CO Camping Gems

Thanks for posting the Video. You took ten years from the wives lifespan with that trip. But her play by play was priceless.

 

so I went over to you tube and watched some more video's of Black Bear Pass. Wow!! some great footage and really bad disasters happen on that trail. Would have loved to done this 20 years ago. I lived in Denver for a year on Vacation back in the early 80's. Camped up at Taylor Lake while the lake was still frozen. Wish I would have known about Black Bear then with my 1982 Toyota 4x4 Pickup Truck.

 

Just for

Only summer busy months. Still a joke. Next you’ll need a permit to hike just because it’s dangerous like Capitol Peak.

 

90% of the disasters/accidents are people not paying attention.. Not just black bear but trails in general

 

any recommendations for a quick weekend trip from Denver metro. Looking for a site with shade and or water to chill by.

 

Vasquez road in winterpark

 

Much of Vasquez Road is closed to camping due to lack of respect of campsites. Lots of people defecating by the river leading into town and trash left behind. When I was there last summer our site was strewn with used condoms.

 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD911036

But looking into this year it may be open again?

 

JFC

I wish shitty fucking people didn’t feel the need to ‘enjoy’ the outdoors.

If you want to toss used condoms wherever and shit anywhere but where you’re supposed to shit, maybe just try downtown Denver.

 

it was closed for a bit because they were moving some sort of water main or line i dont remember really. generally the campsites closer to berthoud and lower were much nicer The ones off the road that you can drive all the way to fraiser were and had people living up there. so if yougo into vasquez road, go left at the Y and not right.

There is also a good amount of camping off off highway down near the river.

 

That is why we can't have nice things and why you are going to need a damned permit to walk out your front door one of these days.

 

Last time I camped up Vasquez Rd was 2005. By then it was undesirable due to the saturation of douchebags and dumbasses.

 

I wonder if you guys can help. I'm trying to plan a trip to take my son and a few friends camping. The places I usually go are dispersed campsites. They want to camp near a lake but I don't want to have neighbors right next door and that seems to be all I can find. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

 

The holy grail of all CO camping searches is now taking place!

 

Anyone been to the Trappers Lake area? I know it's not really dispersed but it seems some what spread out.

 

Seeking recommendations for dispersed campsites close to The Great Sand Dunes. Seems like camping around Crestone is an option but it's 90 minutes from the Dunes park entrance, and I'm hoping for closer!

Thanks in advance!

 

i camped at zapata falls years ago, like 2015. i thought it was first come first serve, but may not be anymore considering how much other campground have changed over the years.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recarea/?recid=74116
may wanna give them a call and double check.

im not too sure about medano pass camping, there are some sites, not sure if you can reserve anything.
https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/medano-pass-road.htm

 

I was at medano early this summer and it's decent camping as long as you can find a spot. As you said, no reservations. Zapata has changed a lot since 2015 and believe you have to make reservations. I passed by on the way home and noticed a lot changed and a lot of instructions posted.

San Luis SWA isn't too far and is free if you have a hunting or fishing license. Not my top choice though.

Edit. Have also heard a lot of people camp at Mt Blanca but never done it myself

 

Finding a camp site in colorado seems intimidating. It's hard to understand where I can just stop and set out my RTT. I'm sure once you get used to it it's not that big of a deal but damn I don't even know where to start. It seems like i have to reserve a camp site days in advance everywhere and it costs money. I just want to go somewhere and park my truck and stay over night. Is it that hard to do casually?