Lower Cement Creek Designated Dispersed Campsite #2

The road is gravel and ok for low clearance/sedan/Prius until at least 2 miles in, near the USFS Cement Creek Campground (fee area).

There are only two areas with designated sites in the first ~2.5 miles of this road and both are TINY. They are like small trailhead parking lots and have very little room for vehicles, let alone a tent. You will be practically on top of your neighbor.

Everything was full (as far as I was willing to drive, ~3 miles in) on a Friday night in late July, but I was too tired to go anywhere else so I ended up parking in a small pulloff by the day use parking area (I am self-contained). Leaving before sunrise, a few other vans/cars had done the same elsewhere. I didn't have a problem but don't really recommend it (the USFS paid site has a camp host so you could get a window knock, who knows).

The day use area ~1.3 miles from the USFS boundary has a port a potty.

Being in a relatively narrow canyon, my InReach couldn't get a check-in message out.

This is a lovely little canyon, great stargazing, and nice babbling creek. If you can go further up the road where there are more spots or get a spot at the USFS developed campground, it'd be a great and not too far from Crested Butte. Have a backup plan though.

It is recommend that all vehicles greater than 35-40 ft. do not attempt to drive beyond site #9 Approx 6 miles from Hwy 135 as the road becomes very rough, narrows and requires high-clearance 4×4 vehicles

FR 740 is a gravel base road that is well maintained and treated for dust. It is heavily trafficked by cars, off-road vehicles and bicycles. It is a two lane road until it reaches the formal campground, from there it becomes a single lane. The valley is popular with offroaders, mountain bikers, hikers and nature lovers.

The first cluster of campsites sit alongside a popular biking trail. This trail runs between site 1 and site 2. Site two is fairly level and the largest site in the cluster. It is in full sun but is not a good candidate for Starlink due to the close mountain ridge.

There is no cellular connection in valley.

Went up on a Wednesday during the peak camping season. Lots of areas to pull off etc... but only a few dedicated spots that I would consider a real site. Unfortunately most of the spots were taken by "squatters" - those who setup they're stuff and then leave town (basically to hold the spot for the maximum 14 days) - saw 6 different campsites setup this way and never saw a person, car or any activity at any of them (ok I'll get off my soapbox now). Also, the road gets really, really rough at the sign that indicates might not be safe for pulling trailers. I got my 20 foot motor-home up my a quarter of a mile and it got real nasty - definitely need a 4X4, high clearance vehicle. Overall great place, close to Crested Butte - just a little risky finding a spot.