Cool Federal Park/Campgrounds in Colorado

[TECMike]

Wife and I are looking for a federal park or campgrounds in Southern/Central Colorado above 8000 feet high.

We are old, hot Texans who have enjoyed the cool, beautiful northern New Mexico mountains for several years.

Now we want to venture into southern Colorado to camp in a federal park/campgrounds that will accept our senior pass. Electricity would be nice, but we have a Honda generator to run during acceptable hours for our travel trailer if electricity is not available.

We would appreciate any recommendations of mountain federal locations that are 8000 feet or higher. Thanks in advance!

[2gypsies1]

Here's an excellent site for finding national forest campgrounds, especially for getting directions to each and what size RV fits....
and yes, there are national forest and national park campgrounds that have electric and sometimes even full hookups.

Dow's National Forest Campgrounds

[Oldtymeflyr]

Start at South Fork, Colorado elevation 8200 feet and work your way north campground by campground to Lake City. We recently stayed one night at Silverthread near the top of Slumgullion Pass and its obviously little used. There were a couple of Texans having a longer stay. Outhouses, but it does have a water system. This in some respects is north Texas but its still very nice country. There isn't a public campground actually in Lake City but its still a nice place to visit. I am sure that there would be some in the area.

In Taylor Park one of the loops has electricity, no sewer or water, outhouses. We stayed there last week. I think its $9 per night with the card.

Once Labor Day is over, these campgrounds are going to start closing. Some of the Taylor Park grounds will stay open longer.

Good luck.

Rick

[4runnerguy]

Just up the road from Colorado City and Rye is the NFS CG La Vista. Reservable and some sites have electricity. Many sites have a view of Lake Isabel. This CG often stays open into October while most NFS CG's in CO close after Labor Day. Elevation around 8600'. Probably not much further from home than where you've been camping in northern NM.

[Thunder_Mountai]

There are many, many Forest Service campgrounds in Colorado. Don't think any of them will have hook ups. With your Federal Geezer Pass they are cheap enough. Browse rvparkreviews.com for commercial campgrounds. There are many nice ones.

There is a great little campground in Pitkin (no hookups). Also some awesome boon docking sites in Saguache Park and Cochetopa Hills east of Cochetopa Pass. Dinner Station (no hookups) in Taylor Park is one of our favorites. Also hundreds of boon dock sites in Taylor Park. Some great boon dock sites east of Bonanza.

[TyroneandGladys]

Off the beaten path no hookups but both are wonderful if you just want to enjoy and relax at over 10,000 feet Blue Lake and Bear Lake are located on the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Range. Scroll to bottom of this link for more info

[dadd45]

9400ft above sea level, both electric and primitive circles, NF campground accepting senior pass, current high and low daily temps mid-70s and low 40s, reservoir and river fishing nearby, small store/bait shop/restaurant 2 miles from campground. Sound like what you're looking for? See Lakeview Campground, Gunnison, CO (Taylor Park0 .......hope this helps....you only have until Sept 31 to utilize....they close EARLIER if freezing occurs on the water system...

[CloudDriver]

We enjoyed Great Sand Dunes National Park in May 2012. We made it about 1/3 of the way up the dunes before deciding to leave the rest of the climb to the younger folks.

Campground elevation there is 8,200 feet.

[DesertHawk]

We have used the Woodland Park area as base to seeing the Colorado Springs area. We like Nat'l Forest Campgrounds & State Parks.

They are at present near the Flooding in Manitou Springs.

We drove from the Telluride area to Ridgeway to Montrose, toward Gunnison & the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Prk (but didn't go to it) on US 50. We turned off before Gunnison on CO 149 to Creede. (Born & raised near the Rio Grande River in South Texas & still live near it in New Mexico, so wanted to see it close to it's birth area). We spend a good part of a day & a night along the Rio north of Creede. If into fishing, it might be a good place to fish. Crystal clear, sparkling water rolling along, very neat area. Campgrounds Rio Grande Nat'l Forest

Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Park might be something to see when in the Ridgeway area.

From Creede area we drove over to the Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park. Lot of Sand for sure, neat too see. Nice little campground as well. http://www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm

Seems like many people go to South Fork, but I know nothing about the area.

We did stop at Dinosaur Nat'l Mon't (north of Fruita, but not close) when we were in the Vernal area on one trip. Kind of out of the way place.

Colorado Nat'l Mon't by Grand Junction..has a nice small campground (no hookup or showers very Scenic. Just south there is Siverton & Ouray to Durango drive the Million Dollar Hwy. Ridgway State Park is just down from Ouray. It would make a nice base camp.
:C Sights & Sites.

Telluride, to the west southwest of Ridgeway is a neat area as well. Take CO 62 to CO 145 from Ridgeway to reach Telluride. 145 will lead you to US 160 (West of Durango). Not as steep of a drive, only one pass, Lizard Head Pass at 10,222' after Telluride. Mostly down Southbound.
http://www.visittelluride.com/things-to-do/camping

I've read about boondocking sites at Lizard Head Pass area: LizardHead ___________ Ditto

We camped at a San Juan Nat'l Forest CG along the Dolores River which was just off 145, South of Lizard Head Pass. Can't remember the name of it now. Camping San Juans But Clayton Campground seems to be the one, below the Pass & by the river, etc. Matterhorn Campground might be nicer. We had bikes with us & in riding along a forest road to the east of the Pass, we found Trout Lake & road by it as well. We were able to drive our van on the roads as well.

US 550 from Montrose to Durango: Very nice drive, very steep & somewhat curvy in places after Quray. Have used it a few times. The section from Silverton to Ouray is frequently called the Million Dollar Highway with Red Mountain Pass (elevation 11,018'). Beautiful country with many waterfalls & Uncompahgre Gorge. Ouray is a neat little village as is Silverton.

In '97, going from Aspen to Leadville Area, we found & camped by Twin Lakes at a forest service campground. A very nice campground, beautiful Lakes, nice canoeing on them.

Twin Lakes Campgrounds: Dexter ** Lake View ** Parry Peak ** Twin Peaks ** White Star
http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/rockymtn/si.htm
I believe we stayed at White Star:
GENERAL COMMENTS:
The elevation is 9,200 ft.

The campground, one of five in the Twin Lakes Recreation Area, is
composed of three loops - Valley, Ridge and Sage. The Sage Loop
is very open with little to no shade, long level parking aprons
and closest to the Twin Lakes Reservoir. Ridge Loop is above the
reservoir among mature Ponderosa pine. Some sites have a view of
the reservoir with shorter parking aprons. The Valley Loop is a
fragrant combination of sage understory and Ponderosa overstory
with some very long parking aprons and no wheelchair friendly
vault. Twin Lakes, CO is on the National Register of Historic
Places. It is an interesting day trip and a good place for the
cook's night out. Firewood is available for a fee.

Follow CO 82 from Twin Lakes area to Independence Pass, a very neat & scenic area. This will take you to Aspen as well. Not easy to get RVs by one section of the road, one lane with a boulder blocking the way. But we got our C-Class MH by towing a Geo Metro with a 17' canoe on the Metro's roof. Didn't loose the mirror either. A few were on the ground there however.

[TECMike]

Thanks. However, I was hoping for some recommendations of campers who have actually camped in various locations in southern and central Colorado.

Again, thanks for your recommendation.

[danpreszler]

Try this site.

http://www.recreation.gov/

It's great for finding all of those hidden places.