About Difficult Campground
Number of accommodations: 47
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Sites & Availability
47 Sites Available
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Reviews (441)
What Guests Are Saying
Difficult Campground is praised for its beautiful setting, with well-spaced, private sites nestled among trees, and proximity to Aspen and nearby trails. Campers enjoyed clean facilities and friendly hosts who were attentive and helpful. While some sites may be less desirable, overall, visitors found it a peaceful and enjoyable experience, with opportunities for wildlife sightings and easy access to outdoor activities.
What Guests Are Saying
Difficult Campground is praised for its beautiful setting, with well-spaced, private sites nestled among trees, and proximity to Aspen and nearby trails. Campers enjoyed clean facilities and friendly hosts who were attentive and helpful. While some sites may be less desirable, overall, visitors found it a peaceful and enjoyable experience, with opportunities for wildlife sightings and easy access to outdoor activities.
Review Summary
melanie c
VerifiedAugust 7, 2025 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: DIFF
Don't expect to find showers, groceries or anything affordable in town! So come prepared to hunker down. You will want a site with shade, as summer months are hot.
Spotted Moose, along with signs of bear activity. Great jumping spot for the Maroon Bells shuttle. Highway 82 is a beautiful drive.
Nice community walking path along the highway that you can pickup near the entrance to the campground. If you walk toward town on the path, there is a beautiful boardwalk great for spotting wildlife.
Wendy P
VerifiedAugust 7, 2025 • Stayed at: 045, Loop: DIFF
We are not from Colorado so the check in is different from Texas. In Texas we check in with the ranger but I guess in CO there is a camp host and no check in is needed. She was quite unhelpful as we were trying to get the lay of the camp ground. The signs for water are not clearly labeled as potable water. Bring cash or a check for firewood and do not expect much guidance from the camp host. We discovered the trail head to Difficult Trail- there are not trail maps available and we did not have cell service. The area is beautiful and the trail was great and easy access to independence pass with more trails. We had a great time, just needed to figure things out since it’s different from Texas and the website through recreation.gov does not provide these details either. Oh! Bring sanitizer, wipes or soap for the bathroom- there are no sinks, just a port-a-potty structure.
We would recommend and would come back, Judy hoping these tips will help someone else!
Courtney V
VerifiedAugust 6, 2025 • Stayed at: 047, Loop: DIFF
HEAVY BEAR MOVEMENT.
Our first night we stayed in #47, great spot a little narrow, might be a little challenging backing in a camper but we have a rooftop tent so it was a nice size for our set up. lots of tree coverage so slightly obstructed view, surrounded by berry bushes.
A bear actually wandered right into our camp while we were sitting around playing cards. AMAZING!
Our second night we stayed in #29, much wider space, more open with great views, still had decent coverage from the afternoon sun.
Whole campsite was very well maintained, the paved roads were nice, the bathrooms were clean and somehow smelled nice which is weird for a vault toilet. It’s not far from town, quick little drive, or there is a gravel path along the road to walk or bike.
Camp hosts are very warm and welcoming, always making rounds on their golf carts and checking on things.
Personally have zero desire to visit Aspen again, but if we do, we will definitely be staying at this campground again!
Caleb J
VerifiedAugust 5, 2025 • Stayed at: 046, Loop: DIFF
Heavy vegetation offers lots of privacy for this site #46. Surprisingly I didn't have any issues with mosquitos. Campsite is tight with only one tent spot. Awesome access to all of the hikes and gems up Independence Pass and only minutes from Aspen. The Roaring Fork isn't the easiest to access from the campsite.
Christina P
VerifiedJuly 31, 2025 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: DIFF
Many nice private camp spots, great hosts and close to Aspen!
Melissa M
VerifiedJuly 29, 2025 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: DIFF
We particularly noticed how
Clean and kept up the rest rooms were. The camp host was very professional and seemed on top of things.
Only recommendation would be that it would be nice to know a little more about the campsites: eg:; which ones are best for tents versus campers, since they are all
Different.
Kenneth L
VerifiedJuly 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 029, Loop: DIFF
We were able to watch a moose and her two babies feed near the access road to the campground. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Colorado.
Erin N
VerifiedJuly 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 036, Loop: DIFF
Great campground close to Aspen. Saw lots of wildlife and very private sites. Very attentive host.
