Summer Recreation Opportunities:
Regional Camping Program Overview

 
Important Camping Safety Message:
 
Safety of visitors is the number one concern of the US Forest Service! Click on the button below to read important camping safety information:
 
Most Campgrounds are Open From Memorial Day Through Labor Day
 
Campsite in Sugarloaf Campground, Laramie Ranger District, in the Medicine Bow National Forest, located in southeast Wyoming - Click on this photo to view the Sugarloaf Campground Information webpage in a new window [HyperText Markup Language (HTML) link].Whether you're driving a motorhome, pulling a trailer or just looking for a place to pitch a tent and get away from civilization, one of the over 500 campgrounds in the 17 national forests and seven national grasslands managed by the US Forest Service in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and most of South Dakota and Wyoming will have a spot just right for you!
 
Red & white campfire icon and Camping & Firewood Poster icon - Click to view the full size Camping & Firewood Poster in a new window [Portable Document Format file 1.6 megabytes]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, click on the icons or contact the US Forest Service's Regional Forest Health Management office at (303) 275-5463.
 
The main types of camping that are allowed in the Rocky Mountain Region's national forests and grasslands are listed below:
 
Backpacking icon - Backpacking icon - Two white backpacking figures inside a brown square. Click to view the Regional Dispersed Camping Overview webpage.
Backpacking - Overnight backpacking trips should be undertaken only by those who are accustomed to hiking mountain trails and are familiar with backpacking techniques.
   
Campground Camping icon - White tent and fee sign inside a brown square. Click to view the Regional Campground Camping Overview webpage.
Campground Camping - Traditional camping in a developed US Forest Service campground with a tent pad, covered grill and parking spot. Be aware that check-out times are generally 1:00 pm and check-in times are generally 2:00 pm.
   
Dispersed Camping icon - White tent inside a brown square. Click to view the Regional Dispersed Camping Overview webpage.
Dispersed Camping - These types of camping areas can be in either Designated or Non-Designated areas, as determined by the local Ranger District office, and there are generally no services and reservations are not available (only First-Come, First-Served).
   
Horse Riding & Camping icon - White horse and rider with a white tent in background inside a brown square. Click to view the Regional Horse Riding & Camping Overview webpage.
Horse Riding & Camping - Saddle and pack stock are not allowed in most campgrounds, unless specifically noted. A permit is not required to ride horses or use pack animals on US Forest Service lands within the Rocky Mountain Region, but you must follow all Weed Free Forage regulations along with any local special orders or rules that may apply to the area you will be camping in.
   
Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Riding & Camping icon - White jeep with a white tent in background inside a brown square. Click to view the OHV Riding & Camping Overview webpage.
Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Riding & Camping - These types of camping areas are essentially Dispersed Camping sites and can be in either Designated or Non-Designated areas, as determined by the local Ranger District office. There are generally no services and reservations are not available (only First-Come, First-Served). Remember to park your vehicles off the road so there are no chances for an accident!
 
James Peak (el. 13,294 ft.) at dawn. The James Peak Wilderness, located in north-central Colorado, is managed by the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests. Click on this photo to view a larger version and view the James Peak Wilderness information webpage in a new window [HyperText Markup Language (HTML) link]. Whether you are camping in a developed campground, backpacking far away from civilization in the backcountry, dispersed camping or using your horse or pack animals, all campers should follow the ideals of Leave No Trace and practice the concept of Pack It In - Pack It Out!
 
Click on any of the Leave No Trace principles listed below to learn more about how they apply when you are camping anywhere in the Rocky Mountain Region: