By:
Submission
Open and close dates are subject to change based on winter weather and snowfall. Please check the website for up to date details each year.
This is a dispersed area with campsites scattered around. Please camp where there is a fire ring and please don't make one yourself elsewhere.
While much of the Forest is open to dispersed camping, there are several sites set aside as designated dispersed camping sites, listed below. Pick up or download a free Motor Vehicle Use Map to know where it is legal to drive. See Guidelines for information and policies, and Specific Sites for more details and contact information.
Know before you go! Be aware extreme winter weather or flooding risks can necessitate the closure of forest roads at different times of the year. Many forest roads that lead to dispersed campsites may be closed during seasonal road closures, so please check the Forest Road Status web page for more information about the status of forest roads in each District.
Fire restrictions may be in place. During fire restrictions, campfires, fires, and charcoal fires are not permitted in dispersed camping areas. This includes both Stage 1 and Stage 2 Fire Restrictions. Gas operated devices with an on/off switch are allowed.
There are no fees for this dispersed area - the paid campground has fees.
The place is beautiful but prepare to take a long long walk to get to it. Is only kid friendly if your kids love to hike.
Hiked this 10/14/23 - road to the campground is still closed. Expect a 3.2 mile walk (860 elevation gain) to the campground meadow (small thicket of aspens and views up the San Francisco peaks were beautiful) there is a forest service out house style bathroom but NO WATER SOURCES. Then you go a bit farther through the campground to find the actual trail head. Another 2-3 mile walk with almost double the elevation gain before you get into the aspen forest. We did not go quite to the top, but the aspens were beautiful, just a couple switch backs up. 10.5 miles round trip and took us 6 hours with picture and lunch breaks.
Lockett Meadows during October is beautiful! All of the aspens are golden & it’s such a beautiful hike. It’s harder when the road up the mountain is closed (3.5 miles straight up a mountain took us roughly 2hrs before getting to the trailhead). But overall, so serene. We went during the eclipse & it’s a memory I’ll treasure forever.
