Skiers who are serious about their sport in Colorado are aware that waking up near the mountain is one of the best ways to get fresh snow. The difficulty, though, is that housing on the slopes is seldom available—at least not consistently. Nevertheless, sleeping in a movable basecamp such as a van, truck, or RV is one of the simplest solutions to consider for winter and fall camping options. Campers, both stealth and not-so-stealth varieties, may be camped out in parking lots around the state, hunkering down in their trailers for what is likely to be sleepless nights of sleep in front of them powder days.
Where to Camp
Everyone is curious about the specific locations where camping is allowed, but this information is still kept fairly secret for valid reasons. It’s possible in certain mountains. Most don’t. And even campers who have discovered mountains facing the other direction aren’t keen on spilling the beans about their discoveries. However, we have listed the main hotspots for camping in Colorado.
Powderhorn Mountain Resort
You may set up free camping in the parking lot at Powderhorn Mountain Resort, which is located about forty-five minutes east of Grand Junction. Guests can set up a camp in the third parking lot throughout the week. On the other hand, guests should make use of the overflow parking lots on the weekends.
Lake Dillon Scenic Area
Do you want to go skiing at some of the most popular mountains in Colorado, such as Breckenridge, Keystone, or Copper Mountain, but you don’t know where to stay that’s handy for getting to those mountains? Summit Country is just a little more than one hour away from Denver (provided you don’t make the journey on the weekend when there is new snow!), and it has a broad range of activities for visitors to choose from. It is possible to take advantage of the free camping opportunity throughout the year, but due to its proximity to a rest area, you should not anticipate experiencing any peace here.
Steamboat Springs KOA Holiday
The Holiday Town KOA is an excellent home base for winter camping because of its location only a few miles away from the legendary powder slopes of Steamboat Springs. Facilities like bathrooms, hot showers, shared spaces, a community kitchen, and a shop on site that sells firewood are all included in the price.
Silverton Mountain Ski Area
The Silverton Mountain Ski area is a haven for skilled skiers looking for ungroomed powder in the backcountry, and it is a destination for finding that powder. The best part is that you won’t have to pay anything to park your vehicle for the night on the road that leads to the ski resort. Be aware that the snowplows may need to pass your vehicle, so you may need to relocate it out of the way. However, this is a well-kept secret that is conveniently located near both the Silverton and Purgatory ski regions.
Tiger Run Resort: Chalets & RV Park
The Tiger Run Resort has a full-service RV park open all 365 days of the year and is located near three ski slopes that are widely regarded as among the finest in the world. This is a genuine 5-star RV park since it comes with everything, including restrooms, hot tubs, WiFi, buses, and even laundry facilities; it even offers everything you could want. It is worth the money to camp at this location, given that there is nothing else in the area that offers all of the camping conveniences this site provides.
Aunt Sara’s River Dance RV Resort
Vail and Beaver Creek ski slopes may be accessed within thirty to forty-five minutes from Aunt Sara’s River Dance RV Resort, which is located right off Interstate 70 near Gypsum. Guests have access to on-site utilities such as showers, bathrooms, WiFi, and RV hookups. Those of you who like ice fishing will find the Eagle River to be a great site since it gives access to several excellent ice-covered fishing locations.
Bluebird Backcountry
Outside of Kremmling, Colorado, the Bluebird Backcountry inbounds backcountry ski area may be found. Not a single chairlift exists in the Bluebird Backcountry. In contrast, skiers ascend using their power while following already established skin tracks. There are available guides and instructors for people interested in backcountry and avalanche training.
It is open till midnight, Thursday through Sunday. Campers must possess a valid ski pass to access the mountain’s camping area. The only facilities are portable toilets and the first tracks.