Rocky Mountain High...Camping ideas

[AndyBees]

So, 8 years ago and you never told me?

Wow! I just stumbled onto this adventure trip.

So, how's the New Westy doing? Hows working from home?

You need to bring that PS rack for me to rebuild it...

AndyBees
_________________
'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful.

[camit34]

[E1]

SW Colorado, nowhere else in the state can even come close.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?”

[andrewvwco]

[fleetwood41]

Southern Colorado Folks Here.

We've got our 87 2WD in great shape mechanically and we're looking for new camping areas with hiking or cycling that are within a couple hours of the Colorado Springs area.

We've been to these places:

Buena Vista (Up and Down Cottonwood Pass)
Leadville (Half Moon Creek Area)
Kenosha Pass
Tarryall Area
Up and Down Rampart Range Road

What are we missing?
_________________
1987 2WD w/ 2.5 Subi & Poptop Conversion

[MtnVan]

Central CO Rockies! Leadville, specifically. Been here for 14 years if anyone has ?'s about this area, I may be able to help. Yes, the passes are tough on the ole Van's. A few of my fave spots in this vicinity- Buena Vista area for hotsprings, Mtn Biking, Rafting Kayaking, Four Mile OHV recreation area is fun camping. Leadville area to beat the heat and crowds, Halfmoon gulch for mellow camping & fishing & gold panning/rock hounding. Easy 14er to hike: South Mt Elbert trail. Turquoise lake is a great spot to go with minimal crowds. Ryan's Performance Motors if you have any Van probs while exploring Lake/Summit/Eagle county area. Happy Vaning!
_________________
"Just keep climbing, Mr Frodo"
'87 Westy Weekender Auto

[zeekiel]

hey hey, summit county guy here.. looks like you were in my neck of the woods. Glad you had a good time.
_________________
85' Westy GL /w 2.1L Swap

[wontfalia]

[joetiger]

Great trip report! Thanks for sharing and it's always great to see folks having a good time.
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell

[FNGRUVN]

Hey Jason, glad you and your crew had a good time. Too bad our neck of the woods was on fire. I would have enjoyed meeting you all.

As for our neck of the woods, the fire was pretty bad. Every time it rains, the Poudre River turns black with all the soot and ash funneling down the mountains and down stream. Looks like a river of black coffee.

Let's try again next year. In the mean time, let's see more pictures.
_________________
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

[ranchero]

Great trip report! Look me up next year when you're in Salida!
Steve
_________________
'90 Westy Syncro EJ25 (money pit #1)
'96 FZJ80 (cheap by comparison^^)
'13 Golf R. Daily driver.

[wontfalia]

We're settled back in KY! We had an awesome 16 day trip to CO! Over 3500 hard miles and not a single issue with my Van. The Risons' van had 2 flats and that is it. A huge success! We did so much more than these photos even show. We have hundreds of great photos and I need to figure how to post other than the Sambas server. In fact there isn't even one of me in here. They were removed for no VW content. I shoulda got a VW tatoo or something. No biggy


After 24 hours of brutal KA, MO and Boulder CO heat we finally made it to around 9K feet. This is my buddy Ian feelin the goodness 30 seconds after finding our 1st campsite outside Allenspark CO

These next few are also that campsite. It was pretty good. Kids loved it.

Everybody was glad to be on Colorado soil

Spread out and making ourselves at home. We loved it here so much we stayed 2 nights. We spent 2 nights at the same campsite several times and it turns out, the next campsite was always better than the first and we wished we had found the new one a day earlier. CO was beautiful. We explored this place for a few days.

Next stop Steamboat Springs Condo for 2 nights (Thanks Ben!)

Next stop was here while making our way to a friends place outside Montrose

Avalanche campground was very nice. It was outside Glenwood Springs. It had a great stream and hiking trail. Good biking too. This is the road going back out. Again lots good pictures were removed. I'll have to figure out how to post them all somewhere. You guys would enjoy them.

