Isolated camp grounds (Denver, Evergreen, Fairplay: camping, bill, pine)

[woodlandspirit]

I'm looking to go camping alot this summer and all the ones we see along the front range are generally a little too crowded for me. I'm hoping to get far away and camp somewhere where my husband and I are the only people for at least a few miles. Also, a body of water within a few miles would be needed too. We're thinking somewhere north of I-70 and to the west of the Front Range. I have a 4x4 so off-roading to get there is not a problem. (It's a nice bonus!)

Thanks!

[Vision67]

Originally Posted by woodlandspirit

I'm looking to go camping alot this summer and all the ones we see along the front range are generally a little too crowded for me. I'm hoping to get far away and camp somewhere where my husband and I are the only people for at least a few miles. Also, a body of water within a few miles would be needed too. We're thinking somewhere north of I-70 and to the west of the Front Range. I have a 4x4 so off-roading to get there is not a problem. (It's a nice bonus!)

Thanks!

If you really want to get away, get a backpack and hike 10 miles into a wilderness area. Use your 4x4 to get to the trailhead. The stars at 12,000 feet at midnight in August are brilliant!

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by woodlandspirit

I'm looking to go camping alot this summer and all the ones we see along the front range are generally a little too crowded for me. I'm hoping to get far away and camp somewhere where my husband and I are the only people for at least a few miles. Also, a body of water within a few miles would be needed too. We're thinking somewhere north of I-70 and to the west of the Front Range. I have a 4x4 so off-roading to get there is not a problem. (It's a nice bonus!)

Thanks!

Sad to say, but there are not very many places left in Colorado where you can camp without having people within a few miles, unless you are willing to hike a fair piece into a wilderness area. It used to be that you could 4-wheel into a lot of places and not see anybody for a couple of days. Now, if you can drive there, you most likely won't be alone, especially on a weekend. Probably just about no place within 150 miles of the Front Range cities, especially with a lake nearby, would fit the bill.

There are a few places in southern Wyoming in the Snowy Range or the Sierra Madre Range that you might have to yourself. Those areas are relatively close to the Front Range, but don't seem to get the pressure that most Colorado locales do. If you are really looking for solitude, Wyoming beats Colorado hands down. Otherwise, the simple rule of thumb is the farther it is from Denver and the farther away from a road, the more likely you will be to have it to yourself. I have some "secret" places I go in the far southern part of Colorado and northern New Mexico that are pretty isolated and quiet.

[Ticky909]

I mean, granby is right nearby, but theres lots of creeks, trails, etc around the araphoe nf, That place has been destroyed completly by the pine beetle though, Im almost afraid to go back. Thats been my main camping spot for probably 15 years, last year the forest was literally a mix of brown and red, saddening.

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by woodlandspirit

I'm looking to go camping alot this summer and all the ones we see along the front range are generally a little too crowded for me. I'm hoping to get far away and camp somewhere where my husband and I are the only people for at least a few miles. Also, a body of water within a few miles would be needed too. We're thinking somewhere north of I-70 and to the west of the Front Range. I have a 4x4 so off-roading to get there is not a problem. (It's a nice bonus!)

Thanks!

You're about 20 years too late in Colorado.

With all the population growth, the desirable places with water and "few miles" isolation are long gone, especially on weekends.

Unless you care to hike or pack into a wilderness area, your chance of having such remote isolation are nil.

For example, we had a visit this last weekend with my wife's uncle ... an Evergreen native, very active outdoorsman. Used to "bag 14teeners" every year in the 70's-80's. It got so crowded doing that that he decided to "bag 13teeners" instead, because they weren't so crowded with the allure of the highest peaks, and you could find only a few folks signing in per day at a lot of places. Last time he went hiking down by Fairplay, 150 (!!!!) people had logged in by mid-morning when he reached the summit. On the trail down, there were many more hiking up to the top. That's when he gave up hiking the Colorado peaks.

I used to fly over pretty remote stretches of Colorado mountain areas and could see almost no signs of activity ... now, even going over Corona Pass on my way to points West, I can see folks camping there in some very remote and barren country ... some fishing in the little lakes up almost on the ridgeline.

[Wyomiles]

Get a good colorado map...... look at I-70 and find Dotsero. Go north along the colorado river and find coffee pot road(#140) follow this road to Heart lake. Then explore the area. you will love it.

[FoRuMRideR420]

bill moore lake

[goozer]

Originally Posted by Vision67

If you really want to get away, get a backpack and hike 10 miles into a wilderness area. Use your 4x4 to get to the trailhead. The stars at 12,000 feet at midnight in August are brilliant!

I second this. I prefer backcountry camping (that you have to hike several miles to get to) for the very reason that it gets you away from the campground crowds. Just make sure you educate yourself on basic wilderness survival skills first and always let a friend or family member know where you will be and for how long!!!

[WithoutaPaddle]

I have a great camping guide book called "Colorado Campgrounds-The 100 Best and All The Rest" by Gil Folsom. While many of the campgrounds in the book are your typical, cramped quarters campgrounds, it also references others that are more isolated. You might at least thumb through it at your local camping/outdoor outfitter to see if it tips you off to any camping areas you weren't familiar with.

I'm on the western part of the state, but if you're willing to take the trip out from the front range you'll still find some off-the-beaten-path places to camp.

[Ticky909]

maybe do a multi-day mountain climb? i think you have to get permission to camp when it has to do with a peak, that could be greatly isolated, a nice adventure. I've never done it but I should. Theres rules though I don't think you can have a fire and you have to lug everything out.