Taylor Park, Colorado

[Camorhino]

Meeting friends and family in Taylor Park in August this year. The Trading Post is already full up, and most of us want to boondock anyhow. Can anyone give us a location or two that is close to Taylor Park and legal to spend a week or two in dispersed area? Will have a couple of 40' MH's and 3-4 TT's and UTV's. I am aware of all the FS campgrounds in the area, but want to circle up together if possible. I have Google Earthed this but can't tell what's legal and level. Any help greatly appreciated, and we promise not to give up your best spot to anyone else......pinkie swear.

[RedRocket204]

DMobley,

I've been out in TP boondocking the last two years and one of those times was in August while the Rzr meet was going on. I was a bit worried about being there while that Rzr meet was happening but my plans were set and couldn't be changed.

During the meet, the RV park and cabins at the Trading Post were packed, the road leading north of TP reservoir had morning and evening trains of Rzrs going out for the day on their planned rides... but honestly, we rarely encountered riders on trail. Maybe it was the trails we chose as we were mostly on 50" trails but also did some open to wider SxSs. Still, my experience even during the Rzr meet was not the scenario that was painted in this thread leading one to believe major crowding. And, there was plenty of area for boondocking north of the reservoir with that meet happening. Most everyone involved with the meet stayed at the Trading Post.

Heck, I've encountered way more riders on Moab trails every time I've gone there.

[DMobley232]

4runnerguy wrote:
Yes, you will have a lot of company. Sometimes there's a pall of dust in the whole valley from all the traffic.

Perhaps someone else here would know where ATV's are/aren't allowed, but even some of the 4x4 roads would be plenty challenging. Hancock Pass is one. This road has deteriorated and has gotten more difficult. We used to mountain bike this road, but a couple of years ago we did it and it was so rough, we couldn't ride large parts of even the downhill stretches. Do take the side road to the Alpine Tunnel (west entrance). Worth the side trip.

Tomichi Pass is also challenging. Used to be a couple of 4x4's down the side of the mountain that didn't appreciate how off camber it can get.

Thanks for the info, helps a lot. Thinking we may try Taylor Park some other time when we are ok with crowds. For example last year when we camped, we were the only campers in the campground Wednesday and Thursday, even Saturday evening there were some open spots.
Thanks again.

[DMobley232]

rerod wrote:
Iv visited three times end of August and will be honest. Its beautiful and good riding, but very crowded and loud. I met a few locals along the gunnison river north of gunnison who were NOT happy to meet me. I sometimes wonder if the end of august is always recommended so the locals know when not to go. Or leave

Be very careful with your rigs because all the easy free spots will be taken unless your lucky. I scouted around taylor on my bike, but decided to move on with my 24' TH.

Clear creek res was also nice. We lucked out getting a creek side spot. Pitkin, almont, Crested butte, vail.. I don't plan on going back. I have a "been there done that" attitude now. But I haven't pinpointed a compromise to escape the crowds yet.

Clear creek, my neighbor played mariachi music way to late and loud.

The most peaceful place was pitkin camp ground. But voices motorcycles and generators were almost always within ear shot.

Any mariachi bands in the Big Horns?

Thanks for the info, thinking about not doing Taylor Park, we are so spoiled doing 8 hour rides and passing maybe 10 people total in 8 Hours...Sorry No Mariachi bands that I know of in Big Horns :).

[DMobley232]

2gypsies wrote:
Quartzsite, AZ is quiet right now. You could have the run of all the desert. Good pizza at Crazy Al's. 🙂

Hope Taylor Park works for you. September might be a good month.

Thanks for suggestion, sounds good, except we don't want to be anywhere close to where you could buy pizza, unless it was like 100 miles from our base camp and we stop there on our way out. But thanks for the suggestion.

[2gypsies1]

Quartzsite, AZ is quiet right now. You could have the run of all the desert. Good pizza at Crazy Al's. 🙂

Hope Taylor Park works for you. September might be a good month.

