Rio Grande National Forest — Pool Table Road Dispersed Camp

Pool Table Road (FR 531) climbs east out of the Lake Fork Gunnison drainage onto an open, relatively flat plateau that the USFS has left largely undeveloped — hence the name. Dispersed sites line the road through stands of aspen and open meadows, giving you the choice of shade or sun depending on your rig setup. The plateau sits around 10,500 feet and delivers real quiet after Labor Day when the summer crowd clears out. No developed amenities here — pack everything in, pack everything out.

Access off CO-149 south of Lake City is straightforward gravel to start; the upper plateau stretches to rougher two-track. High-clearance rigs are recommended for the better sites deeper on the mesa. The road is typically passable from late June through October, snow and mud dependent on the shoulder seasons. Water is not available on the plateau — fill up in Lake City. USFS 14-day stay limit applies; check current fire restrictions with the Divide Ranger District before you set up camp.

Flat-top aspen plateau, zero amenities