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The Best Camp Sites for Colorado Survival Preppers!

As a prepper living in Colorado, you know that being ready for any situation means more than just having food, water, and supplies stocked up. The rugged mountains, deep forests, and remote wilderness areas of Colorado offer the perfect training grounds for testing your survival skills. Whether you’re prepping for a grid-down scenario, or simply looking for a peaceful retreat where you can practice your outdoor skills, Colorado has some of the best campsites for self-sufficiency, stealth, and survival.

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Being a prepper in Colorado means being in tune with the land and its changing conditions. The state’s high elevation, unpredictable weather, and diverse ecosystems make it an ideal location for testing your survival gear and abilities. From learning how to purify water to building shelter, the right camping spots can offer both challenges and rewards. Here’s a guide to 30 of the best campgrounds in Colorado that survival preppers should consider for their next adventure.

1. San Juan National Forest

San Juan National Forest is a treasure trove of rugged wilderness and is perfect for preppers who want to test their skills in a remote environment. With over 1.8 million acres, it offers endless possibilities for solo camping and survival training. The dense forests, high-altitude lakes, and steep mountains provide the ideal landscape for honing your wilderness survival techniques.

2. Great Sand Dunes National Park

For those looking for a unique and challenging landscape, Great Sand Dunes National Park provides a desert-like environment with towering sand dunes and isolated campsites. This remote location is perfect for learning desert survival skills while being close to the Colorado Springs area for resupply.

3. Rocky Mountain National Park

Located near Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most iconic places in Colorado. The park’s diverse terrain, from alpine lakes to thick forests, makes it ideal for practicing various survival tactics. High-altitude campsites like Timber Lake are remote and offer opportunities to work on cold-weather prepping, especially with its unpredictable mountain weather.

4. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

This park is a hidden gem in Colorado and is a fantastic spot for advanced survivalists. Its deep, narrow canyon walls make it difficult to access, which means you’ll get some solitude while practicing your prepping skills. You’ll also be far from the noise of civilization.

5. Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Area

Buffalo Peaks offers a mix of open meadows and forested areas that provide a variety of survival challenges. Its higher elevation makes it ideal for those who want to test their cold-weather gear and skills.

6. Pike National Forest

Pike National Forest is a vast area with plenty of room for survivalists to explore. The forest is home to a variety of wildlife, and the remote campsites offer complete isolation for those who wish to practice their self-sufficiency techniques.

7. Flatirons Vista

Just outside of Boulder, Flatirons Vista is a great choice for survivalists looking to test their skills in semi-urban proximity. It’s a place where you can enjoy the benefits of wilderness, but if things go wrong, resupply is only a short drive away.

8. Uncompahgre National Forest

This forest is perfect for preppers who want to get deep into the wilderness. The Uncompahgre region offers solitude, rugged terrain, and enough space for any prepper to truly disconnect from society. You’ll also find several survival-worthy campsites that allow for self-sufficiency in a true wild environment.

9. Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks

Perfect for urban preppers in the Boulder area, this park system provides a great mix of forest, grasslands, and mountainous terrain. It’s a great place for practice runs, teaching kids how to build a fire, and prepping for short-term survival situations.

10. Gore Creek Campground

Gore Creek offers fantastic fishing and hiking opportunities for preppers who need to keep their skills sharp. It’s remote enough to provide solitude, and the nearby creek makes it a perfect location to practice water purification and fishing for food.

11. Brainard Lake Recreation Area

Located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, Brainard Lake offers fantastic camping with stunning mountain views. Preppers can practice shelter building, fire starting, and fishing, all within reach of nature’s toughest elements.

12. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness

This is one of the most scenic areas in Colorado, and it’s perfect for preppers who want to practice their wilderness survival skills in some of the most picturesque landscapes in the state. While there, practice your wilderness navigation skills, hunting, and fishing.

13. Mount Evans Wilderness Area

For preppers looking for high-altitude survival training, the Mount Evans Wilderness offers some of the most challenging terrain in the state. You’ll be testing your skills in a tough environment, from snow-capped peaks to deep forests.

14. Big Thompson Canyon

Big Thompson Canyon offers rugged camping experiences for those who want to test their outdoor survival gear in varied terrain. It’s an ideal location to work on both your navigation and shelter-building skills.

15. Rio Grande National Forest

With nearly 2 million acres of wilderness, Rio Grande National Forest is an exceptional place to practice long-term survival strategies. Remote campgrounds in this area offer peace, quiet, and true isolation for any prepper.

16. Telluride Ski Resort Wilderness Area

For the serious survivalist, Telluride’s wild areas beyond the resort offer plenty of opportunities to explore and practice survival skills while immersed in Colorado’s backcountry.

