CO Camping Gems

Get some Motor Vehicle Use maps for where you want to go. They show areas where dispersed camping is permitted. Avenza maps app and you can download most MVUM for free.

 

Thanks, I'll look into that.

 

Don't want to sugar coat it so, there are thousands all trying to do the same thing.

5 years ago you could reserve a camp site at some camp areas maybe a month ahead, now you have to make it when they are released 6 months before Camp date. Same situation for dispersed campsites unless you have a secret site or they have trail obstacles preventing the subies from making it there.

 

spend a weekend just exploring forest service roads and make notes of the sites you see along the way.
Plan on skipping work Friday and leave early in the morning and you should be able to find a site.
Campsites are plentiful right now with the kids back to school and cooler weather.
During July/August, you gotta really apply yourself to find one then, be prepared to "share".

 

yea you pretty much gotta go looking for one on your own. search google maps with satellite view, compare it to the motor vehicle usage map, go scope it out. ive found a couple spots this way, had to scratch a lot more off the list. if you find something online, chances are its known by quite a few people and it will be tricky to get a spot. if there is an intimidating obstacle in the way that could help. ive seen bigger vehicles turn around at whoops before.

 

I was on the opposite end of Mirror Lake.

 

There was a secluded spot in rampart range my friends and I used to go to…until it got fenced off.

 

Great spot right?

 

It’s very easy to do.

Whether it will be peaceful or surrounded by 400 other vehicles and their 600 UTVs is another story.

 

anyone got some good beta on more spots with water? Ive got a couple on my list that ive been too but looking to change it up

 

Are you wanting like creeks and rivers or lakes and reservoirs?

 

mostly creeks and rivers

 

If you’re willing to make appts at camp grounds you can get some good River spots for day use. Some of the River spots I fish at do require daily fees.

Some of the best lakes require you take passes that might not be open in June but accessible in August.

Be safe out there & report on
http://www.bushducks.com/tripreps/passopen.htm

 

Figured I’d make sure the Fire Incident website was listed on here. You can check this out to make sure your camping somewhere safe; etc

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

 

yeah thats another one on my list. were up there quite a bit. Theres also a ton of good camping once you pass pump house

 

had a cool spot with a view of pikes peak, there’s still some okay spots at rainbow falls but sadly the best one was fenced off

 

completed the Utah education course. dont think colorado has one

https://secured.utah.gov/utoutdoorrecdirectory/Forms/Page/utoutdoorrecdirectory/utohvcourse/1

 

If you're looking for ideas for this coming summer, Grizzly Lake is pretty nice.








Video:
https://i.imgur.com/om1eRrJ.mp4

 

I cant wait to camp again! Gonna be different this year with a new born but thats part of the fun of it

 

took a whole 15 mins and the videos were pretty good!