[rerod]

Iv visited three times end of August and will be honest. Its beautiful and good riding, but very crowded and loud. I met a few locals along the gunnison river north of gunnison who were NOT happy to meet me. I sometimes wonder if the end of august is always recommended so the locals know when not to go. Or leave

Be very careful with your rigs because all the easy free spots will be taken unless your lucky. I scouted around taylor on my bike, but decided to move on with my 24' TH.

Clear creek res was also nice. We lucked out getting a creek side spot. Pitkin, almont, Crested butte, vail.. I don't plan on going back. I have a "been there done that" attitude now. But I haven't pinpointed a compromise to escape the crowds yet.

Clear creek, my neighbor played mariachi music way to late and loud.

The most peaceful place was pitkin camp ground. But voices motorcycles and generators were almost always within ear shot.

Any mariachi bands in the Big Horns?

[4runnerguy]

Yes, you will have a lot of company. Sometimes there's a pall of dust in the whole valley from all the traffic.

Perhaps someone else here would know where ATV's are/aren't allowed, but even some of the 4x4 roads would be plenty challenging. Hancock Pass is one. This road has deteriorated and has gotten more difficult. We used to mountain bike this road, but a couple of years ago we did it and it was so rough, we couldn't ride large parts of even the downhill stretches. Do take the side road to the Alpine Tunnel (west entrance). Worth the side trip.

Tomichi Pass is also challenging. Used to be a couple of 4x4's down the side of the mountain that didn't appreciate how off camber it can get.

[DMobley232]

We too are doing a guys trip (ATV/Dirtbike) in Taylor Park July 13-17. This will be something different as we have spent the past 3 years in the Big Horns, and one of the best thing about the Big Horns is its not busy.
So I do have a concern about how busy Taylor Park is. We are used to riding for 8 hours and only passing a few people in that 8 hours. My assumption is Taylor Park will not be like that. We try to do a lot of 50" trails and average to above average in technicality. My concern is will there be a lot of people on the trails where we are constantly having to stop and allow people through. Any advice and suggestions would be appreciated.

[DMobley232]

We too are doing a guys trip (ATV/Dirtbike) in Taylor Park July 13-17. This will be something different as we have spent the past 3 years in the Big Horns, and one of the best thing about the Big Horns is its not busy.
So I do have a concern about how busy Taylor Park is. We are used to riding for 8 hours and only passing a few people in that 8 hours. My assumption is Taylor Park will not be like that. We try to do a lot of 50" trails and average to above average in technicality. My concern is will there be a lot of people on the trails where we are constantly having to stop and allow people through. Any advice and suggestions would be appreciated.

[Camorhino]

No problem, Thanks for the info.

[highplainsdrift]

Camorhino wrote:
When you say rough, do you mean wash boards or big rocks or ruts? As long as it is not switchbacks or great big rolling dips or water bars the trailers should be ok, but the motorhomes have pretty low ground clearance. I'll check it out closer on Google now that I have good locations, and we will have a scout vehicle with us. Thanks for the leads.

No switchbacks. It is relatively flat on these roads. But they are primitive roads with little maintenance. If I were you, I would go in with one of your UTVs and check things out first.

[Camorhino]

When you say rough, do you mean wash boards or big rocks or ruts? As long as it is not switchbacks or great big rolling dips or water bars the trailers should be ok, but the motorhomes have pretty low ground clearance. I'll check it out closer on Google now that I have good locations, and we will have a scout vehicle with us. Thanks for the leads.

[highplainsdrift]

We went ATVing at Taylor Park a couple of years ago. I remember some very nice boondocking sites off Forest Service Road 742 which heads north from the reservoir. Try roads 3D and 3H which head northeast (right) off of 742. These roads go in a several miles, and there are numerous good sites to pull over. One, either 3D or 3H, was better than the other but I can remember which. Both roads are rough but passable in good weather.

And by all means bring your UTV/ATV. This is ATV heaven!

[Camorhino]

Gotcha'. Hopefully we can see how the prevailing wind blows and park on the proper side of the road....... 😉