Camp West of 105: Top Spots in Western Colorado

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As the weather warms up and the days get longer, there’s no better time to explore the great outdoors. Western Colorado offers some of the most stunning landscapes for camping, from rugged canyons and desert views to serene mountain lakes and towering peaks. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or just looking for a peaceful weekend escape, there’s a spot for everyone. In this edition, we’ll take you through some of the best camping destinations in the area, perfect for a night under the stars and a day filled with adventure. Let’s dive into these unforgettable spots that will help you unplug, recharge, and make the most of the season ahead.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Just an hour from Grand Junction and only 10 minutes from downtown Montrose lies one of Colorado’s most awe-inspiring yet often under appreciated destinations—Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. With its sheer, shadowed walls carved by the relentless Gunnison River, this park is a geologic marvel and a dramatic change of scenery from the high desert just outside the city.

Both the North Rim and South Rim offer jaw-dropping views, but for those looking for easier access, more amenities, and a wider range of experiences, the South Rim (via Montrose) is the way to go. Here, visitors can explore scenic overlooks like Painted Wall and Gunnison Point, hike along rim trails with views that make your stomach drop, and even take on inner canyon routes that descend deep into the rugged heart of the canyon. These inner canyon routes are unmaintained and steep, requiring a wilderness permit, but they’re a bucket-list experience for seasoned adventurers.

For climbers, Black Canyon is a hidden gem. The steep granite walls make for some of the most challenging and rewarding climbing routes in the country. Meanwhile, anglers can head down the winding road to East Portal, where the Gunnison River offers Gold Medal and Wild Trout water—perfect for those who don’t mind earning their cast with a steep descent.

Camping at Black Canyon gives you a front-row seat to one of the darkest skies in the U.S. As an officially designated International Dark Sky Park, this area attracts stargazers from around the world. Whether you're catching a meteor shower or just watching the Milky Way emerge in crystal clarity, the night sky here is truly next level.

The South Rim Campground offers sites for tents and RVs, with some electric hookups available. It’s a peaceful basecamp with quick access to visitor facilities and several trailheads. The North Rim Campground is more remote and suited to those looking for a quieter, more rugged experience. Dispersed camping options can also be found just outside the park boundaries on nearby the Bereau of Land Management lands.

Whether you’re looking to hike, climb, fish, or just stare into the abyss, Black Canyon is one of western Colorado’s most unforgettable camping and adventure spots.

Need some suggestions for where to stay, what to eat and what else to do in Montrose? Click here.

Grand Mesa

Towering high above the Grand Valley, the Grand Mesa offers a cool, green escape from the desert heat and a chance to camp under a blanket of stars. Often overlooked by those who see it daily from Grand Junction, this massive flat-topped mountain—the largest of its kind in the world—is an outdoor paradise with over 500 square miles of forested wilderness, more than 300 lakes, and endless recreational opportunities.

At an elevation of over 11,000 feet, the Grand Mesa is a full-on alpine environment, which means cooler temps, fresh mountain air, and scenery that ranges from aspen groves and pine forests to wildflower-filled meadows and crystal-clear lakes. It's a stark contrast to the red rock landscapes below and an ideal weekend getaway for students, locals, and visitors alike.

Deep Ward Lake, one of the many gems tucked into the mesa, offers peaceful, lakeside camping with stunning sunrise views. The sites here are some of the most scenic on the mesa, especially for those looking to wake up to glassy water reflecting the sky. Fishing is popular too, with opportunities to catch trout and other cold-water species in many of the Grand Mesa’s lakes.

The Grand Mesa National Forest is also a four-season recreation area. In summer and fall, it’s a haven for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and simply relaxing in a hammock strung between aspens. When the snow hits, the mesa transforms into a winter playground. The Grand Mesa Nordic Council grooms over 30 miles of cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails, while the nearby Powderhorn Mountain Resort caters to skiers and snowboarders. Snowmobiling is also popular across a vast network of groomed trails.

Camping options range from developed campgrounds like Jumbo, Island Lake, and Ward Lake, to more primitive, dispersed sites for those seeking solitude. Some sites are first-come, first-served, while others can be reserved in advance through the Forest Service website.

Whether you're casting a line, hitting a trail, or stargazing from a quiet lakeside perch, the Grand Mesa is the perfect alpine antidote to the desert below—a reminder that Colorado’s wild variety is always just a short drive away.

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Dominguez-Escalante 

Further south lies the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, a wilder and more remote swath of canyon country, protected by Congress in 2009 for its natural and cultural richness. The landscape is classic high desert—think colorful cliffs, hidden waterfalls, ancient petroglyphs, and trails that wind through canyons carved by the Gunnison River. This area includes the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, where motorized vehicles are not allowed, preserving a sense of solitude that’s hard to find elsewhere.

Camping options include Big Dominguez Campground, ideal for tent campers and small rigs, and Potholes Campground, which offers shaded sites near swimming holes and slickrock formations perfect for exploration. These campgrounds are managed by the BLM and are generally free or low-cost, with minimal amenities—think vault toilets and no hookups. But the trade-off is absolute quiet, wide-open night skies, and the chance to camp near rock layers that date back 1.4 billion years.

Beyond camping and hiking, you’ll find ancient fossils, evidence of early indigenous cultures, and remnants of homesteads and railroads that helped shape the region’s more recent past. For adventurers with OHVs, designated trails offer a way to explore farther reaches of the conservation area without disturbing its natural integrity.

Whether you're a seasoned desert rat or new to red rock country, these public lands provide unmatched access to the raw beauty and deep history of western Colorado.

Colorado National Monument

Perched high above the Grand Valley and just minutes from Grand Junction, Colorado National Monument offers an unforgettable desert camping experience. With its towering monoliths, steep-walled canyons, and winding Rim Rock Drive, this protected landscape is often described as a mini version of Utah’s national parks—minus the crowds.

The monument is a haven for hikers, photographers, and geology enthusiasts. Trails like Monument Canyon, Serpent’s Trail, and Coke Ovens showcase the rugged beauty of the Colorado Plateau, while panoramic viewpoints reveal layers of red rock carved over millions of years. Wildlife sightings are common too—bighorn sheep, golden eagles, and desert lizards are often seen among the cliffs.

Camping inside the monument is available at Saddlehorn Campground, located near the visitor center at the west entrance. Open year-round, this campground offers paved sites for tents and RVs (though there are no hookups), along with restrooms, picnic tables, and access to nearby trailheads. Sites are reservable during peak season and first-come, first-served in the off-season.

With minimal light pollution and wide-open views, the Colorado National Monument is an excellent spot for stargazing. Sunsets here are also spectacular, as the cliffs and canyons light up in deep oranges, reds, and purples.

Whether you're looking for a quiet place to watch the stars, a basecamp for desert hikes, or just a weekend getaway close to town, Colorado National Monument delivers with big views and a deep sense of solitude.

No matter where you choose to camp, Western Colorado offers an abundance of beautiful landscapes to explore. From the rugged canyons of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison to the peaceful lakes of the Grand Mesa, there’s no shortage of stunning views and outdoor adventures awaiting you. So pack up your gear, hit the trails, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty that defines this incredible region.

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WKRP Montrose