Outdoors and wildfire - Mountains

In Summit County, dispersed camping is not 'camp anywhere'

On the White River National Forest around Summit County, free dispersed camping is limited to designated, signed sites — not any open spot.

Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 10, 2026

A lot of Colorado’s high country is national forest, and people assume that means you can pull off and camp anywhere for free. Around Summit County, that is not how it works.

This land is the White River National Forest. In the busy areas of the Dillon Ranger District, the Forest Service limits dispersed camping to designated, signed sites — more than 60 of them in places like Boreas Pass Road and North Rock Creek. Along certain roads, camping is allowed only within a marked corridor, and only where a sign says the site is open. Bears are part of the deal, so food and coolers have to be stored in a hard-sided vehicle or a bear-resistant container.

The reason to care is simple: a spot that looks empty may be closed to camping, and the rules differ from one ranger district to the next. Fire restrictions can change on top of all this.

Before you go, check the Dillon Ranger District page for the current designated sites and any fire restrictions, and look for the signs on the ground.

Filed under: Outdoors and wildfire Summit County

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Sources and review

Where this information comes from

This note uses official or primary sources where practical. Local details can change, so confirm before acting.

Last reviewed: June 10, 2026