At Wayfarer Vans, our team is lucky to be situated alongside Pikes Peak (aka America’s Mountain) and have access to the beautiful scenery Colorado offers. We treat time outdoors in our state as a best practice.

As outdoor enthusiasts with a shared passion for travel and recreation, we come to work not only to convert camper vans, but to introduce Wayfarians to a new frame of mind of travel, adventure, and possibilities.

When picking up campervan conversions, new Wayfarians often ask our recommendation on where to camp in Colorado. Below, our team shares some of their favorite Colorado campsites and activities. 

Jordan Poole, Builder & Installer

Time in Colorado: 29 years

Favorite camping spot: McInnis Canyon in Rabbit Valley, near the Utah border 

Location: Mack, CO

Campsite type: established campground or dispersed camping

Things to do: there are amazing campsites back in McInnis Canyon that overlook the Colorado river. While you’re there, load up your gear and drive roughly an hour to Moab for a fantastic meal at Moab Diner along with world-class mountain biking.

Lex Bouska, Inventory & Shipping Coordinator

Time in Colorado: 1.5 years

Favorite camping spot: Lake View Campground

Location: Leadville, CO

Campsite type: established campground or dispersed camping

Things to do: Twin Lakes sits at the base of Independence Pass. It’s gorgeous year-round, especially during fall when the leaves are changing. There’s great hiking and mountain biking all around the area. We love camping there during summer and watching storms pass through, playing in the water, and hiking the nearby trails. There’s a general store in town that’s been around since the late 1800s; the owners are super friendly and they have great snacks! 

Jason Dempster, Builder & Installer

Time in Colorado: 3 years

Favorite camping spot: Zapata Falls Campground near Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Location: Mosca, CO

Campsite type: established campground

Things to do: Hiking to Zapata Falls is a must! The hike itself is just under a mile and leads to a waterfall that drops 30 feet. This area has great ice climbing in winter. 

Jake Aisenbrey, Smooth Operator

Time in Colorado: 6 years

Favorite camping spot: Spring Creek Road near Taylor Park Reservoir (west side of Cottonwood Pass)

Location: Gunnison, CO

Campsite type: established campground or dispersed camping

Things to do: Doctor Park mountain bike trail is a hidden gem near Almont, CO, just south of Spring Creek Road. The full loop is 20 miles long with ~2,700 feet of elevation gain, but it’s one for the books! It’s my favorite ride in Colorado. Harmels on the Taylor is a nearby dude ranch with great food, activities, and an all around awesome vibe. 

Austin Boehnlein, Chief Journey Architect

Time in Colorado: 6 years 

Favorite camping spot: County Road 149 near the Rio Grande Headwaters (aka Silver Thread Byway)

Location: Creede, CO

Campsite type: dispersed camping

Things to do: There’s a seasonal Farmer’s Market in Creede, CO that’s wonderful. The Wheeler Geologic Area (aka Wheeler Hoodoos) is a lesser known natural wonder that’s unbelievable to see in person. Hiking is a great option to get there and provides quiet solitude over approximately 10 miles. The area also has waterfalls and great rock climbing. This is a worthwhile trek if you’ve got the time. 

Wade Arnold, Lead Builder & Installer

Time in Colorado: 3 years 

Favorite camping spot: Alta Lakes Campground

Location: Telluride, CO

Campsite type: dispersed camping with pit toilet

Things to do: There are tons of options for dining in Telluride. We love riding up the gondola with our bikes and pedaling the mountain trails. Best of all, it’s free to ride the gondola with your bike in the summer! 

Michael Auffant, Digital Marketer

Time in Colorado: 1.5 years 

Favorite camping spot: Kayak Overnight Parking Lot

Location: Frisco, CO

Campsite type: parking lot 

Things to do: The parking lot is at the end of Main Street. It’s right next to the river, very close to Highway 70, and next to downtown Frisco. You can park here for 24 hours which is convenient and allows you to have a night out on the town in Frisco! We love riding the bike path, climbing the rock outcrop next to the parking lot, and walking into town for dinner (our staples include Ollie’s and Prosit German Restaurant). There’s great mountain biking along the lower portion of the Tenmile Peak area. 

Ian Horgan, Chief Van Operator

Time in Colorado: 12 years

Favorite camping spot: Penitente Canyon Campground

Location: Del Norte, CO

Campsite type: established campground

Things to do: Del Norte is a cool town across the valley from the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. It’s an unbelievable place to watch the sunset, and you can see the Great Sand Dunes from the campground. There’s outstanding mountain biking nearby. Be sure to stop by Three Barrel Brewing for great beer and pizza. 

Isaac Dehart, Production & Data Coordinator

Time in Colorado: 4 years

Favorite camping spot: Poncha Springs Visitor Center

Location: Poncha Springs, CO

Campsite type: parking lot

Things to do: The parking lot at the visitor’s center is free to camp in and is just down the road from Salida, a historic town with lots of great dining options and purpose-built mountain biking. We love staying here, walking across the street to Elevation Beer Company, and hitting Red Truck Pizza. We do a lot of backcountry skiing off Monarch Pass in the winter, an easy 15-minute drive west from Poncha Springs. Be sure to grab a cup of joe at Tiny House Coffee, they’re great people with a great tasting bean! 

Andy Mullins, Chief Storyteller

Time in Colorado: 12 years

Favorite camping spot: Forest Road 375

Location: Buena Vista, CO

Campsite type: established campground (Turtle Rock Camp Spur) or dispersed camping

Things to do: Buena Vista is one of my favorite Colorado towns. If you’re into mountain biking, I highly recommend the Midland Trail (green for novice riders), Django / Unchained trails (blue, more intermediate), or Vitamin B (double black, expert riders). We always make a stop at Cottonwood Hot Springs for a soak and Eddyline Brewing for a beer and wings. Last, I highly recommend hiking Brown’s Creek in Nathrop (~20 mins south) to see the waterfall. It’s just over 6 miles round trip. 

Are you a fellow Wayfarian (i.e. own a Wayfarer Van)? Be sure to download the Wayfarer Vans app where you can add, share, and review the best campsites from gems far off the paved roads, to friendly roadside parking lots for a quick sleep. The beauty of finding your next spot on the Wayfarer app is that you’ll know it was added by a fellow Wayfarian with a similar vehicle.