Where should I camp in Colorado?
So you live in the Denver area, or perhaps you just moved here or are about to. And you want to experience the great outdoors - after all, the proximity of the Denver area to the vast selection of outdoor activities is almost endless. And even now in the early spring, it is not too early to start planning them, especially if you want to go camping. I do receive a lot of inquiries from clients that have relocated to the Denver area about where to go camping. These inquiries come from all types, adventurous, first timers, some wanting the experience to the nth degree, others wanting to get outside and feel like they are camping but still want some walls around them.
My intention is to highlight different ones to give you a taste of what is out there for all different types of campers.
We'll start with my entire family's all time favorite.
Turquoise Lake is located just past the quaint town of Leadville, Colorado. Now the thing about Leadville is, its up there. As in, altitude. 10,000 feet. So what does that mean? It gets cold. Really cold, even in the summer. But I am telling you, its is so beautiful that it is so worth it. Think drinking hot cocoa in the morning beside a campfire with mittens on, cold, in August. But with a little preparing you will be just fine. And the day warms up just fine.
There are a variety of different options at Turquoise Lake. A great place to check out what's available here (and other state owned camp sites in Colorado) is at reserveusa.com . Just search for Turquoise Lake and you should find the 4 campsites available - Molly Brown, May Queen, Father Dyer, and Baby Doe. My own family prefers the experience of tent camping, however there are sites here for pop-ups and full campers as well. I can't stress this enough, this is one popular place, especially on the weekend. Make a reservation, you really have to for a weekend. You can make a reservation here. There are times during the week that it is quieter and you most likely could arrive more last minute and there are a few first come first serve sites, but I wouldn't recommend it - its better to just make the reservation and know you are set. But I have seen it empty out a bit on Sunday afternoon and the Monday and Tuesdays have been light and quiet.
The sites are set up in a fashion that you are not really on top of your neighbors. I think it is one of the better thought out sites, and well maintained, as far as persoanl space & overall quality of the campground. You will will see that the campground has restrooms and running water available. Some people prefer the full camping experience of roughing it, I have found though that many appreciate having a few modern conveniences, especially if they are new to camping.
So lets talk about the lake itself. From most of the sites, the lake is accessible by a short 4 or 5 minute walk on a dirt trail. The times that we have been, the fishing has been great and it has been a good experience for first time fisher-kids. Some boats are allowed on the lake, (however I have never seen very many at once) or you can fish from the rocky shore. If you want to bring a boat, you need to check on requirements, if there are any.
So back to the cold. Make sure you pack to stay warm. Especially if you have little ones. My own preference for Turquoise Lake is July. I have found early June or late August and September can be pretty darn cold. In fact one year we did have some snow flakes for a little bit in August!
As you head out of town, save a little time to explore the town of Leadville. There are some great finds of restaurants and shops. Its worth the visit, and after camping for a few days, everyone is sure to want a meal with a roof over their head!
All in all, a great time. If you a first time camper, please remember that this is the Colorado outdoors. Do the appropriate necessary research to know what is and is not appropriate while enjoying our beautiful state. A lot of it is common sense but for a first timer, its important to know. Make sure you store food & trash appropriately, this is bear country. I have never personally seen one or seen traces while camping but it does happen. You also must discuss campground safety with children, do not let them wander and make sure they understand the dangers of a campfire and wildlife. Speaking of campfires, make sure you are up to date on local burn bans. It is not uncommon during a dry summer to have some campgrounds, counties, parks etc. to have burn bans. As for fishing, everyone over the age of 16 must have a valid fishing licence. They are inexpensive and available at many retailers and even on-line.
I have found that the trip to Turquoise Lake from the Denver area is approximately 2 1/2 - 3 hours. I vary the statement because it can vary greatly depending on traffic. If you are heading up on a Friday, down on a Sunday, or there is construction, it could be a little longer.
Happy Camping!
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