The best camping near Dove Creek with wildlife watching

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If you're looking for camping near Dove Creek, Colorado, Hipcamp has over 634 options for you to choose from. With prices ranging from as low as $15 per night to an average of $40 per night, you'll find something that fits your budget. Check out some of the top campsites with rave reviews: The Views at Gateway (243 reviews), Bright Star Campground (211 reviews), and Lakeside Camping, Water Time :) (149 reviews). Enjoy popular amenities like showers, campfires, and the ability to bring your pets. And if you're into wildlife watching, surfing, or climbing, you're in luck - these activities are all popular in the area.

98% (2.3K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Zuma Bike Ranch & Camping in Cortez

2. Zuma Bike Ranch & Camping in Cortez

98%
(78)
33mi from Dove Creek · 8 sites · Tents · Cortez, CO
Zuma Bike Ranch invites you to ride.relax.repeat in the high desert of Dolores and Cortez Colorado. Surround yourself with views of Mesa Verde National Park, Sleeping Ute and the San Juan mountains straight from your tent or camper van. The ranch offers camping, and borders Phil's World mountain bike trail network. Our goal is to encourage community among campers and bikers and connection with the land and its rich history. Zuma Bike Ranch resides on native lands of Puebloan and Ute peoples. At Zuma Bike Ranch we provide professional mountain bike instruction and guided rides for individuals and groups. You have immediate access to over 60 miles of world class singletrack at Phil’s World trail network. More mountain bike trails can be found nearby at the Aquaduct trail system in Mancos, Boggy Draw in Dolores and Sand Canyon at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. In less than an hour you can be riding high alpine terrain with access to the Colorado Trail. We’re 45 minutes from Durango and 120 minutes from Moab, UT. We keep things simple at Zuma Bike Ranch. This is to minimize impact on the land and our environment. Each camp site can accommodate one vehicle or van/truck bed camper. Camp sites fit two tents. We have a nice rinse station, potable water source, and porta potty on site. There are no lights but there are plenty of stars! Please pack out what you pack in. Visit our website for questions or to book a group or private lesson.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$40
 / night
Sunset Over Bears Ears National Monument

7. Sunset Campground on Ruin Road

96%
(625)
34mi from Dove Creek · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · Blanding, UT
Watch the sun come up over the Sleeping Ute Mountain in Colorado and enjoy a gorgeous sunset as the sun sets over the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. We are off the grid and have no electricity or water. Our graveled camping sites are easy to access. We are located next to a paved road. You do not need high clearance vehicles or 4-wheel drive. Camp in a natural high desert environment consisting of cedar and pinion trees, Brigham tea, sagebrush, etc. Great views of the night sky. An ancient Indian mound is on site. The Five Kiva Ruin and Nations Natural Bridge are within hiking distance. Minutes away is the town of Blanding with restaurants, hospital, gas stations and a dump station. Its only a short drive to five different National Monuments: Bears Ears, Natural Bridges, Rainbow Bridge, Hovenweep, and Canyon of The Ancients. Take a scenic drive over the Blue Mountain and Elk Ridge. Southeastern Utah is full of archeology history to hike and explore.
Pets
Toilets
Trash
from 
$25
 / night
There are 3 Tipis in The Views area, this is the biggest, The Raven.

9. Bright Star Campground

98%
(779)
38mi from Dove Creek · 33 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Cortez, CO
We have complimentary WiFi, drinking water, ice, hot showers, bathrooms, communal kitchen, and a shaded pavilion with picnic tables, art nook, ping pong, and more. We are open from April - October. All of our sites and amenities can be booked for retreats or events. There are two large covered pavilions. We customize reservations for small and large groups or longer stays. There are furnished tipis, camping cabins, tent/RV/van sites, and a Navajo Hogan (wooden yurt). Bright Star Campground: Originally established in 2012 as a church camp, it is now a place to connect, create, and rejuvenate in this spectacular high desert landscape. Bright Star Campground is located in the Great Sage Plain in the shadow of Mesa Verde National Park with panoramic views of the Four Corners region, and only 5 miles southeast of Cortez. We are a cannabis-friendly destination but ask that cannabis use stay at your campsite, cabin or tipi. There are many attractions nearby, such as Mesa Verde National Park, Canyons of the Ancients, Hovenweep National Monument and Phil's World Mountain Biking. Raft down the Dolores river, maybe rent a SUP or kayak and chill on a quiet reservoir. We are located 45 minutes from Durango, 1.5 hours from Telluride, and about 2 hours from Moab (Arches and Canyonlands National Parks). The nearest airport is in Durango. The nearest large international airports are in Salt Lake City or Albuquerque.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$40
 / night
Moab Field Office

