Colorado - We want mountains!!

[Jandy2015]

Hi,

We will be camping just outside Denver (westside) and were trying to find a magical camping spot. Our main features are mountains, everywhere, lake is always pleasent..

That is all.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Google pictures are not bringing anything special.

Thanks in advance.

[4runnerguy]

Jandy2015 wrote:
Thank you so much for all the responses in here. We feel so naive thinking that April the birds and bees would be out as the beautiful spring flowers bloom in Colorado. We may have to rethink and get heartier accommodation. But great options to look into. This is the perfect place for help. I might put up a post about our whole trip to get slme basic advice on what to do. Thanks again

If April is when you must schedule your vacation, I'd recommend spending more time in and around Moab or even Grand Junction. A pop up and April in CO are not something I recommend mixing together. April in Moab is delightful.

But be warned. April 13-21 is Jeep Safari Week in Moab and that's not a time I'd recommend unless you like crowds everywhere.

Maybe further south and explore around Zion NP?

[JAC1982]

sillyme wrote:

missnmountains wrote:
Our favorite spot in the mountains while we lived in Colorado was Winding River in Grandby. Close to RMNP and tons of hiking and moose.

Our favorite spot near the foothills was Chatfield State Park about 20 miles south of Denver.

Ken

Dear Ken, I’ve read somewhere that you are the authority on Denver and everything Colorado so here I go: My hubby John and I (I use a scooter to get around most of the time as I can’t walk long distances anymore due to various medical reasons) are coming to CO for 2 weeks starting 6/29/19. We’ll be renting a 30’ Class C and right after that we’ll need to have some camping facilities booked somewhere. The only thing my husband has said that he wants to do so far is; rent a car so that we can go into Denver proper to visit the State Mint, visit some type of Mexican town that he recalls from his childhood, visit the RMNP, he wants to do some hiking, mountain biking and who knows what else. We might meet up with one or 2 of his nephews for a few days of camping but that’s about it. My dilemma is that I always do the itinerary but for some reason, I don’t have a clue as to where to start etc... what I know for sure is that I have to return the RV the morning of July 13th. I also know that we’re coming at the worse time of the year to visit the Park and that if I had it my way, I would have gone in September but ....
we’ve already been to Colorado Springs and its surroundings as well as Pikes Mountain and the train and also to the Royal Gorge then the Great Sand Dune Nat’l Park, Durango then Mesa Verde Nat’l Park. And Just last Spring we went from Denver s/b on 25 all the way through NM to I-10 W/B to Nogales ( slight detour) then N/B and N/W through Tucson, Phoenix, and so on. All that to say we’ve seen some of Colorado but there’s still a lot to see I know. We even went to Dr.Jeff, Rocky Mountain Vet’s Clinic but he wasn’t there... So where should we go during those 2 weeks other than where I said? Don’t worry about making sure that both of us can or want to do what you are suggesting as I usually need to sleep in the afternoon... I’m eager to read what you have to say...

sillyme, you may want to start a new thread with this question, instead of hijacking someone else's.

[RedRocket204]

You are about to enter another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, the Twilight Zone!

:B

[Busskipper]

sillyme wrote:

missnmountains wrote:
Our favorite spot in the mountains while we lived in Colorado was Winding River in Grandby. Close to RMNP and tons of hiking and moose.

Our favorite spot near the foothills was Chatfield State Park about 20 miles south of Denver.

Ken

Dear Ken, I’ve read somewhere that you are the authority on Denver and everything Colorado so here I go: My hubby John and I (I use a scooter to get around most of the time as I can’t walk long distances anymore due to various medical reasons) are coming to CO for 2 weeks starting 6/29/19. We’ll be renting a 30’ Class C and right after that we’ll need to have some camping facilities booked somewhere. The only thing my husband has said that he wants to do so far is; rent a car so that we can go into Denver proper to visit the State Mint, visit some type of Mexican town that he recalls from his childhood, visit the RMNP, he wants to do some hiking, mountain biking and who knows what else. We might meet up with one or 2 of his nephews for a few days of camping but that’s about it. My dilemma is that I always do the itinerary but for some reason, I don’t have a clue as to where to start etc... what I know for sure is that I have to return the RV the morning of July 13th. I also know that we’re coming at the worse time of the year to visit the Park and that if I had it my way, I would have gone in September but ....
we’ve already been to Colorado Springs and its surroundings as well as Pikes Mountain and the train and also to the Royal Gorge then the Great Sand Dune Nat’l Park, Durango then Mesa Verde Nat’l Park. And Just last Spring we went from Denver s/b on 25 all the way through NM to I-10 W/B to Nogales ( slight detour) then N/B and N/W through Tucson, Phoenix, and so on. All that to say we’ve seen some of Colorado but there’s still a lot to see I know. We even went to Dr.Jeff, Rocky Mountain Vet’s Clinic but he wasn’t there... So where should we go during those 2 weeks other than where I said? Don’t worry about making sure that both of us can or want to do what you are suggesting as I usually need to sleep in the afternoon... I’m eager to read what you have to say...

I'm lost - Where did this come from?????

[sillyme]

missnmountains wrote:
Our favorite spot in the mountains while we lived in Colorado was Winding River in Grandby. Close to RMNP and tons of hiking and moose.

Our favorite spot near the foothills was Chatfield State Park about 20 miles south of Denver.

