I’m meeting all my kids in Colorado to go camping the first week of August. Does anybody know a secret little spot to go to that has water? I’ll be bringing my canoe and they have their paddle boards no campgrounds preferred
Camping in Colorado ?
- Thread starter mbaird
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Unconventional
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We did Rifle Colo south of I 70 up in the National Forest. Next to a real nice creek, that is until it was frozen the next morning 
. Well it was deer/elk season in November and at about 7000' elevation
. Well it was deer/elk season in November and at about 7000' elevation 
Lots of dispersed camping on the west side of Blue mesa and lots of water.
Daughter is in Denver and does some camping but may not know the secret gems that aren’t over run with people yet .
We did this 2 years ago at a little reservoir outside of Steamboat but it was really busy . My theory is if you can’t walk around your tent naked without offending someone you are too close to.
Steamboat Lake state park is an excellent place. I highly recommend it. We went there a lot when I lived in Denver.
State parks are all organized campgrounds/ Sounds like the OP is more into boondock camping in the national forest.
I haven't done that in almost 30 years, and some of the places I used to go have turned into state or regional campgrounds. Still best to find national forest as far from Denver as your willing to go. Access to water of sufficient amount to go canoeing is going to make this more difficult as there aren't a lot of streams capable of that and most bodies of water within 3 hours of Denver are going to have organized camping around them.
I haven't done that in almost 30 years, and some of the places I used to go have turned into state or regional campgrounds. Still best to find national forest as far from Denver as your willing to go. Access to water of sufficient amount to go canoeing is going to make this more difficult as there aren't a lot of streams capable of that and most bodies of water within 3 hours of Denver are going to have organized camping around them.
You never know what's on top of the ridge. lol
Where do you find seclusion in Southern Idaho, we use to find it up in the Stanley area in the late 70's, I hear it's not very secluded anymore, sorta overrun these day's.
Horsetooth reservoir ... careful, Grizzly country
There are tons of places to go... Around Green Mt. Falls, around Estes Park, a quick google search would answer the OP's question
Won't find any better secluded camping with water than the Lochsa and Clearwater areas of Idaho.
I know it doesn't answer the OP's question, but I figure if it's an area he hasn't checked out yet, I'd put it on his radar. He could put his canoe to work.
I know it doesn't answer the OP's question, but I figure if it's an area he hasn't checked out yet, I'd put it on his radar. He could put his canoe to work.
Plenty of places left in Idaho for moderate seclusion . But being in a campground in which every site is taken and they are only 50ft apart plus day trippers is not my idea of an ideal camping trip. I don’t expect to find a spot without people in CO .
Haven’t spent a lot of time in Clearwater/Lochsa area but I intend to in the future . Looking for a KTM 690r enduro right now and would love to do McGruders Corridor from Elk City to Montana . Used to hunt the Elk City area.
That's my stomping ground, they stocked all the creeks up there with brown trout about 10 years ago.
I've been all over that place, use to rock crawl up to buffalo hump with my 73 W200
When I hunted that area, I was driving a 74 short box 4 x 4, W 100 with a big block . that truck was a monster in the snow! Tall Firestone steeltex
like the Forrest service uses.
Nope, no grizzlys. At least none that have been documented. Its entirely possible we are on the fringe range of some, but they haven't been seen. We have plenty of mountain lions though.
There is plenty of dispersed camping where there are not a lot of people. The challenge you have is wanting water to canoe on. Canoes, kayaks, tubing, and SUPs are hugely popular in CO. Any place with enough water for these and within 2-3 hours of Denver is going to have people on the water and in the woods. You may have to decide between having water with people around or dispersed camping without too many people and no canoeing. There are plenty of moderately isolated camping opportunities in the national forest.
Like I mentioned earlier, I haven't done dispersed camping in decades, so I can't provide any solid recommendations. I also assume you and your daughter don't want to spend a whole day driving to get away from the front range crowds. I have heard there are decent camping opportunities south of Georgetown, south of Idaho Springs, north of Central City, or west of Nederland. However, canoeing opportunities in these areas may be somewhat limited.
There is plenty of dispersed camping where there are not a lot of people. The challenge you have is wanting water to canoe on. Canoes, kayaks, tubing, and SUPs are hugely popular in CO. Any place with enough water for these and within 2-3 hours of Denver is going to have people on the water and in the woods. You may have to decide between having water with people around or dispersed camping without too many people and no canoeing. There are plenty of moderately isolated camping opportunities in the national forest.
Like I mentioned earlier, I haven't done dispersed camping in decades, so I can't provide any solid recommendations. I also assume you and your daughter don't want to spend a whole day driving to get away from the front range crowds. I have heard there are decent camping opportunities south of Georgetown, south of Idaho Springs, north of Central City, or west of Nederland. However, canoeing opportunities in these areas may be somewhat limited.
Me and one daughter are driving from Boise , my son and GF are driving from Portland and the second daughter lives in Denver . Last ear we all met in Boise and camped at Deadwood reservoir.
I am not expecting there to be zero people … just don’t want to be overwhelmed with hordes of people.
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