favorite campsites in southern Colorado?

[mr_dove]

I live about 90 minutes East of Pueblo. It's all brown and droughty out here. There's also next to no trees. I'm looking for some campsites with more green, lots of trees, family friendly fishing and somewhat isolated (no huge campgrounds). We're car camping since we have 4 small kids.

I've found a few places in the San Isabel National Forest but I don't have any first hand knowledge of them. They seem to be the closest to my area.

I'd appreciate some suggestions on where you like to camp in the southern reaches of Colorado.

[BushMasterBoy]

County Road 380. It is the dirt road that takes you to the Summitville ghost town. Has a nice creek along it for the first few miles. The road is just a few miles west of South Fork. Take a gold pan and shovel. Probably a few trout in the creek too. A 350 oz nugget was found there in 1975, reason I went up there! Best time is the middle of the summer, lots of lush grass, clover and Aspen trees. Most folks camp at the lower elevations near the creek and Hiway 160. Usually way cooler than the 100+ degree heat we have here in Pueblo. It is in the Rio Grande National Forest. Drive up to the ghost town and let the kids see an 1870's town in decay. Mine is closed and is a EPA superfund clean up now.

[def90]

A lot of forest service land open for free camping just outside of Buena Vista at the base of Antero and Princeton

[HoneyBadger]

I'd like to revive this thread to see if anyone has any new input. I'm looking for free campsites that might be connected by a jeep trail. within 2 hrs of Colorado Springs.

[tmjohnson]

Take I-25 south to exit 74. Take hwy 165 west- go thru Colorado City, Rye and San Isabel. A few miles west of San Isabel there is a sign Opher Creek. Turn left, take the road and go 13 to 14 miles up into the mountains. You will eventually come to an intersection, one way goes to a logging site and another goes to the top of Deer Mtn. If you cross the cattle guard and go a little ways you will see a trail to the right follow it up to the top. Good place to camp. don't stop at the aspen grove as mosquitos will eat you alive. Go up to the pine trees at the top. You will be at almost 11,000 feet.
Lots of jeep trails all the way thru the area. At the top of the meadow you will be 34 miles from Colorado City.

[theGinsue]

County Road 380. It is the dirt road that takes you to the Summitville ghost town. Has a nice creek along it for the first few miles. The road is just a few miles west of South Fork. Take a gold pan and shovel. Probably a few trout in the creek too. A 350 oz nugget was found there in 1975, reason I went up there! Best time is the middle of the summer, lots of lush grass, clover and Aspen trees. Most folks camp at the lower elevations near the creek and Hiway 160. Usually way cooler than the 100+ degree heat we have here in Pueblo. It is in the Rio Grande National Forest. Drive up to the ghost town and let the kids see an 1870's town in decay. Mine is closed and is a EPA superfund clean up now.

This is my secondary hunting area. My primary is just East of South Fork - near Beaver Mtn. Great camping, but this time of year there will be other campers nearby.

[brutal]

I'd like to revive this thread to see if anyone has any new input. I'm looking for free campsites that might be connected by a jeep trail. within 2 hrs of Colorado Springs.

We used to go to Wildcat Conservation area along the north fork of the South Platte, but I think it's been closed for years from one of the fires. Nice 4x4 road into the area.

Lemme see if I can still find the GPS coordinates. Not too hard to find off the road (211) that runs by Molly Gulch, Goose Creek, etc. down towards Woodland Park.

Here's the river crossing 39.113946,-105.339459 http://goo.gl/maps/wFzCI

Here's the turn off 211. http://goo.gl/maps/UH84y 39.136718,-105.367685

Some folks came in from the other side - fire road 205. If the river runs high, it could be a bitch to cross for small SUV. I floated my Bronco II across one year. Saw a Yote go under one year.

Pretty remote, haven't been back in there in YEARS. used to be a real popular spot (too popular) I guess.