Colorado - We want mountains!!

goducks10 wrote:
Being up that high in elevation what are the mosquito's like in June and July?

Mosquitos are not so much a problem; black flies are. Depends on proximity to water. We use citronella candles in the afternoon/early evening, seem to help. Once the temperature drops, they are not a problem. Usually as sunset approaches and the temps start to get in the 60s-50s-40s, the problem goes away.

Here in northern Colorado at the places we usually go (USFS CG, RMNP, State Forest SP, etc), we've not had much of a problem with skeeters. And a couple of places we camp are creek side. The black flies can be very annoying, and we've considered getting one of those screened in canopies to give us some relief from those pesky flies.

Being up that high in elevation what are the mosquito's like in June and July?

Jandy2015 wrote:
Thank you so much for all the responses in here.

We feel so naive thinking that April the birds and bees would be out as the beautiful spring flowers bloom in Colorado.

Oh, for sure the Birds and the Bees along with shorts and T's in April just need to be aware it May and Likely will Change in 3 days :) That said the Mountains and I-70 Vail Pass could require Chains even if you are pulling with a 4X4 TV. Most likely it will be Sunny and Beautiful - BUT.....need to at least be aware (see note below on chain laws)

We may have to rethink and get heartier accommodation.

IMHO even in Moab, in April, the nights can be Chilly and require some heat - so just need to be aware and plan for it.

But great options to look into.

This is the perfect place for help.

I might put up a post about our whole trip to get some basic advice on what to do.

That would be Great, as you have many here and on irv2 who Know Colorado and can help steer you in the right direction.

Thanks again

Info;

Traction laws often are in effect when there is winter weather. Under that law, no chains are needed if drivers have snow tires, four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive if there are 1/8 inch tread on tires.

However, none of that applies if Colorado's passenger vehicle chain law is in effect. Under that, all vehicles need chains.

"Traction law is usually when it starts to snow and there's some accumulation on the roadways," Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Stacia Sellers said.

"So this is where the road is completely horrible, if you want to think of it like that. We have our plows out there and they're having a difficult time keeping up."

In 2016, the passenger vehicle chain law was implemented only twice. It never took effect in 2017.

Colorado I-70 in the Winter - Beautiful;

If you want to be 30 minutes from Denver, you will be in the residential suburbs for the most part. I would go a little further out past Bailey and Conifer.

Thank you so much for all the responses in here. We feel so naive thinking that April the birds and bees would be out as the beautiful spring flowers bloom in Colorado. We may have to rethink and get heartier accommodation. But great options to look into. This is the perfect place for help. I might put up a post about our whole trip to get slme basic advice on what to do. Thanks again

Jandy2015 wrote:
Hi,

We will be camping just outside Denver (westside) and were trying to find a magical camping spot. Our main features are mountains, everywhere, lake is always pleasant..

That is all.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Google pictures are not bringing anything special.

Thanks in advance.

Jandy2015 wrote:
Apologies for the vagueness. Think I was excited to get your guys opinions so rushed..

- We would like to get to Denver to explore (maybe no more than 30 minutes outside)
- hook ups preferable. We've got a pop up.
- we would be coming from Arches so any stops on the way that are a must visit.

Thanks for the responses already, great options to research.

Jandy2015 wrote:
Jm so sorry my posts are useless for info.

We will be there mid April 2019. 3 days. So excited for our trip. We were thinking being out in the mountains/lake, pop into denver for a day to explore (so probably could be a little further out) then back to our Colorado wilderness (with hook ups).

Trying to get all this straight - have read your posts all 12 and I am even more confused - not your fault likely me [COLOR=]- Panama Beach - San Diego - Moab - Denver/Colorado Mountains - April


So I'll pose a few Questions - How Long is the trip, time/miles/days? Where are you starting From? Where will you end? What are you Towing With? What are you using for HEAT? Also let me say that the Replies to this Post are from some of the Best on the RV.net site, so you are getting/Will Get good info.

As my second/third home is in Colorado I will chime in that while April Can be Awesome (I love It and every other day in Colorado) in the Foothills - generally it is still WINTER in the Mountains - Lakes are frozen and Snow is still on the Ground, Few if any CampGrounds are Open - Example - last year for Memorial day we flew out for a week with our East Coast Grands to Visit the Colorado Grands (2+4=6 Girls total) the hope was to do Trail Ridge with the Snow Walls Images - did not Happen as it was 21' of snow at the Pass so we Hiked in the Snow to Red Rock Lake which was frozen solid - Girls all loved it - But - this was Late MAY - snow and frozen Lakes.

OK - trip is still Good in April just need to Be Prepared for all types of Weather - Moab Info that will help :) - also be sure to Drive out of Moab on RT 128 to get to I-70 to head to Denver, you will pass Aspen and Vail Two of many, awesome Ski resorts might just try to see a few of them - Beautiful Mountains and Not to be Missed.

If April Continues to be your Date - Golden Clear Creek RV Park will be a Perfect Spot - on the water - looks up to the Foothills and is just minuets from a beautiful Drive on RT 6 along the Creek and into the Mountains.

Get back to us and I'm sure you will get more helpful info.

Best of Luck,

ppine wrote:
I remember when I first moved to Colorado back in 1981. Memorial Day was the first big weekend for working people. We decided to head for Grand Lake, the largest natural lake in the State. We came over the horizon and got our first view, and the lake was still frozen . . .

Yea, that's about the time one of our sons played in a Memorial Day soccer tournament in snow . . . at Ft. Logan . . . in Denver!

I remember when I first moved to Colorado back in 1981. Memorial Day was the first big weekend for working people. We decided to head for Grand Lake, the largest natural lake in the State. We came over the horizon and got our first view, and the lake was still frozen and covered in snow. It is not even that high, something like 8,000 feet.

To add to the last 2 posts about April, Golden Gate Canyon SP will only have 1 loop open, and they are all walk in sites. No reservations until late May. There aren't FHU sites there, only electricity, and the common water will still be winterized. Staying warm in a pop up will be difficult.

And major snow events in March and April are usually heavy wet snow, not the powdery snow of early in the season. On the roof of a pop up, it could be challenging to keep the roof up.

If you can look to late May or better yet, into June, you will have a much more favourable trip out here. Today, December 15, is the booking window for getting a campsite for June 14, 2019.

To add on the the April is still winter in the CO mountains... March and April also usually have the biggest snow events (common for 12+ inches of snow) and those snow events can also happen down on the plains. The plains being Denver metro, CO Springs, Boulder, Ft Collins areas but there is no guarantee of that. If I were you, I would consider either delaying your trip or stay in a RV park in Golden and do day trips into the mountains.