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Colorado Trip Logistics

(Blue Mesa Reservoir)


















Arkansas Headwaters State Recreation Area (Leadville)
Cochetopa Canyon SMRA (Gunnison)
Dinosaur National Monument (see Utah)
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Spinney Mountain Reservoir
Ruby Canyon/Black Ridge SMRA (Grand Junction)
San Juan Triangle SMRA (Lake City)
Sweitzer Lake State Recreation Area (Delta)
Yucca House National Monument (Cortez)

Overnight parking and camping not permitted at rest areas.

I-70 notes:
X171-217 mountain passes, X195+ trailhead off I-70.
X163 Edwards, Rest Area, dump station, water/overnight parking.
X90 Rifle, Super Wal-Mart, overnight parking.

Arapaho National Forest:

Campgrounds:
Green River Reservoir has several NF campgrounds which seem to pretty much be park where you want along the shore. Not a lick of shade anywhere. The surrounding hills and mountains are mostly arid.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park:

  Good BLM land outside of the North Rim, no shade

  Campgrounds:
    Crawford, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park $10.   Campground: Good  Campsite: Good  Noise:   Shade, water

Colorado National Monument:

  Campgrounds:
    Fruita, Colorado National Monument $10 No shade, water?
    Fruita, Colorado River State Park $18

Curecanti National Recreation Area:

  Showers $1 at the two marinas.   Better bring $2 or you might be standing there all soaped up when the water shuts off.

  Campgrounds:
     Lots of campgrounds scattered around lake. $12 Few free campsites and none with shade. I found a campsite with some shade and paid $10 a night to rent a tree.
Launches. Two marinas and several lake side launches around lake.

  Trailheads
     Sapinero, Pine Creek Trail, follow CO 50 1 mile west from junction with Co 92.
     Sapinero, Dillon Pinnacles Trail, From Cutecanti National Recreation Area Elk Creek Visitor Center follow CO 50 6 miles west to end of bridge.

Eagle Nest Wilderness Area:

  Vail, I got off I70 at West Vail and then drove east looking for Red Sandstone Road. It ascended for 1/4 mile and there I saw FR700, a dirt road straight ahead at a switchback.
Lost Lake Road at mile 2.6 of FR700.
  Red & White Mountain Road (FR434) at mile 6.1 of FR700.
  Piney Lake Road (FR701) at mile 6.2 of FR700.

  Camping:
     Dispersed camping sites from mile 5 to mile 10 on FR700. No facilities.

  Trailheads:
     No Name Trail at mile 6.1 of FR700.
     Piney River Trail at mile 8.4 of FR700.
     Upper Piney River Trail at mile 10.4 of FR700. Trail is to left of Piney Lake Ranch gate. Parking to the right.

Flat Top Wilderness Area (Routt NF):

  See also White River National Forest.
  Yampa, from CO131 turn at the gas station towards the business district (1 block dirt road). Pick up CR7 at the end of the business district and follow it 7 miles to the end of the paved road. CR7 become FR900 as it enters Routt National Forest.
   Dumpster FR900, mile 5.8. Toilets, trashcans & water at day use area near Bear Lake Campground entrance. Toilets at Devil's Causeway Trailhead.

  Campgrounds:
     30 dispersed camp sites along FR900. $3/night.
     Bear Lake Campground, mile 6.5 $10/night.
     Horseshoe Campground, mile 9.1 $10/night.
    Cold Springs Campground, mile 9.5 $10/night.

  Trailheads:
     Ute Heart Lake Trailhead, FR900 mile 3.4.
     Sawtooth Portal Trailhead, FR900 mile 4.7.
     Mandall Creek Trailhead, FR900 mile 6.5.
     Smith Lake Trailhead, FR900 mile 9.2
     Devil's Causeway, FR900 mile 9.4.

Flat Top Wilderness (White NF):

See also Routt National Forest.

  Trailheads:
    Meeker, follow C013 north from town 1 mile to CR8 (mile marker 43.5). Drive 29 miles to end of paved road then continue 9 miles to FR205. Toilet & trashcans @ mile 43.5. Toilet @ mile 52.
     Long Lost Trailhead, .25 after the paved road ends on CR8.
     Mirror Lake Trail, Drive .3 miles on FR205 and turn right. Continue .2 miles to trailhead.
     Himes Peak Trail, Drive 4.0 miles on FR205 to the Himes Creek Campground. The trailhead and parking area are just outside the campground.
     Anderson Reservoir Trail, Drive 3.0 miles on FR205.
     Picket Pine Creek Trail, Drive 3.0 miles on FR205.
     Skinny Fish Creek Trail, Drive 6.1 miles on FR205.
     Trapper's Lake Trail, Drive 7.3 miles on FR205 to the end.

