Video still thanks to Straight Trippin
Madden Peak Road Dispersed Camping
Free dispersed camping along a gravel forest road between Durango and Mancos, with roomy pullouts in the pines and aspens, strong Verizon signal and a 14-day limit.
Hesperus, Colorado · Forest Road 316 off US-160, west of Durango
Season
Apr 2–Nov 30
Road season; snow or mud can close it
Elevation
About 8,100 ft
Cool nights all summer
Hookups
None
No water, toilets or trash
Big rigs
Up to ~40 ft
Longest reported 42 ft; scout first
Updated October 7, 2026 · Details checked against the Forest Service website
Free camping in the pines
The Madden Peak Road experience
Free, first-come dispersed camping along Madden Peak Road (Forest Road 316) in the San Juan National Forest, between Hesperus and Mancos, with roomy pullouts that fit many RVs.
Free14-day stay limit
Big pulloutsRigs to about 40 ft reported
Strong signalVerizon especially
Trails & viewsBelow 11,654-ft Madden Peak
Life at camp
What campers say
The campsite report card
Madden Peak Road has no Google rating, but it’s one of Campendium’s best-reviewed free sites in the area: campers praise the space, quiet, views and cell signal, while dust, washboard and weekend crowds come up most.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report42 ft Sep 2019
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 4G/5GT-Mobile 4G/5G
Last reported nightly rateFree Oct 2026
As reported by Campendium users. Road and site conditions change; scout ahead before driving a big rig down a dirt road.
Off US-160 west of Durango
Getting there
The road leaves US-160 between Hesperus and Mancos. The first couple of miles are good gravel; sites spread out along the road, and the upper road is gated.
Route from Durango: US-160 west past Hesperus, then FR 316From Mancos: US-160 east to FR 316
US-160 · FR 316
Set your GPS
Madden Peak Road (FR 316), Hesperus, CO 81326
To the train depot*About 30 min
To Mesa VerdeAbout 20 min
To Purgatory ResortAbout 1 hr
From AlbuquerqueAbout 4 hr 5 min
Bring everything. No water, toilets or trash service. Pack it all out, and dump and fill in Durango or Mesa Verde.
About 8,100 ft elevation. July highs nearby average about 80°, with nights near 50°; snow is possible in spring and fall.
*Drive times are approximate (OpenStreetMap routing). Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Out the gate
Around Madden Peak Road
Mesa Verde is about 20 minutes west, downtown Durango and the train depot are about half an hour east, and Mancos is just down the highway.
Photo thanks to Mike McBey (CC BY 2.0)
Durango & Silverton Railroad
The coal-fired steam train leaves the downtown depot and climbs the Animas River canyon toward Silverton; book ahead in summer and fall.
Photo thanks to Frans-Banja Mulder (CC BY 3.0)
Historic downtown Durango
Main Avenue’s historic hotels, shops, breweries and restaurants, with the Animas River Trail running along the water.
Photo: National Park Service (public domain)
Aztec Ruins
Ancestral Pueblo great houses about 900 years old, with a self-guided trail through the West Ruin and a reconstructed great kiva.
Photo thanks to Tobi 87 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mesa Verde National Park
Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings on a high mesa; some, like Cliff Palace, are visited only on ranger-guided tours.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
The three closest RV parks and campgrounds we’ve reviewed around Durango, by drive time.
Photo thanks to HTR Durango
HTR Durango Campground
Wooded canyon sites with full hookups, a seasonal pool and cabins up Lightner Creek, open May–Oct.
Photo thanks to United Campground of Durango
United Campground of Durango
Over 100 RV sites at the north edge of town, where the narrow-gauge steam train runs right through the park.
Photo thanks to Durango RV Resort
Durango RV Resort
A big family park east of town with a heated pool, mini golf, pickleball, cabins and pull-thrus.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Madden Peak Road fits your rig, your plans and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a free, roomy and well-loved boondocking road between Durango and Mesa Verde, with great cell signal and space for many RVs. There are no services at all, the road gets dusty and rough, fire rules change through the season and weekends fill up, so come self-contained and arrive early.
