Difficult Campground
Located 5 miles southeast of Aspen, Colorado, Difficult Campground sits on the banks of the Roaring Fork River on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies. Campsites are nestled in a mixed forest of aspen, cottonwood, pine, fir, scrub oak, and spruce, and several are at the river's edge, offering an ideal setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · group sites in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 46 |
| Group sites | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
47 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | DIFF | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 002 | DIFF | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 003 | DIFF | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 004 | DIFF | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 005 | DIFF | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 006 | DIFF | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 007 | DIFF | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 008 | DIFF | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 009 | DIFF | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 10 / 1 | Yes | |
| 010 | DIFF | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 10 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 60 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Difficult Group site has one site available for reservation: There is no electric hook ups but potable water is available at a spigots inside the main campground. Group Site: facilities include: hardened parking for campers/RV's and passenger vehicles. The site has 1 group size fire ring, 1 pedestal grill, 1 food locker, and 5 picnic tables.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | White River National Forest |
| Rules | 5 day stay limit. Vehicles over 35' in length are prohibited over Independence Pass but can access the campground via Aspen, CO. Prevent the spread of invasive species by inspecting and cleaning packs, equipment, and tires before using lake or trails. Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed. |
Weather by month
Getting there
665 Difficult Campground Rd. Aspen CO 816511. Take Highway 82 for 5 miles southeast of Aspen, Colorado. Look for USFS Difficult Campground sign on the right, past Mile Marker 45.
| Nearest town | Aspen, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.1417° N, 106.7708° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireWillow
19 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Ute Mountaineer ↗ | 4.1 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 36.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Holiday RV ↗ | 57.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Difficult Campground - Aspen Colorado
Worth a stop
The nearby town of Aspen is a popular destination for visitors to the area. From downhill skiing and world-class fly fishing, to dining and resorts, there is a multitude of outdoor and indoor opportunites in this mountain town.
- 12.7 miNorth Fork Lake Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miDifficult Creek3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3 miWeller Lake0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 4.1 miGrottos0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 4.4 miSmugglers Cutoff2.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.5 miIowa Shaft0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.5 miGrand Turk0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.2 miDifficult Creek TH #2196 ↗White River National Forest
- 3 miWeller Lake TH #1989 ↗White River National Forest
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 White River National Forest.
- inWhite River National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,482,711 acres
- 2.3 miHunter-Fryingpan Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 82,496 acres
- 4.2 miMaroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 181,973 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
- Ute CemeterySite · Aspen · 3.6 mi
- Boat TowObject · Aspen · 3.8 mi
- La Fave BlockBuilding · Aspen · 4.1 mi
Natural features
In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the 2.3 million acre White River National Forest is a place of serenity and adventure, boasting 8 wilderness areas, 4 defined seasons, and 10 peaks surpassing 14,000 feet in elevation. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky ridges and bull elk bugle at dusk. Scenic rivers sustain populations of cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout. Alpine regions provide habitat for pika and ptarmigan. These species, along with many others, depend on surrounding undeveloped wilderness, clean streams, and diverse forests to live. The Roaring Fork River flows by the campground, a tributary of the mighty Colorado. Deep, swift and clear, the Roaring Fork rises in the Sawatch Range on the west side of the Continental Divide and drains an area of the Colorado Western Slope called the Roaring Fork Valley.
Recreation
Renowned for its fly fishing, the Roaring Fork River sustains populations of large rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout. The nearby peaks and soothing sounds from the river offer anglers a perfect backdrop for an afternoon of fishing. Whitewater adventure seekers may want to raft portions of the Roaring Fork, as it is navigable by small craft throughout most of its length to its confluence with the Colorado. Hikers can access trails near the campground.
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
Do I need a reservation at Difficult Campground?
Sites at Difficult Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Difficult Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Difficult Campground have?
48 sites, including 46 standard sites without power and 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Difficult Campground?
The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Difficult Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Difficult Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Difficult Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. 5 day stay limit.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Difficult Campground?
Renowned for its fly fishing, the Roaring Fork River sustains populations of large rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Difficult Campground?
Aspen, Colorado. The nearby town of Aspen is a popular destination for visitors to the area.
Source: Getting there
What if Difficult Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Weller Campground (3.1 mi, first-come), Lincoln Gulch Campground (4.4 mi, first-come), and Lincoln Creek Dispersed Campground (4.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby