Colorado Camping Recommendation

DirtySouth · 07-17-2011, 01:16 PM

Hi all...I'm new to these forums. I'm trying to get into camping more and my wife and I are taking our first trip alone this Fall to Colorado. Were going to be doing some tent camping preferably near the Rocky Mountain National Forest. I didn't think it would be so difficult to find a campground with showers, restrooms and decent pad sites, but it hasn't been easy. We'd like to stay somewhere with a decent view and preferably trees around the campsite. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

MountainMan22 · 07-17-2011, 03:57 PM

A while back I went with some family up there to Colorado and we stayed in a place called Red Fox Acres. It was totally in the mountains and we had a cabin on a golf course. I did see a campground nearby, but I don't know any details of it. I know the area is very beautiful and many things to see. It would be a prime choice for me, but I'm sure there are other areas just as great there.

TrailWeaver · 07-17-2011, 04:51 PM

Did you google "Colorado Campgrounds"? There are several websites that have loads of information about campgrounds. Some might have showers, but it is not the norm. State parks and their facilities are at this site... Colorado State Parks

Do you mean Rocky Mountain National Park? I don't think there is a Rocky Mountain National Forest. If you mean the national park, they will have camping information on their site.

Refrigerator · 07-17-2011, 04:57 PM

US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region - Camping Information
Rocky Mountain National Park Visitors Guide
Rocky Mountain National Park: Campgrounds

msdoolittle · 07-17-2011, 05:41 PM

Rocky Mountain National Park campgrounds have pit toilets and potable water during the summer months. None of them have showers.

National Forest campgrounds have pit toilets and water during their "open seasonal months". No Showers.

You'll most likely need to do a google search for private campgrounds if a shower is a necessity. The only campground I know of is between Estes Park and the Beaver Meadows Entrance of RMNP.

We usually just wing it when car camping and drive up a dirt road in National Forest and hope to find a nice campsite along the way. It has worked well for us. Having no neighbors is pretty darn nice.

Judy Ann · 07-17-2011, 06:41 PM

Regarding showers and car camping: I always take a couple of gallon water containers and let them warm up during the day for shampoo and shower. Too frugal for the solar shower setup!

msdoolittle · 07-17-2011, 06:51 PM

That's a good point, Judy. If it's in your budget and you have the room, maybe look into buying a solar shower and privacy tent. You'll get a hold of much nicer campsites if you aren't overly concerned about the campground having a shower on site.

DirtySouth · 07-17-2011, 07:42 PM

I've been doing online searches for a couple weeks now and have found a few, but I'm just trying to get other recommendations. Were not ready for the whole bring your own shower and toilet thing yet. Were not set on staying in the actual park...just near it. I'm open to other parks as well within Colorado. Thanks for the links though...I'll check them out.

TrailWeaver · 07-17-2011, 08:27 PM

Honestly, unless you go to a KOA campground, the odds are very much against you finding showers at any campgrounds in Colorado. There are a few, though not many. The only one I am aware of is Sylvan Lake, which is a state park and very far from RMNP.

Check the YMCA in Estes Park, that might be more to your liking.

Judy Ann · 07-17-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msdoolittle

We usually just wing it when car camping and drive up a dirt road in National Forest and hope to find a nice campsite along the way. It has worked well for us. Having no neighbors is pretty darn nice.

Thanks Msdoolittle for the suggestion on camping in the National Forests. I have found the perfect dirt road and just needed a gentle nudge to try camping outside of an established state/national park. One of my sisters thinks that I am out of my ever-loving-mind for camping, but states that she will come with me this fall when the bees aren't out in full force (already experienced emergent removal off a mountain from a bee sting). While I will reserve a site in a state park for backup, we hope to hike into a wilderness area of NC. What extra precautions do you take when car camping? Do you feel like your car is safe on the side of the road?