Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests covers 1,403,460 acres across Colorado. Free dispersed camping is allowed, up to 14 days in any 14-day period.
Current notices posted by the managing agency. Checked Oct. 5, 2026.
- Closure: Slater Lake Area Closure Slater Lake and its associated tributaries will be closed for public safety during the Slater Lake Fish Reclamation project. Since Sept. 18, 2026.
- Closure: West Crystal A - Mechanical Fuelbreak Area and Road Closure A closure is in effect to ensure human health and safety during mechanical fuel treatment operations and minimize conflict between the contractor and the general public. Since June 15, 2026.
- Closure: Area Closure Surrounding the Devils Nose Target Range Closure surrounding target range for public safety. Since May 20, 2026.
- Closure: Caribou Road Closure Order Motor Vehicle closure order for a portion of Caribou Road (NFSR 505.1 on Boulder Ranger District) due to unsafe road conditions. Since April 23, 2026.
- Closure: Raptor Nesting Area Closure - Boulder Ranger District Area closure to protect raptor nesting sites on the Boulder Ranger District Since April 21, 2026.
- Closure: Cameron Peak Fire Road Closures Road closure to protect public safety from the effects of the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire and post-fire flooding on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. Since April 16, 2026.
- Closure: Cave Closure and Restrictions Order is to reduce the spread of the fungus that causes WNS and to protect bat species during critical biological periods Since Sept. 1, 2024.
- Closure: Lookout Tower Road Closure Restrictions on going into or being upon the National Forest System Road and Lands in the Restricted Road/Area Since Sept. 15, 2016.
- Closure: BRD/CLRD Flood Area Closures The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety due to flood damage Since May 25, 2016.
- Closure: Flood Related Shooting Closure Prohibitions on discharging a firearm, air rifle or gas gun in the Restricted Areas Since March 3, 2016.
11 more notices at the agency link below.
Check current closures and fire restrictions for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests on the managing agency's own page.
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests map
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
One agency fire restriction order is recorded for this unit as of Oct. 5, 2026. Each links the signed order.
- Fire Restrictions Effective Sept. 21, 2026. There are currently no fire restrictions in place on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland. As always, fully extinguish all campfires and heat sources prior to leaving them unattended where allowed. Drown the fire with water, stir to fully soak embers, and repeat…
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- Yes, dispersed camping is allowed on Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests without a fee.
- Camping on Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests is limited to 14 days in any 14-day period.
- Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests has 5 district offices: Boulder Ranger District Office in Boulder (970-295-6600), Canyon Lakes Ranger District Office in Fort Collins (970-295-6600), Clear Creek Ranger District Office in Idaho Springs (970-295-6600), Pawnee National Grassland Office in Ault (970-295-6600), and Sulphur Ranger District Office in Granby (970-295-6600).
- Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests is managed through 4 ranger districts: Boulder Ranger District, Canyon Lakes Ranger District, Clear Creek Ranger District, and Sulphur Ranger District.
Camping on Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Dispersed camping allowed Stays are limited to 14 days in any 14-day period .
27 campgrounds inside the forest boundary have their own page on campgroundsdb.com, with site counts and reservations:
- Ansel Watrous camping
- Bellaire Lake camping
- Camp Dick
- Chambers Lake camping
- Cold Springs - Arapaho Roosevelt NF camping
- Columbine camping
- Cutthroat Bay Group Campground
- Dowdy Lake camping
- Green Ridge camping
- Guanella Pass camping
- Idlewild camping
- Jacks Gulch camping
- Jacks Gulch Group Campground
- Kelly Dahl camping
- Midland Group Campground
- Mountain Park camping
- Narrows camping
- Olive Ridge camping
- Pawnee camping
- Peaceful Valley camping
- Pickle Gulch camping
- South Fork Group Site - Arapaho NF camping
- St. Louis Creek camping
- Stillwater camping
- West Chicago Creek camping
- West Lake camping
- Willow Creek Group camping
- Echo Lake camping (right at the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Arapaho Bay camping (right at the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Fire restrictions change by district and season: check the current alerts and restrictions before you go.
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests maps
- Interactive forest map from the Forest Service
- Motor Vehicle Use Maps: which roads are open to which vehicles, and so where you can legally drive to a dispersed site
- Forest visitor map
Ranger district offices
| Arapaho and Roosevelt NFs & Pawnee NG Supervisor's Office | Fort Collins, CO | 970-295-6600 | Open by appointment Monday - Friday |
| Boulder Ranger District Office | Boulder, CO | 970-295-6600 | Open by appointment Monday - Friday |
| Canyon Lakes Ranger District Office | Fort Collins, CO | 970-295-6600 | Open by appointment Monday - Friday |
| Clear Creek Ranger District Office | Idaho Springs, CO | 970-295-6600 | Open by appointment Monday - Friday |
| Pawnee National Grassland Office | Ault, CO | 970-295-6600 | Open by appointment Monday - Friday |
| Sulphur Ranger District Office | Granby, CO | 970-295-6600 | Open by appointment Monday - Friday |
Fishing and water
Fishing inside the boundary: Bellaire Lake fishing , Chambers Lake fishing , Dowdy Lake fishing , Lake Granby fishing , Monarch Lake fishing , with stocking records and species on fishypedia.com.
- Georgetown Lake fishing (0.2 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Grand Lake fishing (0.3 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
- Barker Reservoir fishing (0.3 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
- Wilderness areaByers Peak Wilderness lies inside Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
- Wilderness areaCache La Poudre Wilderness lies inside Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
- Wilderness areaComanche Peak Wilderness lies inside Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
- Wilderness areaIndian Peaks Wilderness lies inside Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
- Wilderness areaJames Peak Wilderness lies inside Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
- Wilderness areaNeota Wilderness lies inside Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
- Wilderness areaRawah Wilderness lies inside Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
- Wilderness areaVasquez Peak Wilderness lies inside Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- geo.dot.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- usgs.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.