Good places to camp

[Asha'man]

I'm planning on going up with a few friends in a couple of weekends, and we're trying to find a good place to go. Ideally not too too far from town (within an hour or two), and not excessively populated. Shooting and 4-wheeling opportunities would be excellent. Anyone have any ideas?

[mr_will]

down town denver

[Atrain]

down town denver

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o86/Atrain_dlp/car3.jpg

[HunterCO]

Go up to Harris park you can camp in the camp grounds and it's only about 2 miles down the road to a shooting range and a ton of dirt bike trails.

[PhL0aTeR]

I'm planning on going up with a few friends in a couple of weekends, and we're trying to find a good place to go. Ideally not too too far from town (within an hour or two), and not excessively populated. Shooting and 4-wheeling opportunities would be excellent. Anyone have any ideas?

Just did a little bit of camping around lake george.... its a hell of alot closer to the springs, but i just google mapped it from littleton, and it says 105 miles just about 2 hours.

If you get into lake george, go past it, turn right at the sign to Tarryall, then take another right at the sign says happy meadows campground. at the "T" take a left, and then you will immediately see a camping area (fireplace) and you will see a road that heads "up" with a sign that says 4x4 only. I went up there last weekend, and although on my way down I saw tracks, we didnt see ANYone come up as far as we were camped. Also had the lil lady do a bit of shooting up there, (first time) as did I with the pistols, and did a little clay shooting as well, making sure to take our targets and *most* of the spent casings with us.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/PhL0aTeR/08-04-07_Camping/100_2883.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/PhL0aTeR/08-04-07_Camping/100_2895.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y210/PhL0aTeR/08-04-07_Camping/100_2899.jpg

[kwando]

brian, if you don't mind driving i think that taylor reservoir is by far the best place to camp, shoot, wheel, ride quads/dirtbikes. no designated camping, you rarely see anyone out there unless they are passing through. and great views of the colorado back country.

[Asha'man]

Didn't know there were campgrounds around Harris Park, I'll have to look into that.

Lake George, eh? I'll look that up, those pics look really nice.

I remember you mentioning that, Simon. Think the truck remembers the way? [LOL] Where's Taylor Res?

[TheSparkens]

http://www.coloradodirectory.com/taylorpark/
+1 The back side is great. I stayed at the cabins because im a wimp

[michael_aos]

taylor reservoir

That's typically my choice as well.

Mike

[kwando]

when the map doesn't show any major roads you know camping is good.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Taylor+Park+Reservoir&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=30.957823,59.765625&ie=UTF8&ll=38.811891,-106.528931&spn=0.475115,0.933838&z=10&om=1

[HunterCO]

I have hunted the Taylor park area for ten years and there is no place with as many trails. All the trails are mapped if you have the right map but in Brians case I don't think he wants to drive that far.

I will say that you could ride for days and never go down the same trail the place is awesome. From Denver it is a 4 hour drive I think for what he wants Harris Park or what Pholater suggested is his best bet. I have never been to Lake George but from the pics and description I would say that would also be a good choice.

[Asha'man]

We'll be trying to hash out a place to go this week. Any more suggestions are welcome.

[Asha'man]

Okay, Taylor Park it is. What's the fastest way from Denver to get there? Looks like 285 to Salida but then it's hard to see if there are roads from Salida in. Any specific areas we should be shooting for that are especially cool, isolated, pretty, etc?

[HunterCO]

Okay, Taylor Park it is. What's the fastest way from Denver to get there? Looks like 285 to Salida but then it's hard to see if there are roads from Salida in. Any specific areas we should be shooting for that are especially cool, isolated, pretty, etc?


The shortest and fastest way is to go into Buena Vista and take Cotton Wood pass. Cotton Wood is paved all the way to the top this side and dirt on the west side. That road dead ends at a two lane black top and you will be staring at Taylor resivor.

I always camped just down the road from Spring Creek resivor which is about ten miles west of Taylor resivor. There are a million logging roads and trails you won't have any problem finding some place to camp.

[Asha'man]

Great trip! Taylor is a little far to drive for one night's camping, but we had an awesome time. A couple of pics from my camera (most of our pics are on my roommate's, including shooting pics):


My buddy's '99 Tacoma and my '86 4Runner overlooking the lake from our campsite:

http://i11.tinypic.com/4uiyjcw.jpg

We went into the backcountry about 10 minutes, far enough away from others that we could shoot guns and party late at night as much as we wanted. This is the first hill we had to scale:

http://i15.tinypic.com/63sewbq.jpg

This was the steepest thing I've ever climbed and it felt like my truck was going to fall over backwards. Toyotas rule, though - even with my bald TrXus MT's and some minor mud, my rig just crawled right up that hill.

My camera battery was low so I didn't get many pics, but this was on the return journey looking back at Taylor from the top of Cottonwood Pass, elev. 12,126':

http://i11.tinypic.com/4usxlol.jpg

Thanks for the suggestions and input, everybody! I definitely want to go back when we have a little more time to play.

[HunterCO]

Great pics so how did you like the switch backs on the west side of cottonwood? I have drove a 24 ft motor home down that many times.

That is some great country glad you had a great time. [Beer]

[Asha'man]

Ouch, that doesn't sound fun. We came down while it was raining, and the road was kinda slick. Would not have wanted to do that in anything much longer than my Runner lol.