Big Blue Campground

In

Gunnison National Forest

·

100%

·

11 sites · RV, Tent

Big Blue Campground sure, but mega-ginormous, super-duper shimmering blue campground, now that’s more like it! This often-underrated gem of the Uncompahgre Wilderness lies in a beautiful valley close by a slue of fishing opportunities and numerous hiking trails--most of which lead south into dense backcountry. The campsites themselves range from picturesque cabins to cozy nooks perfect for tent pitchin’. Some may be on the crunchier side, but most have the basics covered. The landscape is dramatic and laden with aspen and spruce trees.

What this place offers

Campfire allowed

No pets allowed

No showers

Toilets

No potable water

Picnic tables

No sewage hookups

No electric hookups

First come, first served

RV, Tent

Explore 754 campgrounds near Gunnison National Forest

Available campgrounds nearby

Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near Gunnison National Forest

Hartwork Ranch

36mi from Big Blue Campground · 5 sites · Tents, RVs · Placerville, CO

Elk are in rut and you can hear them bugling from your campsite. The aspen groves are peaking and we’re surrounded by orange scrub oak for fall. Oh, we have views! You may have a campfire and we have free wood! We also have delicious duck eggs! A beautiful 40 acre ranch on Hastings Mesa with views of Alder Canyon and Hayden’s Peak. You can hear Alder Creek flowing through the canyon from the comfort of your campsite. Many nearby options for bicycling, hiking, kayaking and skiing in the area. Once you pull out the driveway you are a few minutes from Last Dollar Ranch Road (hike, bike, or 4x4) and about a 25 minute drive to Telluride, 30 minutes to Ridgway, and 30 minutes to Norwood. Just outside of Ridgway is Orvis Hot Springs, and more hot springs can be found in Ouray. The property offers access to Alder Creek and our beaver ponds down in the canyon. The fields are blanketed with Iris and clematis flowers in May and June and other wild flowers throughout the summer including pentstemon, larkspur, and wild roses. There are patches of scrub oak and fields with cinquefoil bushes in the camping areas, and as you go down in the canyon there’s aspen groves, blue spruce, and ponderosa pines. As mentioned before, we have delicious farm fresh duck eggs from our happy free-ranging ducks!

Down at the Hop Yard Camping

27mi from Big Blue Campground · 12 sites · Tents, RVs · Montrose, CO

Wake up to the fresh aroma of hops, enjoys beers made with the hops grown next to your sleeping bag, have a campfire with an incredible view of the San Juan Mountains and open night sky, take a tour and learn about the unique world of hops, walk around an 18-foot tall, 32-acre hop trellis, and adventure in all that the Western Slope of Colorado has to offer. We also have 'Fridays on the Farm' every Friday until October 3rd from 4-9pm serving beer with our hops, a local food truck, live music, and yard games. Check our website for more details! We can open the beer barn on other nights, as well as offer tours, upon request! This is a perfect basecamp for adventure! The attractions are endless: Exploring Black Canyon NP, Curecanti NRA, and Gunnison Gorge NCA; fly fishing in gold metal waters; hunting; hiking, climbing, and traversing the Via Ferrata in the San Juan Mountains; rafting, kayaking, or SUPing on three different rivers, including a wave park right in town, as well as on reservoirs and lakes; relaxing in mineral-rich hot springs; shopping for unique souvenirs and gifts; and enjoying the activities, restaurants, and shopping of nearby Ouray and Telluride! If we're booked out, message us and we may have some backup spots! ; )

Darbywoods RV Mountain Lot

8.2mi from Big Blue Campground · 1 site · Tent, RV · Cimarron, CO

This is a one acre lot for just one RV located at 9500ft in the Colorado mountains between Montrose and Gunnison. Located half way between and six miles up the Alpine Plateau road this area is surrounded by BLM land and National Forest. The lot is located with full hook ups and wifi in a neighborhood with cabins and rv lots. Please ask about deep discounts for long term rentals.

