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Fall Camping Guide

Camping During Colorado Hunting Season.

Fall is one of the best times to camp in Colorado, and it overlaps with the big game seasons. Here is where hunting happens, how to stay visible, and how to still find a good site.

Where Hunting Happens Stay Visible

The short answer.

You can camp safely in Colorado during hunting season. The busiest stretch for campers is the fall big game rifle seasons for deer and elk, which typically run in several short seasons from October into November. Wear blaze orange or another bright color when you leave camp, keep dogs close and visible, and expect popular dispersed areas on national forest and BLM land to fill with hunting camps. If you want to avoid hunters entirely, camp in Rocky Mountain National Park or another area where hunting is not allowed.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife sets the season dates each year and publishes them in its big game brochure, so check the current dates for the area you are visiting before you go.

Where hunting is, and is not, allowed.

National forests and BLM land: open to hunting in season, which covers most of the dispersed camping in Colorado. If you are camping at a free dispersed site in October or November, assume there are hunters nearby.

National parks: hunting is not allowed in Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde or Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Great Sand Dunes is split: hunting is allowed in the national preserve and not in the national park section. Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park stays open for first-come winter camping after the summer season, which makes it a good hunter-free option close to the Front Range.

State parks: rules vary by park. Some allow hunting in designated areas or seasons, and many do not allow it near campgrounds and trails. Check the individual park page on the CPW website.

Wilderness areas: hunting is generally allowed in designated wilderness, and some of the most remote high-country camps are used by hunters and outfitters in the fall.

Stay visible, stay heard.

Hunters in Colorado are required to wear fluorescent orange during rifle seasons. Campers and hikers are not, but wearing it is the simplest thing you can do to be seen. An orange hat and vest cost little and pack small.

  • Wear orange or another bright color on your head and upper body any time you leave camp. Avoid white, tan and brown, which can look like an animal at a distance.
  • Make noise. Talking normally on the trail is enough to let people know you are there.
  • Be careful at dawn and dusk. These are the most active hunting hours and the hardest light to see in.
  • Keep dogs close. Put an orange vest or bandana on your dog and keep it leashed or under tight voice control.
  • Stay on trails and roads in brushy and timbered areas, especially in the early morning.

🦌 Fall Wildlife Note

Hunting season also overlaps with the elk rut in late September and October. Bull elk can be aggressive in this period, so give them plenty of room, especially in places like Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park.

Finding a campsite in hunting season.

Hunting camps tend to arrive before the season opens and stay for its full length, so the most accessible dispersed spots along forest roads can be taken for days at a time. Midweek arrivals, a backup area and a willingness to walk a little further all help.

Many national forest campgrounds close for the season or switch to first-come, no-water service in the fall, while lower-elevation state parks keep some sites open into winter. Check the campground's current status on Recreation.gov or CPWshop before you drive. Our best camping spots in Colorado guide notes which campgrounds stay open year-round.

Fall nights are cold at elevation. Bring a sleeping bag rated well below the forecast low, and never run a fuel-burning heater or stove inside a closed tent or camper because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Before you go

  • Check this year's big game season dates for your area in the CPW brochure.
  • Check fire restrictions with the national forest, BLM field office or county.
  • Pack orange for every person and every dog.
  • Tell someone where you are camping and when you expect to be back.
Hunting Season FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about camping in Colorado in the fall.

When is hunting season in Colorado?

Colorado has hunting seasons for different species from late summer through winter, but the busiest period for campers is the fall big game rifle seasons for deer and elk, which typically run in several short seasons from October into November. Exact dates change each year and are published by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in its big game brochure.

Is it safe to camp in Colorado during hunting season?

Yes, with a few precautions. Wear bright orange or another vivid color when you are away from camp, keep dogs visible and close, make noise on the trail, and favor places where hunting is not allowed, such as Rocky Mountain National Park, if you would rather avoid hunters altogether.

Can you hunt in Colorado national parks?

Hunting is not allowed in Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park or Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Great Sand Dunes is different: hunting is allowed in the national preserve but not in the national park section. National forests and most BLM land are open to hunting in season.

Are campsites harder to find during hunting season?

Often, yes, especially popular dispersed areas on national forest and BLM land, where hunting camps may arrive early and stay for the whole season. Arrive midweek, have a backup area in mind, and consider an established campground or a state park if you need a guaranteed site.

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