Rocky Mountain Region

Safety of visitors is the number one concern of the US Forest Service. An effect of the mountain pine beetle infestation is the danger of falling beetle killed trees in campgrounds throughout our Region. On the Regional Campground List you will find the campgrounds which will be closed for the summer, along with those which will have delayed openings, while the hazard trees are removed. If the campground you are interested in has been closed or will have a delayed opening, call the Ranger District office closest to the campground for updated information. If you have a campsite reservation in an affected campground, you will be notified. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

Whether you’re driving a motorhome, pulling a trailer or looking for a place to pitch a tent, one of the over 500 campgrounds in the 17 National Forests and 7 National Grasslands managed by the USDA Forest Service in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and most of Wyoming will have a spot just right for you! Most campgrounds in the Rocky Mountain Region are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. A Forest Visitor Map is useful in showing the location of the developed campgrounds, Forest Supervisor and Ranger District offices, main roads, forest roads, wilderness areas, private land, trails, scenic areas and other features. To order a Rocky Mountain Region National Forest or Grassland Visitor Map, please click HERE.

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The four major types of camping that are allowed in the Rocky Mountain Region's national forests and grasslands are listed below. Click on one of the camping types and you will be taken further down the page for more information.

DEVELOPED CAMPGROUNDS:

Traditional camping in a developed US Forest Service campground with a tent pad, covered grill and parking spot. more»

DISPERSED CAMPING:

Dispersed camping can be in either designated areas or in non-designated areas. more»

BACKPACKING CAMPING:

Overnight backpacking trips should be undertaken only by those who are accustomed to hiking mountain trails and are familiar with backpacking techniques. more»

HORSE CAMPING:

A permit is NOT required to ride horses in national forests or grasslands but you must follow Weed-Free forage guidelines for national forests and grasslands in the Rocky Mountain Region. more»

Whether you are camping in a developed campground or far away from civilization in the backcountry, either backpacking or on your horse, all campers should follow the ideals of Leave No Trace and Pack It In - Pack It Out!

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Purchase firewood locally to protect our forests. Destructive insects and diseases can get a free ride into our Region in firewood brought in from out of state. For more information, contact the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Management office at (303) 275-5463 and check out the flyer below.

DEVELOPED CAMPGROUND INFORMATION

Developed Campgrounds charge a fee for campsites that can acommodate anything from a single tent to a 30' Recreational Vehicle, or larger in some cases. Saddle and pack stock are not allowed in most campgrounds. There are campgrounds that only offer campsites on a first-come, first-serve basis and others that offer campsites that can be reserved up to 240 days in advance for individual campsites and 360 days in advance for group campgrounds. When a developed campground offers campsites that can be reserved, as a general rule of thumb, 1/3 of that developed campground's campsites are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. When trying to get a first-come, first-serve campsite at a campground that accepts reservations, it is a good idea to try and arrive at the campground by Thursday night. To find a campground in the Rocky Mountain Region, use the map below to find all the US Forest Service campgrounds in a particular state, or use the drop-down menu below the map to find information for a specific national forest or grassland.

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DISPERSED CAMPING INFORMATION

Dispersed camping can be in either designated areas or in non-designated areas. When camping in non-designated areas, the general rule is to be 100 feet from any road, trail or water source. Some areas in National Forests are closed to dispersed camping, so check postings carefully and check with the local Ranger District [.pdf file 120 KB] office before you head out into the backcountry. Please respect private landowners.

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BACKPACKING INFORMATION

Overnight backpacking trips should be undertaken only by those who are accustomed to hiking mountain trails and are familiar with backpacking techniques. Click on the Backpacking icon below to view an excellent guide to backpacking information. Please respect private landowners.

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HORSE CAMPING INFORMATION

A permit is NOT required to ride horses in national forests or grasslands but you must follow Weed-Free forage guidelines for national forests and grasslands in the Rocky Mountain Region.  For details on forage restrictions in the Rocky Mountain Region go to the Weed-Free Forage Web site. Saddle and pack stock are not allowed in most campgrounds. Please check the Regional Campground List for specific campground information.

Use low impact riding, camping, and horse tethering methods to minimize your animals' impact on natural resources and ensure that camp areas remain enjoyable for others! Please respect private landowners. It can also be a good idea to contact the local Ranger District [.pdf file 120 KB] office to find out where the best horse trails are.

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U.S. Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Region
740 Simms St
Golden, CO 80401
303-275-5350

TTD ⁄ TTY
Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
303-275-5367