Boondocking locations near Colorado Springs

[07caddy]

Looking for some ideas on where to dry camp/boondock (free)west of Colorado Springs. Would like to focus on areas within 2hrs of the Springs at first. We have a 5th wheel and 4x4...

Thanks,
Mike

[F350R]

North out Woodland Park Rainbow Falls. Many places off to west north of Woodland / north of Divide, Cedar Mtn. Round mountain. Four Mile area by Buena Vista. Keep in mind that all of these areas are motorcycle / ATV / jeep trail heads.

[JiminDenver]

07caddy wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:

Here is the Stay the trail page that has the links to all of the Motor vehicle use maps. MVUM maps

The area east of Jefferson mentioned above is the Rock Creek road area and we have been using it for a few years now. Open the South park east map, zoom in to 100 percent and look in the upper left corner and you will see the indicator for Mud hill.

Jim,
Thanks for the map links, very helpful.

We are planning to check out the South Platte area Northwest of Deckers and South of Buffalo Creek (CR 126/Deckers Road and then one the FS roads). Unfortunately, we're not going to be able to get up to the mountains until the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend so I hope we find a decent spot.

I definitely suggest to call the rangers office before heading out. We use to love the Deckers area (25 yrs ago) and went back up there when we got our new trailer. The spots along the river we used are day use only now and many of the remote areas are not accessible due to fires or closings.
We stopped at the rangers office to ask and were told we could camp along 550 heading to the Buffalo creek CG, so we checked it out.
What we found was a handful of sites right on the road that was so wash boarded that we were glad it was a day trip without the trailer. Beyond the CGs the road reverts back to a single lane/ruts with very tight turns. It's been a few years so things may have changed.

That's why I suggest the South park district now, It's still open for the better part and many of the sites are on spurs well off the road.

[07caddy]

JiminDenver wrote:

Here is the Stay the trail page that has the links to all of the Motor vehicle use maps. MVUM maps

The area east of Jefferson mentioned above is the Rock Creek road area and we have been using it for a few years now. Open the South park east map, zoom in to 100 percent and look in the upper left corner and you will see the indicator for Mud hill.

Jim,
Thanks for the map links, very helpful.

We are planning to check out the South Platte area Northwest of Deckers and South of Buffalo Creek (CR 126/Deckers Road and then one the FS roads). Unfortunately, we're not going to be able to get up to the mountains until the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend so I hope we find a decent spot.

[JiminDenver]

07caddy wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
The Pikes peak and South Park rangers Districts are around there and offer many boondocking options.

Jim,

Do the Ranger District offices have info on boondocking? I found some info the pike district website on dispersed camping locations, but it seems focused on trail heads and hiking, unless I'm not reading it right? I'm going to call the Pike District Office tomorrow and see what they have to say.

Mike

Mike

I talk to the Rangers before I go up every time to check on rule changes, fire bans and ideas on where to camp. They call it disbursed camping not boondocking. I have been given everything from generalizations( see a stone fire ring, you can camp there) to very specific spots where it is allowed.

Here is the Stay the trail page that has the links to all of the Motor vehicle use maps. MVUM maps

The area east of Jefferson mentioned above is the Rock Creek road area and we have been using it for a few years now. Open the South park east map, zoom in to 100 percent and look in the upper left corner and you will see the indicator for Mud hill. It points right at CR 39 which is your turn off to Rock Creek road. A few miles in is where the NSF starts and you just need to find a spot you like with a stone fire ring.
We like it because the spots we like are a good half mile apart with wonderful views. Most of the larger roads are pretty good but I suggest finding a spot to drop the rig and exploring without it first. We always find the "next" spot the trip before as we never use a spot twice. Soon we will start driving up from Denver without the trailer for day trips just looking for good spots and road conditions.
This year we will be out of the Rock Creek area and working our way down 77 into the Terryall area. 140 has spots but was too rough for us, 844 has beautiful spots but the initial run up the hill had a lot of deep dips and we don't have the best clearance. We did see some 5th wheels back there so it is doable.
Terryall Res itself has two tiny no service campgrounds that are free. We will use them this year for a day or two to find a suitable spot in that area and get some fishing in.

The best spots fill up fast so if you want to go for a big holiday weekend, get up there by Thursday at the latest. We went up the two weeks before the 4th of July last year and the place was near deserted during the week and not much busier on the weekends.

[Son_of_Norway]

Do you like to fish? I was just "boondock" camping up at Antero Reservoir a couple of weeks ago with my son and we had a nice time. No water available except from the lake, and it is very open terrain. But the fishing is good and the scenery is beautiful.

Miles

[Off_Pavement]

I think you will find the district office has no clue about boondocking locations. The local ranger district office is the place to get information from our experience. We have been directed some outstanding boondocking locations just by asking.

A popular area close to 2 hours from the Springs is east of Jefferson...Boondocking Near Jefferson, CO

[07caddy]

JiminDenver wrote:
The Pikes peak and South Park rangers Districts are around there and offer many boondocking options.

Jim,

Do the Ranger District offices have info on boondocking? I found some info the pike district website on dispersed camping locations, but it seems focused on trail heads and hiking, unless I'm not reading it right? I'm going to call the Pike District Office tomorrow and see what they have to say.

Mike

[JiminDenver]

The Pikes peak and South Park rangers Districts are around there and offer many boondocking options.

[TexasShadow]

Pueblo has a big super walmart.
here's a page with CO Pike county national forest campgrounds:
http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/rockymtn/pike.htm
you can usually google earth these campgrounds and check them out from a bird's eye view.

[skipnchar]

All kinds of National Forest Lands in that area. Check at regional office for specific rules pertaining to the area.