11. Moab Field Office

93%
(166)
572 sites · Moab, Utah
There’s a pretty solid chance that you’ve heard about Moab, one of Utah’s most happening recreation spots. This gorgeous place gets packed, so do your homework beforehand so you know where to go! The Moab Field Office, administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), takes up 1.8 million acres of gorgeous canyon-riddled lands. Spend your days hunting for natural arches and bridges, exploring mesas, and contemplating how the heck rocks can look so crazy. BLM lands are also fantastic base camps for forays into nearby Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. There are 26 campgrounds, and you can usually find something even on the busiest of weekends (but, if you can swing it, it’s always best to arrive early). River recreation on the Colorado and Green Rivers is another major draw. However you spend your time in Moab, you’ll fall in love with the impressive red rock formations, the deep canyons, and surprising amount of plant life.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Here is the view to the North. All sites face this way.

14. Adventure Haven RV

97%
(622)
42mi from Dove Creek · 8 sites · RVs · La Sal, UT
Hello! Please note that we are RVs only. ALL five sites have FULL hookups, strong WiFi, (so your cell phone WILL work!) and tables. We are 27 miles south of Moab. What we offer: In addition to an exceptional view of the mountain, our place is clean, spacious, orderly, quiet, inexpensive, with super fast and stable WiFi. What we don’t offer: fancy landscaping or restrooms. The Adventure Haven feels open, public and safe to most people. Funky and rural, in high pristine desert with a sweet view of the mountain is the overall vibe. Hours can go by with no traffic noise. This is in contrast to the constant drone of traffic noise in Moab. We are also about ten degrees cooler than Moab with nights cooling off even more; what a relief! The Adventure Haven is a five site mini-RV park located in an old and somewhat derelict subdivision in a small town on a 1.5 acre lot. A uranium boom town in the 1950's, La Sal is now a shadow of past times (and littered with artifact trailers and structures). But we are in beautiful high desert country and we are at the foothills of the La Sal Mountains and the park has a completely unobstructed view of this range! What kind of people LIKE it here? Those who like peace and quiet and dark skies. Relaxed full-time RVers, work-at-homes who need strong and fast WiFi, folks on a budget, those who like to support Hipcamp hosts, people looking for inside local information, solo travelers who want to feel safe yet not in a crowded place - like they’re near someone they know, and in a quiet, small town where unusual things are noticed. What kind of people DON’T like it here? People expecting a resort, or a vast-pristine-remote property. Also people who are uncomfortable with rural eye-sores typical of rural Utah (old cars, and slow projects) will not like it here, nor will party people and special event groups (not allowed here). *If you want a long stay contact us because we might be able to work it out! • Hook and Ladder OHV Trail system is less than five miles away and Rim Rocker Jeep trail is close as well.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$44
 / night
Retro camper

15. Indian Canyon Ranch

95%
(112)
26mi from Dove Creek · 12 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Monticello, UT
Indian Canyon Ranch is a rugged, isolated, off grid property which focuses on enjoying the outdoor beauty of our little corner of the spectacular American South West. Please be advised, that during heavy rain four-wheel drive may be necessary but in all cases low clearance vehicles are not ideal on the last section of road but if you arrive before dark and go slow any vehicle can make it. If you arrive after dark the last bit of road looks more challenging than it actually is due to shadows on the surface caused by the head lights. Units are not heated. Please plan to show up before dark for the best experience and ease of finding the location. Indian Canyon Ranch is proud to be an independent, off grid property with limited solar power and water available. There are no RV hook ups available but there is limited solar power in the rental units and in the communal area but not in the primitive campsites. Campsites are primitive camping only. Showers in the main communal area are solar powered and only hot with the sun and for an hour or so after sunset Joe purchased this property in 2008. At that time, it was 8 acres, and it is now at 20 acres continuous property. The ranch is situated 2 miles off the highway down a bumpy dirt road on the edge of the national forest, this gives you a feeling of being in the wilderness. The south and east sides are boarded by canyons and ruins. All other private properties in the area are 10 acres or more so are well spread out and sparsely populated. All the structures on site were brought here piece by piece and were salvaged from construction projects in Yosemite and Grand Canyon national parks. Water is manually hauled in and the power in the kitchen area is solar generated so please be conscious of water and power use.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$24
 / night
You will cross this bridge over McElmo Creek to enter the property.

