Colorado Indecision--Where to go this week?

Son of Norway wrote:
How long have you been in Colorado? We are also transplants (30 years). All of the outdoor locations and facilities along the Front Range are subject to heavy use by the public and things are fairly tightly-regulated. The best campgrounds are booked 6 months in advance. Expect it to get even worse as the Front Range continues to grow. Closed usually means gated. The options for dispersed camping along the Front Range are limited. Go to the individual Forest websites to get current info on open locations. Call the office for the Forest you intend to go to and talk to someone to check your information before you go. Making a mistake could lead to a citation and a fine. Miles

Hey, thanks for the info. We moved in March but have had the RV out here since last summer due to visiting and flying back. We were able to book Kelly Dahl last fall before it closed. That is when I looked around a bit at the dispersed near there. Sites were all taken on the weekend.


In February I booked campgrounds at state parks--visited Boyd Lake--nice beach not many trails except a paved one to Loveland, St. Vrain--next to the highway, not many trails, and Golden Gate Canyon where the campground is pretty far away from most of the trails! We stopped at Chatfield for a day but they were not an option for camping--sites were already booked for all weekends in the summer--this was in February! So yeah, lots of campers here and not what we are used to! I guess so many people are hard on the ecosystem and it results in control. But I'm surprised so many places are locked and barred when the weather is still reasonable and traffic would be lighter.

I am using the maps and we talked to the forest office in Leadville and he indicated that whatever wasn't posted in the forest was open for dispersed. So hopefully we are paying enough attention that we won't get cited! But good to know.

Son of Norway wrote:
Every one has their favorite places and you need to book them months in advance. You should also start looking farther afield. For you I would suggest Withers Canyon Trailhead at Picketwire Canyon south of La Junta (Comanche National Grasslands). It might remind you of places you have camped at in Arizona. It is close enough for a week-end. Be sure to visit the dinosaur track site. (I like to use a mountain bike to get there from the campsites.)

We also like to go fishing and camping in the Flat Tops. If you are willing to drive for 3 hours you can get to places that don't see as much pressure.

Enjoy your new state!

Thanks for the ideas on some other places to try. Have not looked at the grasslands or heard about Flat Tops. So lots to explore here.