Manitou Springs, Colorado

Looking for the best camping in Manitou Springs? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Manitou Springs. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Camping Spots in and near Manitou Springs

  • Colorado Springs, Colorado

    Camp along Rampart Range Road

    Along Rampart Range Road there are about 30 free BLM camping spots that offer scenic views of Pikes Peak and the surrounding forest. The road in is about 6 miles of gravel, however a 2WD Sedan was able to make the journey just fine! The camping spots are designated by a pre-existing fire ring and...
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  • Woodland Park, Colorado

    Lovell Gulch Trail

    5.22 mi / 814 ft gain
    Lovell Gulch Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Woodland Park, Colorado.
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  • Teller County, Colorado

    Backpack to the Abandoned Skagway Power Plant and Ghost Town

    3.5
    10 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Construction of the Skagway Plant began in 1899 and was complete in 1901. In 1965, 15 days of rain brought floods washing out a lot of the pipeline and other infrastructure. Fixing the power plant didn’t make sense and funds weren’t in place. The land was reverted to the government. The hike b...
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  • Cañon City, Colorado

    Shelf Road

    5.0
    Shelf Road, which was once a toll road from Cripple Creek to Canon City, is now a maintained dirt road that most high clearance two wheel drive cars can make.  It will take over an hour to travel the 25 miles or so, and it can be completed going from north to south or the opposite.  I will explai...
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  • Cañon City, Colorado

    Climb at Shelf Road

    4.4
    1.5 mi / 400 ft gain
    Shelf Road is secluded, rural, and has great climbing. There are so many areas to choose from and it has a great diversity of route levels (mostly sport routes). My personal favorite area is "The Gallery" and "The Bank." Everyone is friendly and gives each other a hand.Sand Gulch Campground, righ...
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  • Woodland Park, Colorado

    Climb at Turkey Rocks

    5.0
    Looking for a place to hone your crack climbing technique?  Turkey Rocks is the place with some old school ethics and stiff grades. Turkey can be accessed from the town of Westcreek north of Woodland Park.  From here, head west on Abbey Road and then south on West Creek Ave.  About a mile down t...
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  • 4402 Garden Park Road, Colorado

    Mountain Bike at Oil Well Flats

    13 mi / 1200 ft gain
    The Basics: Picture this: Winter on Colorado's Front Range. It snowed yesterday. You're stir crazy because today it's 60 degrees and sunny outside, but the trails are a muddy mess! Cue Oil Well Flats. Located just an hour outside of Colorado Springs, this trail network rarely sees precipitation, ...
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  • Lake George, Colorado

    Camp and Fish at Eleven Mile Canyon

    4.4
    Located below the dam of the Eleven Mile Reservoir, Eleven Mile Canyon is a scenic spot for camping, fishing, hiking and climbing. There are four different campgrounds to choose from (Cove, Riverside, Spillway and Springer), though only one campground remains open during the off season. Getting t...
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  • Sedalia, Colorado

    Backpack the Lost Creek Loop

    33.5 mi / 6200 ft gain
    Lost Creek Wilderness may be my favorite part of Colorado.  It contains varied terrain and geography, and is less crowded than most places.  This loop will take you through everything the wilderness area has to offer.  You will get sweeping panoramas of mountain ranges to the south, as well has m...
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  • Sedalia, Colorado

    Camp at Goose Creek

    3.0
    8 mi / 1300 ft gain
    Goose Creek is a fantastic spot to hike or camp. There is a dirt road leading to the trailhead, and it winds through the mountains and offers a great view of the valley. The dirt road is relatively easy and well-maintained. The burn scar from the Hayman fire is still really evident, so there are ...
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  • Pine, Colorado

    Dispersed Camp at the Buffalo Creek Area in Pike National Forest

    3.8
    50 miles from Denver, nestled in Pike National Forest, there are dozens of free dispersed camping sites. With quick access to the Colorado Trail and Buffalo Creek Mountain Bike Area, these campsites make for a perfect weekend getaway. The campsites begin on Forest Road 550, and are clearly marked...
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  • Jefferson, Colorado

    Backpack Lost Creek

    4.0
    5 mi
    I included a trail map of where I camped. There are many sites all throughout this area. From the Lost Park Campground Parking lot follow the Lost Creek for 2.4 miles. At the 1 mile mark was the best place that we found to cross the creek (there are two logs that make a bridge across the creek). ...
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  • Jefferson, Colorado

    Camping at Lost Park Campground

    4.5
    This campground is a great spot to crash at before heading out on a backpacking trip through the Lost Creek Wilderness but serves as an amazing campground itself. The area immediately surrounding the campground is beautiful. There are 12 campsites that can accomodate two vehicles per site and eac...
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  • Bailey, Colorado

    Payne Creek Trail via Brookside McCurdy Trailhead

    4.5
    17.98 mi / 3773 ft gain
    Day 1: Park at the Payne Creek/Brookside Trailhead (8,040 ft.) right outside Bailey. You'll go on the trail for about a mile before the trail parts to Craig Meadows or Craig Park. If you start this in the nighttime, it's best to camp before you part ways on the trail as it's a little more spaciou...
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