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Old 05-06-2017, 09:50 PM   #1
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Colorado camping over July 4 holiday -- help!

Not sure whether to put this here or in "Campfire" .....

Hi everyone -- I'm returning to the land of van owners soon -- with a midroof 148" Transit for the basis of my home-brew.

Here's the problem: I will pick up the van in Kansas City on June 28 -- two weeks later than originally scheduled --- and drive immediately to Colorado to hunker down for a few days to get to know the van. But this delay means that I will be hitting CO for the July 4 weekend!

I have no NFS or NP campground reservations, and recreation.gov is not much help, unless I search every campground, one at a time.

Can anyone suggest a more efficient search procedure? Or a hidden campground gem that is never full? If I stick to the middle of the state I should be there by Thursday evening ....

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Old 05-07-2017, 07:09 AM   #2
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Best option is to boondock. Just pull down a dirt road, on public land where you can't be seen from the highway and set up camp. This might be perfect if the hour is late.

Never full?
Don't know about that, but we have stayed at some spots where we never had a problem getting a spot. One key for most campgrounds os to settle in fairly early in the day. Don't arrive at dusk expecting to find a spot.

The reservoir in Rifle, CO is a spot that we have never found full.
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Old 05-07-2017, 07:14 AM   #3
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More non-commercial campgrounds and dispersed spots here than you can get to in a lifetime.

US AND CANADA CAMPGROUNDS - FORMAL AND DISPERSED PUBLIC CAMPING LOCATIONS - Home

SMBers are great at avoiding crowds, so post your perspective areas and I bet you get some good ideas. PM is always good for keeping secrets.

Welcome back! Sounds like a nice new toy.
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Old 05-07-2017, 07:21 AM   #4
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I might be able to offer some suggestions if you narrow down the area you want to camp. Anything in the Front Range is inevitably very very busy. Colorado people love camping! The further west you go, the more options you'll have. But then, you have a van; all you need is a wide shoulder or a level pad off the side of a USFS road and you're good to go! Don't plan on just showing up and finding a spot in an established Campground - they tend to fill by the Thursday prior a holiday weekend!
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Old 05-07-2017, 08:49 AM   #5
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Thanks all, for the information/suggestions.

I am aiming for a forested/shaded site (no fan or insulation yet in the brand new cargo van) somewhere in the region defined by Colorado Springs, Denver, Avon, Poncha Springs. Why make it easy?

Not too keen to boondocks in a 1 day old van in case it develops hiccups ...

The wild card is that I cannot guarantee the timing: the van is scheduled bro build on June 14, and then arrival at the KC dealer between June 21 and 28, if it passes QC. So I figure arrive in KC on the 26th but not count on getting it that early ... Or maybe ....

If only the original build schedule -- two weeks earlier -- had stuck!
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Old 05-07-2017, 01:43 PM   #6
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There's a bunch of NFS campgrounds just to the west of Poncha Springs and Buena Vista. Head west from Buena Vista to Taylor Reservoir.

Twin Lakes has many campgrounds around it, but you're getting up there in altitude.

Not many (if any) NFS campgrounds have electricity or water at the sites. Best bet if you want electricity is to find a nice commercial campground in a small town. We liked Snowy Peaks RV Park in Buena Vista.
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Old 05-07-2017, 03:52 PM   #7
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Thanks!

Electricity and water are not needed; shade is. If the timing works might make a beeline for the NFS sites west of PSprings and BV.
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Old 05-07-2017, 04:52 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by coulter6 View Post
There's a bunch of NFS campgrounds just to the west of Poncha Springs and Buena Vista. Head west from Buena Vista to Taylor Reservoir.

Twin Lakes has many campgrounds around it, but you're getting up there in altitude.

Not many (if any) NFS campgrounds have electricity or water at the sites. Best bet if you want electricity is to find a nice commercial campground in a small town. We liked Snowy Peaks RV Park in Buena Vista.
Note that Cottonwood pass (from BV to Taylor reservoir) will not be opening AT ALL this year due to construction. They are paving the west side of the pass.
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