderness: Northern Colorado’s Hidden Jewel

The Rawah Wilderness near the Wyoming border offers spectacular alpine lakes and meadows without the crowds of Rocky Mountain National Park just hours away. Native Americans named this area “Rawah” meaning “wild place,” and it lives up to that description with pristine landscapes and abundant wildlife. Over 25 crystalline lakes dot this wilderness area, connected by 85 miles of trails. Camp near Lower Rawah Lake for stunning reflections of jagged peaks in still waters. Moose sightings are almost guaranteed near wetland areas, while the fishing remains exceptional in these less-pressured alpine waters.

10. Wheeler Geologic Area: Volcanic Wonderland

Perhaps Colorado’s most isolated natural wonder, the Wheeler Geologic Area showcases bizarre volcanic formations resembling an ancient city carved from white tuff. Located deep in the La Garita Wilderness, reaching this otherworldly landscape requires either a challenging 7-mile hike or a very rough 14-mile 4×4 road. The few who make the journey can camp in complete solitude surrounded by eroded spires and pinnacles. Afternoon thunderstorms create dramatic lighting as clouds build over the formations. This area once rivaled Yellowstone in popularity before roads made other destinations more accessible, leaving it now as a true hidden gem.