going to try out camping to see if its my thing. where can I camp? (Denver: rent, hotel)

[willc86]

Hey all, so for a while been jittery about camping since I had a friend was died while camping....group of teens attacked him while sleeping..dont want to get into it but figured Colorado might be safer and better.


Anyhow, going camping by nathrop to do ATV trails by tincup and williams pass. I usually just rent a hotel, but want to try this out.

in colorado, can we camp with a tent anywhere that has a "tent/camp" sign in it? example like cascade campground

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/c...O&parkId=70042

was thinking walking back a bit into the wood and just setting up tent there and can shower in peace with no1 in sight

[otowi]

You can camp in most places that are indicated as national forest. Or, you can camp wherever there is a designated camp ground - including some fee sites - where you might get some facilities like bathrooms or water.

[bluescreen73]

Keep in mind that the most desirable reserved campgrounds are booked 6 months in advance. If you go during the week you'll increase your chances of getting a non-reserved walk-up site.

Staunton State Park southwest of Denver just opened a handful of hike-in campsites in July. The sites are 1/10th of a mile to half a mile from the parking lot, though, so you'll have to carry everything to your site.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife - Park Activities

[willc86]

ahh gotcha!! so if these are reserved, can I just walk back into the trees and set camp there with a tent? gunnison national forest I think are the camp grounds

[hikernut]

Well, first of all you should read the regulations of the area you are visiting. Some public land is wide open and you can camp most anywhere, but many areas have restrictions... like needing to be a minimum distances from streams/lakes, and a minimum distance from roads (to keep people from just setting up "close" to an existing campground).

Secondly, finding a nice level spot to put up a tent "somewhere in the woods" might not be that easy. You know, there are rocks and dead trees lying around everywhere, haha! If you want to set up a tent outside of established campgrounds, I'll suggest doing a web search on "dispersed camping" to find areas where people are doing this.

Finally, one trick I've used to get campground spots is to start checking for cancellations a couple of weeks out. People do cancel, and especially at big campgrounds I've had some luck with this method. You do need to be persistent, though, and immediately buy anything suitable that pops up.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by willc86

ahh gotcha!! so if these are reserved, can I just walk back into the trees and set camp there with a tent? gunnison national forest I think are the camp grounds

Probably not. The areas around campgrounds are often restricted. It’s a better bet to just find some area away from a campground in national forest land. Pay attention to signs.

[willc86]

thank you all for the tips!! going to call that ranger office to see about this area im thinking of away from campgrounds

[Lemming95]

Fire safety regulations can change "normaL" rules.

[willc86]

question so I am eyeing this one, which is chalk lake campground.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psic...12645&actid=29

i noticed on the site it says first come first serve. So, I can set up tent on any of those pads right, even if reserved since I got there first? I think thats the part thats confusing. I just want to get there find an empty pad and claim it for a night or 2

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by willc86

question so I am eyeing this one, which is chalk lake campground.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psic...12645&actid=29

i noticed on the site it says first come first serve. So, I can set up tent on any of those pads right, even if reserved since I got there first? I think thats the part thats confusing. I just want to get there find an empty pad and claim it for a night or 2

If it's first-come, first-served it's not reserved. It's walk-up.