17. Cross Creek Trail

Located in the Eagles Nest Wilderness, Cross Creek Trail provides the perfect place for preppers who need a challenge. You’ll be surrounded by rugged terrain and pristine nature, ideal for building up your survival toolkit.

18. South Platte River Basin

Perfect for practicing water purification and fishing, the South Platte River Basin is a fantastic camping spot that’s a little less traveled. It offers solitude and practice for both river and forest survival.

19. Colorado National Monument

The vast, wild landscapes of the Colorado National Monument provide a challenging environment to put your survival skills to the test. It’s a less-trodden area and provides a unique experience for preppers.

20. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

For preppers interested in history as well as wilderness survival, Canyons of the Ancients offers a blend of natural beauty and ancient ruins. The location is perfect for long-term survival practice.

21. Indian Peaks Wilderness

This wilderness area offers endless opportunities for preppers to practice in a variety of terrains, from high-altitude alpine lakes to dense forests.

22. High Lonesome Ranch

Located in western Colorado, this ranch is a great location for practicing long-term survival techniques, including hunting, shelter building, and off-the-grid living.

23. Mesa Verde National Park

For a unique blend of ancient ruins and wilderness survival, head to Mesa Verde. The combination of desert and forest landscapes offers preppers the chance to work on desert survival, along with canyon navigation.

24. Cuchara Valley

With its remote campsites and rolling hills, Cuchara Valley is an excellent location to practice living off the grid. It’s great for preppers who want to refine their wilderness survival skills.

25. Aspen Creek Campground

Aspen Creek offers beautiful wooded campsites and a great location for learning fishing, foraging, and building a wilderness shelter.

26. The Flat Tops Wilderness Area

Located in northwest Colorado, the Flat Tops offers some of the best terrain for survivalists looking for solitude and a challenge.

27. Dinosaur National Monument

For preppers looking to get serious about long-term survival, Dinosaur National Monument is the ultimate choice. It combines rugged terrain and prehistoric landscapes, making it ideal for wilderness survival practice.

28. Yampa River State Park

A great place for learning water-based survival skills, Yampa River State Park offers excellent fishing and water purification training. The location is remote, making it ideal for prepper-focused campsites.

29. Grand Mesa National Forest

The Grand Mesa offers a variety of survival opportunities for preppers. Dense forests, lakes, and meadows offer plenty of space for honing your wilderness skills.

30. Eldorado Canyon State Park

Known for its rock climbing, Eldorado Canyon is perfect for preppers who want to hone their climbing and navigation skills while camping in a rugged, isolated environment.

As a survival prepper living in California, it’s essential to have a list of top-notch campsites that double as places of refuge in the event of an emergency. Whether you’re looking to hone your outdoor skills, set up a bug-out location, or simply escape the chaos of the modern world, California offers a vast array of camping spots that can cater to any prepper’s needs. From dense forests and towering mountains to secluded deserts and rugged coastlines, there’s no shortage of perfect places to prepare for any disaster scenario. In this guide, I’ll take you through some of the best campsites across the Golden State that will test your survival skills, provide strategic retreat options, and immerse you in nature.

Camping Sites: California State Parks
Weather: California Weather Service
Hiking Trails: AllTrails – California
Road Conditions: Caltrans QuickMap

1. Big Sur – Andrew Molera State Park

Big Sur is one of California’s most iconic landscapes. The rugged cliffs, dense forests, and wild coastline make it a natural fort for anyone preparing for a disaster. Andrew Molera State Park offers campgrounds that are remote enough to give you the solitude needed for prepping, while still offering access to some of the state’s most breathtaking views. With its proximity to both freshwater and saltwater, this site is ideal for practicing your water purification methods or simply enjoying a weekend of bushcraft and fishing.

For survival preppers, Big Sur offers a perfect blend of isolation and natural resources. You’ll want to stock up on fire-starting materials, camping gear, and a solid survival kit to ensure you’re ready for anything.

Pro Tip: If you’re not familiar with the area, be sure to check trail maps and know your escape routes. The area is prone to wildfires, so you’ll need to stay aware of the latest alerts.

2. Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is one of the most well-known national parks in the world, and for good reason. With miles of wilderness, waterfalls, towering granite cliffs, and pristine lakes, Yosemite offers not only a serene escape from modern life but also a powerful environment to test your survival skills. The park offers numerous campsites, from the more developed ones near the valley to more remote options like Porcupine Flat and North Dome.

Yosemite is a goldmine for any prepper. The vast, varied terrain means you can practice everything from shelter building to foraging, hunting, and fishing. The park also has a wealth of wildlife that you’ll need to be prepared to interact with, from bears to small game.

