Anvil Dispersed Camping
San Juan National Forest
Write a Review FR-585 Silverton, CO 81433 970-387-5530 970-247-4874 Official WebsiteGPS: 37.821, -107.7192
Overview of Anvil Dispersed Camping
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads.
Learn more: Boondocking 101
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by sbrightrclay on 9/24/2023
Longest RV Reported: 26 feet (Travel Trailer)
Reported by Beer Goddess on 8/28/2020
Pad Type dirt
Open Seasonally Yes
Elevation 9,514 ft / 2,899 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about Anvil Dispersed Camping
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 970-387-5530
Reviews of Anvil Dispersed Camping 19 people have reviewed this location.
“Perfect spot by the creek”
Reviewed 9/5/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
We followed the guidance of the previous campers and found a perfect spot next to the creek. Arrived on Labor Day and found a really nice spot. There were several to choose from and a fellow camper recommended we opt for the far end of the road due to several other campers who were running generators constantly. The site is beautifu... more
We followed the guidance of the previous campers and found a perfect spot next to the creek. Arrived on Labor Day and found a really nice spot. There were several to choose from and a fellow camper recommended we opt for the far end of the road due to several other campers who were running generators constantly. The site is beautiful. but by boondooking standards a little cozy. We needed to have cell service to work so options were limited. We received 1-2 bars 4g ATT and boosted it to 3 bars LTE. Verizon was 2 bars. Was able to sit by the stream and work..... what a perfect office. We would definitely stay again.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“What the NAM?”
Reviewed 7/31/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 14 |
First of all, this could just as easily be a review for the Sultan Camping Area as it's 20 feet away on the other side of Mineral Creek. The campground is nestled underneath roughly 12,500 foot peaks on all sides, in a somewhat dense forest of aspens and pines. Very pretty, except the valley setting means you, nor your solar panels, ... more
First of all, this could just as easily be a review for the Sultan Camping Area as it's 20 feet away on the other side of Mineral Creek. The campground is nestled underneath roughly 12,500 foot peaks on all sides, in a somewhat dense forest of aspens and pines. Very pretty, except the valley setting means you, nor your solar panels, will see the sun for about two hours after it rises and before it sets. Still peak solar hours, but think about 45 degree mornings in the shade vs the sun.
Both Anvil and Sultan are small campgrounds, each with about 5 spots for RVs and another 5 for tent campers. A Class A or 5th wheel might be difficult to turn around depending on the existing spaces taken, so scout ahead. Mineral Creek (non potable) can be rather loud if you're right on it, but is pleasant background noise anywhere else. There're no amenities, but the pit toilet in Kendall Camping Area is a ten minute walk up the road.
That road into camp from SR 550 is excellent, good for any vehicle, at least up through Anvil/Sultan. SR 550 (The Million Dollar Highway) itself is another story. If you happen to be coming in from the north you'll go through the beautiful little town of Ouray, and then the fun begins. I can't do justice to the Million Dollar Highway here, but suffice to say it's breathtaking and terrifying at the same time. I would not want to cross it in a larger vehicle or in any adverse conditions.
Finally, what's the NAM? For those new to the southwest, aka me, the NAM is the North American Monsoon, which affects most of Arizona and parts of Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado. The part of Colorado is southwest Colorado. This part of Colorado. And what the NAM brings is daily rain/thunderstorms from July through August. You can pretty much bank on it. And that, combined with the shortened sunlight exposure due to being in such a tight valley, is the main detraction of this campground this time of year. The sun finally crests over the trees around 10 AM, but before you know it the sky fills with clouds and it's raining by mid-afternoon. Still relatively pleasant, but it gets tedious after a few days. Being in a heavily wooded valley, wind was not an issue here.
The remote location and sparse local population means it doesn't get crazy on the weekends, and the small campground size doesn't encourage ORV usage within the campground. I got a solid three bars of T-Mobile, unboosted. Oh, and the scenery is spectacular.
Permanent Vacation would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Never want to leave”
Reviewed 7/26/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
I stayed on the disperses camping which is all over the place. Amazing views. Right on the river. So much space. If you’ve got AWD or 4WD keep going down the road and up in elevation for some more amazing spots. Not to mention a 5 minute drive to Silverton and all the amazing wilderness and trails.
