Trip-period weather
We use the National Weather Service forecast point for each planning region. A regional forecast can differ from a high-elevation campsite, so we show its coverage and link the official forecast.
Open National Weather Service ↗How our data works
Useful evidence, with the uncertainty left in.
Where Should We Camp compares regions; it does not certify safety, road access, legality or campsite availability. We separate trip fit from evidence confidence and send every changing decision back to an official source.
Plan a tripWhat gets checked
Seven evidence layers, never one magic safety score.
Air quality (PM2.5)
AQI means Air Quality Index. This reading measures PM2.5—fine particles from smoke and other pollution. Lower is better; 0–50 is Good. We show the nearest available AirNow monitor. AirNow observations are preliminary and may change. A regional monitor is context—not a campsite reading, smoke forecast or safety determination. Mountain valleys can vary sharply, and a distant monitor may not represent the campsite itself.
Open EPA AirNow ↗Wildfire context
We use official interagency incident and perimeter records when available. We show records whose reported location or mapped perimeter falls within the 50-mile search area. Fire acreage and age are context—not a declaration that a destination is safe or unsafe.
Open NIFC wildfire map ↗Early-season snow readiness
For near-term May and June trips, representative NRCS SNOTEL observations can show snow likely, mixed conditions by elevation, or little observed snow. Snow evidence never proves that a campground, gate or road is open or passable.
Open USDA NRCS SNOTEL ↗Camping options
Campgrounds, first-come facilities and managed dispersed areas are curated from land-manager sources. An option tells you where to verify a plan; it never means a legal campsite is vacant.
Open Recreation.gov and land managers ↗Dates, rules and operating evidence
Each camping pathway keeps field-level outcomes with its source, review date and scope. Known closures and out-of-window dates are held out; stale, conflicting or unknown evidence is shown conservatively instead of being treated as a favorable fact.
Open Official land managers ↗14er camping relationships
Peak matches use reviewed camping-to-trailhead time bands and vehicle requirements. A match is a planning estimate, not live navigation. Lake City and Creede now have reviewed regional bases; peaks that still require an unsupported backpacking approach remain visible with that limitation stated.
Open Responsible trailhead and access sources ↗The trust contract
What the app will—and will not—say
- Trip fit
- How well a region matches the preferences you gave us. It is not a safety score.
- Confidence
- How much of the score-relevant evidence was current and usable. Missing evidence is visible and never treated as good news.
- Check exact dates
- A booking option exists, but we have not claimed that a matching site is available.
- Occupancy unknown
- First-come and dispersed vacancy cannot be known before arrival.
- Unknown is not a yes
- If a required fact is missing, stale or conflicting, the app does not silently count it as a match.
- Reviewed, no catalog match
- Some 14er trailheads need a camping region or backpacking approach the current catalog does not support. They remain visible without a fabricated match.
- Verify before leaving
- Restrictions, closures, gates, rough roads and incident conditions can change after any recommendation is produced.
Your final five-minute check still matters.Open the official camping source, current National Weather Service forecast and alerts, AirNow fire and smoke map, the responsible land manager’s restrictions, and the driving route before you leave.