Colorado - 2020

[longhorn1]

Looking for ideas on dispersed or USFS campgrounds that anyone would recommend around Crested Butte and Telluride. For Creste Butte the road up to Kebler Pass looks promising and around Irwin Lake.

We will probably try to get a couple of nights in at Town Park in Telluride, just for easy access to Telluride.

If you have a special place and are willing to share you can PM me and I will take the secret to my grave[emoji4]. Thanks, JD

 

[Foy]

Hey JD,

You must have figured I might have something for you and SuB to consider even though it's a goodly distance from Beaverhead County, MT.

Not far east of Crested Butte is Taylor Park Reservoir just below the Divide, so just west of Cottonwood Pass. The reservoir is at 9,330' normal pool and the NF campground right there (Lakeview?) sits 150-200' above it so it has a great view of the lake and the above-timberline Collegiate Peaks to the north. An added benefit is the presence of what I can only describe as a world-class crapper. I'm serious--the only time I've been there was on a road trip back to DEN from Lake Powell, UT, and my group of 3 grubby paddlers took the scenic route from Gunnison to Buena Vista which involves driving up to the lake, over Cottonwood Pass (then Camry rated--we were in a rental Chevy Caprice) and down the paved east side to BV. Well, nature called as we arrived at the reservoir and my buddy took a long time to take care of business. When questioned about it, he reported the cool alpine breezes coming up though the facility were so enjoyable he just couldn't leave in a hurry. Of course, the other two of us had to try, and don't you know Gordon was right! Frank and I are still talking about it 25 years later, and 15 years after the untimely death of our buddy Gordon.

This was mid-June 1994 so GOK what may have changed since then, but then the road from BV to the Cottonwood Pass (12,200') was paved and it went to USFS graded gravel on the west side of the Divide, then back to pavement down at the lake and the rest of the way to Gunnison.or Crested Butte. Great scenery up high, lots of rafting and fishing in the river below the dam, and on the way up from BV there is Cottonwood Hot Springs. CHS is developed with cabins, etc and is an alcohol-free place of business, and it looks like a very nice place to overnight and enjoy a long outdoor soak.

Hope you kids have a ball in Colorado next year!

Foy

 

[longhorn1]

Thanks Foy. Planning that area and need to dial it in. Thinking about Hwy. 82 across Independence Pass, camping near the grotto, and then into Aspen and down to camp and see the Maroon Bells. Have a few places South of Crested Butte to check out as well.

Hey JD,

You must have figured I might have something for you and SuB to consider even though it's a goodly distance from Beaverhead County, MT.

Not far east of Crested Butte is Taylor Park Reservoir just below the Divide, so just west of Cottonwood Pass. The reservoir is at 9,330' normal pool and the NF campground right there (Lakeview?) sits 150-200' above it so it has a great view of the lake and the above-timberline Collegiate Peaks to the north. An added benefit is the presence of what I can only describe as a world-class crapper. I'm serious--the only time I've been there was on a road trip back to DEN from Lake Powell, UT, and my group of 3 grubby paddlers took the scenic route from Gunnison to Buena Vista which involves driving up to the lake, over Cottonwood Pass (then Camry rated--we were in a rental Chevy Caprice) and down the paved east side to BV. Well, nature called as we arrived at the reservoir and my buddy took a long time to take care of business. When questioned about it, he reported the cool alpine breezes coming up though the facility were so enjoyable he just couldn't leave in a hurry. Of course, the other two of us had to try, and don't you know Gordon was right! Frank and I are still talking about it 25 years later, and 15 years after the untimely death of our buddy Gordon.

This was mid-June 1994 so GOK what may have changed since then, but then the road from BV to the Cottonwood Pass (12,200') was paved and it went to USFS graded gravel on the west side of the Divide, then back to pavement down at the lake and the rest of the way to Gunnison.or Crested Butte. Great scenery up high, lots of rafting and fishing in the river below the dam, and on the way up from BV there is Cottonwood Hot Springs. CHS is developed with cabins, etc and is an alcohol-free place of business, and it looks like a very nice place to overnight and enjoy a long outdoor soak.

Hope you kids have a ball in Colorado next year!

Foy

 

[Batman]

As of 2019 the road over Cottonwood Pass is paved all the way.