Video: How to Pack Up Your Campsite for Departure
Whether you’re packing up to head home or moving to another camping destination, knowing how to t...
Read Article
Shavano Wildlife Management Area Dispersed Camping
BLM
Write a Review County Rd. 250 Salida, CO 81201 719-269-8500 Official WebsiteGPS: 38.5608, -106.124
Overview of Shavano Wildlife Management Area Dispersed Camping
Shavano Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a large dispersed camping area located about 8 miles west of Salida, Colorado. Shavano WMA is managed by the BLM Rocky Mountain District and is a popular site for free camping near the towns of Salida and Poncha Springs. Mount Shavano towers nearby at 14,231-foot (4,338 m), one of Coloardo's 58 fourteeners that is popular with hikers. Mount Shavano is famous for the Angel of Shavano, a snow formation of an angel that emerges on the east face of the mountain during snow melt each spring. Campers should be aware that the dispersed campsites at Shavano Wildlife Management Area have a 14-day stay limit, campsites are first-come-first-served and do not have developed facilities or potable water (dry/primitive camping).
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: Boondocking 101.
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by DKOP on 11/6/2022
Longest RV Reported: 48 feet
Reported by Lucky Charm RV'ing on 10/12/2018
Pad Type dirt
Open Seasonally Yes
Elevation 8,366 ft / 2,549 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
View Map
Join Roadpass Pro
Signup for Roadpass Pro to get premium access to all of these great road travel apps.
Unlock pro campendium features
Ad Free Experience
Cell Service Overlays & Reports
Public Land Map Overlays
Trail Maps
Filter by Elevation
Join Roadpass Pro
Q&A - Ask the Community about Shavano Wildlife Management Area Dispersed Camping
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 719-269-8500
Spruce Goose Rv adventures asked on 7/8/2022
How are the dirt roads on 250? Are they rough?
Reviews of Shavano Wildlife Management Area Dispersed Camping 49 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 27 Users
Last reported 11/6/2022
Confirmed by 15 Users
Last reported 11/6/2022
Confirmed by 6 Users
Last reported 10/12/2021
“Not bad for free”
Reviewed 11/6/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 3 |
Overall Rating
Worked well for a couple nights. Would have stayed longer, but a storm was rolling in, and wasn't sure how muddy it would get.
Verizon good.
AT&T good.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
AT&T 4G
Verizon 4G
DKOP would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful Views, Bad Roads.”
Reviewed 8/8/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
Overall Rating
Stayed on night hard drive on our sedan trucks and vans will do fine but not worth it in a low clearance car. Nice views close to town.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful views!”
Reviewed 7/22/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 14 |
Overall Rating
This was a wonderful site with beautiful Rocky Mountain views. It was flat with trees for shade and fire rings. The road in was rough, but it wasn’t awful. We had 5G att reception. We will definitely stay here again.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
AT&T 5G
OurNewAdventure would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great location! Free! Cell Service! ”
Reviewed 6/24/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 5 |
| Site Number: | n/a |
| RV Length: | 13' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Hidden gem. This site was large and spacious, plenty of sites available. We stayed for a week with our two dogs- beware of cactus!!! Great convenient location a few minutes outside of Salida, close to plenty of hiking, can walk the trails within the camping area. We stayed and worked the whole week with plenty of cell service to run ou... more
Hidden gem. This site was large and spacious, plenty of sites available. We stayed for a week with our two dogs- beware of cactus!!! Great convenient location a few minutes outside of Salida, close to plenty of hiking, can walk the trails within the camping area. We stayed and worked the whole week with plenty of cell service to run our hot spot. Rocky road on the way up but it a short "driveway" to the camp sites. Can't wait to come back!
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
AT&T 5G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great views, easy camping, popular apot”
Reviewed 6/11/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 3 |
Overall Rating
Great free camping near Salida, Colorado. 360 views of the mountains and some trees for shade. Typically within earshot of another camp though during peak season.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
AT&T 4G
HalieGreen would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Loved it here!”
