Wanted to get some discussion going now that my family and I are back into the camping scene. So much has changed since we camped last in the state so I am just looking for new areas. Some of my favorites before we left for TX have changed a lot. Had some cool spots above Cottonwood lake, but a lot of them have been closed down for revegetation. And a lot of my other spots are closer to denver since that is where we lived prior to TX.

My goal is some new places I can get to dragging my pop-up, but the conversation can wander as it will to tent camping in spots you can only get to in a well prepared bronco. Prefer dispersed camping, but that generally means you got to get out there early and that seems impossible for us these days. Still often times I am willing to take the chance as opposed to the campground simply because I go camping to get away from people.

So what you go? Anything good near Woodland park? Canon City? Etc...?

J.D.

I'm pretty unfamiliar with this whole concept of "getting there first camping", so please enlighten me. Are the rules basically that whoever gets to the site first and establishes camp gets first dibs? I'm guessing this is a national forest type rule? What happens if you need to run in to town for something? Leave someone at your site or risk losing the site/your belongings?

Seems fairly simple when I type it all out.

You know, I've got a cheap tent in the basement and some flexibility in my work schedule. If there is a site you are particularly hankering for, I could always head up there on a Friday morning, throw the tent out, and "save" a spot for you. Just an idea.

You got it Frank. In most nat'l forest areas you can camp anywhere they haven't specifically restricted without paying a fee for being in an established campground. In some areas you do have to have a permit which usually ends up being $5-10 for your stay but that usually applies more to backpacking/backcountry travel.

I'm not familiar with that area but the Forest Service site has a bunch of different dispersed camping areas listed in the Pike/San Isabel forest. http://bit.ly/ouCyKU

You have the concept. There are two basic types of sites. Those you can reserve and those you cannot. All reserve spots are only in campgrounds, but there are many sites that are in campgrounds that are also first come first serve. And generally CG's are setup to be either all reserve or all first come first serve. All dispersed camping spots are first come first serve.

If you get there first, the site is yours. If you have to run into town, you generally leave your tent there and take any belongings of value with you. However, I have not once had any trouble with people stealing from my campsite. We often go ing or wheeling and are gone most of the day and return to an intact camp.

If you find a campground that you really like and want to stay there, make your reservations months ahead of time because it seems like they all fill up fast!

And Zack - I really appreciate the offer on reserving a spot for us, but I wouldn't ask you to do that. That's a lot of effort to ask someone else to go thru.

J.D.

My experience is somewhat limited. I've stayed in several campgrounds in and around Woodland Park and Deckers. I've also free camped up on Rampart Range Road. I've been with a group in a group campground just outside Woodland Park, probably my favorite because you avoid idiots and have great tables and a big campfire area.

Clay, we met my cousin up on Guanella Pass this weekend so we drove hwy 67 N. out of Woodland park and saw several campgrounds that looked descent. Then we took cnty rd. 126 out of deckers to Pine Junction on 285 and that is a pretty drive, if you can see past the wildfire remains. Narrow winding road, but pretty!

There has to be something south and west of Canon City. More rural so might get away from the crowds and have your pick of spot rather than settling for the last one available. (you should have seen the spot I got my pop-up into this weekend!! Cost me a leveling jack!

J.D.