The best waterside campgrounds near Aspen, Colorado

Aspen is Colorado’s year-round mountain playground. Sure, it’s best known as a star-studded ski town—but when the snow melts, the fun’s just getting started. Pitch your tent by an alpine lake, and hike and bike on hundreds of miles of trails. With its family activities, extreme sports, and wild outdoors, Aspen welcomes everyone.

As you drive up Independence Pass, you’ll find several White River National Forest campsites. Just a few miles from downtown, sleep among the Aspen at Difficult Campground. Tiny Weller has 11 sites with picnic tables and vault toilets, while Lost Man Campground is quiet. These high-elevation areas are open only in the summer.

For fee-free camping, head up Highway 82 to Lincoln Creek Road. Here, you’ll find 22 dispersed campsites scattered through the trees. Want to fish or paddle the Roaring Fork River? It’s a short walk from the sites at the Upper Grottos Campground.

When it comes to scenery, it’s hard to beat the breathtaking Maroon Bells. Three campgrounds—Silver Bar, Silver Bell, and Silver Queen—offer 23 total sites. The local road closes in the winter, but autumn, with its brilliant Golden aspens, is downright dreamy. Cars are banned on summer days, but the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority runs a shuttle.

If you’re in an RV, your best best is to stay in the valley. The closest RV parks to Aspen are near Carbondale.

94% (1.2K) • 3 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Aspen

Gondola Village at Holy Cross

1. Gondola Village at Holy Cross

93%

(160)

24mi from Aspen · 4 sites

Gondola Village at Holy Cross is a little sanctuary in the mountains between Vail, Leadville, and Aspen. There is little nearby except for the next door Holy Cross Wilderness, with a lifetime worth of trails, lakes, and peaks to explore -- all only two hours from Denver. Gondola Village at Holy Cross has direct access that many dream of to Colorado's water wilderness, and some of the best backcountry skiing, hiking, scrambling, backpacking, and fly fishing in the Summit Vail Eagle Aspen area. Our modern alpine cabins are some of the cutest cabins you'll step foot in, complete with a mix of amenities to make your wilderness stay a bit more comfortable. Gondola Village at Holy Cross is at 11.5k feet above sea level (believed to be the highest altitude Hipcamp in the world). Gondola Village at Holy Cross has been featured on Discovery Channel’s Reclaimed, Airbnb's OMG! Fund, Arch Digest, and the site of many product shoots. The managers of this property have worked in yurt, ADU, and cabin construction and hospitality for many years and have brought together some of the best Scandinavian and modern design with a mining town aesthetic. The trip up can be challenging (only off-road, winch / locker equipped vehicles dare try the 759 Holy Cross City jeep road, others will need to hike in at least 2.5 miles), but the views and cabins are well worth the trek. Snow free season tends to be June 15 an October 30 annually, and outside of this guests should be prepared for up to 11 miles of over-snow travel with no cars allowed (a bit less depending on snow coverage in the shoulder seasons from May 21 - early June and late October - November 21)

Pets

Toilets

Showers

from

$6

/ night

Lodge pole forest

2. Lodge pole forest

94%

(47)

42mi from Aspen · 2 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

This property was once a Gold mining encampment in the turn of the last century, just out of view nestled in a pine forest, Learn more about this land: It’s like a national park setting in the trees, you should be very aware that wildlife wanders through here 24/7, near several national forests and gold medal fishing as well as beautiful hot springs within 40-45 minutes

Electrical hookup

Toilets

Water hookup

from

$80

/ night

Aspen is Colorado’s year-round mountain playground. Sure, it’s best known as a star-studded ski town—but when the snow melts, the fun’s just getting started. Pitch your tent by an alpine lake, and hike and bike on hundreds of miles of trails. With its family activities, extreme sports, and wild outdoors, Aspen welcomes everyone.

As you drive up Independence Pass, you’ll find several White River National Forest campsites. Just a few miles from downtown, sleep among the Aspen at Difficult Campground. Tiny Weller has 11 sites with picnic tables and vault toilets, while Lost Man Campground is quiet. These high-elevation areas are open only in the summer.

For fee-free camping, head up Highway 82 to Lincoln Creek Road. Here, you’ll find 22 dispersed campsites scattered through the trees. Want to fish or paddle the Roaring Fork River? It’s a short walk from the sites at the Upper Grottos Campground.

When it comes to scenery, it’s hard to beat the breathtaking Maroon Bells. Three campgrounds—Silver Bar, Silver Bell, and Silver Queen—offer 23 total sites. The local road closes in the winter, but autumn, with its brilliant Golden aspens, is downright dreamy. Cars are banned on summer days, but the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority runs a shuttle.

