Hansen Mill Dispersed Camping
Elevation: 10,800' This small, isolated dispersed (Horse Friendly) campground is located 16.8 miles east of Creede on Forest Road 600. Campers will find this to be a good vantage point for viewing vistas of distant mountains. There are 3 camping units at this site with picnic tables and fire rings. There is a vault-type toilet, but no water or refuse receptacles. A small stream can provide emergency drinking water only if it is treated or boiled. Trails and 4 WD roads are nearby, as well as fishing in East Bellows Creek. There is lots of room here to accommodate large groups (family reunions, etc.).
More like this: first-come in Colorado · free in Colorado · tent only in Colorado
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | No Fees |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Rio Grande National Forest |
| Fees | No Fees |
| Rules | East Bellows Trail is a Non motorized trail leading into Wilderness. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 37.8131° N, 106.7369° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireElk
40 mi from the campground · 7,257 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 13.4 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 34.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
🏕️ Unlock the Secrets of Tent Camping: 6 Insider Tips | Campsite Classes
Worth a stop
- under 0.1 miEast Bellows Trailhead # 790 ↗Trailhead
- 8.4 miFarmers Creek Trailhead # 801 ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miWheeler ↗10.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miWest Alder ↗6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3.9 miAlder Bench ↗6.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 4.3 miLa Garita SD Cut-Off1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 4.4 miWannamaker ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.6 miWest Bellows ↗5.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- under 0.1 miEast Bellows Trailhead # 790 ↗Rio Grande National Forest · Season May
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Rio Grande National Forest.
- inRio Grande National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,937,280 acres
- 0.7 miLa Garita Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 126,480 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Wagon Wheel Gap Railroad StationBuilding · Creede · 5.9 mi
- Zang’s Hotel and AnnexBuilding · Creede · 10.7 mi
- Denver & Rio Grande Railroad South Fork Water TankStructure · South Fork · 11.5 mi
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to camp at Hansen Mill Dispersed Camping?
Nothing. Hansen Mill Dispersed Camping is listed as free. No Fees
Source: Forest Service
Is Hansen Mill Dispersed Camping open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Hansen Mill Dispersed Camping?
Hansen Mill Dispersed Camping is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Hansen Mill Dispersed Camping is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Palisade Campground (4.5 mi, first-come), Cathedral (7.2 mi, first-come), and Highway Springs Campground (13.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby