The convenient midpoint of Barr Camp lets you stop to rest, eat or sleep. The Forest Service manages most of the higher elevation areas, while the Arkansas River corridor is managed by Colorado State Parks and the Bureau of Land Management. South Park Ranger District inludes South Park, part of the Mosquito Range, Eleven Mile Canyon and Jefferson Lake Recreation Areas, and the Tarryall Mountains and Puma Hills. Before you know it you’ll be soaking in the mellow sights of flowered meadows, forest foliage that’s thicker than a snicker. Dogs & cats. The Matukat Road (NFSR 211) provides access to the southeast portion of the Lost Creek Wilderness, and to Cheesman Reservoir. Our community provides the best free camping information available. FOREST INFORMATION. Eleven Mile Canyon is generally accessible year round; however, service are reduced during the winter months. Campsites are $17/ night, and $7/vehicle for day use fees. Forest Supervisor Office. The Forest Service will close certain areas to help support wildlife breeding. Read more... Find some peace and quiet for crying out loud! It’s contains most of the forest going west from Colorado Springs. Sitting atop a ridge overlooking its namesake creek, it’s hard not to fall in the love with the scenery. One of two awesome campgrounds within the Buffalo Creek Recreation Area, Kesley is the hub for a 40-mile trail system of hiking that happily welcomes feet, hooves and wheels all the same. The Colorado Trail starts outside of Denver and ends in Durango. PLAN your trip, know what it is you wish to experience, think about … Families take notice--Colorado Campground may lack the excitement of Disney World, but it’s a perfect weekend destination for unplugging and honing your fishing and paddling skills. Thunder Ridge is such a treat, Read more... Ready to bag some peaks during your stay at this hikers heaven? Become one with the river in your kayak or fly-fish from the shore. Handcart and Red Cone climb to the top of the Contiental Divide and meet at Webster Pass, and a junction with the non-motorized Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. All Hipcampers should review and adhere to these standards for safety, trip preparation, and respect in order to uphold Hipcamp’s most important value: “leave it better.”. Pike National Forest can be found in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, not far from the city of Colorado Springs. 5-mile Limber Grove Trail will get your blood pumping, and the myriad of stars on a clear night are bright enough to read by. Forest Service Road 110, known as the Halfmoon Road, follows the southern border of the Mount Massive Wilderness. See individual listings for specific information about these sites. From a small beginning in 1961 Pike Lake Golf Centre Limited has evolved into one of Ontario’s largest family owned and operated Campground and Mobile Home Parks. And even if you strike out, at least you’ve had the opportunity to camp in this truly wild and rugged place. There is also a short interpretive trail with a good viewpoint at the Guanella Pass summit. This is a tent-only site with no host, so those who like their camping DIY will have reason to rejoice. All are among Colorado's 53 "fourteeners," peaks with elevations of 14,000 feet or more. Leadville is a rustic mountain town rich in mining history and unsurpassed natural beauty. Fiending for that mountain-life experience? Think giant pillars of eroded stone reaching high into the clouds like a colossal, sleeping creature from another world. If you are planning on camping early spring you will need to verify which areas of the National Forest are closed off. Mount Elbert, at 14,443 feet, is Colorado's highest peak and one of ten "fourteeners" located on the District. Get ready for some high altitude adventurin'. Some of the old logging roads provide two-track while connecting trails offer single track. The district has installed a first-ever program that converts those sites into pay campsites that can be reserved. The Cimarron Recreation Area includes the Cimarron Campground, Cimarron Picnic Area, Cimarron Group Site and Cimarron Ponds. NOTE: The Rampart Range Recreation Area is under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, the dispersed sites on the South Platte Ranger District including those on Rampart Range Road, Rim Road, Jackson Creek Road, Dakan Rd, and the area known as Dutch Fred are considered undeveloped campsites for the purpose of this order. The Pike National Forest is over 1.1 million acres and three wilderness areas lie partially or completely within it’s boundaries: Buffalo Peaks Wilderness. The South Platte Ranger District is located east of the Continental Divide in the central Rocky Mountains and lies adjacent to the Denver metro area in Park, Jefferson, Douglas, Clear Creek, and Teller counties. A canopy of large trees provides a screen of shade that floats across the canyon with the moving sun. If slightly more leisurely exploration is your bag, definitely head into the Lost Creek Wilderness. Here is a link to the official Pike National Forest dispersed camping information – Found Here. The confluence provides access for fishing, kayaking, and trail use. Let’s face it, there’s really nothing like waking up to the sound of rushing water. One Love. . . It’s one of the closest national forests to Denver, yet it’s often overlooked. "Helper" engines from either Webster on the east side or Como on the west side of Kenosha Pass, assisted the regular engine in getting the train to the top, and then used the wye to turn around and head back down hill. It just sounds like the most gosh darn pleasant place this side of the South Platte River! Located within Morton and Stevens Counties in southwestern Kansas, the Cimarron National Grassland contains 108,175 acres. But, once you’ve acclimated to the soaring height, you’ll be rewarded with an eagle eye’s view of Pike National Forest from one of the area’s ah-mazing campsites. Covering more than 500 acres, this golf resort encompasses a mile-long