Madkins would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Reviewed 5/22/2018
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Quiet little campsite perfectly nestled next to the creek. Accessible by 2 wheel drive, though the road is dirt it is fairly smooth.
A.D.ventures would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Amazing riverside camping - come on off days to snag the river spots!”
Reviewed 10/2/2017
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 7 |
7 Nights, Oct 2017 Sultan and Anvil are campground on both sides of Mineral Creek, with a few direct riverfront camping opportunities on either side. Anvil is narrower, but offers more camping opportunities for larger rigs further back along the river, while Sultan is wider but vehicle camping is restricted to the front area. There ... more
7 Nights, Oct 2017
Sultan and Anvil are campground on both sides of Mineral Creek, with a few direct riverfront camping opportunities on either side. Anvil is narrower, but offers more camping opportunities for larger rigs further back along the river, while Sultan is wider but vehicle camping is restricted to the front area. There are further tent camping opportunities on both sides for those who walk back into the forest a little bit. Bears, Moose, and Deer are present, and a large black bear was frequenting the area for a dear carcass which had been left behind by hunters. Access to the campground is through a dirt road which can get muddy when wet, but is otherwise uneventful.
Note that the road to Silverton from Durango isn’t that bad. It’s a bit twisty and at times narrow, but very much manageable. The road from Ouray to Silverton is another story. Twisty, narrow, steep, and with high-consequence drop-offs with no guard rails to protect you. I would personally avoid towing a trailer on the stretch between Ouray and Silverton if it can be avoided.
Pros:
- Views which can’t be beat, especially if you have one of the few river spots. We managed to snag the best one which is closest to the river.
- Verizon coverage cuts out shortly after the campground, but the signal is good with a decent antenna - we achieved -81dBm with our Cradlepoint + Panorama combo, which is effectively 4 bars of LTE. Verizon is fast here. Without the antenna we bounce between 2 bars of 1x and 3G.
- The sound of generators are drowned out by the river, so you’re guaranteed peace and quiet.
- Fantastic access to local hiking, biking, and 4x4 trails.
Cons:
- A bit muddy when wet.
- The river water is very metallic, probably due to the huge number of old mines and prospects draining tailings into the river upstream. Not sure if potable, even if filtered/boiled.
- Some trash was present, but nothing too bad.
Fables and Trails would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“The Nicest Site I Have Stayed In!!”
Reviewed 11/27/2016
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 14 |
I didn't want to LEAVE this place. So much, in fact, I came back after about a month or so. I stayed RIGHT on the creek, which was flowing more like a river. Snow melt was high so the creek was almost deafening while working outside. Not that I am complaining! That said, I also stayed across Mineral Creek when I returned. I must sa... more
I didn't want to LEAVE this place. So much, in fact, I came back after about a month or so. I stayed RIGHT on the creek, which was flowing more like a river. Snow melt was high so the creek was almost deafening while working outside. Not that I am complaining!
That said, I also stayed across Mineral Creek when I returned. I must say, it had a lot less traffic. Having dogs and all, it was much nicer/safer for me and The Girls, both. It was less 'in season' by then, but I still think we had less traffic than the Anvil side did.
Anvil is a short dirt road right off of Forest Road 585, just north of Silverton. There is not really enough room at the end of the Anvil camping area to turn around, pulling a Travel Trailer. There's DEFINITELY not enough room to turn around if there are campers at the end. Sure, you can back out if necessary.
I got to watch a truck with about a 21' TT try to turn around at the end. It took two different drivers (once the husband got irritated enough with the wife, HE tried...) and about 20 minutes for it to get accomplished. So, DON'T go down if you have a long rig.
I'd highly recommend scouting it first, on foot. (My rig is 24'. I COULD turn around right at the site that is right on the river, that I stayed at, if no-one was staying around that area.)
It's not far from the main road. It's not very likely someone will park RIGHT next to you. (I like a little personal space.)
The mountains surrounding you are magnificent. Keep going down 585 and in the spring you can see many waterfalls. It's a great scenic drive if you want to look for wildlife. There's Ice Lake Basin Trail at the end which is a difficult but beautiful trail. There are also other free and some paid camping areas off Forest Road 585.
I had a booster, so I don't really remember how cell service was but I don't recall having an issue, and I Have to work. Calling was spotty. I had to walk out to 585, usually to make a call.
I can't wait to go back to this place! I highly recommend it but don't REALLY want to highly recommend it because I want to have a place to stay when I return!!
