West side of Colorado

Headed out Sunday morning. Thanks for all the great ideas!!
Happy camping:),
Bill

To keep it simple: Durango - Take the bus up to Silverton and ride the train back down. Go to Mesa Verde and spend a day taking in the park. Make a day trip down to 4 corners. Go to the Montrose area. Make day trips to Colorado Nat'l Monument, around the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and to Telluride & Ouray.

This old post has some listed for Western Colorado.

We drove from the Telluride area to Ridgeway to Montrose, toward Gunnison & the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Prk (but didn't go to it) on US 50. We turned off before Gunnison on CO 149 to Creede. (Born & raised near the Rio Grande River in South Texas & still live near it in New Mexico, so wanted to see it close to it's birth area). We spend a good part of a day & a night along the Rio north of Creede. If into fishing, it might be a good place to fish. Crystal clear, sparkling water rolling along, very neat area. Campgrounds Rio Grande Nat'l Forest

Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Park might be something to see when in the Ridgeway area.

From Creede area we drove over to the Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park. Lot of Sand for sure, neat too see. Nice little campground as well. http://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm

Seems like many people go to South Fork, but I know nothing about the area.

We did stop at Dinosaur Nat'l Mon't (north of Fruita, but not close) when we were in the Vernal area on one trip. Kind of out of the way place.

Colorado Nat'l Mon't by Grand Junction..has a nice small campground (no hookup or showers very Scenic. Just south there is Siverton & Ouray to Durango drive the Million Dollar Hwy. Ridgway State Park is just down from Ouray. It would make a nice base camp.
:C Sights & Sites.

Telluride, to the west southwest of Ridgeway is a neat area as well. Take CO 62 to CO 145 from Ridgeway to reach Telluride. 145 will lead you to US 160 (West of Durango). Not as steep of a drive, only one pass, Lizard Head Pass at 10,222' after Telluride. Mostly down Southbound.
http://www.visittelluride.com/things-to-do/camping

I've read about boondocking sites at Lizard Head Pass area: LizardHead ___________ Ditto

We camped at a San Juan Nat'l Forest CG along the Dolores River which was just off 145, South of Lizard Head Pass. Can't remember the name of it now. Camping San Juans But Clayton Campground seems to be the one, below the Pass & by the river, etc. Matterhorn Campground might be nicer. We had bikes with us & in riding along a forest road to the east of the Pass, we found Trout Lake & road by it as well. We were able to drive our van on the roads as well.

US 550 from Montrose to Durango: Very nice drive, very steep & somewhat curvy in places after Quray. Have used it a few times. The section from Silverton to Ouray is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway with Red Mountain Pass (elevation 11,018'). Beautiful country with many waterfalls & Uncompahgre Gorge. Ouray is a neat little village as is Silverton.

Durango/Silverton Train

There is also the Cumbres Toltec Steam Train run from & to Chama, NM & Antonito, CO. It is a neat one. Heron Lake State Park, Chama, Train Photos

Mesa Verde Nat'l Park and other wonderful ruins in the area, Colorado Nat'l Monument, Pagosa Springs, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Silverton, Telluride, Rifle State Park, Crested Butte, Gunnison, Tin Cup and many more. You'll have to come back for more!

Do you fish and love great mountain scenery? Then go to the Flat Tops. My son and I were just up there with a guide earlier this week and we loved it. I've lived in Colorado for almost 30 years and I have a new favorite place. Sorry I can't help you with a campground however, we stayed at a motel in Steamboat.

Miles