best car camping in colorado

Known as one of the state’s most iconic water destinations, this alpine lake offers campers the chance to boat, fish, hike, and swim throughout the warmer summer months. Located at the lower end of Taylor Canyon, Granite Canyon campground provides excellent backcountry hiking, fishing, and rafting opportunities for those with the gusto to get there! of Sunset Publishing Corporation. The upper portion of the wilderness area also offers several trails for ATV and dirt bike riders, making it a haven for the hardcore truck-bed campers as well as the car camping families who haul their kid-size ATVs with them to the campground. Rocky Mountain National Park offers the quintessential Colorado camping experience, and by pitching your tent at Moraine Park campground, you’re likely to get a closeup look at the mule deer, coyotes and … Tent. Check. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, The Ultimate Colorado Car-Camping Road Trip, – And, you can go to the flagship of the outworld-favorite Topo Designs, in RiNo—they have a repair program to rehab your Topo gear when it gets worn out. Shavano (a 9-mile fourteener that climbs 4,600 feet), is one of the best spots. “We came here last year during the summer and it was so beautiful and quiet. Regardless, dispersed camping has one major theme: you can arrive at the site with your car! It’s only a 15 minute drive from Fruita. Kelly Dahl Campground offers 46 single-family campsites that are large enough to accommodate both tents and RVs. Whether you’re looking for a high-altitude adventure or a simple weekend away from the city, Colorado car camping is tough to beat when it comes to destinations just off the beaten path. Colorado is home to some of the best, free, dispersed camping if you know where to look. 1. Chilly, windy, panoramic!” — The Dyrt camper Terrie J. The springs and shower are accessible with a $16 day pass. Hunker down here for two nights. At this adventure park, the founders have figured out every which way to get you to tackle the 1,200-foot gorge. It’s overloaded with aspens. The park has showers and laundry on-site, which is a godsend if you’re flying out of Denver the next day. From there, make a stop at Nooch for vegan trail snacks like mushroom jerky and s'mores supplies. Or, drive a little further east toward Salida and set up camp at Curecanti National Recreation Area, which has three reservoirs, including the state’s largest body of water. The area is heavily used for hiking and fishing, and is popular large-in-part for its proximity to Pikes Peak, as it sits along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. A small lake on a mountainside flush with gorgeous Aspen trees, Cottonwood Lake campground is a super popular summer destination for Colorado car camping enthusiasts, and particularly for anglers on the hunt for some high altitude trout. Meanwhile, the stylish Batch tasting room pours its Roaring Fork Valley Brewing beers, some of which are made with fruit from nearby Paonia. Unique to Mueller is their RV camping loop, which includes 11 campsites that can only be reserved as one group — if you’re friends with enough RVers, you can rent the entire loop out for yourselves. The highest continuous paved road in the country peaks at 12,183 feet. This … There’s not much camping in Boulder proper, so if you’re looking for a fun night on the town to start your trip, camp close by in Nederland (a highly underrated, quirky gem of a town in and of itself) at Camp Wilder, located on a secluded private site. Elbert to the south over turquoise water.” — The Dyrt camper Fain H. Located southeast of the small mountain town of Jefferson, Lost Park campground features 12 campsites, each of which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The hike is about 4 miles each way. The oft-photographed 1892 mill, a remnant of the once-prosperous mining town, stands on a rocky outcrop above the Crystal River. Black Canyon is well worth the detour, even for a quick view, but if you want to take it slow, there are a few car camping options within the park as well as dispersed camping right outside the southern entrance. To know • the weather can change quickly, even in the country a different perspective of car with... Money on lodging while maximizing your time outside can reserve the campsite online guarantee. Less interested in stopping at an offbeat only-here kind of place Palmer gives... Flush toilets viewing, and the BBQ king of California thunderstorm, but minds. The oft-photographed 1892 mill, a handful of which have electric hookups save money lodging! 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