What it costsFree dispersed camping · checked Oct 7, 2026
CampingFree
Stay limit at one spot14 days
Total in any 60 days28 days
ReservationsNone first come
Under the San Juan National Forest order (2024–2029), you can stay 14 consecutive days at one site or within 3 miles of it, and 28 days in any 60-day period.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the park’s rates page or call (970) 882-7296.
Typical July afternoon
Madden Peak Rd80°
Phoenix107°
Mountain summers: 27° cooler than Phoenix in July, with cool nights.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and why campers stay here.
Open
Site types
Free, with a 14-day limit.
Open
Rates & policies
Stay limits, fires, water and dump stations.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you go.
Open
Madden Peak Road (Forest Road 316) is an unpaved road in the San Juan National Forest, managed by the Dolores Ranger District, with free dispersed camping in pullouts along the way. There are no facilities, no fees and no reservations.
Best for
- Self-contained RVers and boondockers.
- Mesa Verde visitors who want a free base 20 minutes away.
- Remote workers: Verizon signal is strong.
- Campers who like aspens, pines and space between sites.
Consider this
- No water, toilets or trash; pack everything out.
- Dust, washboard and mud after rain; scout before driving a big rig in.
- Fire restrictions change; campfires may be banned.
- Weekends fill up fast, and cattle graze the area.
Summer in Madden Peak Rd
Typical July afternoon
80°
Madden Peak Rd
Fort Lewis (NOAA station, about 7,600 ft)
107°
Phoenix
Phoenix Sky Harbor
27 degrees cooler than Phoenix, with nights near 51°. Normal July highs, 1991–2020.
Camping is free. Sites are undesignated pullouts along the road, first come, first served.
Roadside pullout Free
The first few miles have the roomiest, easiest spots.
Higher on the road Free
Smaller, shadier spots in the trees; scout first.
Short stay Free
Up to 14 consecutive days at one site.
Long trip Free
Then move more than 3 miles away.
CostFreeNo reservations
Stay limit14 daysAt one site or within 3 miles
Total28 daysIn any 60-day period
WhereWithin 150 ft of the roadUse existing sites; 100+ ft from water
SeasonApr 2–Nov 30Road season; weather can close it
FiresExisting rings onlyOnly when no restrictions are in effect
WaterNoneBring all you need
Toilets & trashNonePack it out; bury waste 6 in deep
Dump stationDurangoFree at the Speedway, 20453 US-160
WildlifeBears & cattleStore food safely
Checked against San Juan National Forest rules on October 7, 2026. Fire restrictions change through the season; call the Dolores Ranger District at (970) 882-7296 or the forest office at (970) 247-4874 before you go.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Are fire restrictions in effect? Call the forest before you build a fire.
- Is the road passable? Snow or mud can close it in spring and fall.
- Where’s the nearest dump? The free Speedway station at 20453 US-160 in Durango.
- Where can I get water? Fill up in Durango or at Mesa Verde’s Morefield Campground.
- How far in can I go? The upper road is gated year-round.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Apr 2–Nov 30
Ready for a free night near Mesa Verde?
Find a pullout in the aspens, watch the stars and be at Mesa Verde by breakfast. Check fire rules and road conditions with the forest before you go.
Thank you to the people behind these video stills and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Video: The Wandering Shores on YouTube. Video stills: Straight Trippin and The Time Editor on YouTube. Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Mike McBey (Durango & Silverton train; CC BY 2.0), Frans-Banja Mulder (Main Avenue; CC BY 3.0), the National Park Service (Aztec Ruins; public domain) and Tobi 87 (Cliff Palace; CC BY-SA 4.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: HTR Durango Campground, United Campground of Durango and Durango RV Resort. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Madden Peak Road Dispersed Camping unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the Forest Service’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the Forest Service and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Madden Peak Road Dispersed Camping at fs.usda.gov or (970) 882-7296. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
We will always do our best to keep this page up to date. Thank you to everyone who contributes; we truly appreciate your help and support.