Colorado trip planning

[Paul84]

We’re taking a summer trip to CO in mid July and looking for some camping location ideas. We’ve never visited Colorado so we don’t have any first hand experiences to draw from. We’re looking to do a mix of kid friendly areas that are near or in town to take advantage of restaurants and kid adventure type stuff and some possible boondocking. We’re set up for off the grid camping but don’t mind an occasional crowded campground. So far we don’t have any agenda other than the date and the state. Well be traveling from Ventura, California so we’ll be stopping at a place or two along the way to break up the drive. Your thought and suggestions are greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance.
Paul

 

[longhorn1]

Check out our trip report from Sept/Oct and the link to our blog for the trip reports. Telluride Town Park was a great in town campground. Plenty to do in Telluride and free gondola up to Mountain Village. I also posted on the FWC Facebook site. jd

 

[Paul84]

Thanks John...well take a look. I also sent you a message.

 

[ETAV8R]

First off which part of CO are you planning on visiting?
I went with a Jeep group several years ago and it was an amazing trip. It was over one week and quite the adventure. We covered the Southwest portion of CO, specifically the San Juan Mountains. Here is a link from expoportal:
http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/82357-San-Juan-Mountains-Epic-Adventure-2012
On one day the group took the Silverton-Durango railroad. I opted for a sailplane flight out of Durango. Silverton has lodging but you can camp for free in many areas. After the CO portion one member had a reservation for North Rim. So three more days of exploring ensued. Got to see Lake Powell, Tuweep/Toroweap, and a rainbow at the North Rim.


For CO planning I do suggest two books. These have good intel on roads/routes and history of the areas traveled.


Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails, 3rd Edition
https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Colorado-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Trails/dp/1934838047


Colorado Trails Southwest Region
https://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Trails-Southwest-Region-Massey/dp/1930193076/ref=pd_sim_14_9?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1930193076&pd_rd_r=KXF3WGZFFZ1BMEJZ2689&pd_rd_w=9nBCj&pd_rd_wg=Dcdxd&psc=1&refRID=KXF3WGZFFZ1BMEJZ2689

 

[Batman]

Its hard to beat the area between Ridgway, Ouray, Telluride and Durango. Roughly bounded by the San Juan Scenic Byway.

 

[Paul84]

Its hard to beat the area between Ridgway, Ouray, Telluride and Durango. Roughly bounded by the San Juan Scenic Byway.

This looks like the direction were leaning. There’s a lot I’ve been wanting to see there for a long time.