Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Forest Service3,153,199 acres · USDA Forest Service
Can you sleep here
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Stay limit14 days in most forests — the exact limit is set per forest and district
In an RVDispersed sites are unimproved: no hookups, no water, no dump station, and access roads are often unsurfaced. Designated wilderness inside the unit is closed to all vehicles.
Rule36 CFR 261.58 — occupancy and use, set by forest order
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 4,927 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 69
- Longest rig
- 58 ft
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Map loads as you scroll
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 69 campgrounds shown
69 of 69 campgrounds
- Almont Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Alta Lakes Campground (Designated) - Norwood RDJune – Late Fall · First-come, first-served
- Amphitheater Campground - Ouray RDMay 23 – Oct. 7 · First-come, first-served
- Angel Creek Campground - Ouray RDLate May – Late Fall · First-come, first-served
- Aspen Leaf CabinMid-June – Mid-October · Reservations accepted
- Beaver Lake Campground - Ouray RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Big Blue Campground - Gunnison RDMid June – October · First-come, first-served
- Big Cimarron Campground - Ouray RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Big Creek Campground - Grand Valley RDJune 26 – Sept. 22 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Black Bear CabinReservations accepted
- Cement Creek Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent)
- Cobbett Campground - Grand Valley RDJune 12 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Cold Spring Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Columbine Campground - Ouray RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Cottonwood Lake Campground - Grand Valley RDJune 26 – Sept. 22 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Crag Crest Campground - Grand Valley RDJune 12 – Sept. 15 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Deer Lakes Campground - Gunnison RdMay 19 – Sept. 29 · First-come, first-served
- Dinner Station Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Sept. 29 · First-come, first-served
- Divide Forks Campground - Grand Valley RDMay 25 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Dorchester Campground - Gunnison RDLate May · First-come, first-served
- Erickson Springs Campground- Paonia RDMay 23 – Weather dependent · First-come, first-served
- Gold Creek Campground - Gunnison RDLate May · First-come, first-served
- Gothic Campground - Gunnison RDJune 13 – Sept. 29 · First-come, first-served
- Granite Tent Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Sept. 29 · First-come, first-served
- Horse Ranch Park (Dispersed)-Paonia RDJune · First-come, first-served
- Iron Springs Campground - Ouray RDMay 23 – Sept. 29 · First-come, first-served
- Island Lake Campground - Grand Valley RDJune 14 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Jackson Guard Station1 sitesReservations accepted
- Jumbo Campground - Grand Valley RDJune 14 – Oct. 7 · First-come, first-served
- Lake Irwin Campground - Gunnison RDJune 13 – Oct. 3 · First-come, first-served
- Lakeview Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 7 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Little Bear Campground - Grand Valley RDJune 14 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Lodgepole Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Lone Cone Cabin1 sites · Pull-throughMay – October · Reservations accepted
- Lost Lake Campground-Paonia RDJune 18 – Weather dependent · First-come, first-served
- Lottis Creek Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 7 · First-come, first-served
- Matterhorn Cabin1 sitesEnd of November – Mid-April · Reservations accepted
- Matterhorn Campground - Norwood RDMay 23 – Oct. 7 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- McClure Campground - Paonia RDMay 23 – Weather dependent · First-come, first-served
- Middle Quartz Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Mirror Lake Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Moose Manor Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Mosca Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Needle Creek Reservoir Camping AreaJune
- North Bank Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 7 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Oak Cabin1 sitesMid-June – Mid-October · Reservations accepted
- Oh Be Joyful Campgroundto 58 ft · 30 sitesSeason not published
- One Mile Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 7 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Pitkin Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 7 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Priest Lake Designated Camping Area - Norwood RDMay · First-come, first-served
- Quartz Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Raber Cow Camp Interpretive HikeJune – October
- Rivers End Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 7 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Rosy Lane Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 7 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Silesca Guard StationReservations accepted
- Silver Jack Campground - Ouray RDJune 14 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Snowblind Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Soap Creek Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Sept. 29 · First-come, first-served
- Soap Creek Corral / Coal Mesa Horse CampMay
- Spring Creek Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 6 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Spruce Campground - Gunnison RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Spruce Grove Campground - Grand Valley RDJune 14 – Sept. 22 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Sunshine Campground - Norwood RDMay 23 – Oct. 7 · First-come, first-served
- Thistledown Campground - Ouray RDLate May – Late fall · First-come, first-served
- Ward Lake Campground - Grand Valley RDJune 14 – Sept. 22 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Weir & Johnson Campground - Grand Valley RDJune 26 – Sept. 22 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
- Williams Creek Campground- Gunnison RDMay 23 – Sept. 29 · First-come, first-served
- Woods Lake Campground - Norwood RDMay 23 – Oct. 1 (weather dependent) · First-come, first-served
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- West Elk Wilderness176,431 acres
- Uncompahgre Wilderness98,876 acres
- Raggeds Wilderness64,346 acres
- Fossil Ridge Wilderness32,192 acres
- Mount Sneffels Wilderness16,495 acres
- Powderhorn Wilderness14,746 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
National parks close enough to pair
Plan it
Drive to Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.