About this campground
The Purgatory Gulch Trailhead provides access to the Encampment River Trail and Encampment River Wilderness. High clearance 4WD vehicles are recommended and trailers cannot be turned around at the trailhead. Dispersed camping is not allowed within 300 feet of the trailhead but is allowed along the trail as long as the camp is more than 100 feet from the trail, lakes or streams. Nearest facilities are approximately five miles north of the Purgatory/Encampment River trails junction, at the BLM Odd Fellows campground. This campground is on the Encampment River at the north access to the Encampment River Trail.
Getting there
From WY State Highway 230 one mile east of Riverside,Wy turn onto Carbon County Rd 211. Continue for six miles to the junction with BLM road 409.1B. Turn onto the BLM Road 409.1B and continue two miles to the trailhead.
Activities
- BIKING
- HIKING
- HORSEBACK RIDING
- HUNTING
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Verde Mine TrailheadMedicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG13 mi
- Big Creek Lake Boat AccessMedicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG16 mi
- BIG CREEK LAKES CAMPGROUNDMedicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG16 mi
- Brush Creek Visitor CenterMedicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG19 mi
- CDNST - Deep Jack TrailheadMedicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG19 mi
- Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger DistrictMedicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG21 mi
Explore more Colorado camping
Purgatory Gulch Trailhead doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Colorado campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse Colorado camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.