  At 7.1 miles on FR205 the road splits.

     Scott Lake Trail, continue 1.0 miles after the split on FR205.
     Himes Peak Trail, continue 1.0 miles after the split on FR205.
     Wall Lake Trail, continue 1.5 miles after the split on FR205.
     Scott Bay Trail, continue 1.5 miles after the split on FR205.
     Cyclone Creek Trailhead, CR8, mile 49.
     East Fork Trailhead, CR8, mile 52.
     Transfer Trailhead, CR8, mile 53.
     Baldy Trailhead, CR8, mile 53.2.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument:

  See Pike National Forest.

  Camping Areas:
     None available.

Grand Mesa National Forest:

  Camping Areas:
     Lots of campgrounds at and past the Mesa Lakes region on UT 65.

  Trailheads
     Mesa, Grand Mesa National Forest - Mesa Lakes Shoreline Trailhead begins at the Glacier Springs Picnic Area behind the Mesa Lake Resort. Lost Lake and Deep Creek Trailheads can be found off the Mesa Lakes Trail.
     Crag Crest National Scenic Trail, .75 miles east of the Grand Mesa Visitor Center.

Great Sand Dunes National Monument:

Camping Areas
For pay camping at national monument. No free camping.

Gunnison National Forest:

  Camping Areas:
     I picked up Country Road 76 10-12 miles west of Gunnison. On the other side of Tin Cup I saw more camping opportunities. Before Tin Cup there were a few. Camping is limited to designated areas at Taylor Reservoir and Taylor Canyon. Taylor Canyon has several for pay' campgrounds, probably $10. The last campground before CO 135 is for tenting only and is $7.
I found a free campsite at Monarch Pass past the Monarch Ski Resort at the National Forest campground turnoff (I forgot the name) on CO 50 20 miles west of Salida.
  Launches
    Taylor Reservoir: Right by the dam and from the mud flats on the other side.

Holy Cross Wilderness Area:

  From I70, exit 171 just west of Vail, follow CO24 south 13 miles to Homestake Road (FR703).

  Camping:
     Dispersed camping along FR703 & FR704. Toilet at Missouri Lakes/Fancy Lake Trailhead. No other facilities except campgrounds. Water @ I70 exit 164, Edwards rest area.
     Blodgett Campground, mile .5 on FR703. Closed for season by 8/31/05      Gold Park Campground, mile 6.4 on FR703. $12/night.

  Trailheads:
     Whitney Lake Trailhead, mile 4.4 on FR703.
     Missouri Lakes Trailhead, follow FR703 7.4 miles to FR704. Follow FR704 2.1 miles to the end and turn left to Trailhead.
     Fancy Lake Trailhead, follow FR703 7.4 miles to FR704. Follow FR704 2.1 miles to the end and turn right to trailhead.

Lake Granby:

  Showers $3 at Roadside Trailer Park on CO 34 half way to Granby.

  Campgrounds:
    No free camping in recreation area. Found lots of free camping along national forest access road on County Road 4 off US 34 almost at the extreme northern end of the lake.     Several NF campgrounds around the west and south sides of the lake. $12.
    Shadow Mountain Lake NF campground at south end off US 34.

  Trailheads:
    5 trailheads along County Road 4.

  Boat Launch:
    Lake Granby: No free launch sites. Boat ramp at Roaring Forks Campground.     Shadow Mountain Lake: Boat ramp at NF campground off US 34.

Lemon Reservoir:

  Camping Areas:
    A couple of campgrounds @ $10. Dunno about water. Toilet at day use area at end of lake. I didn't find any free spots and stayed over at Vallecito Reservoir.

  Boat Launches:
     Boat launch at campground. I found one possible free spot but road was too rugged, rocky shore too steep and carry too long. Rest of lake to high to launch from.

Mesa Verde National Park:

Camping Areas
I found some free camping in the San Juan National Forest 10 miles west of the park and up a steep hill on CO 160 towards Durango.

Molas Pass:

  Camping Areas:
    1/2 mile north of Molas Lake.
    1/2 mile south of Molas Lake at Little Molas Lake (maybe).

Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area:

  From 2 miles west of Steamboat Springs on US40, turn north on FR129, a paved, two lane road. Follow it north almost 18 miles to Clark. Just north of a small bridge, turn right on an unmarked (Seedhouse Road?) paved road which turns to dirt and into FR400 at 5.4 miles.

  Camping Areas:
     A campground at mile 5.1 on FR400.
     Dispersed camping restricted to designated sites (free) on FR400. Side roads OK.
     Seedhouse campground at miles 8.2 on FR400. $12/night.

