Getting ready for a trip that we really haven't planned at all for. Going to go from Michigan and spend 2 weeks in Colorado seeing the sights. We are taking our 30' fifth wheel for the last week of June and first week of July. We plan to spend a chunk of our time in RMNP, but maybe the second week traveling and visiting other areas, like the cliff dwellings.Without any planning, and the very few first come first served sites in the park, I think we are going to have to stay outside the park. Just don't see that we are going to get in the park campgrounds. We'll probably hike and sight see mostly. Any recommendations for campground we may have a chance to get into at this late period? Was thinking Estes Park area would be a decent choice.Also, recommendations for other places to go in Colorado, kind of like the "must see" list?Any help would be appreciated!

There are a number of hikes you can take from very easy to long day o overnight.In no particular order from the east side of the park, take the shuttle to bear lake and either go up to the nymph dream and emerald lakes (all one hike)or go down to bierstead. Protrails has an excellent site on hikeshttp://www.protrails.com/area/8/rocky-mountain-national-park(copy and paste or go to protrails.com)You should check the campgrounds on line, most weekdays you can get in. Shuttle to hikes rather than drive

Cdash wrote:Getting ready for a trip that we really haven't planned at all for. Going to go from Michigan and spend 2 weeks in Colorado seeing the sights. We are taking our 30' fifth wheel for the last week of June and first week of July. We plan to spend a chunk of our time in RMNP, but maybe the second week traveling and visiting other areas, like the cliff dwellings.Without any planning, and the very few first come first served sites in the park, I think we are going to have to stay outside the park. Just don't see that we are going to get in the park campgrounds. We'll probably hike and sight see mostly. Any recommendations for campground we may have a chance to get into at this late period? Was thinking Estes Park area would be a decent choice.Also, recommendations for other places to go in Colorado, kind of like the "must see" list?Any help would be appreciated!From an earlier post COLORADOShould fill the rest of your week.BOL,

West side of the park is less crowded and imho more scenic. Also going north into Wyoming is pretty too.

I'd recommend using a CG directory to locate the CGs closest to RMNP and then start checking them to see if they have space available for your time frame. If not, work your way outward (distance-wise) from there until you find something you like.As for places to visit in CO, I heartily recommend the Colorado National Monument. The state park CG at Fruita James M Robb CO River SP is pleasant and conveniently located just north of the monument. Allow a solid half day to explore this place by driving, and more time if you want to hike some of the trails. The sandstone formations here are beautiful. (If you love this place, then you would also love Arches NP... not much farther west.)Some of my favorite mountain scenery in CO is the area around Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton. You could camp in Ridgway and drive around these areas in the truck, if you want to keep things simple. If you get to Ouray, be sure to drive up the hill to the Amphitheater NF CG and park at the overlook for a splendid view of the town below with peaks rising beyond. If you're ambitious, there's a trail from here that goes to the big waterfall that can be seen E of town.If you don't want to travel that far, you could always head south to the Colorado Springs area. Pike's Peak and Garden of the Gods are worth seeing.

We visited Rocky Mountain National park and were very, very disappointed. The bark beetle has ravaged this area of Colorado and it literally looks like a bomb went off. The lodge pole pines are dying at tremendous rates. We stayed at one campground in RNMP and another next to Steamboat lake. All the trees in both campgrounds had been cut down because they were dead from the beetle. The dead trees were basically shoved to the side and the area looked like a barren waste land. I agree with RexLion - Telluride/Ouray/Silverton - MUCH better area than RNMP. Sunshine campground outside Telluride and Amphitheater campground in Ouray are 2 of our favorites.

Rocky mountain national park and ?? | Good Sam Community

Lauren
Explorer
Jun 17, 2015
Thom and Thunder Mountain are excellent resources. I lived in Estes 8 years and have been back some since moving out 12 years ago.

Let's see, this is June 17th and you are looking to be in Rocky over July 4th. Most likely you will not find a place in the Park or in Estes. I would suggest Riverview; which would be my recommendation anytime for anyone going to Rocky.

Forget the west side. Pine beetle wiped it out bad and there really is not much to do on that side which is why it is less popular - and buggier and wetter in general. And have heard - cannot document - that the town of Grand Lake is really kinda falling apart.

