West Campground recommendations in Central CO

[1cericks1]

We're looking at a week long trip during Sept 12 through 20th. Thinking of doing a loop, something like Golden-Eagle-Grand Junction-Ouray-Gunnison-Breckenridge-Golden (but not necessary to stop at any of those locations. We could take the loop down south and hit Durango and Pagosa Springs and skip Gunnison.

Basically I was hoping I could get some recommendations of great campgrounds/boondocking locations along that route. I prefer campgrounds with no hookups as they tend to be less crowded (so far the smaller state parks are my favorite).

I'll offer up some reviews of some of the Arkansas headwaters state park campgrounds. I've stayed at Ruby Mountain, Hecla Junction, and Railroad Bridge and would rank them in that order. Ruby is 2.5 miles back on a pretty bumpy dirt road, has good hiking, and is fairly secluded. Hecla is a takeout for Brown's Canyon, so get's busy with rafters during the day but has some hiking. Railroad Bridge is takeout for Numbers, just not terribly scenic at that spot. Thanks for the advice!
Craig

[mojo]

Here's a some of my faves.
Pagosa Springs-West Fork CG at the base of Wolf Creek Pass
Durango-La Plata Canyon just west of town
Silverton-Little Molas Lake

[COArgosy78]

Here is what I would do (and we have). Get the Colorado Road Atlas and Gazatteer. It shows all the 4 wheel drive and less travels roads everywhere in the state. You can find boondocking on most of them. It also will show the campgrounds in all areas. As you are driving thru an area, if you see a campground, drive thru it and see if it fits the bill. I can tell you that there are some nice places to camp up from Gunnison, around Crested Butte. One that we really liked was called Lakeview/Bighorn at Taylor Reservoir. It is a reservable thru ReserveUSA and I think is open thru September.

[Gene]

Ridgway State Park has both full hook ups and electric sites. It's a nice park and best to go there now because the fees will probably be increased next year. You'll be several miles north of Ridgway and some more north of Ouray.

We were just in Lake City. Wupperman CG south of town has sites along Lake San Cristobal, no hook ups, but there is water and dump station. Nice views. It's county owned. $15/night. Dump: $10. It's about 5 miles south of town via Colo. 149 and County 33. Lake City is 46 miles south of US 50 between Gunnison and Montrose.

Around Glenwood, oil and gas workers monopolize the campgrounds. There's one east in Glenwood Canyon that has difficult backin spaces and some reviews on the internet were very negative. Never stayed there, but drove through and didn't like the looks of it.

There's a campground south of I-70 between Eagle and Gypsum, River Dance. Check this site for reviews of this and others: RV Park Reviews :: Home Reviews of River Dance were mixed.

There may be a campground in Colorado NM, just south of Grand Jct. There are campgrounds on Grand Mesa and Jumbo CG has some electric sites.

Gene

[tphan]

There's a State Park in Fruita, just south of the interstate, on the road that goes up into the National Monument, west entrance. Pretty spacious and well-separated sites, I think it's on the Colorado River.

[Gene]

The state park between Fruita and GJ is also between I-70, the Colorado R., and the railroad. Reported to be noisy. The state Welcome Centers at Fruita and Eagle have free dump stations.

Gene

[Gypsy Jo]

Here is a site I like .It gives you links to NFS,BLM,county,state,boondocking lots of good stuff. http://www.rv-camping.org|colorado.html

[Westfalia]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

We were just in Lake City. Wupperman CG south of town has sites along Lake San Cristobal, no hook ups, but there is water and dump station. Nice views. It's county owned. $15/night. Dump: $10. It's about 5 miles south of town via Colo. 149 and County 33. Lake City is 46 miles south of US 50 between Gunnison and Montrose.

Been there, really liked it! All sites are perched above the lake with views abound!

[COArgosy78]

GypsyJo - I couldn't get your link to work??? Wanted to ck it out. :<{

[Boondocker]

Originally Posted by COArgosy78

GypsyJo - I couldn't get your link to work??? Wanted to ck it out. :<{

The link has issues try this RV Camping

[COArgosy78]

Thanks GD! Looks interesting. ;>)

[Gypsy Jo]

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

The link has issues try this RV Camping

Thanks for helping out .I probably did something wong . It is agood site I can't load all the info but what I do get to look at is great.

[Boondocker]

Originally Posted by Gypsy Jo

Thanks for helping out .I probably did something wong . It is agood site I can't load all the info but what I do get to look at is great.

I don't think it was you. I tried to fix the link but for some reason the / between org and colorado kept turning into a | instead, which of course, simply does not work. Anyway, I was happy to help.

[Aerowood]

If you go to the Gunnison Area Taylor Park is beautiful. Boondocking places everywhere

[rollingbubel]

The KOA in Ouray is a nice place. We camped there when we had a winnebago a few years back. That whole area from Gunison on is unreal. You should really enjoy the area.