Rio Grande National Forest
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.
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 3,027 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 62
- Longest rig
- 125 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.
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 62 campgrounds shown
- Alamosa CampgroundMid-May
- Alder Guard Stationto 35 ft · 1 sites · Pull-throughReservations accepted
- Alverjones Cutoff Trailhead - No #Season not published
- Alverjones TrailheadSeason not published
- Archuleta Trailhead - Trails # 741 & # 740Season not published
- Aspen Glade CampgroundMemorial day weekend – The second Monday of September. · Reservations accepted
- Big Meadows Campground and Picnic AreaMemorial Day weekend – The second Monday of September. · Reservations accepted
- Brewery Creek Guard Station CabinLate May – Mid-November · Reservations accepted
- Bristol Head CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend · None taken.
- Buffalo Pass CampgroundMay – November · First-come, first-served
- Carnero Guard Station CabinLate May – Late November · Reservations accepted
- Cathedral CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Comstock CampgroundMay 15 · None Taken
- Conejos CampgroundMemorial day weekend – Labor day weekend · First-come, first-served
- Crooked Creek Dispersed AreaSeason not published
- Cross Creek CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend · None taken
- Elk Creek CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – The second Monday of September. · Reservations accepted
- Elk Creek Overflow CampgroundMemorial Weekend – Labor Day weekend · Reservations accepted
- Elwood Cabinto 50 ft · 1 sitesEarly June – Mid October · Reservations accepted
- Fitton CabinReservations accepted
- Hansen Mill Dispersed CampingSeason not published
- Highway Springs CampgroundMay 27 2022 – Labor Day weekend · None taken.
- Ivy Creek CampgroundNone Taken
- Lake Fork CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – The second Tuesday of September. · Reservations accepted
- Lower Beaver Creek CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend · First-come, first-served
- Luders Creek CampgroundMid May – November · First-come, first-served
- Marshall Park Campgroundto 103 ft · 15 sites · Pull-throughMemorial Day – Labor Day · Reservations accepted
- Mix Lake CampgroundSeason not published
- Mogote - Juniper Group Camping SiteReservations accepted
- Mogote Campgroundto 60 ft · 43 sites · Pull-throughMemorial Day weekend – The second Monday of September. · Reservations accepted
- North Clear Creek CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – Labor Day · None taken.
- North Crestone Creek CampgroundMay – November · First-come, first-served
- Off Cow Camp Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Palisade CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- Park Creek CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – Labor Day · First-come, first-served
- Platoro Cabin 11 sites · ElectricReservations accepted
- Platoro Cabin 21 sites · ElectricEarly July – Late September · Reservations accepted
- Pole Creek Trailhead #820Season not published
- Poso CampgroundMid-May – Mid-November · First-come, first-served
- Rawley 12 TrailheadSeason not published
- Rio Grande CampgroundYear round · First-come, first-served
- River Hill Campgroundto 125 ft · 18 sites · Pull-throughMemorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend · Reservations accepted
- Road Canyon CampgroundApril
- Rock Creek CampgroundMay 15th · First-come, first-served
- Silver Thread CampgroundFirst-come, first-served
- South Fork Conejos Trailhead - Trail # 724Season not published
- Spectacle Lake CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend
- Stone Cellar CampgroundMid May – Mid November · First-come, first-served
- Stone Cellar Guard Station CabinMid-May – Late-November · Reservations accepted
- Storm King CampgroundMid-May – Mid-November · First-come, first-served
- Stunner CampgroundMid-May/June – Mid to late October · None taken.
- Tewksberry Trailhead #842Season not published
- Thirty Mile Campgroundto 90 ft · 35 sites · Pull-throughMemorial Day Weekend – The second Monday of September. · Reservations accepted
- Trout Trailhead #831Season not published
- Trujillo Meadows CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – Labor Day · None taken.
- Tucker Ponds CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – Labor Day · First-come, first-served
- Upper Beaver Creek CampgroundMemorial Day weekend – Labor Day weekend
- Upper Crossing Guard Station CabinReservations accepted
- Upper South Fork Trailhead - Trail # 720Season not published
- Valdez Trailhead, Trail 717Season not published
- West Fork Rio Chama Trailhead - Trail #740Season not published
- West Frisco Trailhead #850Season not published
Rio Grande National Forest
Rio Grande National Forest is a 1.86 million-acre (7,530 km2) U.S. national forest located in southwestern Colorado. The forest encompasses the San Luis Valley, which is the world's largest agricultural alpine valley, as well as one of the world's largest high deserts located around mountains. The Rio Grande rises in the forest, and the Continental Divide runs along most of its western border. The forest lies in parts of nine counties. In descending order of land area within the forest they are Saguache, Mineral, Conejos, Rio Grande, Hinsdale, San Juan, Alamosa, Archuleta, and Custer counties. Forest headquarters are currently located in Del Norte, Colorado. There are local ranger district offices in Del Norte, La Jara, and Saguache.
Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.
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.
- La Garita Wilderness126,480 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
National parks close enough to pair
Drive to Rio Grande 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.