Camping at McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area | Jouflas Campground

Just two miles into Colorado off I-70 there are several great options for free camping at McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area. And there’s plenty to see and do in the area to make this a worthwhile stop. As far as camping goes, choose from a spot in one of the nice BLM campgrounds or choose one of the designated dispersed camp spots. And if you’re set up for more adventure and rough roads, there are also camping options on the Colorado River.

While camping at McInnis Canyon, we opted for a spot at the Jouflas Campground which is a very nice BLM facility. And we weren’t surprised to find that there’s talk of this area not being free for much longer. Read on to find out more about the rules and what to expect while camping at McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area.

Quick Info: Camping at McInnis Canyon

Cost: Free

Ownership: BLM; 7 day limit

Directions: From I-70, take Exit 2 for Rabbit Valley and head south over the cattle guard to the McInnis Canyon NCA information signage. To get to Jouflas Campground, continue straight on the dirt road for 0.7 mile and turn right at the sign. Continue straight for another 0.4 mile and you have arrived.

Good to Know: You need a free permit for all camping at McInnis Canyon NCA. Pick one up at the entrance, fill it out and place the white copy in the designated camping permit box. This is good for up to 7 days.

Solar: Good

Miles From Town: About 20 miles from Fruita

Water: None

Road Conditions: The road to Jouflas Campground and the Rabbit Valley dispersed camping spots is in overall good condition. There are some ruts but no 4WD or high clearance is necessary. All other camping within the area 4WD is recommended.

Cell Service: Yes, we had cell service at Jouflas Campground and when we drove along Rabbit Valley Road.

Amenities: There are fire pits, picnic tables, level tent pads and vault toilets at Jouflas Campground. And the dispersed dry camping spots also have fire pits and picnic tables.

Our Experience Camping at McInnis Canyon NCA

On our way north to Dinosaur National Monument, we noticed this vast area of mixed public land on the map and decided to check it out. And just like that, we stumbled upon a beautiful area to explore with free camping at McInnis Canyon NCA. We just crossed into Colorado and by exit 2 we already had plenty of recreation opportunities to check out! Gotta love Colorado.

We stopped at the McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area entrance signs to get more information. Here’s a summary of what we found.

You must fill out a free camping permit to camp anywhere at McInnis Canyon. Camping is limited to 7 days. There are three primitive campgrounds as well as more than 30 DESIGNATED dispersed camp sites. You must be self contained to dry camp at these dispersed sites or have approved methods of packing out all human waste. Camping at Jouflas Campground and camping in Rabbit Valley area are both accessible without high clearance or 4WD. To reach all other camping, 4WD and high clearance are recommended.

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So we decided to go check out Jouflas Campground! There was one other small trailer there when we arrived. We walked around, chose a spot and got settled in.

The view from the campground is vast and peaceful. We were happy to be here with new scenery and new trails to explore.

While we were camping at McInnis Canyon, we realized that Jouflas Campground typically cleared out every morning but usually filled up every night. In hindsight, next time we would probably choose a dispersed dry camping site instead since we have a trailer and tent campers need these spots more than us.

McInnis Canyon National Recreation Area is a popular spot with many trails for mountain biking as well as dirt bikes and other OHV’s. With 24 miles of Colorado River carving out the canyon, there are kayaking opportunities here as well. And of course, there are many hiking trails in the area with some more difficult to access than others. McInnis Canyon NCA is a very peaceful, beautiful area full of outdoor recreation and is conveniently located right off of I-70.

Adventures Nearby

While camping at McInnis Canyon, we explored some of the nearby trails that were easier to access. Here are a few that we did but note that there are many many more!

One of our favorites was the easy, mellow Trail Through Time. This trail has interpretive signs along the way and there are several spots where you can see real dinosaur bones!

McDonald Creek Canyon Trail is a nice hike through a beautiful, peaceful canyon. The scenery seems everchanging and eventually ends at the rail road tracks with views of the Colorado River.

And Rabbits Ear Mesa is another great day hike nearby. The elevation gain mixed with the constant exposure makes this a bit more challenging but you are rewarded with dramatic canyon views and the Colorado River down below. Surprisingly, we had all three of these trails to ourselves!

And if you’ve got more time in the area, head to Fruita to Colorado National Monument. You can take a scenic drive full of dramatic overlooks and maybe do a few short hikes.

We loved the Lower Monument Loop trail that leads through the dramatic lower Colorado National Monument scenery. The trailhead is technically not in the monument though the majority of the trail is. So you can access this trail for free with no entrance fee. It’s full of great scenery and keep your eyes out for Bighorn Sheep!

Did you bring your skateboard? We enjoyed Eagle Rim and West Lake skateparks in neighboring Grand Junction!

Thanks for Reading!

Living on the road full time allows us to experience camping and exploring new areas about every two weeks. Some spots are surrounded by recreation opportunities and some are a bit less exciting. If you’d like to read about some of our other free camping experiences, check out the articles below:

• Dispersed Camping Near Crested Butte: Kebler Pass Road
• Beautiful Free Camping at Logandale Trails
• BLM Free Campground at Laguna Mountain Recreation Area
• Dispersed Camping Near Camp Verde

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