Looking for camping recommendations...

[salsashark]

Thought I'd see if anyone has any suggestions.

What we're looking for:
Preferably dispersed camping on forest land
Area to throw some clays and do some rec shooting
Would like to be within an hour of 1-2 14ers
Light 4-wheeling and hiking
Within a couple of hours of Denver

Our usual haunt in Pike National Forest is under a stage 2 fire ban which basically means, don't even think the word fire or Smokey will personally show up and shove a parking cone up your...

We were looking up in Grand and Summit counties, but I don't really like the idea of sitting in acres of pine beetle kill, praying that a dead tree doesn't take out our camp site.

Oh, and if you have a secret place that doesn't get over run, I promise to keep it on the down low if you PM me.

Thanks

[Sean]

San Isabel Forrest? The four mile area north and south of 285? I don't know if you can do shooting, but everything else is right there. If interested pm me and I'll let you know of some spots. Not secret, but not well known either.

[salsashark]

Pike and San Isabel are under the same ban

We usually camp down near Lost Park or Tarryll Resevoir.

[Sean]

Oh.....well then, nevermind.

[dm_gsxr]

Just contact the Forest Service. They'll let you know what fits your criteria in the area.

Carl

[salsashark]

That looks to be my next step...

Also, if anyone's interested, I just came across an old bookmark I had saved that has a ton of this information on it.

http://www.staythetrail.org/mvum/

[200sr20]

We always dig camping above Georgetown near Mt. Bierstadt

[Dr. Joe Siphek]

i've got a great spot, but no 14'ers are near it.

[JustSomeDude]

We always dig camping above Georgetown near Mt. Bierstadt

Guanella is definitely a good spot, and very close to the city. We even found open sites along the pass on the 4th... which was surprising. Just FYI... it can get pretty cramped (see/hear nearby campers) on busy weekends, and with hikers wanting to start early up Bierstadt.

Also, check out the Lost Creek Wilderness... it's definitely "out there", and with all the 4x4 trails, you can make yourself as isolated as you like. No 14ers as I recall, but some great hiking and off-roading opportunities.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fs...ail+(Segment+4)

Current restrictions are posted on that site - but definitely check with the Forest Service for more detail/clarification if needbe.

[salsashark]

We figured Guanella area would be pretty packed and I love Lost Creek area. We have a great spot up there that I can barely drag the pop up (aka chuck wagon) into.

Unfortunately the whole area's under a burn ban and I have no desire to listen to bitching and moaning all weekend about not being able to have a fire.

[Zach929rr]

If you go Guanella you HAVE to hit it during the week, and now you need to be north of the pass due to Park County's Nazi-like fire ban.

[JustSomeDude]

I have no desire to listen to bitching and moaning all weekend about not being able to have a fire.

Are there any areas currently NOT under a burn ban?

[Zach929rr]

Ugh just saw that Clear Creek is now in fire ban as of the 1st of July.

Lordy.

Looks like if you want a fire, you are going north to Routt Forest or southwest to Jackson/Montezuma county. Enjoy that.

[JustSomeDude]

If you go Guanella you HAVE to hit it during the week, and now you need to be north of the pass due to Park County's Nazi-like fire ban.

Honestly - I think reverse psychology is playing out as a benefit to Guanella right now. We hit it July 3rd/4th and had great luck. Everyone is so paranoid about the crowds that they may be avoiding it entirely (just my guess). Granted, the road got busy around 6am with everyone heading up to Bierstadt, but other than that the camping was not crowded at all - considering it was a major holiday.

Guanella may prove to be better than you expect.

We had a campfire - but never got any lip. I'm not proud of it, we were just unaware of the burn ban until we dropped down into Grant the next morning and saw all the "no campfires" signs. :-/ Totally our mistake.

[Doron&Katie]

We camped in Routt National Forest last weekend, no fire ban but was 190 miles from home.

[usmcab35]

i went up the week prior to fathers day to 11 mile resovior, down toward the springs, pretty nice area, not sure on the gun though, but worth a look none the less. I also have camped at rainbow springs by netherland, good times too.