You ever stumble across a spot so perfect it feels like it was made for you? That’s the vibe we got when we pulled our vintage Fiber Stream camper up Jackson Mountain Road near Pagosa Springs.
No reservations, no fees—just raw, unfiltered nature and some serious peace and quiet.
It’s the kind of place where you forget about schedules and just let the mountain air take over. We set up camp, cracked open some drinks, and soaked in those killer views.
About the Jackson Mountain Road Camping
Jackson Mountain Road is everything you want in a boondocking spot—free, spacious, and surrounded by nature. There’s plenty of room to spread out, so you won’t be parked on top of your neighbors. However, there arent many spots and the mountain road get more rugged as you continue up.
The forest offers up a good mix of sun and shade, and the views of the surrounding mountains are top-tier. There’s no water, no hookups, and no bathrooms—so you’ve gotta come prepared to rough it. But if you’re cool with that, the reward is total freedom.
Plus, being near Pagosa Springs means you’re just a short drive away from natural hot springs when you need a little extra R&R.
Just be aware: the road can get sketchy after rain, so keep that in mind if you’re rolling in anything less than four-wheel drive.
Our Personal Experience at Jackson Mountain Road
After spending two weeks in Durango, it was time to move on and explore more of Colorado. It didn’t take much convincing to decide Pagosa Springs was our next stop… we’re suckers for natural hot springs!
Jackson Mountain Road was a free camping great site, just eight miles from downtown.
Location: San Jaun National Forest in Pagosa Springs, CO
Date / Temp: We camped here for six nights in early October. The highs were in the mid-60s, and the lows were in the 40s.
Amenities: This site offers no services and practices a “Pack In, Pack Out” policy. There are a few water spigots near the waterfront trail downtown (behind the courthouse). We found large trash cans downtown as well, but dumpsters (for public use) were hard to find.
Wifi / Cell: We received a signal with both AT&T and T-Mobile (using our WeBoost Cell Booster). The speeds were impressive.
Noise: This site was tranquil. Our site was large but not large enough to welcome other campers. We had complete peace & quiet in the evenings.
Grocery / Errands: Downtown Pagosa Springs is 8 miles away and offers most of the shopping needed to complete our chores. There is a central post office and lots of gas stations.
Dog Friendly: This site is dog-friendly. River had a lot of space to play and explore. Pagosa Springs is also dog-friendly and offers many walking trails.
Entertainment: The local hot springs are the biggest attraction in Pagosa Springs. Three facilities offer tub-soaking. We visited Overlook Mineral Springs and loved it!
Would We Camp at Jackson Mountain Road Again?
Heck yes, we would. Jackson Mountain Road checks all the boxes for what we love in a boondocking spot—free, quiet, and loaded with epic views.
It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’re in on a well-kept secret. Sure, it’s rustic and a little rough around the edges, but that’s all part of the adventure.
We’ll definitely be rolling our vintage Fiber Stream back up that road next time we’re in Pagosa Springs, no question about it.
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Love dog friendly sites with water. My Tory is definitely a water dog.
Thank you saying such great things about our wonderful town.
[…] When we can’t camp on the water, we love camping in the mountains. And, Jackson Mountain Road is ideal Rocky Mountain camping! […]
ill tell ya, if I wasn’t having high blood pressure I would love being there