Dispersed camping near Estes Park on Roosevelt National Forest

Three Forest Service roads near Estes Park

The Forest Service road status table lists all three roads as gated seasonal roads with tentative open dates of June 15 to November 30. Actual dates depend on conditions. The Forest Service doesn't publish GPS points or clearance ratings for campsites on these roads, so use the MVUM for where camping is allowed. [USDA Forest Service][USDA Forest Service]

• Pole Hill Road (#122): 3 miles east of Estes Park off US-36. The road starts on private land, with many side roads, and reaches the forest boundary at 0.9 miles. The Forest Service doesn't recommend camping with trailers because the road is rough. Parking at the start fits about 2 trailers, and there's no access to the east side from Larimer County Road 18E. [USDA Forest Service]
• Johnny Park Road (#118): 9.5 miles east of Estes Park on US-36, a forest access sign points west onto a gravel road toward Big Elk Meadows, and Johnny Park Road is 6 miles in. From CO-7, 10 miles south of Estes Park, take Big Owl or Cabin Creek Road north of Meeker Park. There are about 3 trailer spots before the gate at the junction of 118.1 and County Road 47. Past that, trailer camping is very limited because the road is rough. [USDA Forest Service]
• Storm Mountain Road (#153): the first part has tight curves. The Forest Service says the junction of #128 and #153 (Galuchie Meadow) is the place to unload trailers and the best area on Storm Mountain for dispersed camping with trailers. [USDA Forest Service]

Rules that apply

• Where: your vehicle must be within 300 feet of the road and at least 100 feet from water or meadows. No camping at trailheads, picnic areas or day-use parking areas. OHVs are allowed only on open, numbered Forest Service roads. [USDA Forest Service]
• How long: no more than 14 days in any 30-day period and 30 days in a 365-day period (Forest Order ARP-2024-02, in effect through May 23, 2029). [USDA Forest Service]
• Human waste: if no restroom is available, go at least 200 feet from any water source, dig a hole 6–8 inches deep and bury it. Pack out toilet paper. A leak-proof portable toilet is another option. [USDA Forest Service]
• Food storage: Forest Order ARP-2024-04 covers land within 300 feet of either side of every open road on the MVUM. Food, trash and scented items must be within 100 feet of an awake person in line of sight, or stored in a certified bear-resistant container, a closed hard-sided locked vehicle or building, or hung 10 feet up and 4 feet out from the tree or pole. [USDA Forest Service]

Prefer a toilet? Use a developed campground

Developed Forest Service and park campgrounds have vault toilets or restrooms, and in season, drinking water. Larimer County's Hermit Park Open Space, 2 miles southeast of Estes Park, has cabins, RV and tent camping and needs entrance and camping permits. Hermit Park (Larimer County) [USDA Forest Service][NPS][Larimer County]

Campfires and fire restrictions

Fire restrictions change with conditions, so we don't repeat a status here. Check the Forest Service and Larimer County pages on the day you camp. If fires aren't restricted, use an existing fire ring and put your fire out until it's cold to the touch. Forest Service fire restrictions · Larimer County fire restrictions [USDA Forest Service][Larimer County][USDA Forest Service]

Maps

The Forest Service publishes the Motor Vehicle Use Maps that show which roads are open and allow dispersed camping. Download the Canyon Lakes Ranger District map before you lose signal. Motor Vehicle Use Maps (USFS) [USDA Forest Service]

Developed campgrounds nearby (with toilets)

These Forest Service and park campgrounds are in our listings; the badge shows today's official season status. [USDA Forest Service][USDA Forest Service][USDA Forest Service][USDA Forest Service][USDA Forest Service][NPS]

• Olive Ridge — Forest Service, on CO-7 about 15 miles south of Estes Park · Closed for the season — the 2026 operating season was May 15–Sept 13 (Forest Service campground status table); the Forest Service hasn't posted 2027 dates yet
• Peaceful Valley — Forest Service, off CO-72 about 6.5 miles north of Ward · Open May 15–Nov 15, 2026 (Forest Service campground status table): some sites reservable on Recreation.gov, the rest first come, first served — the campground page lists which sites are which
• Camp Dick — Forest Service, off CO-72 about 6.5 miles north of Ward · After Labor Day: no reservations — every site is first come, first served until the campground closes Nov 15, 2026 (Forest Service campground status table). Late in the season water may be off — bring your own
• Pawnee — Forest Service, east side of Brainard Lake · Closed for the season — the 2026 operating season was June 26–Sept 13 (Forest Service campground status table); the Forest Service hasn't posted 2027 dates yet
• Rocky Mountain National Park Moraine Park Campground — Rocky Mountain National Park, open year-round · First come, first served for the 2026/27 winter season, from 1 p.m. Oct 19, 2026 (Loops A sites 1–62, B, C and E) — no reservations; pay with Recreation.gov Scan & Pay or at the Beaver Meadows or Fall River entrance. NPS hasn't posted summer 2027 dates yet