Favorite COE park in your state
I was just looking at my Camping with COE book and noticed a park marked that we've never been too so I'm sure I marked it from a recommendation from someone on this forum. This got me to thinking..w...
Forum Discussion
Don't bother to look for COE campgrounds in Colorado in the book or on-line--there are none. There are five COE lakes in Colorado that have campgrounds, but four are run by the Colorado Division of Parks & Wildlife and the other one (Bear Creek Lake) is run by City of Lakewood Parks & Recreation. So, the facilities and costs reflect State policies, not COE regulations.
All but one of these COE dams were built in response to the 1965 floods in the South Platte and Arkansas River Basins and had no initial recreation plans or facilities. One, John Martin Dam, was begun in the 1930s, in response to a flood in 1921 and, interestingly, floods during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. All 5 lakes were developed later by the State in order to take advantage of the recreational opportunities they offered, particularly in the Denver area where three of the five are located.
So, this thread is of great interest to us because we have never stayed in a COE campground. I am making a list of some of your suggestions in the South as we are planning a trip from Colorado to Florida (via Chicago to pick up a new trailer) in February.
All but one of these COE dams were built in response to the 1965 floods in the South Platte and Arkansas River Basins and had no initial recreation plans or facilities. One, John Martin Dam, was begun in the 1930s, in response to a flood in 1921 and, interestingly, floods during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. All 5 lakes were developed later by the State in order to take advantage of the recreational opportunities they offered, particularly in the Denver area where three of the five are located.
So, this thread is of great interest to us because we have never stayed in a COE campground. I am making a list of some of your suggestions in the South as we are planning a trip from Colorado to Florida (via Chicago to pick up a new trailer) in February.