  Trialheads:
     Coulton Creek Trail at mile on FR400.
     Seedhouse Trail at mile 9.0 on FR400. (Toilet).
     Gold Lake Trail at mile 10 on FR400.
     Gilpin Lake Trail at mile 10 on FR400.

Navajo Reservoir:

Camping Areas:
The Navajo State Park (Piedra River Area). They wanted $4 for a boat launch and $6 for camping. Couldn't find the boat ramp although there's places to launch from the banks. I think the boat launch may be down the road a mile or two at the Navajo Recreation Area. Wouldn't want to be caught in there when it rains. Nothing but deep, muddy roads. No facilities of any kind that I could find.

Pike National Forest:

  Camping Areas:
     Divide, Lots of free camping on FR383 off CO 67 south of Divide just past Mueller State Park & Wilderness Area.
     Fairplay, Kenosha Pass - For pay camping ($11) on one side of US 285, free camping on other side behind picnic area.

  Trailheads:
     Fairplay, Colorado Trail, North and South on either side of US 285 at Kenosha Pass.

Eleven Mile State Recreation Area:

See Pike National Forest.

Camping Areas:
Divide, Lots of for pay campgrounds around Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir and the South Platte River. Camping in designated areas only.

Rio Grande National Forest:

Camping Areas:
I drove through from Pagosa Springs on CO 160 to CO 149. While a pretty drive with wide valley floors and rolling hills and partially covered rolling mountains, I didn't find anything interest me. Several 'for pay' campgrounds and a few places to park for free along the way.

Rocky Mountain National Park:

  Camping Areas:
     See Roosevelt National Forest, Arapaho National Forest and Lake Granby also.
     There's not much in the way of camping on FR 128 off CO 34 on the other side of Drake heading into Rocky Mountain National Park. I had to go 4-5 miles on rough roads before finding a campsite.
I found no camping along CO 34 near Estes Park nor on any side roads. Everything is privately owned. The same holds true for CO 7.

Roosevelt National Forest:

  See Rocky Mountain National Park also.
  Adequate toilets at the many picnic areas.

  Camping Areas:
     Heading east Gould on CO 14, I found a lot of free camping on FR 103, past Chambers Lake Campground.

  Trailheads:
     West Branch Trailhead is on FR 103, just past the Tunnel Campgrounds.
     Link McIntire Trailhead is on FR 160 at the end of FR 103, just past Brown NF Campground in

Routt National Forest:

  Camping Areas:
     South of Steamboat Springs on CO 40 I founds one or two NF campgrounds and a few trails but not much in the way of free camping.
     Steamboat Lake Recreation Area has several NF campgrounds around it but no apparent free camping. 5 miles south, at the bottom of the big hill at the stop sign is 64 Road which turns into FR 400. More NF campgrounds, free camping and trailheads can be found back here.

  Trailheads:
    Swamp Park Trail: 1/4 mile up FR 440 from FR junction.

San Isabel National Forest:

San Juan National Forest:

  Camping Areas:
     Found a Bear Creek, Priest Gulch and Calico Trailheads at mile marker 34 & 35 & 37 on CO 145 above Delores and some free camping just beyond. Found Goble Creek Trailhead near the end of FR 535 and Fish Creek Trailhead in the Fish Creek State Recreation Area beyond that. No camping here.
     Lots of camping 12 miles up First Fork Road, 4-5 miles west on CO 160 from CO 151 junction between Durango and Pagosa Springs. Piedra River Trail and Sheep Creek Trail up in there too and easy to find. Some camping off of dirt road to right of Sheep Creek Trail. Many other trails.
     Telluride, some campiing around mm 45. Also, camping and toilet at Lizard Head Pass, mm 59.

Silverton:

  Camping Areas:
    From the 110 junction in Silverton, follow US550 north 2 miles and turn left onto FR585. 3 free campgrounds in the first 3 miles. South Fork Mineral Creek Campground at mile 4. $14/day.

  Trailheads.
    Ice Lake Basin Trail: From the 110 junction in Silverton, follow US550 north 2 miles and turn left onto FR585. Drive 4 miles and park at trailhead across from the South Fork Mineral Creek Campground.
    Clear Lake: From the 110 junction in Silverton, follow US550 north 2 miles and turn left onto FR585. Drive 3.5 miles to 4WD road on right,
    Hope Lake/Trout Lake Trail: From the 110 junction in Silverton, follow US550 north 2 miles and turn left onto FR585. Drive 6 miles to end of FR585.
Rico/Silverton Lake Trail: From the 110 junction in Silverton, follow US550 north 2 miles and turn left onto FR585. Drive 6 miles to end of FR585.

