Good spots to camp near Boulder?

I'd like to get away from the Gunnison Valley (hopefully soon) and spend a long weekend with my bike and climbing gear in the area. What are some good spots, close to town, that I could pitch a tent and crash? Thanks for any ideas.

Golden Gate State Park is probably your best bet close to Boulder...that's the problem with the front range for visitors, no camping really. There's always Wal-Marts too.

Check with Walmarts.....so many are now NO OVERNIGHT PARKING.

There's also a "RV Park" in downtown Golden... Not sure how much it is but you could walk/ride everywhere in town, then stumble back...

There are some hike into camping spots in
White Ranch Park outside of Golden--a bit closer than
Golden Gate Canyon SP. But you need to get a permit
for them.

There is also camping off highway 72 above Nederland. Its close if you want to climb boulder canyon but would be around 45min to Eldo. Of course it would be way to cold for me in the winter but maybe thats what you are into.

Check the Boulder County Fairgrounds.

There is camping allowed up near Upper dream Canyon in Sugarloaf. Just follow the directions to the parking lot for upper dream canyon and there is camping around that area

These other threads should satisfy any questions about camping around Boulder.

mountainproject.com/v/color…

mountainproject.com/v/color…

mountainproject.com/v/color…

mountainproject.com/v/color…

There's only been 4 previous threads about this? It seems like there's been more.

Mike Lane wrote:There's only been 4 previous threads about this? It seems like there's been more.

You live in Crested Butte?
The answer seems obviosu to me!
Offer a couch-swap time to some climber-skier types.
You'll end up happy and in town!

Tony B wrote:You live in Crested Butte? The answer seems obviosu to me! Offer a couch-swap time to some climber-skier types. You'll end up happy and in town!

Boulder mountain lodge at intersection of boulder canyon and 4 mile canyon...tell the owner u know a smokejumper he may cut u a deal...

There is no camping at upper Dream off of Sugarloaf. I suppose you could, but the people who live there would not be psyched. Off of the switzerland trail from Sugarloaf is some camping (go past lost angel road on sugarloaf, turn right when the road crests below the summit). The route takes an old rail grade down and back up toward gold hill. There are ample fire roads to explore and not much snow right now.

Beyond Gold Hill is some camping off of the switzerland trail that is easy to access right now (as long as a deep snow doesn't fall/ no maintenance)

Otherwise, yeah, Boulder sucks for camping. Pretty much everything would be winter camping at ~8000'