16. Anasazi Sites @ Ancient Echoes

96%
(75)
30mi from Dove Creek · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Cortez, CO
This magical place, surrounded by over 500,000 acres of protected land, is a 38 acre desert oasis near Mesa Verde, Sand Canyon and Hovenweep. Pitch your tent or park your small pop up or tiny rv (car and pull behind must be under 20 ft total) in a heritage orchard under and alongside magnificent red cliffs. We also have super clean bathroom with hot shower designated for campers. We have a fully equipped community kitchen for cooking, and a gas grill as well. We border Canyons of the Ancients immediately to the North, a 174,000 acre National Monument with the largest concentration of Ancestral Puebloan ("cliff-dweller") and archeological sites in the United States. A favorite public access point to The Canyons of the Ancients is the Sand Canyon trailhead, a five minute drive from the property up the main road. It is visited by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders alike. We are a genuine "oasis" on exquisite high desert land with profound ancient puebloan sites within steps. Ideal home base for your Southwest adventure.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$70
 / night
Dandelion art installation.

17. CampV Colorado

97%
(45)
36mi from Dove Creek · 7 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Naturita, CO
Inspired Shelter for the Spirited Wanderer CampV was established in 1942 by the Vanadium Corporation to house the engineers who worked in the uranium mines outside of Naturita, Colorado. In 2020, this historic gem was restored by StudioVille Crew to welcome wanderers to a remote and scenic corner of SW Colorado. Discover your Wild without the crowds. Beautiful with a tiny bit of dirt under the fingernails and 120 acres to explore, travelers can sleep well in one of the newly reimagined historic cabins, glamping tents, Jupes, airstreams or river front camping. Through our arts non-profit WEarts, explorers can experience our curated art and support art and creative programming in a rural community. When you’re ready for a mission, check out Planet V, our annual arts and music gathering over Memorial Day and prepare to lift off.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$35
 / night

If you're looking for camping near Dove Creek, Colorado, Hipcamp has over 634 options for you to choose from. With prices ranging from as low as $15 per night to an average of $40 per night, you'll find something that fits your budget. Check out some of the top campsites with rave reviews: The Views at Gateway (243 reviews), Bright Star Campground (211 reviews), and Lakeside Camping, Water Time :) (149 reviews). Enjoy popular amenities like showers, campfires, and the ability to bring your pets. And if you're into wildlife watching, surfing, or climbing, you're in luck - these activities are all popular in the area.

98% (2.3K)

Top-rated campgrounds

Zuma Bike Ranch & Camping in Cortez

2. Zuma Bike Ranch & Camping in Cortez

98%
(78)
33mi from Dove Creek · 8 sites · Tents · Cortez, CO
Zuma Bike Ranch invites you to ride.relax.repeat in the high desert of Dolores and Cortez Colorado. Surround yourself with views of Mesa Verde National Park, Sleeping Ute and the San Juan mountains straight from your tent or camper van. The ranch offers camping, and borders Phil's World mountain bike trail network. Our goal is to encourage community among campers and bikers and connection with the land and its rich history. Zuma Bike Ranch resides on native lands of Puebloan and Ute peoples. At Zuma Bike Ranch we provide professional mountain bike instruction and guided rides for individuals and groups. You have immediate access to over 60 miles of world class singletrack at Phil’s World trail network. More mountain bike trails can be found nearby at the Aquaduct trail system in Mancos, Boggy Draw in Dolores and Sand Canyon at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. In less than an hour you can be riding high alpine terrain with access to the Colorado Trail. We’re 45 minutes from Durango and 120 minutes from Moab, UT. We keep things simple at Zuma Bike Ranch. This is to minimize impact on the land and our environment. Each camp site can accommodate one vehicle or van/truck bed camper. Camp sites fit two tents. We have a nice rinse station, potable water source, and porta potty on site. There are no lights but there are plenty of stars! Please pack out what you pack in. Visit our website for questions or to book a group or private lesson.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$40
 / night
Sunset Over Bears Ears National Monument

