Suggestions For First Colorado Area Trip

[AaronM]

It is time to get away from this Texas heat and we are trying to plan our first getaway to the mountains!!! This is going to be our first camping road trip so we want to find a great spot to stay so that we don't lose interest before we really get started. Our first local 'shakedown/what did we forget' trip was nice but you could almost touch four other motorhomes from our parking spot. Certainly no privacy and not really our style.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the Colorado area? We are looking for something with a great mountain view, trees, and something with a little privacy. We have a Jayco Seneca 'Super C' which is roughly 39'. Electric hookup would be nice but not a necessity.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

[ByeTheWay]

To stay cool, you need elevation, adding privacy is tough in the summer. Have you heard of Days End? It is a splinter group of the Escapees. Days End is constantly updated by its members and is a 700 page word or pdf file, published on line 4-5 times per year. I use it all the time for places like your looking for. Check it out. For what you get the cost is minimal.

[twogypsies]

I don't know how long of a trip you want but a close spot to Texas would be Ruidoso, New Mexico. Fiarly cool temps. Circle B RV has decent-sized lots and a casino in town if that's your thing.

Further north would be Eagle Rest or Red River, New Mexico - nice and cool.

South Fork, Pagosa Springs, Lake City, Durango, Gunnison, Buena Vista areas all would be cool temps. Ridgeway State Park is nice.

Check out these towns on campgroundreviews.com for park ideas.

[Duoglide1]

We do extended stays in South Fork Co. It's a short trip from Texas and not overrun by tourists. We went to Raton for a couple of days and are now in Eagle Nest Nm. After visiting Red River/Angel Fire & Taos a few days we will be off to Chama Nm then Durango Co for a week, then August-Sept in South Fork. Lots to do in Pagosa Springs/Creede etc. We then return to Texas for Oct and November. By the way nearly all those locations are about 8000' and cool.


2012 NuWay HitchHiker 363RSBDA, 2016 Ford F-350 Dually 6.7

[TonyDi]

We'll be in Breckenridge CO (Tiger Run resort) in August and Durango (Alpen Rose RV) in Sept. Lots to do in both places.

[Jim2]

Colorado has a lot of good options. stay away from the major cities and head up into the mountains. To be cool you want to be above 8000 ft elevation.
I second twogypsies list... South Fork, Pagosa Springs, Lake City, Durango, Gunnison, Buena Vista areas all would be cool temps. as well as Silverton & Ouray
My summer home is in South Fork, which has only 500 year round residents, but 3000 Texans here every summer, some in RV's, many 2nd home owners.

Unfortunately almost all commercial RV parks try to pack in as many rigs as they can fit and you have no privacy. Try state parks, National Forest Service campgrounds or drive down any NFS road and find a spot to boondock (officially called dispersed camping and limited to 14 days in same spot).

[Scottybdivin]

Aaron, we are going on our 1st RV TRIP to CO in Sep and we were looking for the same type of campground as you. We are staying several places within a 50 mi radius. One that may interest you is Junction Creek Campground just outside of Durango. I was surprised to find a NF campground with water and elec hookups. Gets good reviews and looks to be fairly private as many NF and BLM campgrounds are. It's just unusual to fing one with hookups. They're not cheap @ $34/ night + $10 for elec, and a 1-time $9 booking fee, My wife's senior pass brings it down to $30/night. That's 50% off the site portion. Have to pay full price for the elec.

We are also staying a few days at Priest Gulch Campground between, Dolores and Telluride. It was near full when I booked it a couple months ago. Must be a popular place.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Jim2

My summer home is in South Fork, which has only 500 year round residents, but 3000 Texans here every summer, some in RV's, many 2nd home owners.

Unfortunately almost all commercial RV parks try to pack in as many rigs as they can fit and you have no privacy. Try state parks, National Forest Service campgrounds or drive down any NFS road and find a spot to boondock (officially called dispersed camping and limited to 14 days in same spot).

Highly agree if you don't want to look at a mass of RVs parked next to you, stay in public parks. Some, such as the mentioned, Junction Creek, even have electric.

We've stayed at Williams Creek national forest campground at Lake City and West Fork N.F. at Pagosa Springs. We really like some of the sites at Haviland Lake N.F. north of Durango and at Silverton, we use South Mineral Creek BLM. For South Fork, we've used Big Meadows, Palisade and Marshall Park N.F. campgrounds. Taylor Park N.F. is another favorite in the Crested Butte area.

Jim2 - just wondering....since you live in South Fork in the summer, where's your winter hangout?

[Jim2]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

...
Jim2 - just wondering....since you live in South Fork in the summer, where's your winter hangout?

I've got a winter ranch out in the boonies near Las Cruces, NM that I use as a base camp. But I still do a lot of RV travels during the winter season; all the warm spots from southern Cal to south Tx.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Jim2

I've got a winter ranch out in the boonies near Las Cruces, NM that I use as a base camp. But I still do a lot of RV travels during the winter season; all the warm spots from southern Cal to south Tx.

Perfect combination!

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by AaronM

It is time to get away from this Texas heat and we are trying to plan our first getaway to the mountains!!! This is going to be our first camping road trip so we want to find a great spot to stay so that we don't lose interest before we really get started. Our first local 'shakedown/what did we forget' trip was nice but you could almost touch four other motorhomes from our parking spot. Certainly no privacy and not really our style.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the Colorado area? We are looking for something with a great mountain view, trees, and something with a little privacy. We have a Jayco Seneca 'Super C' which is roughly 39'. Electric hookup would be nice but not a necessity.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

Leadville would work - 10,000' and has many of the things that make for a great summer trip - Private Cg's Turquoise Lake, Collegiates just down the Road and Independence Pass for a great Day trip in the Toad.

When we need to get out of the heat and enjoy the need for a blanket at night this would be my first choice in Colorado for a quick trip.

If a longer excursion is what you need look into Ouray/Lake City/Crested Butte/Marble/and the San Juan's or something up near Steamboat Lake SP. Lot's of options you just need to get out and explore - IMHO - no bad choices.

BOL,

[AaronM]

Thanks everyone!!! Lots of really great suggestions. Now I have to figure out how to narrow them down and pick one or two.

Thanks again!

[Fushux]

Priest Gulch Campground outside of Dolores. You will not be disappointed. Not sure on reservations this time of year though. River runs right through the park, lots of shade, privacy and free firewood while you stay. Can't beat it.


Andrew

[WheelingOn]

Originally Posted by AaronM

Thanks everyone!!! Lots of really great suggestions. Now I have to figure out how to narrow them down and pick one or two.

Thanks again!

If I were coming up from Texas for the first time, having lived in Colorado and Utah for the last 20 years, my route would look something like this, if having to narrow things down:

Up through Farmington, Durango, Silverton, Ouray,
Right at Montrose, Gunnison (if time also CB), Salida, Buena Vista, Leadville, Copper Mountain, Vail, Glenwood Springs (gotta drive through Glenwood Canyon if you've never done so), south at De Beque, Mesa, Grand Mesa, through Delta, Montrose, Ouray, Silverton, Durango and south.

You'll be back for the rest.