This percolator was way too big and pretty much annoyed me every morning that I used it. It took forever to have coffee ready in my van. Mainly because the cold mountain water we used and the elevation. Meanwhile those other bastards were drinking coffee 20 minutes after getting up. And they have a weekender!!!

This area reminded me of KY a little. Some coal mining going on

This was the first place we had to pay for camping. We would have had to pay at Avalanche but they had some sites closed and waived the fee for the trouble.There was a reservoir here and it looked pretty refreshing after a day of driving. Turns out my 6 yr old cut her foot pretty badly swimming and ended up getting 2 stitches in Ridgeway. She was tough and kept a great attitude. Only set her back from swimming for a few days.

We finally made it to our buddies place outside Montrose. They have a nice spread and we stayed there 2 days to let Annas foot heal some.
The Risons took off the 2nd say for the Ridgway Campground

Jeff took my family on a side trip the 2nd day to Telluride for some drinks and a gondola ride. Later we met his wife Lynn in Ridgeway for some more beers. From there Jeff and his wife Lynn took our kids home and Bianca and I went soaking in the Ouray hotsprings. Thanks guys!!!
This is Ian, Jeff and my wife Bianca

Leaving Jeffs place. Next stop Salida

Arrived in Salida where the temperature was outstanding

We camped at this guys crib for 2 more nights. We saw 5 or 6 vans in Salida. One of which I saw up on a rack. Salida was a nice town as well. We have so many good pictures of hanging out that I wish I could show you.

So we left Salida and headed to Mt. Princeton for a night. This place had to be the nicest place I have ever been. The kids loved it and I loved it for em!

My 3 year old boy rode his bike at least 50 miles while in CO

The Risons on the left. Lora, Ian, Quin and Ella. The Hawkins on the right. Bianca, Me (Jason) Anna and Ashton.

Good photo poolside of Lora and Ian

So Mt Princeton was really cool. We were able to use the facilities before and after check in. We used every nickels worth.

We left Mt Princton late in the afternoon for a campsite outside Buena Vista.

stopped to buy beer and while inside Ians van gets backed into. Broke the cap off and made a decent dent.

Decent camping outside Buena Vista.

We drank alot of good beers. I spent as much on beer as on gas. Beer was my gas most of the time. It helped me thru each day.

The kids were great and had a very nice time.

A little Kentucky van dancing going on here

Next and final camping spot was the Crags campground. This place was pretty nice. I wish we had one more day so we could have hiked up to Pikes Peak. We chilled here as our Colorado Vacation was coming to an end. Can't wait till next year.

We had a really cool trip. Thanks to Colorado, the vans and all the nice people that hooked us up. I'll let you know once I figure out how to post all the photos if you care to see them. They are pretty funny. We can't wait to return next year!
See ya,
Wontfalia
_________________
Don't break the law when you're breaking the law

[tschroeder0]

The Lotiss campground onthe west side of cottonwood pass is nice, when in Crested butte go through town, past Gothic and keep going up until you are almost at the top of the dirt road, watch on your left for a great camp site, one of many along that route.

It has been brutal here in the Boulder area, a fire today in town and very hot. I would stay out of FC period.

If you pm me I can get you directions to a great spot very close to Rocky mtn park but without all the people.

[fairweather]

So far on the western slope the fire activity has been minor compared to FTC and Manitou Springs etc. It is very hot for us though, supposed to hit 90 today at 8k feet. I would recommend camping at 9k feet or above to escape the heat though it is still getting down into the 50s at night so you're still going to need a good sleeping bag.

If you want to ride mtb I would avoid the front range and just get into the mtns. Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Aspen all have stellar trails and easy camping up high. Other places do as well I just haven't ridden there, the key with this heat is to get high!

