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Difficult Campground

White River National Forest, Colorado

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As of October 2026, Difficult Campground is a campground in White River National Forest, Colorado with 47 campsites. Difficult Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

PermitSnag checks Difficult Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
Difficult Campground is located at 39.1417° N, 106.7708° W.

people allowed on 46 of 47 sites: 10
people allowed on the largest site: 30

Difficult Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

November 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Stay and booking rules

Taxes apply
Maximum consecutive stay: 5 consecutive days

Published by Recreation.gov for Difficult Campground, read on September 30, 2026.

Campsites at Difficult Campground

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Standard 46
Group 1

Amenities

potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: fishing, hiking, wildlife, photography, stargazing.

All sites at Difficult Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Site	Loop	Type	Sleeps
001	DIFF	Standard	10
002	DIFF	Standard	10
003	DIFF	Standard	10
004	DIFF	Standard	10
005	DIFF	Standard	10
006	DIFF	Standard	10
007	DIFF	Standard	10
008	DIFF	Standard	10
009	DIFF	Standard	10
010	DIFF	Standard	10
011	DIFF	Standard	10
012	DIFF	Standard	10
013	DIFF	Standard	10
014	DIFF	Standard	10
015	DIFF	Standard	10
016	DIFF	Standard	10
017	DIFF	Standard	10
018	DIFF	Standard	10
019	DIFF	Standard	10
020	DIFF	Standard	10
021	DIFF	Standard	10
022	DIFF	Standard	10
023	DIFF	Standard	10
024	DIFF	Standard	10

Site	Loop	Type	Sleeps
025	DIFF	Standard	10
026	DIFF	Standard	10
027	DIFF	Standard	10
028	DIFF	Standard	10
029	DIFF	Standard	10
030	DIFF	Standard	10
031	DIFF	Standard	10
032	DIFF	Standard	10
033	DIFF	Standard	10
034	DIFF	Standard	10
035	DIFF	Standard	10
036	DIFF	Standard	10
038	DIFF	Standard	10
039	DIFF	Standard	10
040	DIFF	Standard	10
041	DIFF	Standard	10
042	DIFF	Standard	10
043	DIFF	Standard	10
044	DIFF	Standard	10
045	DIFF	Standard	10
046	DIFF	Standard	10
047	DIFF	Standard	10
001	GRP	Group	30

About Difficult Campground

Overview

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.

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.

Facilities

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.

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.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (801) 226-3564.

Nearby Attractions

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.

Charges & Cancellations

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Rules and notices at Difficult Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 30, 2026. Check Difficult Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

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.

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.

Bears are present in Difficult Campground daily. It is very important that you store your food, garbage, drinks - all attractants in the food locker, locked car, or locked camper/RV. Please follow the food storage regulations.

The following campgrounds: Willows, Lincoln Gulch and Lost Man; along the Independence Pass Highway have been experiencing bear activity and we ask that you follow the same regulations when visiting these sites.

All garbage shall be removed from the site and deposited in the appropriate receptacle by check out time.

Off Highway Vehicle Use in not allowed at group or any other site in campground

Check in time is 2:00pm and Check out time is 11:00am

It 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.

Fires are restricted to the metal fire rings or pedestal grill, no other open burning is allowed.

Tent camping is allowed on flat, gravel areas shown inside the designated area.

RV's and campers must be parked on the hardened gravel surface.

RV's and campers cannot hook up to water via the spigots, spigot is for self-fill jugs only.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Customer Service Contact 801-226-3564 or Help.WhiteRiver.Aspen@AmericanLL.com

Recreation.gov permit and campground cancellations →

Difficult Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Difficult Campground?

Difficult Campground is rated "Moderate to Book" based on historical demand. With 47 sites available, you have good chances of finding availability, especially on weekdays.

How do I find last-minute availability at Difficult Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Difficult Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Difficult Campground have?

Difficult Campground has 47 campsites.