Fall Colorado Trip

joshuajim wrote:
The wife and I both retired and in our 70’s are planning a trip to Colorado this fall between Sep 15 and Oct 15. We have done most of CA, OR, UT and AZ. We prefer quiet Fed, State and Local campgrounds and rarely go to commercial or private locations. We pull a 27’ Wildwood so size is a consideration, but I don’t need pull throughs.

We don’t need a lot of attractions other than scenery as we don’t do the tourist thing anymore.

We would be coming thru UT on I-70.

Your suggestions?

Many of the USFS CGs throughout Colorado begin shutting down around September 15, plus or minus, depending on elevation. The further north you go as well as the higher the elevation, the more likely for an early closure.

Many of the State Parks will have at least 1 loop open. H E R E CO State Parks is a link to their website so you can check out the ones that may interest you.

Since you're coming in from the west, if Rocky Mountain National Park is on your agenda, I would suggest heading to the WEST side entrance to the park, coming in from Grand Lake. There's a very nice first come/first served CG inside the park, at Timber Creek. No reservations allowed, and I've never seen it completely full. IIRC, their season runs until the end of September or perhaps early October. H E R E is more info on camping in Rocky.

I would suggest consideration for Mesa Verde National Park. I was down there in that area last September/October time frame and the colours were magnificent. There's the Morefield CG inside the park, 4 miles from the entrance, and highly recommended. Choice of FHU sites, or no hookup sites; we had FHU and it was NOT the typical parking lot type loop. There was privacy between sites, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. From Morefield to the Farview Lodge is another 11 miles, and from there, the majority of cliff dwellings are still further miles, depending on what you might want to see. So be prepared for some driving, but expect it to be wonderful.