Ken

Dear Ken, I’ve read somewhere that you are the authority on Denver and everything Colorado so here I go: My hubby John and I (I use a scooter to get around most of the time as I can’t walk long distances anymore due to various medical reasons) are coming to CO for 2 weeks starting 6/29/19. We’ll be renting a 30’ Class C and right after that we’ll need to have some camping facilities booked somewhere. The only thing my husband has said that he wants to do so far is; rent a car so that we can go into Denver proper to visit the State Mint, visit some type of Mexican town that he recalls from his childhood, visit the RMNP, he wants to do some hiking, mountain biking and who knows what else. We might meet up with one or 2 of his nephews for a few days of camping but that’s about it. My dilemma is that I always do the itinerary but for some reason, I don’t have a clue as to where to start etc... what I know for sure is that I have to return the RV the morning of July 13th. I also know that we’re coming at the worse time of the year to visit the Park and that if I had it my way, I would have gone in September but ....
we’ve already been to Colorado Springs and its surroundings as well as Pikes Mountain and the train and also to the Royal Gorge then the Great Sand Dune Nat’l Park, Durango then Mesa Verde Nat’l Park. And Just last Spring we went from Denver s/b on 25 all the way through NM to I-10 W/B to Nogales ( slight detour) then N/B and N/W through Tucson, Phoenix, and so on. All that to say we’ve seen some of Colorado but there’s still a lot to see I know. We even went to Dr.Jeff, Rocky Mountain Vet’s Clinic but he wasn’t there... So where should we go during those 2 weeks other than where I said? Don’t worry about making sure that both of us can or want to do what you are suggesting as I usually need to sleep in the afternoon... I’m eager to read what you have to say...

[RedRocket204]

ppine wrote:
In wetter country, Colorado is full of mosquitoes and plenty of other insects.

Yep, pretty much anywhere the fly fishing is good!

[ppine]

In wetter country, Colorado is full of mosquitoes and plenty of other insects. They are mostly done by August and into the fall.

[fanrgs]

goducks10 wrote:
Being up that high in elevation what are the mosquito's like in June and July?

If you have been to Alaska, Colorado has no mosquito problem anytime, anywhere! The only time we notice them at all is if a few get inside the trailer.

But then, we don't really camp in Colorado until after school starts in August. In September and October when we are doing most of our Colorado mountain camping, mosquitoes are not a problem. I can't remember ever hearing mosquitoes anytime we have been out "aspen-hunting" in the fall.

Our mountain winters may not be getting cold enough to kill bark beetle larva, but they are still plenty cold enough to take care of the adult mosquitoes.

[goducks10]

I'm guessing they die out latter in the summer? Flies probably there all summer?
We have skeeters in the high Cascades until August. Then it's pretty safe to camp near lakes. Wind helps, but sometimes it's unbearable.

[Busskipper]

goducks10 wrote:
Being up that high in elevation what are the mosquito's like in June and July?

They are alive and Well at Altitude, but like all bugs thrive in the wet damp areas with still water.

When it's dry/arid they tend to be fewer and not as big of a problem.

Deep Woods Deet - we never travel without it.

JMHO,

[Thom02099]

goducks10 wrote:
Being up that high in elevation what are the mosquito's like in June and July?

Mosquitos are not so much a problem; black flies are. Depends on proximity to water. We use citronella candles in the afternoon/early evening, seem to help. Once the temperature drops, they are not a problem. Usually as sunset approaches and the temps start to get in the 60s-50s-40s, the problem goes away.

Here in northern Colorado at the places we usually go (USFS CG, RMNP, State Forest SP, etc), we've not had much of a problem with skeeters. And a couple of places we camp are creek side. The black flies can be very annoying, and we've considered getting one of those screened in canopies to give us some relief from those pesky flies.

[goducks10]

Being up that high in elevation what are the mosquito's like in June and July?

[Busskipper]

Jandy2015 wrote:
Thank you so much for all the responses in here.

We feel so naive thinking that April the birds and bees would be out as the beautiful spring flowers bloom in Colorado.

Oh, for sure the Birds and the Bees along with shorts and T's in April just need to be aware it May and Likely will Change in 3 days 🙂 That said the Mountains and I-70 Vail Pass could require Chains even if you are pulling with a 4X4 TV. Most likely it will be Sunny and Beautiful - BUT.....need to at least be aware (see note below on chain laws)

We may have to rethink and get heartier accommodation.

IMHO even in Moab, in April, the nights can be Chilly and require some heat - so just need to be aware and plan for it.

But great options to look into.

This is the perfect place for help.

I might put up a post about our whole trip to get some basic advice on what to do.

That would be Great, as you have many here and on irv2 who Know Colorado and can help steer you in the right direction.

Thanks again

Info;

Traction laws often are in effect when there is winter weather. Under that law, no chains are needed if drivers have snow tires, four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive if there are 1/8 inch tread on tires.

However, none of that applies if Colorado's passenger vehicle chain law is in effect. Under that, all vehicles need chains.

"Traction law is usually when it starts to snow and there's some accumulation on the roadways," Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Stacia Sellers said.

"So this is where the road is completely horrible, if you want to think of it like that. We have our plows out there and they're having a difficult time keeping up."

In 2016, the passenger vehicle chain law was implemented only twice. It never took effect in 2017.

Colorado I-70 in the Winter - Beautiful;

[ppine]

If you want to be 30 minutes from Denver, you will be in the residential suburbs for the most part. I would go a little further out past Bailey and Conifer.