Colorado Camping

tripnip

tripnip

Active member
Alright i think we need a thread for camping, if you have a favorite camping area share it. I need some new ideas for this summer! last summer I Went to Gunella Pass right out side of George town. If you take the pass road all the way to the other side there are a few great back packing trails.
 
American Lakes are about an hour west of Ft. Collins and its a fun place to camp.

2.5-3 hour hike in (marginally challenging).
 
Lots of camping around CB and gunnison area, anywhere south of Salida in the Sangre de Cristo's. So many places in Colorado i cant even begin.
 
obj is literally one of my favorite places ever, such a dope spot!

There are so many rad spots to camp in CO
 
So if you are looking to do some backpacking and want to experience some solitude, hit up the Flat Tops Wilderness southwest of steamboat/north of glenwood. Its the most remote mountain range in the state, and if you are into fishing, holds the largest concentration of native cutthroat trout in the southern rockies. incredible area.

Also, lets get into posting up pics over the summer of dope spots - keep a type of camping log.

 
Fuck yeah, American/Michigan Lakes are dope. Last time I was up there we got stuck in a crazy fuckin hail/snow/thunder/lightning storm though.
 
Oh, and Pingree Park has some sweet places to camp at. It's about an 1.5 hours from Fort Collins up the Poudre Canyon. It shares the NE border of RMNP.
 
Yeah - I love the American/Michigan lakes but have been poured on too.

Definitely a place to bring the rain gear, and understand you might get dumped on.

Still worth it though.
 
Anyone know of any rad camping areas within 50-100 miles of the sand dunes? I will be doing 3 days in the aspen forests right next to the park, and the 3 more days at a location we have not picked yet. We are looking for a dope spot with some privacy ...

Anyone know any spots?

-thanks
 
Golden Gate National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Cameron Pass or Pingree Park like I mentioned above, lots of places in Summit County, Indian Peaks, Poudre Canyon.
 
You can take montezuma rd right past keystone up the valley, and there are a few spots that turn into dirt roads and you can camp around there. They are very nice, the pull offs are BEFORE the small town of montezuma

Good luck, and its FREE
 
even better once the 4x4 road between montezuma and tiger rd in breck is melted out (as long as you have a lifted car obviously), there's some amazing spots that never see much traffic at all.
 
Anyone know sny good places to "car camp" pretty close to arvada or boulder? Im trying to get mu friends into camping and they arent up for back packing quite yet.
 
Around Boulder your best bet is to drive up to nederland (~25 minutes).

Once in town there's lots of places around....in particular head north on the big road and look for pullouts to the right within the first 3 miles.
 
Also - be careful camping at high elevations as there is still a TON of snow up there.

Had my plans dramatically altered this weekend.
 
ha, me too. went biking on spruce creek trail today (good camping area btw) and had to hike my bike over my shoukder for like 2 out of the 7 miles b/c of all the lingering snow.
 
Anyone know of any good waterfall or river spots in the front range, summit county, or park county? Something pretty secluded with not many people. Something with a hike in is cool too!
 
there's a cool waterfall coming out of mohawk lakes...just start at the spruce creek trailhead and go up the gultch between pacific and crystal peaks, it's pretty easy hike as long as the trail is clear.
 
plus you can camp out in that cabin as long as no one is in there, or if there is then meet new friends haha. although people walk buy it a lot so it's not very private...
 
Can't remember the highway number.. But the road from Granby to Walden has nice camping (no not trail ridge rd). Strawberry park near tabernash.. Any 4x4 trail near telluride or Ouray.. Many spots off the road north of Nederland near the CSU observatory or whatever it is..
 
this. you can almost drive all the way there too if you have an SUV/truck. went up there last week. the waterfall is ragin cajun right now.
 
Didn't see this post.. I know of about 5 cabins you can stay in.. unless squatters are in them.. all are in amazing locations and relatively comfortable.. ill make a map this week and post it for anyone interested.. most of these cabins are near green mountain res... Hot sulphur springs.. grand lake.. and devils thumb
 
also in the front range, there's a buttload of falls in RMNP. bridal veil, timberline, and lost falls are all really cool and less crowded if you want something with a hike. if you wanted to do multiple calypso cascade and ouzel falls are on the same hike and could be combined with something higher up if you're feeling saucy. the big thing with rocky to remember, if you hike more than 3 miles you'll see little to no traffic with the exceptions of flattop mountain and longs peak, heck on the less popular trailheads, anything longer than 2 will get you that nice secluded feeling. also, big one...the bear lake trailhead is nuts on summer weekends, if you can't get there before 7am then you should scrap your plans for something else.
 
I've only ever felt bear lake to be useful in the winter, because yeah it's way too popular in the summer. so popular even asians/indians are hiking it lol
 
I dont recall designated campsites.. But I've camped at the bottom by water and enjoyed it. Just expect to see hikers going past to the glacier
 
Hey guys I need to find a place to take this girl camping for the fourth. something where I can drive my truck to it preferably because I doubt she would be down to walk in.

be a huge plus on or near a lake.
 
Twin Lakes up near Pingree Park. Just make sure you have a car that can handle a steep fire road. You can camp pretty much anywhere around the lake. It might get a little crowded up there for the 4th though so claim your spot early. The lake is right there (not sure if I'd swim in it though) with amazing views of The Mummy Range.
 
That road gets really rutted out! Be careful!

I love the Pingree Park area though. Hauges peak is always a fun, rather challenging adventure.

Stormy peaks are fun too. If you want to go a bit further up the canyon, head to Lake Agnus or Michigan Lakes.

I'm living in the roaring fork valley for the summer and I've found a few cool spots.

-Lead King Basin outside of Marble is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Meadows of wildflowers, waterfalls, views of Snowmass and the Maroon Bells and really fun trails/ Jeep roads.

-Pearl pass/ Montezuma Mine area south of Aspen on Conundrum creek road. Follow Montezuma mine road up and up and up some more until it ends right between two 14ers. Plenty of campsites off the trails

-Outside Woody creek, theres a jeep road up to Triangle peak in a beautiful aspen forest where you can watch planes land in Aspen. If you want to find one PM me for better directions!

-I know plenty more that I'll post when I think of them!

 
Sucks that you only have weekends off and I never have weekends off.

Caroline, what's the name of the meadow above Pingree Park where the fireroad/trail tops out? There's an awesome campground just to the right along the stream there called Jupiter Campground or something?

Also, I forgot to mention one of my favorits that's close to Fort Collins. The campgrounds on Grey's Peak up the Poudre Canyon are pretty sweet.. If you hike up the main trail (not the longer "Meadows" trail route) for a few miles, it flattens out where the Meadow trail meets the main trail before you climb up to the peak. Instead of taking a right (south) and heading up toward the scramble to the peak, continue straight off the main trail (there's a faint one already there). Go through the through the light bushes, and you'll see some really nicely built fire pits. If you catch it on the right night, you can hear shows from the Mishawaka Amphitheater. If you bring your climbing gear, there's some bolted sport routes almost feet from the campsites too.
 
SUCH a beautiful place. Very accessible, tons of moose and lots of cool hikes out of there
 
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