I wrote a mini narrative for GWTWTLW:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=512772&highlight=aspen

[BillM]

No help on where to camp but my daughter has a hair dryer
and flat iron (opposite of curling iron) that uses Butane. The
hair dryer also uses a couple AA batteries. She got them
for camp a few years back but have now been put into
out camping gear. The flat iron thing also works great as
an impromptu clothes iron. I can't find where we purchased
them but they work pretty good when no power can be found.
_________________
Bill M
87 Westy

[wontfalia]

Locals input needed. Only 4 more days until our vacation starts. We're getting a little concerned about the Colorado wildfires. I'm worried about road closures and our genaral safety. We'll already be wingin it. At least my wife is only worried about where she's gonna find a small hairdryer that will fit in the van.
Should we head to Colorado as planned? Please advise

Wontfalia
_________________
Don't break the law when you're breaking the law

[Rocky Mountain Westy]

I say turn it into a hot spring tour. Here are some to research.

Strawberry Park
Cottonwood Hot Springs
Orvis Hot Spings
Trimble hot springs
Rainbow Hot Springs
Pagaosa springs has a place right in town, don't remember the name.

Most of these places are reasonable price and have camping available.
_________________
Van Cafe & Rocky Mountain Westy Inc.
www.rockymountainwesty.com
970-310-3441
[email protected]

The Splitzgauer build (when I have time to work on it and update the thread)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=497133

[wildenbeast]

Here's my recommendations...

Go to Wyoming! In particular, Curt Gowdy State Park. http://www.imba.com/epics/curt-gowdy-state-park

Camp in the National Forest just outside of Nederland (17 miles outside of Boulder). There is an easy access point where W. Magnolia Rd. intersects with the Peak to Peak Hwy. Good free camping and lots of trails.

Camp in the National Forest just outside of Frisco, CO. The Peaks Trail is right here and is super fun. Good first ride at higher altitude. Here's a photo of when we camped there two years ago;

I would also ride the section of the CO Trail in this area that follows Tiger Road; http://www.mtbguru.com/trip/show_static/10985-co-trail

Steamboat; Dry Lake Campground is great. Another good option is Summit Lake. Both are very close to some amazing trails.

Salida; I am assuming you are going here to do the Monarch Crest Trail? Camping here has endless possibilities...

I know plenty of people in Boulder that are originally from KY. I could definitely put you in contact with them if interested. They could show you some great trails.

Bill
_________________
- Bill, '93 Eurovan Syncro Weekender (2.5 manual ACU)

[wontfalia]

Our crew will be heading out from Louisville KY early June 30. We've been planning our trip and trying to figure out how to pack and what to pack. I think we've got it pretty much covered. I added a yakima box to throw the bulky stuff in. Things like swimming and riding gear. Hope the box doesn't tax the van too bad. Trying to pack as light as possible though. Got tons of good music on the IPOD and USB plus a box full of E KY Moonshine for those brisk nights. We'll be staying with old friends in Steamboat, Montrose, and Salida.
Keep a lookout for our crew! 2 vans 8 peeps. And we'll keep a lookout for you! Here is our itinerary:

Here is our rig:

_________________
Don't break the law when you're breaking the law

[Syncronicity]

Between Steamboat and the San Juans, put a day or 2 aside to stop in Glenwood Springs and enjoy Gold medal water fishing on the Roaring Fork River http://www.coloradofishing.net/gm_frypan.htm, Worlds Largest Hot Springs Pool http://www.hotspringspool.com/, Great white water rafting on the Colorado and Roaring Fork River and zip line park http://www.rockgardens.com/, and don't forget to hike to Hanging Lake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Lake. Then off to Fruita for some mountain biking. Don't forget to send a pm letting me know you will be in town Wow, I should work for the Chamber of Commerce
_________________
Tom, Juanita, Iggy & Abbey the Dirty Desert Dogs
2.1 L 87 Syncro
KD0ALU
________oo_oo
/ /__/___[_____\
I I======[]IIIII[]
()_)------()_)----)_)