Almost settled on Colorado's Front Range

Hey USMC shepherd,

I'd also suggest along the Peak to Peak highway all the way from Black Hawk to Estes Park. There are a number of USFS campgrounds as well as Golden Gate Canyon State Park. But there are many USFS roads that lead west into the national forest that have many many possibilities for boondocking. West of Rollinsville on the old railroad grade that went over Rollins Pass (drive towards "East Portal" where the modern train goes under the mountain but hook north up the old grade) has a lot of possibilities as does the road south up the hill towards James Peak from Tolland (a little rougher and been a while since I was there so be careful.) Or keep going north from Rollinsville/Nederland and look for the roads that mostly go west into the forest from the highway. There are a lot of choices I'd suggest you head up that way and start exploring. It's all very close to you.

I live up in the foothills in Coal Creek Canyon which is one route up to the peak to peak and would be happy to give you more suggestions or meet up for a coffee or beer sometime to chat. Drop me a PM if you are interested.

Thanks for your dedicated service to our country and our freedoms!
BT

Son of Norway wrote:
With your rig I would head up to Rainbow Lakes outside of Nederland. Bring your hiking and fishing gear.

Miles

Just look out for the gas station in Nederland that has a "huge" sign that says, "Welcome Smokers". Our friends in Fairplay said "Welcome to Colorado" There must be more than 200 bongs for sale in the gas station.

Again thanks to all for all the great info. I'm currently alone as my family remainder back east until my son graduates from USMC boot camp...so I'm hoping to learn some good locations I can take them when they arrive. I enjoy the boondocking idea myself, but the family really likes campgrounds right now especially with the little ones. I bought my annual state park pass today so I can start exploring all these great locations. Again thanks for all the great recommendations....by mid July I hope to start getting out exploring a little more!

You have great campgrounds within an hour's drive in every direction from Brighton. East of you and north of Ft. Morgan is Jackson Lake State Park (SP), which we just returned from yesterday.

West of you and east of Loveland is Boyd Lake SP and east of Longmont is St. Vrain SP. Along the mountain front are Carter Lake west of Loveland and Horsetooth Reservoir west of Ft. Collins. North of Ft. Collins and west of US 287 are many campgrounds in the Red Feather Lakes area. West of Ft. Collins on CO 14 are many Forest Service campgrounds and, over Cameron Pass, campgrounds in Colorado State Forest.

Others have suggested numerous campgrounds farther west around Estes Park, Nederland, and Granby. To the southwest is Golden Gate Canyon SP. And south of you are Cherry Creek SP and Chatfield Lake SP.

All you need to find public campgrounds near you is the CDOT state highway map. Look for the little green "Christmas tree" campground symbols--they're everywhere around here.

We camped last fall in Grandby - Willow Creek reservoir/campground is pretty and there were some TT there but tent camping as well. I don't think it can accommodate really big TT/motorhomes. It was smallish with nice privacy, lots of trees and shrubs and right next to the reservoir.

Across the way from there is Lake Grandby and there is a bigger campground that can accommodate larger TT and MH. Beyond that on the road is Shadow Mtn Lake. Really pretty back there. People canoe on it our you can walk around the lake.

I'd look at a good map of national forest or state lands, and read up on the rules for camping at those locations.

Sometimes the shortest trip can be one of the best trips, in a TC. You have one of these, right out your door;

Missile Silo State Park

Why stay in Campgrounds? There are so many possibilities to boondock, if you wish. The Peak to Peak Highway, from Estes Park to Black Hawk affords you endless possibilities.

b

Why do you have to "have a place" to go? Why not just get into the truck and explore until you find a nice place?

Take the family up to Look out mt and check out the Buffalo museum and buffalo herd

I really miss all of the dispersed camping from the out west states. We certainly did all we could find when I lived in the AZ areas. Went to the AZ HIGH Country ever chance we got.

Here on the East side of the US there are alot of nice places but so much on the DISPERSED CAMPING side of things. This makes for all kinds RULES every one has to deal with...

Too many peoples on this side of the US and not enough empty spaces making management having to do things that makes everyone happy as much as possible.

I still manage to find some hide-away spots... The high country of NC is a great hide-out area...

Nothing here on the east side comes even close to the RED ROCKS of AZ high Country however...

We never got to make it up into the real bad lands of UTAH and such. I could get very use to that style of dispersed camping pretty easy as well...

Roy Ken