Rv Chickadee would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Secluded River Site Among the Pines”
Reviewed 6/8/2016
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 9 |
I wanted to keep this place a secret, but I wanted others to experience the amazing area. We were originally going to stay in Sultan, but there was a rig there and we looked across the river and saw Anvil. Another nice open spot that was right next to the river and good for solar. When we scouted the entire dead end strip we got... more
I wanted to keep this place a secret, but I wanted others to experience the amazing area.
We were originally going to stay in Sultan, but there was a rig there and we looked across the river and saw Anvil. Another nice open spot that was right next to the river and good for solar. When we scouted the entire dead end strip we got to the end and saw the last spot and we both were like, yep, this is the spot. If there are no other rigs you can turn around midway and back in, otherwise there is no where else to turn around. As soon as you get in there no one else can bother you. The river runs 180 degrees around you and the mountains and trees surround you. It's breathtaking. You can walk farther back and if you desire, cross a small section of the river and camp on the island. There is a lot of wildlife in the area and we saw our first moose!
There are a lot of trails to consider to hike (Ice Lake Trail being the top one) and it's close to town. We had good cell service and so we didn't need to go into town for any free WIFI. We took day trips to Telluride, Ouray and Montrose.
The spot for us was heaven. We were there a little early in the season so it did snow on us, which made our surroundings beautiful. Not a single other trailer came through. We had the place to ourselves and we fell asleep listening to the river every night. We would stay here again in a heart beat and wish that you could stay longer than 14 nights. All the spots had fire rings. Some spots were only good for tents or vans, but there were about 3-4 that a bigger rig could get in. I think that ours at 31' was about the max for backing into our spot. The last spot looks to be covered by trees but we had sun from about 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for solar. We ended up driving up to Golden camp area to get water straight from the river. We kept thinking that this would be good for a caravan of rigs. You all have separate space but are close (including Sultan).
33andfree would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Riverfront boondocking in the colorful San Juans”
Reviewed 12/15/2015
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 7 |
RV Length: | 19' |
Great boon docking a few miles up the road from Silverton, CO. There are several different areas for camping, but this was the least crowded and had the best cell service. There are some great hikes in the area. The hike to Ice Lake kicked my ass. The San Juans are gorgeous and colorful. This whole section of Colorado is pretty incredi... more
Great boon docking a few miles up the road from Silverton, CO. There are several different areas for camping, but this was the least crowded and had the best cell service. There are some great hikes in the area. The hike to Ice Lake kicked my ass. The San Juans are gorgeous and colorful. This whole section of Colorado is pretty incredible. Telluride, Ouray (aka the Switzerland of America), Silverton and Durango. Its only a few minutes to get into Silverton. The whole damn town is a Historic Landmark. The Durango-Silverton train is pretty cool. The Avalanche Brewing company has good beers and pizza, and you can get a god damn BBQ sundae at Thee Pitts.
Chris would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Babbling brook at my front door”
Reviewed 8/6/2015
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 7 |
RV Length: | 19' (Fifth Wheel) |
Anvil is on the left side of Mineral Creek with Sultan on the right side of the creek. When I arrived on Thursday, I was able to capture what I thought was THE spot right on the creek. I liked the spot because it gave me mid day to afternoon sun on my solar panel. Turns out, somebody else figured there was room for two rigs in that spo... more
Anvil is on the left side of Mineral Creek with Sultan on the right side of the creek. When I arrived on Thursday, I was able to capture what I thought was THE spot right on the creek. I liked the spot because it gave me mid day to afternoon sun on my solar panel. Turns out, somebody else figured there was room for two rigs in that spot. :-( The creek was especially nice because it created just enough white noise to drown out a variety of generators.
Anvil is a dead-end road about 500 ft to the two or three shaded spots in the back. If people are already set up in the middle spots, there isn't any turn-around. I'd suggest parking at the road and walking in to see if anything is available. The number of vehicles that would drive in, turn around, and drive out, (even well after dark0 was pretty amazing and was the reason I wouldn't give it a five.
Sometimes I'd have one bar of AT&T Edge, but nothing usable without the antenna and amplifier. With the antenna and amplifier, I was getting 3 bars of Verizon 4G.
John & BJ would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
- Dispersed Camping
Recreation
- fishing
- OHV
- water access
Pets
- pets
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