Carol N
VerifiedJuly 24, 2025 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: DIFF
Beautiful campsites, clean vault toilets, quiet
Ann H
VerifiedJuly 23, 2025 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: DIFF
Beautiful campground just outside Aspen. Sites are tucked in amongst aspen trees and shrubs providing privacy. Toilets were clean, camp hosts were friendly and helpful, excellent location in a beautiful part of the country. Highly recommended.
Location Difficult Campground
Address:
665 Difficult Campground Rd
Aspen, CO, 81611
United States
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 39.1417 / -106.771
Elevation: 2494 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
Dogs must be always on leash within the two sites and anywhere in this area.Campers must occupy the site the first night at a campsite. This prevents booking the site for Fri-Sun and showing up on Saturday.Campers may leave the site for 24 hours and must occupy the site otherwise. This allows a camper to say go for an overnight backpack trip in the woods for one night and come back to their campsite the next day. |
| General |
All food, beverage and trash must be always attended by an adult, this requires someone within 100 feet of the attractants. Otherwise, all attractants shall be stored in a locked vehicle/camper or food lockers.Those camping must adhere to the food storage rule as well and store all attractants in a locked vehicle unless attending the food, garbage, etc. |
| General |
All garbage shall be removed from the site and deposited in the appropriate receptacle by check out time. |
| General |
Off Highway Vehicle Use in not allowed at group or any other site in campground |
| General |
Check in time is 2:00pm and Check out time is 11:00amIt is imperative that you are clear from the site at 11:00am on your check out day so the host can come prepare the site for the next event. Please don't be the group that makes the incoming group have to wait. |
| General |
Fires are restricted to the metal fire rings or pedestal grill, no other open burning is allowed. |
| General |
Tent camping is allowed on flat, gravel areas shown inside the designated area. |
| General |
RV's and campers must be parked on the hardened gravel surface. |
| General |
RV's and campers cannot hook up to water via the spigots, spigot is for self-fill jugs only. |
| General |
Check with the Ranger District or American Land and Leisure prior to our event to investigate fire restrictions.In the event of fire restrictions, you may only be able to use propane cooking facilities. |
| General |
Quite hours are from 10pm to 6am, please respect other visitors to the area and the neighboring campsites. Sound travels in the mountains, don't be that rowdy party that disturbs others. |
| General |
VENDOR AND EVENT REQUIREMENTS Renters of these sites may hire vendors to support their use such as catering, flowers, music, ceremony efficient, photography, chair rental, etc. These vendors are not required to obtain a separate permit to provide these services. However, the party who rented Windy Point via Recreation.gov is responsible for all actions and/or damage taken by the vendors. The vendor must follow all site rules. All vendors shall adhere to check-in/out times for set up and especially retrieval of their equipment. In event the vendor does not retrieve their equipment, the renter is responsible to remove the equipment by noon on checkout day. |
| General |
Vendor Requirements-Commercial Filming and Still Photography: purpose is for a pre-paid film/photography service to document the event only. The products are only available to the client who reserved the group site and their guests. No re-sale is allowed. -Food and Drink Catering: purpose is for a prep-paid food/beverage service provided by the client who booked the group site for the sole service to their guests of the event. No other service shall be offered to other recreation visitors. -Music: Music shall be 80 decibels or less as to not disturb other forest users. Music and the overall event shall adhere to the posted quite hours of 10pm to 6am, the event must shut down between those hours. -Chair and Seating: Additional pre-paid seating may be provided by the client who booked the event site. All seating shall be placed on hardened surfaces. Even numbers shall meet posted site limitations.-Event Tents: Appropriately sized tents shall only be placed on/over gravel, hardened areas such as the parking area, concrete pad, or gravel gathering area at Forest Loop. No tents allowed on grass, in the woods etc.-Flowers and other decorations: A pre-paid vendor hired by the client who booked the group site is allowable. All decorations shall be removed immediately post event and not be allowed to bow away or be strewn about the site. Decorations shall bot be affixed to natural features such as trees, rocks, or other vegetation. -Release or throwing of animals, vegetation, or any other materials: Ariel release of any/all items such as but not limited to doves, other birds, butterflies, balloons, rice, petals, flowers, fireworks, reveal features, or any other item is prohibited. These users are not considered nominal and are prohibited. This is a natural environment, and all celebratory its shall reflect the setting. |
| General |
Customer Service Contact 801-226-3564 or Help.WhiteRiver.Aspen@AmericanLL.com |