spring fed lake with a private beach, ideal for … There's a reason the view from the mountaintop inspired the classic "America the Beautiful!" In the 1890's, Stephen Decker built a general store and later a saloon in this area. At 12,095 feet, Independence Pass is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the United States. Just to the north the road splits to Hall Valley Road (NFSR 120.C), Handcart Gulch Road (NFSR 121), and Red Cone Road (NFSR 565). All are among Colorado's 53 "fourteeners," peak. You’ll enjoy this scenic, mountain getaway near one of the nation’s highest mountain passes with superb views of Mount Evans and Mount Bierstadt. Well now you can get a first-hand vision by crashing at Crescent Mining Camp. Take a crack at hiking or biking on the nearby Colorado Trail, indulge in Read more... Kelsey Campground is leisure on ‘roids for all of you sporty campers. Sites are limited and first-come, first-served, so you’ll want to snag yours before heading out to enjoy crazy spectac Read more... Make your summer unforgettable soaking in the creekside sun, catching your meals, and living by the discourses of nature. Get pumped on fishing, biking, hiking and even horseback riding. This staging area is located approximately 4.5 miles northwest of Webster/Highway 285 off Park County Route 60. The narrow, dirt road traversing the canyon used to be the old Colorado Midland Railroad bed before the dam and reservoir were constructed. The Guanella Pass Scenic Byway, can be accessed from either Grant or Georgetown. and icy cool waters that are beggin’ to be fished. And to answer your question, yes, the campground is named after one such cool rock formation that looks like. Colorado. Perfect for ATV and motorcycle riders, Flat Rocks lets you ride your vehicles right into the grounds and connect up with surrounding trails. The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety during the COVID19 pandemic. The Hall Valley/Handcart Gulch staging area provides limited day use parking for vehicles and trailers for those continuing to Webster Pass and Red Cone by OHV. Stay the night or reserve it for the day--either way, your group is going to love you for finding such a prime location. Are you senses piqued? This is also a rock climber’s paradise, offering plenty of crags an Read more... River access? It takes about an 1.5 hours to drive to this area from Denver. The popular Centennial Bike Trail is just 1/2-mile from the campground, and the 5- Read more... Get high at Fourmile Campground! The smoky blaze of a campfire mixed with the hearty fragrance of aspen and spruce. In it’s past lives, it’s been used for housing and as a blacksmith’s shop and stables. Hike a section of the Colorado Trail, drag the kids to town to check out the South Park City Museum, or just chill at the campground a Read more... Feel the wind in your hair and the rush of freedom at Flat Rocks Campground, a rugged, woodsy destination much more exciting than its name would suggest. Whether you just need to know where to camp nearby or you want to plan a free camping road trip, we've got you covered. Planner. The Salida Ranger District is part of the San Isabel National Forest located near the towns of Salida, Buena Vista, and Poncha Springs. While not suited for the RV-savvy among us, Kirk Lake Campground is embellished with well-equipped campsite, totting toilets and drinking water. Feel free to stop by our visitor center on Highway 285 in Conifer to inquire about current conditions, find out what's going on, and get maps you may need to enjoy your visit on our District. Within driving distance are three wilderness areas; Buffalo Peaks, Collegiate Peaks, and Mt. Pike National Forest. These routes are very steep, narrow, technical, high clearance 4X4 only. Trails in the wilderness area are for foot traffic only and not open to motorized vehicles or bicycles. But none of that’s a problem, right? Reservable campsites and first come, first served campites. 50 Reviews #5 of 18 things to do in Fairplay. Jefferson Lake Recreation Area is a popular area for camping, picnicking, fishing, and hiking. And since the campground is esse Read more... Devil’s Head Campground is a hugely popular landmark destination known for its cool rock formations. Camping is only allowed in developed campgrounds in the Turquoise Lake Area. Hall Valley Campground is considered one of the five best camp spots in Colorado—and we can see why. Like Blue Mountain Campground, you’ll be catching your breath while pitching-up your well-insulated tent at one of the area’s fourteen campsites. Please call 1-877-444 -6777 or go to www.recreation.gov  to make reservations. The south side of the Byway is located on the Pike National Forest/South Platte Ranger District and provides access to several hiking trails: Geneva Creek Trail (#697), Whiteside Trail (#697.A), Threemile Trail (#635), Burning Bear Trail (#601), Abyss Lake Trail (#602) South Park Trail (#600), Rosalie Trail (#603) and Bierstadt Trail (#711). The north side of the byway is located on the Arapaho National Forest/Clear Creek Ranger District and provides access to hiking trails including Silver Dale Townsite Historic District, and Silver Dollar Lake Trail (#79). ALERT: Many Campgrounds around Turquoise Lake and all campgrounds down the Halfmoon Creek road (FSR 110) on the #LeadvilleRD will not open for Memorial Day weekend (2019) as planned. Pike National Forest: Woodland Park Access this area either from Mt. Took a spontaneous trip over Labor Day weekend with no lodging plans, just the intent to find a great spot for dispersed camping. On either side of Twin Lakes rise fourteeners such as Mt. Jefferson Lake Recreation Area is a fee area managed by concessionaire located northwest of Jefferson off US Highway 285. From the Mount Massive Trailhead, visitors can access the beautiful Mount Massive Wilderness. Located on left side of street. Detailed descriptions of campgrounds in the Pike National Forest. Electrical hookup. 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