![]() ![]() ![]() Just 15 minutes south of Silverton (and just south of the Million Dollar Highway), this is a great stopover for those traveling along the Highway 550 stretch of the stunningly beautiful San Juan Skyway between Durango and Silverton.Īlthough it’s not dispersed camping (you must camp in a designated campsite), camping here is still completely free. Looking for free camping near Silverton? Little Molas Lake is a good bet. Weston Pass Campground (just $15 per night) is another great choice if you don’t mind staying in a developed campground. Look at the dispersed campsites near Clear Creek Reservoir, Twin Lakes, and Turquoise Lake for even more options near Leadville and Buena Vista. But, unfortunately, this is a big problem at almost all dispersed campsites nowadays. Just about the only problem I noticed was an abundance of trash scattered about. There’s very little negative to say about camping here. It’s a good spot for RVs and trailers under, say, 26 feet (just remember to arrive from the east). The scenery is nice and there’s plenty of room to spread out. What I Like:ĭispersed camping at Weston Pass is quiet, peaceful, and remote. Several of these campsites are large and flat enough for small to medium trailers and RVs. The road to Weston Pass from Highway 285 is gravel, but it’s well-maintained (expect moderate washboarding at most) and much less steep and windy than the western access road from Leadville.Ĭountless dispersed campsites are located just off the road, including many along the South Fork of the South Platte River. Weston Pass is one of the most scenic places for dispersed camping in Colorado.ĭispersed camping and boondocking are available on both sides of the mountain pass (just under 12,000 feet elevation) along County Road 22.Īlthough you can reach these campsites from both Highway 24 south of Leadville and from Highway 285 north of Buena Vista, I advise RV boondockers to arrive from the east. But know there’s plenty of under-the-radar free camping nearby (especially if you have a high-clearance rig with 4WD and aren’t afraid to explore). Two other popular spots are Alta Lakes and Lizard Head Pass. There’s a ton of dispersed camping near Telluride in both Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests. You can only camp here for 7 nights instead of the typical 14 nights at national forest campgrounds. It gets very crowded in summer, especially with day-use visitors, although it tends to be fairly quiet at night. Priest Lake no longer allows RVs or trailers. The walk-in sites offer a little more privacy than the drive-in sites. Although it’s not much of a swimming lake, the lakeside campsites are still nice. This free camping area is beautiful and very close to Telluride. Although the road is doable for small trailers and RVs, both types of rigs are no longer allowed to camp here.Īlthough the lake itself is little more than a bog, the surrounding scenery is extremely beautiful – especially during the fall when the aspens turn lovely hues of yellow and orange. The road is moderately rough, but passable with any passenger vehicle. Turn off Highway 145 onto Priest Lake Road (FR 64B) about 12.5 miles south of Telluride to reach these campsites. Each campsite is marked and has a picnic table and fire ring. These designated dispersed campsites are spaced quite far apart so you still have plenty of privacy from your neighbors. You must now camp in one of 9 designated dispersed campsites – but this is no reason not to visit. Like many very popular dispersed camping areas, you’re unfortunately no longer allowed to set up camp anywhere you please. Priest Lake stands out as one of the best places for dispersed camping near Telluride. ![]()
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