7. Sunset Campground on Ruin Road

96%
(625)
34mi from Dove Creek · 10 sites · Tents, RVs · Blanding, UT
Watch the sun come up over the Sleeping Ute Mountain in Colorado and enjoy a gorgeous sunset as the sun sets over the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. We are off the grid and have no electricity or water. Our graveled camping sites are easy to access. We are located next to a paved road. You do not need high clearance vehicles or 4-wheel drive. Camp in a natural high desert environment consisting of cedar and pinion trees, Brigham tea, sagebrush, etc. Great views of the night sky. An ancient Indian mound is on site. The Five Kiva Ruin and Nations Natural Bridge are within hiking distance. Minutes away is the town of Blanding with restaurants, hospital, gas stations and a dump station. Its only a short drive to five different National Monuments: Bears Ears, Natural Bridges, Rainbow Bridge, Hovenweep, and Canyon of The Ancients. Take a scenic drive over the Blue Mountain and Elk Ridge. Southeastern Utah is full of archeology history to hike and explore.
Pets
Toilets
Trash
from 
$25
 / night
There are 3 Tipis in The Views area, this is the biggest, The Raven.

9. Bright Star Campground

98%
(779)
38mi from Dove Creek · 33 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Cortez, CO
We have complimentary WiFi, drinking water, ice, hot showers, bathrooms, communal kitchen, and a shaded pavilion with picnic tables, art nook, ping pong, and more. We are open from April - October. All of our sites and amenities can be booked for retreats or events. There are two large covered pavilions. We customize reservations for small and large groups or longer stays. There are furnished tipis, camping cabins, tent/RV/van sites, and a Navajo Hogan (wooden yurt). Bright Star Campground: Originally established in 2012 as a church camp, it is now a place to connect, create, and rejuvenate in this spectacular high desert landscape. Bright Star Campground is located in the Great Sage Plain in the shadow of Mesa Verde National Park with panoramic views of the Four Corners region, and only 5 miles southeast of Cortez. We are a cannabis-friendly destination but ask that cannabis use stay at your campsite, cabin or tipi. There are many attractions nearby, such as Mesa Verde National Park, Canyons of the Ancients, Hovenweep National Monument and Phil's World Mountain Biking. Raft down the Dolores river, maybe rent a SUP or kayak and chill on a quiet reservoir. We are located 45 minutes from Durango, 1.5 hours from Telluride, and about 2 hours from Moab (Arches and Canyonlands National Parks). The nearest airport is in Durango. The nearest large international airports are in Salt Lake City or Albuquerque.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$40
 / night
Moab Field Office

11. Moab Field Office

93%
(166)
572 sites · Moab, Utah
There’s a pretty solid chance that you’ve heard about Moab, one of Utah’s most happening recreation spots. This gorgeous place gets packed, so do your homework beforehand so you know where to go! The Moab Field Office, administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), takes up 1.8 million acres of gorgeous canyon-riddled lands. Spend your days hunting for natural arches and bridges, exploring mesas, and contemplating how the heck rocks can look so crazy. BLM lands are also fantastic base camps for forays into nearby Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. There are 26 campgrounds, and you can usually find something even on the busiest of weekends (but, if you can swing it, it’s always best to arrive early). River recreation on the Colorado and Green Rivers is another major draw. However you spend your time in Moab, you’ll fall in love with the impressive red rock formations, the deep canyons, and surprising amount of plant life.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
Here is the view to the North. All sites face this way.

14. Adventure Haven RV

97%
(622)
42mi from Dove Creek · 8 sites · RVs · La Sal, UT
Hello! Please note that we are RVs only. ALL five sites have FULL hookups, strong WiFi, (so your cell phone WILL work!) and tables. We are 27 miles south of Moab. What we offer: In addition to an exceptional view of the mountain, our place is clean, spacious, orderly, quiet, inexpensive, with super fast and stable WiFi. What we don’t offer: fancy landscaping or restrooms. The Adventure Haven feels open, public and safe to most people. Funky and rural, in high pristine desert with a sweet view of the mountain is the overall vibe. Hours can go by with no traffic noise. This is in contrast to the constant drone of traffic noise in Moab. We are also about ten degrees cooler than Moab with nights cooling off even more; what a relief! The Adventure Haven is a five site mini-RV park located in an old and somewhat derelict subdivision in a small town on a 1.5 acre lot. A uranium boom town in the 1950's, La Sal is now a shadow of past times (and littered with artifact trailers and structures). But we are in beautiful high desert country and we are at the foothills of the La Sal Mountains and the park has a completely unobstructed view of this range! What kind of people LIKE it here? Those who like peace and quiet and dark skies. Relaxed full-time RVers, work-at-homes who need strong and fast WiFi, folks on a budget, those who like to support Hipcamp hosts, people looking for inside local information, solo travelers who want to feel safe yet not in a crowded place - like they’re near someone they know, and in a quiet, small town where unusual things are noticed. What kind of people DON’T like it here? People expecting a resort, or a vast-pristine-remote property. Also people who are uncomfortable with rural eye-sores typical of rural Utah (old cars, and slow projects) will not like it here, nor will party people and special event groups (not allowed here). *If you want a long stay contact us because we might be able to work it out! • Hook and Ladder OHV Trail system is less than five miles away and Rim Rocker Jeep trail is close as well.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$44
 / night
Retro camper