Happy Canyon Ranch

31mi from Big Blue Campground · 1 site · Lodging · Montrose, CO

Happy Canyon Ranch is a hidden gem perched on the Uncompahgre Plateau in western Colorado, a wild and peaceful land where nature speaks in silence and sky. The terrain is dotted with Utah junipers and fragrant sagebrush, forming a high desert tapestry that glows in golds and greens under the sun. Perched along the canyon’s edge are massive safari tents, offering rustic luxury with sweeping views. From your canvas porch, you can often spot golden eagles riding the canyon thermals, drifting effortlessly above the rock-strewn cliffs. At night, the sky opens up into a cathedral of stars—pure, unpolluted, and endless—where the Milky Way is so clear it feels like you could reach out and touch it. The air is clean and crisp, scented with pine, earth, and sage. And rising in the distance, like a sentinel watching over the land, is the majestic Mount Sneffels—a 14,000-foot peak that shimmers with snow in spring and glows amber at dusk. This is not just a place. It’s an experience of stillness, scale, and sacred space. Happy Canyon Ranch is where the wild meets the soul.

Tater's Black Canyon Campground

34mi from Big Blue Campground · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · Crawford, CO

North Rim of Black Canyon National Park has re-opened. Hot showers and toilets! Tater's was voted a 2024 top runner up as 'Best Hipcamp in Colorado'. 35 acres of bliss shared with 2 humans, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 horses and 4 chickens [Eggs may be available upon request]. Black Canyon National Park is a short drive to the west. Conveniently located to Crawford and the North Fork Valley to wineries, music fests and local eateries. Incredible views and dark skies make the perfect respite for just hanging out, climbing in the Black, foodie time in the North Fork Valley or pretty much whatever you like to do. Hunters are welcome as this is a perfect base camp to Unit 63.

Oasis RV Resort

24mi from Big Blue Campground · 104 sites · Tents, RVs · Gunnison, CO

Nestled beside Colorado’s expansive Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water in the state, our location offers unparalleled access to serene waters and breathtaking views. Our Gunnison Lakeside Oasis Vacation Cottages offer a range of sizes and sleeping capacities, with a two-night minimum stay requirement. Each cottage includes restroom facilities, including a shower. Options include two-bedroom cottages, 12×12 and 12×16 cottages with or without covered porches, and even a 1960 Retro Trailer. Enjoy your stay close to the beautiful Blue Mesa Reservoir! Discover the exceptional amenities at Oasis RV Resort and Cottages where modern comforts meet the tranquility of nature. Equiped with fiber optic internet, stay connected to the world while surrounded by the serene beauty of our natural surroundings.

Riverwalk Yurt, luxury on river

46mi from Big Blue Campground · 8 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Hotchkiss, CO

The House where we live is the corner stone of the Bruce Property and is on the Colorado Register of Historic Houses.The residence was constructed between 1905 and 1912, using red bricks made on the site. John and Sophia Bruce, early pioneers in the North Fork Valley, were first involved in cattle raising. The family later became successful fruit growers. Located along the West Elk Loop, a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway, the large two-story residence features a steeply pitched hipped roof with prominent attic dormers.As a guest of Riverwalk you will have full access to the river during your stay. In addition, there is the Riverwalk Trail System that skirts the North Fork of the Gunnison River from the top of the property, by the Riverwalk Yurt, (available on this site) meandering downstream past the Riverwalk TIPI (available on the site) passing the Grove Yurt (available on this site) and terminating at the bottom of the property with the sandy Riverwalk Beach. There is a trial that zigs through the Cottonwood Grove and zags back along the gentle Monitor Ditch skirting a newly planted grove of young trees.For RV Campers we provide 2- 30amp,1-50 amp and 1- 110-amp electrical services and potable water. There is a dump station available. There is also access to our heated shower house with running water and bathroom amenities (<3 min. walk, may be shared with other guests). The property is perfectly geared to groups of friends gathering in a central location between the onset of the Rockies and the termination high desert to the west. Friends or family will reserve both Yurts and the RV Site for a perfect reunion setting!

