Browns Canyon National Monument offers dispersed camping on BLM land near Salida with multiple spacious sites featuring rock fire rings and panoramic views of the Collegiate Peaks, though amenities are minimal (no water, trash service, or toilets).

Access is via rough unpaved roads requiring high-clearance vehicles, with nearby developed campgrounds at Ruby Mountain and Hecla Junction Recreation Sites offering restrooms, boat ramps, and picnic facilities for paddlers and anglers.

The area is approximately 10 miles from Salida and provides access to world-class Gold Medal trout waters on the Arkansas River, with whitewater rafting being the most popular activity in the canyon.