Road Trip: MD to CO, Need Suggestions

[isdriven]

Hello from Maryland! My wife and I are planning a road trip to CO this July and I am hoping some of you Rocky Mountain guys can give me some advice on good camping locations. We will be there the week of the 4th and will be visiting the Summit County area where I use to live for short time about 15 years ago but, also hope to do a good bit of traveling and exploring in other areas outside of Summit. We will be in CO for about a week and hope to hop around and camp in different areas the first half of our trip and then find someplace to say that has nice accommodations the 2nd half before we drive back to MD. I hope to do some light off-roading and camping (nothing too crazy, got to drive her back to MD). A night or two someplace secluded and on a river would be ideal! I hope to do some fishing too! I’d also like to camp at least one night on a mountain top with little light pollution. I was thinking Montezuma/back side of Keystone or on North Star mtn. on the Alma pass near Breck but am total open to your suggestions as I am sure there are better locations. We will also be looking for a good place to camp in or near Summit that has facilities (bathrooms, showers, etc) My wife has never been to the mountains before so I hope to show her some of the beauty that CO has to offer. I welcome any suggestions and advice you guys have on where to go or stay! Thanks in advance.

 

[MasonCO]

First off, you are picking a busy week for your visit ;-) Not a big deal, but a lot of campgrounds and the 'dispersed' camping sites get filled up for the few days before or after the fourth. Just remember to factor that in as the light is fading and you are trying to find a place to camp, lol. Also, I am more familiar with the 'South Park' area, which is about 25 minutes south of Breckenridge, so I'll give you a few suggestions for that area. Hopefully there are others that can help you with camping closer to the Summit County area.

Anyway south from Summit County - You can take an easy 4x4 trip over Georgia Pass from Breckenridge, then head up to Jefferson Lake for Fishing. It's pretty secluded, but has a great backdrop and decent fishing. There is a campground at the lake. I think you can reserve spots online. When done, you could loop back over Boreas Pass into Breckenridge. Boreas is the old train route from south park to the gold mines, so it has a steady grade. Gravel/dirt, but is a passenger trail.

In the Fairplay area, there is another loop trail called 'Breakneck Pass/Browns Pass'. Easily accessed by stock 4x4s. There is a small stream up near the top of the pass, and quite a few dispersed camping areas. Generally, this area does not get a lot of visitors, which is why I like it.

For a 'nice' drive in the mountains that is off the beaten path, but not hardcore, another suggestion would be the Weston Pass Loop. Breckenridge to Fairplay, CO then over Weston Pass to Leadville. Leadville is one of the cool old mining towns that still has lots of history and old buildings. There is a forest service campground on the Weston Pass road.

 

[isdriven]

First off, you are picking a busy week for your visit ;-) Not a big deal, but a lot of campgrounds and the 'dispersed' camping sites get filled up for the few days before or after the fourth. Just remember to factor that in as the light is fading and you are trying to find a place to camp, lol. Also, I am more familiar with the 'South Park' area, which is about 25 minutes south of Breckenridge, so I'll give you a few suggestions for that area. Hopefully there are others that can help you with camping closer to the Summit County area.

Anyway south from Summit County - You can take an easy 4x4 trip over Georgia Pass from Breckenridge, then head up to Jefferson Lake for Fishing. It's pretty secluded, but has a great backdrop and decent fishing. There is a campground at the lake. I think you can reserve spots online. When done, you could loop back over Boreas Pass into Breckenridge. Boreas is the old train route from south park to the gold mines, so it has a steady grade. Gravel/dirt, but is a passenger trail.

In the Fairplay area, there is another loop trail called 'Breakneck Pass/Browns Pass'. Easily accessed by stock 4x4s. There is a small stream up near the top of the pass, and quite a few dispersed camping areas. Generally, this area does not get a lot of visitors, which is why I like it.

For a 'nice' drive in the mountains that is off the beaten path, but not hardcore, another suggestion would be the Weston Pass Loop. Breckenridge to Fairplay, CO then over Weston Pass to Leadville. Leadville is one of the cool old mining towns that still has lots of history and old buildings. There is a forest service campground on the Weston Pass road.

Awesome, thanks for the info!!!

 

[Flatulento]

Here are some good resources. Have fun.

TrailDamage.com - Map of Colorado Trailheads

Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee National Grassland - OHV Riding & Camping:OHV Road Riding

 

[isdriven]

Thanks, this is great info!

Man, you guys have so many trails! I really miss CO sometimes. There are 0 "official" trails in MD.

As of now, it looks like our trip may get cancelled as we are trying to buy a house this summer.