Our trips to CO over the last few years are to Buena Vista, Ouray, Montrose, etc. So beautiful.
Thom02099
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2015
Much as I love RMNP and the area in general, the negatives that have been pointed out are very correct. While the beetle kill is worse on the west side, there's also beetle kill on the east side, so much so, that many dead trees have been cut down for slash burning when snow season hits.

And...as others have pointed out, Thunder Mountain's area of the state, down in Buena Vista/Salida/Arkansas River Valley area, has views and opportunities that should not be missed. He's a great resource for that area of the state. And since it's centrally located, it's a great base camp for a lot of other areas that are within a 1-2 hour drive.

So...in addition to RMNP, consider the Arkansas River Valley area; you won't be disappointed.
Cdash
Explorer
Jun 17, 2015
Thanks for the information everyone! For you RMNP experts, when I look at the National Park campgrounds, it appears that there is only a handful of first come sites that could handle a 30' fifth wheel. Am I correct? Seems like the other National Parks had a lot more and I want to make sure I'm not missing anything.
Thom02099
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2015
Cdash wrote:
Thanks for the information everyone! For you RMNP experts, when I look at the National Park campgrounds, it appears that there is only a handful of first come sites that could handle a 30' fifth wheel. Am I correct? Seems like the other National Parks had a lot more and I want to make sure I'm not missing anything.

You are correct about first come/first served. New in 2015 at Moraine Park, all loop sites can be reserved; in the past, B loop was not reserved. For your size rig, that leaves C loop at Glacier Basin for first come/first served.
LowRyter
Explorer
Jun 18, 2015
I'd recommend camping in the SW area of the park. Grand Lake area. Estes Park is very crowded. Grand Lake and the campgrounds toward the park are much more scenic and much less crowded.
Cdash
Explorer
Jun 19, 2015
Anyone every stay in Olive Ridge campground, the usfs campground in the area?

Seems like they have quite a few walk up sites. Assuming is is totally off the grid, but that is fine with us.

Also, sounds like fireworks in Estes Park are a good show?
Lauren
Explorer
Jun 19, 2015
Hey, Cdash; my brother and his wife both spent their careers at G M Proving Ground.

The fireworks used to be excellent but don't know about the last few years cause we are no longer there. We used to have a potluck on the 4th and I grilled chicken et al. The fireworks were shot off on the lakefront two blocks down pretty much open field and golf course from our house which was about 150 feet above the lake. We had a perfect view and had an acre so we encouraged people to bring blankets and sit on our yard to watch. My neighbor did the same but he charged people $5 to $10 - I could never lower myself to that.
Thom02099
Explorer II
Jun 19, 2015
Cdash wrote:
Anyone every stay in Olive Ridge campground, the usfs campground in the area?

Seems like they have quite a few walk up sites. Assuming is is totally off the grid, but that is fine with us.

Also, sounds like fireworks in Estes Park are a good show?

Olive Ridge is a good campground and it's convenient to Estes Park. Sites are nice and it's easy to get into. Have to look for the sign for the entrance though, it sneaks up on you.

One time I stayed there and the wind was howling during the night(this was in a prior June), woke up the next morning and the place was covered with snow blown off Longs Peak! Didn't last long, it was just very bizarre.
Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Jun 19, 2015
Thom02099 wrote:
Cdash wrote:
Anyone every stay in Olive Ridge campground, the usfs campground in the area?

Seems like they have quite a few walk up sites. Assuming is is totally off the grid, but that is fine with us.

Also, sounds like fireworks in Estes Park are a good show?

Olive Ridge is a good campground and it's convenient to Estes Park. Sites are nice and it's easy to get into. Have to look for the sign for the entrance though, it sneaks up on you.

One time I stayed there and the wind was howling during the night(this was in a prior June), woke up the next morning and the place was covered with snow blown off Longs Peak! Didn't last long, it was just very bizarre.

If you can snag a site at Olive Ridge, you will like it. Some neighbors of ours in EP would take their MH to Olive Ridge to take the kids "camping" for the weekend.

The fireworks over Lake Estes are spectacular. When we are there, we try to get a spot near the school complex. You can get out via Fish Creek Rd. headed south. The traffic via 34 and 36 will be backed up for at least an hour.
EcoBullet
Explorer
Jun 19, 2015
While you are in that general area, I would definitely camp a night or two in the Idaho Springs area and make a day trip up to the peak of Mt. Evans. It is over 14K and has a road all the way to the summit. It is much prettier than Pikes Peak IMHO, and you are pretty likely to see plenty of mountain goats and bighorn sheep.

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