Camping in the Front Range (Colorado Springs, San Luis: closing, legal, garden)

[ktqtpi]

I see no key thread on the subject, so here goes my question:

Do people camp in the front range? If so, where?

For reference, I am mostly used to camping in the Mount Hood National Forest at primitive campsites (tent on the ground, no pavement or electricity etc). Is there something comparable here?

TIA!

[brown_dog_us]

There are so many options that I can't list them. Check out the National Parks and National Forests for back country camping. If you need a place for your first trip, then check out Indian Peaks Wilderness Area in the summer.

[Mach50]

There are so many and most of them are crowded. I'd suggest you hike/4x4 in if you want more isolation.

Colorado Wilderness Areas. Elk hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, horsebacking

[Snikt]

Camping here gets pretty nuts because so many people do it, the popular campgrounds and sites book up 6 months in advance. I start booking prime camp sites in January and February for the summer.

It's hard to do the "let's go camping" thing here last minute and expect to get a spot at a campground.

[SkyDog77]

^^^^^^^
I don't find that to be the case, but I usually camp on BLM land where you don't need to be in a designated campsite.

As others have said, if you are willing to backpack in even a mile, your isolation options open nearly infinitely.

[Snikt]

Originally Posted by SkyDog77

^^^^^^^
I don't find that to be the case, but I usually camp on BLM land where you don't need to be in a designated campsite.

As others have said, if you are willing to backpack in even a mile, your isolation options open nearly infinitely.

Yeah that's a little different, but as far as just car camping at any of the desirable locations especially near great hiking/scenery.

I tried to get a spot at the Brainard Lake campground in February and it was 100% booked up through August already (Friday/Sat/Sunday).

[mic111]

We have an RV, never make a reservation, and have always found a place. After all we have the national forest where it is legal to boondock. How can you not find something at any time? Of course there is not an area where everyone goes as if there were it would be a total nightmare. Just pick a direction, do a little internet research, maybe focus on NFS campgrounds the first couple of times until you get your bearings and off you go...

[ktqtpi]

Thanks for all the replies.

Does one need a permit to hike in the front range (just a day-hike, no overnight stay)? Lily Lake in RMNP is looking good as it seems to be an easy, entry-level trail. I'm not used to this terrain and don't want to overdo it.

For actual camping, any opinion on the San Luis Valley? The Sangre de Cristo wilderness is of interest, as it seems less popular (?) and is close to a dark sky community. I'd love to do some viewing with my portable scope out there. If there are any particular spots in the San Luis Valley/Sangre de Cristo wilderness that have a creek or lake and does not require a permit to camp, I'd love to know.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by ktqtpi

Thanks for all the replies.

Does one need a permit to hike in the front range (just a day-hike, no overnight stay)? Lily Lake in RMNP is looking good as it seems to be an easy, entry-level trail. I'm not used to this terrain and don't want to overdo it.

For actual camping, any opinion on the San Luis Valley? The Sangre de Cristo wilderness is of interest, as it seems less popular (?) and is close to a dark sky community. I'd love to do some viewing with my portable scope out there. If there are any particular spots in the San Luis Valley/Sangre de Cristo wilderness that have a creek or lake and does not require a permit to camp, I'd love to know.

I have yet to go to a place where a hiking permit is required. Then again I'm kind of a wuss and I stick to the well-worn trails. For Lily Lake you'll need a US Parks Pass. At $20 a pop for a day pass it will rapidly become more economical to get the yearly pass depending on how often you go up there. Also, visiting the park on the weekends during peak tourist season is not advised. The park is packed to the gills and the Park Service is considering closing off popular areas when the crowds get too thick.

* - Honestly, hiking anywhere along and near the Front Range is infinitely more enjoyable if done during the week and not on the weekends.

[Mike from back east]

I've never heard of any permit requirements for plain old hiking. Here in Colorado Springs, a permit is required when one wants to do vertical rock climbing in Garden of the Gods, but that's not hiking, though one may hike for free all day in and around GOTG.