Huerfano is a quiet, remote horse camping area located within a Colorado State Wildlife Area. The campground offers several first-come, first-served sites with plenty of room for horses and easy access to the creek that runs alongside the camping area.

Most sites offer some shade throughout the day and enough space for portable pens or a hot-wire enclosure. Depending on the site, you may also be able to find a suitable location for a high line. There are no hookups, but two campground toilets are available.

One of the biggest advantages of camping here is the convenient trail access. The primary trailhead is located at the south end of the camping area, allowing you to ride directly from camp without having to trailer out.

Getting here takes some time once you leave I-25, and the road narrows during the final stretch, but the road itself is manageable with a horse trailer if you take your time.

Bring your own water for both you and your horses, although the nearby creek provides easy access to additional water if needed. A valid Colorado hunting or fishing license, or State Wildlife Area Pass, is required to use the area. Keep in mind that this is also a popular hunting area in the late fall.

There’s really only one way to get to this campground, and you can use the Google Maps pinned location for directions. Once you leave I-25, the drive becomes much slower, and after you reach Gardner, expect to slow down even more. The road itself is fine, although it is a little washboarded in places.

The road narrows for the last 1.5 miles. The left turn into the campground is a little tight, so swing as wide as possible, especially if you’re pulling a larger rig. After making the turn, you’ll drive through about 100 yards of some tree overgrowth, but nothing that should cause any damage.

From there, it’s time to pick your site. All of the sites have close and easy access to the creek that runs alongside the camping area.

This campground is located within a Colorado State Wildlife Area, so you will need a valid Colorado fishing or hunting license, or a State Wildlife Area Pass.

Bring your own water for the horses, even though there is easy access to the creek from the camping area.

There’s plenty of room at most sites to set up a hot-wire enclosure or portable pens. A couple of the sites may also have suitable locations for a high line, depending on your setup.

Most of the sites offer some shade throughout the day, giving you options for keeping the horses out of the sun.

The primary trailhead is located at the south end of the camping area, providing convenient access to the trails directly from camp without having to trailer out.

This is a first-come, first-served campground, so there are no reservations.

A valid Colorado hunting or fishing license, or State Wildlife Area Pass, is required to use the area. This is also a popular hunting area in the late fall, so keep that in mind if you’re planning a trip later in the season.

There are no hookups, but there are two campground toilets available.

Bring your own water for both you and your horses. A creek runs very close to the campsites and provides easy access to additional water if needed.