Reviewed 6/1/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 4 |
| RV Length: | 35' (Fifth Wheel) |
Overall Rating
We, and our group of friends in 4 RVs, were desperate to find a campground Sunday of Memorial Weekend as our original destination was inaccessible due to a wildfire. Stumbled upon this area and felt so fortunate. It was sparsely populated with everything from tents to Class A's. Our 35 ft. 5th wheel had no trouble climbing the dirt ... more
We, and our group of friends in 4 RVs, were desperate to find a campground Sunday of Memorial Weekend as our original destination was inaccessible due to a wildfire. Stumbled upon this area and felt so fortunate. It was sparsely populated with everything from tents to Class A's. Our 35 ft. 5th wheel had no trouble climbing the dirt road. It is rutted out and rocky but easily passable in 4 wheel drive. At the fork at the top we turned right and took the first 2 sites. They are huge. We had 2 trailers on each sight with tons of room to spare. Loved that the cows were grazing all over the campground. Zero fire restrictions which was a huge bonus. Quiet and dark at night so we could see so many stars. Views for days! It was windy, but hey, its Colorado so... We will definitely be back.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
Tarrah would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice boondocking RV sites close to Salida”
Reviewed 5/21/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 5 |
Overall Rating
This is a nice BLM dispersed camping area close to Salida Colorado. Pros: Camping sites are spacious, obvious, and are separated by trees. Salida - Walmart, propane refills, gas, and restaurants are only 10 miles away. Dozens of sites if you drive all the way up road 250 for several miles. The ca... more
This is a nice BLM dispersed camping area close to Salida Colorado.
Pros: Camping sites are spacious, obvious, and are separated by trees.
Salida - Walmart, propane refills, gas, and restaurants are only 10 miles away.
Dozens of sites if you drive all the way up road 250 for several miles.
The campsites with the best views are located beyond and uphill of the first flat camping area.
Cons: The first mile of road 250 after it turns from asphalt to dirt is wash boarded, rutted, has potholes and
rocks sticking out of the ground.
At about 3/4 mile there is a short, steep, bad hill section of the road that many rv's
with low clearance will have trouble with. Get out and scout this hill first.
skrjones would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Unbelievable Views and Plenty of Space!”
Reviewed 5/10/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | Anywhere |
| RV Length: | 28' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
The road in goes through a newer subdivision before turning to gravel. Washboard for most the way and a few ruts to work around but we got in with no issue. So many wide open spots to chose from all with views of the mountains which were still snow covered when we were here in early May. Don't worry though the camping area w... more
The road in goes through a newer subdivision before turning to gravel. Washboard for most the way and a few ruts to work around but we got in with no issue.
So many wide open spots to chose from all with views of the mountains which were still snow covered when we were here in early May.
Don't worry though the camping area was dry and the roads were packed gravel so even though it was windy the dust wasn't as bad as we expected.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
Alternate Roads would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Free camping very close to Salida”
Reviewed 11/7/2021
| Days stayed: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Site Number: | N/A |
Overall Rating
Camping on a ridge on the road to Shavano Peak. There are no amenities except beautiful mountain views! The road in is a little washboardy and rocky but passable by most vehicles. There are numerous places to set up camp. Verizon was 2-3 bars LTE.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
1speed2 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“What a gem”
Reviewed 10/12/2021
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 2 |
Overall Rating
Road a bit wash boarded at first and rutted and washed out on steeper secrions. But take it slow and easy - one should be fine We saw a 40 foot diesel pusher towing a flat bed trailer with two ATV s make it just fine. Once up on top, there may be as many as 100 spots We walked miles and enjoyed the various vistas Excellent 5G s... more
Road a bit wash boarded at first and rutted and washed out on steeper secrions. But take it slow and easy - one should be fine We saw a 40 foot diesel pusher towing a flat bed trailer with two ATV s make it just fine. Once up on top, there may be as many as 100 spots We walked miles and enjoyed the various vistas
Excellent 5G service with our T•Mobile phones. Able to stream movies
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
T-Mobile 4G
Fred would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Page 1 of 5
Be the first to add a note for Shavano Wildlife Management Area Dispersed Camping!
Be the first to add a video for Shavano Wildlife Management Area Dispersed Camping!
Have you written a blog post about Shavano Wildlife Management Area Dispersed Camping?
Contact us to update this listing.
Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
- Dispersed Camping
Recreation
- recreation trail
Site Amenities
- big rig
Pets
- pets
Nearby
Poncha Springs Visitor's Center RV Dump Station
Free potable water & Inexpensive dump station
- Kauls Of The Wild
Please select a reason for flagging this item: