Boondocking near Estes Park/RMNP Colorado

[JotoColorado]

Thinking about a trip into Rocky Mt National Park area...we mostly boondock but not that area of Colorado much.

Don't want to use established campgrounds, probably all full anyway.

Anyone from that part of our fair state that wants to share any info?

We boondock all over the southern part of the state and have our secrets so I understand if you don't want to give anything away...

Just looking for a little help so we don't have to drag the TT down roads and figure out how to get out when we realize nothing good in that area.

Thanks in advance!
Joto

[HangDiver]

I'm not familiar enough with that part of CO to recommend anything but I'll bet going north from Granby and using a Colorado Gazetteer would show you all kinds of public lands near Grand Lake and places toward Trail Ridge Rd. Part of boondocking is the adventure of trying to find a spot.

[Maman325]

No advice to give, but following this thread as I'd started to do a bit of research on this lately (downloading MVUM maps & dispersed camping maps from the forest service site, done a few quick internet searches, etc.), but would be interested in any real advice from folks who've camped in that area. :-)

[fanrgs]

Take a look at the US 40 portion of my new blog HERE.

Also see free campsites for Colorado on Campendium HERE.

[bcmcdonald]

There are a couple of USFS campgrounds on CO-7 South of Estes. Meeker Park might have some first come first serve spots available on an almost daily basis. Olive Ridge is another one a couple of miles South of Meeker Park that also has a first come, first served loop. There are no hookups at either campground. Both have signs out on the highway. You can also camp on USFS land throughout Boulder County, (dispersed camping). The spot I have in mind is near the junction of CO7 / CO 72. Just East of the junction is an emergency call box and an unimproved road. There is a spot close to the highway and a couple of hundred feet down the unimproved road on the East side. I believe the West side is private property. You should also be aware that there is a fire ban in Boulder and Larimer Counties and campfires are only allowed in established campgrounds in approved fire rings. The fire bans are likely to last until into the Fall. Dispersed camping on USFS land does not fall into that category. Good Luck!

[mgarland48]

Check for BLM Land. I'm sure there are places in that area you could stay. Look online for BLM offices in Colorado. In Utah, I checked at the BLM office and they were very helpful.

[larryandamy]

One of the most memorable campsites I stayed at in Colorado is called "Top of the World".
Warning... the last time we were there was on our honeymoon in 1974. But I Googled it and it is still there.
See the link below.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...749999995&z=14

In 1974 there was a 20 mile dirt road to it that we drove in our Mustang. I am not sure if it is paved now but we are taking a +12,000 mile trip from San Diego to Northeast USA and Canada and we are going to go there on the way.

[bcmcdonald]

Google says the campground is closed.

[Maman325]

Sadly, bcmcdonald is right...see this link for some history on what happened to it. There are some campgrounds nearby, and you can probably drive pretty close to where the old campground was, but am sure it looks much different after the fire...

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5156798.pdf

:-(

[Maman325]

Originally Posted by fanrgs

Take a look at the US 40 portion of my new blog HERE.

Also see free campsites for Colorado on Campendium HERE.

fanrgs - I checked out your blog the other day after finding a link to it on another thread. Fantastic info - have bookmarked it and am sure we'll use it often. Thanks so much for the info you have shared!

[szabla]

Living here we usually find a BLM or national forest access road and drive in and find any clearing and camp. Last time we did this was 2 miles south of the Wyoming border and it was great. We were at 8500' and it got down to 36 degrees just one week ago.