15. Indian Canyon Ranch

95%
(112)
26mi from Dove Creek · 12 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Monticello, UT
Indian Canyon Ranch is a rugged, isolated, off grid property which focuses on enjoying the outdoor beauty of our little corner of the spectacular American South West. Please be advised, that during heavy rain four-wheel drive may be necessary but in all cases low clearance vehicles are not ideal on the last section of road but if you arrive before dark and go slow any vehicle can make it. If you arrive after dark the last bit of road looks more challenging than it actually is due to shadows on the surface caused by the head lights. Units are not heated. Please plan to show up before dark for the best experience and ease of finding the location. Indian Canyon Ranch is proud to be an independent, off grid property with limited solar power and water available. There are no RV hook ups available but there is limited solar power in the rental units and in the communal area but not in the primitive campsites. Campsites are primitive camping only. Showers in the main communal area are solar powered and only hot with the sun and for an hour or so after sunset Joe purchased this property in 2008. At that time, it was 8 acres, and it is now at 20 acres continuous property. The ranch is situated 2 miles off the highway down a bumpy dirt road on the edge of the national forest, this gives you a feeling of being in the wilderness. The south and east sides are boarded by canyons and ruins. All other private properties in the area are 10 acres or more so are well spread out and sparsely populated. All the structures on site were brought here piece by piece and were salvaged from construction projects in Yosemite and Grand Canyon national parks. Water is manually hauled in and the power in the kitchen area is solar generated so please be conscious of water and power use.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$24
 / night
You will cross this bridge over McElmo Creek to enter the property.

16. Anasazi Sites @ Ancient Echoes

96%
(75)
30mi from Dove Creek · 6 sites · Tents, RVs · Cortez, CO
This magical place, surrounded by over 500,000 acres of protected land, is a 38 acre desert oasis near Mesa Verde, Sand Canyon and Hovenweep. Pitch your tent or park your small pop up or tiny rv (car and pull behind must be under 20 ft total) in a heritage orchard under and alongside magnificent red cliffs. We also have super clean bathroom with hot shower designated for campers. We have a fully equipped community kitchen for cooking, and a gas grill as well. We border Canyons of the Ancients immediately to the North, a 174,000 acre National Monument with the largest concentration of Ancestral Puebloan ("cliff-dweller") and archeological sites in the United States. A favorite public access point to The Canyons of the Ancients is the Sand Canyon trailhead, a five minute drive from the property up the main road. It is visited by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders alike. We are a genuine "oasis" on exquisite high desert land with profound ancient puebloan sites within steps. Ideal home base for your Southwest adventure.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$70
 / night
Dandelion art installation.

17. CampV Colorado

97%
(45)
36mi from Dove Creek · 7 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Naturita, CO
Inspired Shelter for the Spirited Wanderer CampV was established in 1942 by the Vanadium Corporation to house the engineers who worked in the uranium mines outside of Naturita, Colorado. In 2020, this historic gem was restored by StudioVille Crew to welcome wanderers to a remote and scenic corner of SW Colorado. Discover your Wild without the crowds. Beautiful with a tiny bit of dirt under the fingernails and 120 acres to explore, travelers can sleep well in one of the newly reimagined historic cabins, glamping tents, Jupes, airstreams or river front camping. Through our arts non-profit WEarts, explorers can experience our curated art and support art and creative programming in a rural community. When you’re ready for a mission, check out Planet V, our annual arts and music gathering over Memorial Day and prepare to lift off.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$35
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field