Coworking Space with Mountain Views

29mi from Big Blue Campground · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Montrose, CO

We bought a school house! Our long-term plan is to build out a full campground on the property, but in the interim we will be offering boondocking. While we are under construction on the outdoor space, the main building that we have converted into a coworking space is available for our guests to use from the hours of 9AM - 6PM. Unfortunately, we are on old agricultural land so the sites are in the direct sun during the day. Please be aware that it gets hot out here in the summer and take this into consideration when booking your stay with us. Please note that there is only one camping structure allowed per site (one tent, one rv, one van, etc.). Since we are under construction we ask that you use caution when pulling into the lot. Our property is also on a bike trail that connects to 70 miles of (mostly paved) bike trails across the town of Montrose. Please reach out with any questions. We look forward to hosting you!

Zenzen Gardens

45mi from Big Blue Campground · 14 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Paonia, CO

Zenzen Gardens is now the official tasting room for Alfred Eames Cellars, a local winery located 3 miles south of Paonia. Come enjoy some local wines in the garden with a beautiful mountain view. Our tasting room is open May 1st to November 1st from 12 PM - 6 PM. We will be hosting several Farm to Table Dinners along with a Summer Concert Series, Water Lantern Festival and Masquerade. There is veranda seating to enjoy the beautiful flower gardens and where you can access the internet. Wine tastings are offered daily 12pm-6pm. The veranda is open until 8pm. At the turn of the century, this farm was a dairy operation with its huge old red barn built in the 1880's. The property is pastoral, relaxing, rural and beautiful! It is surrounded by hay and alfalfa fields. It is very quiet with wide open spaces. You might see deer, fox, Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, Red Tail Hawks and Red Wing Blackbirds, just to name a few.

Campfire Dreamers (4WD or AWD)

20mi from Big Blue Campground · 1 site · Tent, RV · Ridgway, CO

This location is 4WD only and no trailers. Access to the site requires going down a 12% grade. Beautiful location on the side of a mountain with great views. Fire ring, firewood and water for extinguish your fire are provided.

Magical Mountains

31mi from Big Blue Campground · 1 site · RV · Silverton, CO

Located at an impressive elevation of 9318 feet, our dirt/light stone lot sits in the heart of Silverton, offering unparalleled access to outdoor adventures. Silverton serves as the drop-off and pick-up point for the iconic Durango/Silverton Railroad, adding to the area's charm. Just a short walk from town and conveniently positioned one block away from the OHV route, our location is ideal for exploring all that Silverton has to offer. For a wealth of information about the area, feel free to click on the following link: https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/silverton Additionally, we provide electric hookup for your convenience, ensuring a comfortable stay amidst the stunning scenery of Silverton.

Poplar Place

42mi from Big Blue Campground · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · Olathe, CO

Locally owned, this large tree grove with over 100 trees, was planted in 1979 for privacy and shade between 2 homes. Learn more about this land: Pitch a tent, sleep in a hammock or park your RV at the Poplar Place. Several campsites within a large grove of trees which provide privacy & shade. Enjoy the sounds of nature including but not limited to: woodpeckers, owls, hawks, farm animals, frogs, crickets & much more. Hammocks, local area maps & yard games available at our check-in station and don’t forget to carve your initials in the totem pole before you leave. You can enjoy visiting with friends around the fire pit, play a game of tic-tac-toe, have an axe throwing contest or hide out in the Tee-Pee, whatever your heart desires. **Pets are welcome, however, they MUST BE ON LEASHES AT ALL TIMES & PROPER DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL WASTE IS A MUST* Thank you

More to explore nearby

100%

3 ratings · 2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2025

Tent · With pets

Awesome clean camp

A

A C.

5 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

With pets

Very beautiful, clean and well maintained

A

Ajcook

2 years on Hipcamp

LocationBig Blue Campground, Gunnison National Forest, Colorado, United States

Is anything missing?Suggest edits to improve this listing for fellow campers.

What this place offers

Campfire allowed

No pets allowed

No showers

Toilets

No potable water

Picnic tables

No sewage hookups

No electric hookups

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