If you’re in an RV, your best best is to stay in the valley. The closest RV parks to Aspen are near Carbondale.

94% (1.2K) • 3 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Aspen

Gondola Village at Holy Cross

1. Gondola Village at Holy Cross

93%

(160)

24mi from Aspen · 4 sites

Gondola Village at Holy Cross is a little sanctuary in the mountains between Vail, Leadville, and Aspen. There is little nearby except for the next door Holy Cross Wilderness, with a lifetime worth of trails, lakes, and peaks to explore -- all only two hours from Denver. Gondola Village at Holy Cross has direct access that many dream of to Colorado's water wilderness, and some of the best backcountry skiing, hiking, scrambling, backpacking, and fly fishing in the Summit Vail Eagle Aspen area. Our modern alpine cabins are some of the cutest cabins you'll step foot in, complete with a mix of amenities to make your wilderness stay a bit more comfortable. Gondola Village at Holy Cross is at 11.5k feet above sea level (believed to be the highest altitude Hipcamp in the world). Gondola Village at Holy Cross has been featured on Discovery Channel’s Reclaimed, Airbnb's OMG! Fund, Arch Digest, and the site of many product shoots. The managers of this property have worked in yurt, ADU, and cabin construction and hospitality for many years and have brought together some of the best Scandinavian and modern design with a mining town aesthetic. The trip up can be challenging (only off-road, winch / locker equipped vehicles dare try the 759 Holy Cross City jeep road, others will need to hike in at least 2.5 miles), but the views and cabins are well worth the trek. Snow free season tends to be June 15 an October 30 annually, and outside of this guests should be prepared for up to 11 miles of over-snow travel with no cars allowed (a bit less depending on snow coverage in the shoulder seasons from May 21 - early June and late October - November 21)

Pets

Toilets

Showers

from

$6

/ night

Lodge pole forest

2. Lodge pole forest

94%

(47)

42mi from Aspen · 2 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

This property was once a Gold mining encampment in the turn of the last century, just out of view nestled in a pine forest, Learn more about this land: It’s like a national park setting in the trees, you should be very aware that wildlife wanders through here 24/7, near several national forests and gold medal fishing as well as beautiful hot springs within 40-45 minutes

Electrical hookup

Toilets

Water hookup

from

$80

/ night

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

C

Chris

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Lodge pole forest

Don was super responsive and helpful! Nice spot that has a beautiful mountain view when you wake up!

F

Frasier

October 2025

2 nights at Gondola Village at Holy Cross

Relaxing cabin in the mountains! Make sure not to over pack so you can actually enjoy the hike up to the cabin!

Jessica

September 2025

2 nights at Gondola Village at Holy Cross

We loved this special little village. It's a very well-kept cabin and has everything you could need. The hike in was a bit tough, but well worth it and very straightforward! We were able to see lots of wildlife and enjoy time at the nearby lake. There's a marmot that runs around the abandoned town and plenty of pika in the surrounding area. Will remember this trip for a while.

L

Laura

September 2025

16 ft car

Weekend Trip to Lodge pole forest

We booked Don's place last minute and he was a lifesaver. Super nice and relaxed. Would recommend!

Whitney

August 2025

1 night at Gondola Village at Holy Cross

What an absolute GEM of a spot! Went up for a little solo retreat, and the cabin had absolutely everything I needed for a cozy camping experience but with a roof over my head and all camping basics provided plus a little more! I hiked over to Cleveland Lake, enjoyed the cozy cabin at night, and woke up to a stunning sunrise. It’s a relatively accessible spot, meaning you don’t have to hike very many miles to get there, but you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere in only the best way. Would absolutely come again!!!

W

Wesley

July 2025

Tent

1 night at Lodge pole forest

Amazing, thanks don! We really enjoyed our stay. Great location, do mount sherman!

R

Ruth

June 2025

2 nights at Gondola Village at Holy Cross

Such a cozy and peaceful cabin! Perfect for a quiet getaway—remote enough to feel like an escape, but still super comfortable and well equipped with everything you need. The host was incredibly responsive and helpful, which made the whole experience seamless. Would absolutely come back!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best waterside camping near Aspen guide

Nearby attractions

Camping near Taylor Park Reservoir promises an idyllic setting with ample fishing and boating. Surrounded by Colorado's majestic peaks, it's a haven for nature lovers seeking lakeside tranquility and outdoor adventure.