Twin Lakes Reservoir:

  Camping Areas:
     Twin Lakes: 2 national forest campgrounds with no shade. $13. 2 more NF campgrounds 5-10 miles further on. I found a few free campsites a mile or so to the west of the Twin Lakes village on CO 82.
Note: Most NF campgrounds seemed to be closed after Labor Day. White 'something' along the upper lake was the only one open.
     On the way towards Aspen I passed 2 more NF campgrounds, 2 trailheads and several free camping opportunities within 10 miles and another campground and several paths and a couple of trailheads around Independence Pass.
     FR 386, a few miles south of McKenzie Junction where CO 96 & CO 165 meet (south of Canon City) has a fair number of decent free camping areas.
Clear Creek State Wildlife Area, 3 or 4 miles south of Twin Lakes and 13 miles north of Buena Vista on US 24. Turn onto Clear Creek Road and go 1 mile or so. Free, Toilet. Must have State Wildlife Habitat Stamp. (I found out about that next morning).

  Trailheads:
     McKenzie Junction, Second Mace Trail, FR 382 .25 miles before Davenport NF Campground.
     McKenzie Junction, Squirrel Creek Trail, FR 382 at Davenport NF Campground.

  Boat Launches:
     Twin Lakes Reservoir: There are 3 launches along the north side of the lakes off CO 82. $5 day use fee at each.

Uncompahgre National Forest:

  Camping Areas:
     No apparent camping along CO 141.
     Water & toilets at Silver Jack Reservoir Outlook
     Found free camping 5 miles or so south of Ouray, just past the good view of Red Mountain.
     Found lots of dirt roads past Red Mountain and the gold & silver mines. Should be lots of camping back in there as well as hiking opportunities.

     Cimarron, Turn onto Cimarron Road (not Little Cimarron Road) just eastof Cimarron and before the RV Park and go 20 miles or so. Camping on the East Fork, Middle Fork and West Fork Roads. Toilet at the East Fork Trailhead and 1/4 miles or so up the Middle Fork Road.

     Ouray, Iron Park Nordic Trail, a couple of miles past the canyon on the left. Instead of making a sharp left into the park turn onto the road that follows US 550. Lots of camping down there. Several other side roads turn down there farther on too.

     Ridgway, from its junction with US 550 take CO 62 west 4.7 miles and turn left onto Dallas Creek Road at the NF sign. Bear right at 2 miles and continue 6 more miles to the National Forest & another .6 miles to Blue Lakes Trailhead. Much dispersed camping. Great photo opportunities along the way, especially in the fall....... West Dallas Road 1.5 miles farther and Lost Dollar Road is at mm 10.5

Lizard Head Pass (12 miles south of Teluride on CO 145), some camping in loop at pass and nearby FR626. Toilets across road @ trailheads.
Alta Lakes (5 miles south of Teluride on CO 145). Turn left on signed Alta Lake Road and go 4.0 miles to lakes. Many campsites for tents & campers. Toilet, no drinking water, great views.
Many camping spots on CO 145 south of Lizard Head Pass (San Jaun National Forest).
Telluride, Sunshine NF Campground, from its junction with COxx in Telluride follow CO 145 south 4.5 miles and turn right into the campground. $16/night, chemical toilets, dumpsters, water(?):
Placerville, from its junction with CO 62 in Placerville follow CO 145 south 2.8 miles and turn right onto Fall Creek Road (CR57P).
Placerville, from its junction with CO 62 in Placerville follow CO 145 south 6.4 miles and turn right onto Silver Pick Road.
Placerville, from its junction with CO 62 in Placerville follow CO 145 south 9.6 miles and turn right onto Sout Fork/Sunshine Mesa Road (CR 63L).

Trailheads:
Ouray, Bear National Scenic Trail - 1-2 miles south of Ouray at the first tunnel. Parking on the east side, trailhead on the west and crosses over top of the tunnel.

Vallecito Reservoir:

  Camping Areas:
     Several campgrounds with water and toilets on the right hand side of the lake @ $10.   I found a several free sites on FR 852 just past North Canyon Campgrounds.
     Hot showers at General Store NE corner of lake. $3/5 minutes. No hot water at sinks.
  Boat Launches     $4 launch at Graham Creek Campground. I did find some free spots on the left hand side of the lake but it wasn't worth driving too.

White River National Forest:

Camping Areas:
I only saw a couple of NF campground on CO 82 to the east of Aspen and no free camping opportunities. I also saw a couple of trailheads. CO 82 west of Aspen is all developed.
Meeker, Mirror Lake Trail access road (see below).
Meeker, .5 & .6 miles after road splits on FR205.

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