Pro Tip: Stock up on high-energy foods and a map of the park before heading out, as cell service can be spotty.

3. Sequoia National Forest

For any prepper looking to perfect their wilderness survival skills, Sequoia National Forest is the ultimate spot. Home to the largest trees in the world, this forest offers dense, high-altitude terrain perfect for practicing your wilderness navigation, fire-building, and long-term shelter construction. If you’re serious about preparing for an extended bug-out scenario, Sequoia’s vast wilderness offers solitude and endless opportunities for honing your bushcraft skills.

Whether you’re camping along the Kern River or high up in the Sierra Nevada, Sequoia offers an environment where you can live off the land—fishing in the river, foraging in the woods, and navigating the rugged mountains.

Pro Tip: The winters here can be brutal, so ensure your gear is up to the task of cold-weather survival.

4. Pinnacles National Park

If you’re looking for a place that offers a mix of rugged terrain and an escape from the heat, Pinnacles National Park in central California is a great option. Located near the San Andreas Fault, this park offers volcanic rock formations, caves, and an environment that is perfect for practicing shelter construction and navigation.

While Pinnacles may not have the expansive forests of Sequoia, it offers something that many prepper-minded folks might prefer: a more defensible, enclosed location with fewer people. The park’s caves are particularly unique, offering opportunities to practice cave camping or exploring a natural environment for shelter in an emergency.

Pro Tip: Make sure you have a good map of the park and always check the weather before heading out. Summer can get especially hot.

5. Lake Tahoe – D.L. Bliss State Park

Lake Tahoe offers some of the most pristine and beautiful landscapes in California, and D.L. Bliss State Park is one of its prime camping spots. It offers easy access to the lake, where you can practice water filtration and fishing, while also offering dense forests for wood collection and shelter-building practice.

With the Sierra Nevada mountains as a backdrop, D.L. Bliss is perfect for preppers who want to test their survival gear and skills in a diverse environment. Whether you’re practicing setting up a shelter, purifying water, or honing your navigation skills, this spot has everything you need.

Pro Tip: Be aware of bear activity in the area. Proper food storage and hygiene are essential.

6. Joshua Tree National Park

Located in Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park is known for its otherworldly landscapes, vast desert, and unique rock formations. Joshua Tree is the perfect location for preppers who are looking to practice desert survival skills. The park offers a mix of secluded campsites and wide-open spaces where you can hone your navigation, fire-starting, and shelter-building skills in an arid environment.

The park’s remote areas provide the perfect opportunity for an extended bug-out practice session. With minimal distractions, you can immerse yourself fully in your survival preparations.

Pro Tip: Be mindful of the desert heat, especially during the summer. Hydration and sun protection are critical.

7. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego Desert is one of California’s largest state parks, offering a unique survival prepper experience in the desert environment. This massive desert park features miles of rugged terrain, canyons, and wide-open vistas. It’s ideal for preppers who want to practice desert survival skills such as finding water, shelter building, and navigation without the distractions of urban life.

With minimal light pollution, this is also a great place to practice nighttime navigation and gain experience with survival under a night sky.

Pro Tip: Bring plenty of water, as water sources in the desert are limited. Be prepared for extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night.

8. Mendocino National Forest

The Mendocino National Forest offers a different kind of challenge for survivalists. Situated in Northern California, this forest provides rugged terrain, rivers, and thick woods that are perfect for those wanting to get away from the crowds. With its varied elevation, you’ll find all sorts of opportunities to test your survival gear and skills.

The forest is less frequented than some of the more popular parks, which makes it a great location for those looking to practice long-term survival techniques. With fewer hikers, it can provide the necessary isolation to test your abilities to thrive in the wild.

Pro Tip: Carry a detailed map and compass. The dense forest can be disorienting.

30 Best Camping Sites for Survival Preppers in California:

Andrew Molera State Park – Big Sur
Yosemite National Park – Porcupine Flat
Sequoia National Forest – Kern River
Pinnacles National Park
D.L. Bliss State Park – Lake Tahoe
Joshua Tree National Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Mendocino National Forest
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Point Reyes National Seashore
Redwood National and State Parks
Desolation Wilderness
Mount Baldy
Mount Whitney
Santa Barbara Backcountry
California Coast Trail – Big Sur
Kings Canyon National Park
Santa Cruz Island – Channel Islands National Park
Mono Basin Scenic Area
Gaviota State Park
Northern California Redwoods
Tahoe National Forest – American River
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Mono Lake
Figueroa Mountain
San Bernardino National Forest
Claremont Hills Wilderness Park
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Lassen National Forest
Los Padres National Forest