Buena Vista is in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. With Pikes, San Isabel, Gunnison, and Rio Grande National Forests near by, there is no shortage of camping. Weather you are planning to hike into a wilderness area for some backcountry camping or stay at a campground resort complete with showers and amenities, there is something nearby for everyone. Take a look below for some awesome camping spots in Buena Vista.
Right down the road from Buena Vista are the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness area and the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness area. Both of these areas provide access to backcountry camping accessible by horse or foot, perfect for the adventurous outdoorsman. Want something a little bit more mild, but still in the boonies? Dispersed camping on forest service roads might be the perfect option for you.
Get into the woods and away from all of your modern living for the night via Forest Service Roads or through some Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. Coming up through Salida or Leadville? There are Forest Service Offices in both of those towns that you can swing in and get the low down on dispersed camping. If you’re not traveling through those towns, you can call the office and get all the info you need over the phone. Another great resource for free camping in the Buena Vista area is freecampsites.net. If you go this route make sure you bring everything you need, as there are no modern amenities. Also, remember to practice Leave No Trace (LNT) principles. If it comes with you to the campsite, it should be brought out with you when you leave. For those who enjoy camping, while still having access to some modern amenities, there are many developed campsites available for a small fee.
If you’re planning on doing some ziplining or white water rafting with AVA Colorado Rafting 
and Ziplining on trip, look no further. AVA’s Granite Outpost is only fifteen minutes from Buena Vista and has a campground on site. Enjoy your evening grilling and lounging around the fire and wake up minutes away from the check in site for your zip line or rafting adventure. There are some other beautiful campgrounds near by if you would like to see more of the area.
Pikes, San Isabel, Gunnison, and Rio Grande National Forests are all near Buena Vista and have plenty of campsites with some modern amenities such as restrooms, picnic tables, and fire pits. For a list of campsites near Buena Vista, visit www.forestcamping.com. On the left hand side of the screen there is a toolbar with the option “National Forests & Campgrounds.” If you click on that you can choose Colorado as the state, pick a National Forest, and the website will provide you with a list of campgrounds. Although there are only two listed in Buena Vista, there are many near by that might spark your interest as well. Camping resorts are another great option for a camping experience with many modern features.
Have fun perusing the details of each site and choose the right one for you!
