You can pitch a tent at one of three individual tent sites in the town of Carbondale’s Gateway RV Park. These sites, and a small-group tent site that accommodates three to four tents, are situated in the back section of the park, away from the RV area. You can park at your site and enjoy a hot shower and flush restrooms within walking distance. The campground lies next to the Bob Terrell State Wildlife Area, where you can access the Roaring Fork to fish or put your raft on the river at a boat ramp.
Head into the White River National Forest to find plenty of places to pitch your tent. The campsites were constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corp, with charming rock walls at some locales hearkening back to yesteryear. The campgrounds have limited room to maneuver a trailer or RV, so it’s a good place to go if you don’t want to camp looking at the side of someone’s trailer. Basic amenities include fire rings, picnic tables and vault restrooms, with water available at some campgrounds. Avalanche Campground lies 13 miles south of Carbondale, with a trail into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness that leads directly from camp.
Public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management provide camping sites without amenities. Vault toilets are found at trailheads and designated dispersed camping areas. Thompson Creek Trailhead, 7 miles west of Carbondale, is one nearby option. Hike the trail through rugged pinnacles and sandstone cliffs where you may see a dinosaur footprint pressed into the rock. You may also camp at dispersed locations at Bureau of Land Management lands, in the White River National Forest or the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. You can obtain an overnight permit for camping in the wilderness from the White River National Forest. Permits are not needed for other public lands in the area.
Bears live in the areas surrounding Carbondale. Pack your food in airtight containers and store it inside of a wildlife-resistant storage container secured to a rock or tree at least 100 feet from your campsite. Dog food, scented items and garbage should also be stored in a similar manner. Don’t wear scented lotions inside your tent, and be sure to change out of any clothing you may have cooked or eaten in before turning in for the evening.
