Need a Last minute camping spot

[Robb]

Kid wants to go camping and as embarrasing as this is, I don't know a place to go.
When the kids were little it was always RMNP but now, all of a sudden, they want to do some real camping.
Anyone know a for sure place from the 29-31, only a few hours from Denver?
Georgetown is a thought, I've seen the spots halfway up Guanella Pass. That's an option if they'd be available. Anyone know? Any and all other thoughts would be appreciated.

[Irving]

We like Loch Lommand and the other nearby body of water. Get there early Friday to get good spots though.

Edit: These are camping spots on the exit just after Idaho Springs and just before the Dumont exit. The specific name escapes me right now.

[cstone]

Tent camping? I like Long Draw Reservoir. Keep going to Walden if you can't find anything. I would guess most of the bigger campgrounds are full.

[Robb]

Yeah, we're tenting it.

[colorider]

I can't deal with the weekend I70 traffic so we go up 285 toward Buena Vista. Jefferson has great camping and is about 1.5 hours away. Or head farther and camp at mushroom gulch, trout creek, 4 mile.

[Bmac]

I tried to go yesterday. Fire ban turned me around[fail]

I camp tent camp at 10k' and no fire is no fun. can shoot for 5-700yds, too. If you pay to camp you either REALLY don't get it, or you're glamping.

PM me and I will tell 'round abouts where it's at.

[Grant H.]

Deadman Area, up past Red Feather.

[kwando]

My families regular spot is 4 hours out. I'm shocked how many people were there this weekend. My father in law has been going there for 50 years and he's never seen this many people. GTFO of CO!

Most spots within 2 hours will be packed, not to mention there's a fire ban. Camping without a big ass fire is not camping

[Buff]

Snowy Range in the Med Bow Nat Forest (SW of Laramie) doesn't see much usage and plenty to do (hike/fish)

[Tinelement]

No such thing Colorado anymore. (Last minute camping)

Go to Wyoming. Period. Fits most travel times in the 2-4 hour range. Normally 2-4 hours to get to summit county from the Denver area anymore up I-70.

Anywhere between Cheyenne and Laramie off 80. Buford, Happy Jack, Vedauwoo area. Great camping and the Little brook trout rock in the beaver dams. Head west out of Laramie to the snowy range Albany area. Or keep going west north of walden to encampment and the battle pass area.

I road atvs last weekend at battle pass. 130 miles and I passed 2, yes 2 other atvs all weekend. And you can shoot. Pretty much anywhere.

[hurley842002]

Good luck is all I can say. I used to love mid week days off because I could camp and shoot anywhere I wanted, not anymore, it doesn't matter when or where you go, you won't be alone. The 102k people that moved here in 2015, yup thank them. Put it into reality, that is like all of Pueblo moving here in one year.

ETA: I won't camp with fire restrictions in place.

[jslo]

Wife and I usually hit Blue Mesa and have never had an issue, but then we typically get in a day before the weekend crowd. West side, way back at the Black Canyon side. According to the website no fire restrictions, yet.

[Martinjmpr]

If you can leave late on Thursday you can get a boondocking spot near Jefferson. Go South on 285 to Jefferson, then turn Southeast on Tarryall road, go about 8 miles to County Road 39. Turn left (North.) There are camping spots all along there. Wife and I camped there with our teardrop group last August, we went up on Thursday night and snagged a primo spot. There are also lots of bluffs and hills you can use as backstops if you want to shoot.

I believe Park County has a fire ban so be aware. If you want a fire anyway get yourself one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-Redwood-Portable-Roasting/dp/B004YE1FWA/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1469458596&sr=8-9&keywords=propane+camp+fire

[Martinjmpr]

Also it's a little further away but if you can get on the other side of Cottonwood Pass to the Taylor River area there are lots of places to camp and it's rarely crowded because it's so far from Denver. We camped there over 4th of July last year and even though it should have been one of the busiest weekends of the year, there were plenty of camping spots available. We camped at Lottis Creek but there are lots of USFS campgrounds and you can also just do dispersed camping (boondocking) out in the forest.

[Robb]

Good info, Haven't been to the Buena Vista area much, last time was probably over 20 years ago climbing Antero.

[Bmac]

https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-Redwood-Portable-Roasting/dp/B004YE1FWA/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1469458596&sr=8-9&keywords=propane+camp+fire[/QUOTE]


I was thinking about getting something like that after being turned around because of the fire ban last weekend.

It definitely wouldn't be like a big ass fire you can see from space but it would be better than 2 lanterns and a zippo.

[kwando]

I was thinking about getting something like that after being turned around because of the fire ban last weekend.

It definitely wouldn't be like a big ass fire you can see from space but it would be better than 2 lanterns and a zippo.

No fireban where I went last weekend.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l166/kwando90/Forum%20stuff/8042A825-BF31-4244-83DC-419F96A44662_zpsynvlgftc.jpg

[Martinjmpr]

https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-Redwood-Portable-Roasting/dp/B004YE1FWA/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1469458596&sr=8-9&keywords=propane+camp+fire


I was thinking about getting something like that after being turned around because of the fire ban last weekend.

It definitely wouldn't be like a big ass fire you can see from space but it would be better than 2 lanterns and a zippo.[/QUOTE]

You can cook on it too. It's actually pretty convenient. When we are 'dry camping' it's nice to not have to use precious water to put out a fire. Just turn the valve to "off", wait for it to cool off and back into the bag it goes. No ashes to clean up, and much less soot on the pots and pans.

[Robb]

Kwando,
Where's you head last weekend?

[kwando]

Robb - We go to taylor park every year.

[ruthabagah]

Taylor park area is great and you can still find remote camping spots with some shooting.