Colorado guys. Looking fro advice on trails and camping

Family and I are heading out at the end of July with a buddy and his family for camping and wheeling. I wanted to hit the San Juans and Moab, but they don't want to drive that far west. So I am thinking about starting in the Leadville area. Any suggestions on trails or camping areas? I would be ok with heading north of 70 too, I just don't know that area. I have made quite a few trips to Keystone, Breck, Copper, etc, so I know that area a little better. I am looking for moderate trails, so not like Holy Cross. Let me know what your thoughts are. Thanks!

 

Cottonwood Pass.

 

Got it. Will look into that. Thinking about running Halfmoon Gulch as well. It looked like I can camp on that trail. Need to make sure we can end up at a camp spot each night. Would love to find some places we can fish by camp too.

 

Too bad your friends don't want to drive that far.

I live on the Western Slope and regularly drive west as far as Ely and Owyhee NV, and all parts in between. Over the last 30 years I've found several campsites (not campgrounds) that I frequent. You may want to try them if you and your family are up to it. They are remote and isolated, and are in the Henry mountains (20 miles south of Hanksville UT), in the mountains just off of SRs 10 and 72 (in central Utah), about 30 miles east of Ely just east of Spring Valley, and several that are between those points. No services. I've seen trailers at a few of them (don't know how they got there!) Most of those campsites are above 8,200 feet with some as high as 9,500 feet. If interested, let me know.