Free Camping

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Cozy camp spots nestled in a canyon next to a river. There are no amenities or toilets. There are around 10 spots that consist of semi-level ground and a few rock rings for fire pits. Most spots are less than 50 feet from the road, so you'll hear cars during the day (not too many pass by at night). The turn off to the campsite is approx. 9 miles from Highway 285 in Buena Vista. You'll pass Rainbow Lake, and it's the second turn off to the left. If you see a turn off to the right, you've gone too far. Approx. 3.5 miles towards Buena Vista is Cottonwood Hot Springs, a very relaxing paid hot springs resort. The campsite is within a quarter mile of the Colorado Trial, so there are great hiking opportunities nearby. Check out Cottonwood Lake off of Highway 343 for fishing, camping, kayaking, hiking and 4-wheeling in the summer, and snowmobiling, cross-county skiing, ice skating and ice fishing in the winter.