The Lowdown: Located near Leadville — Turquoise Lake offers a lot of different recreational activities to enjoy while camping along its shores. Watch for deer and bighorn sheep that navigate rocky peaks and boulders. Please take note of these campground rules. Farm Land with Mountain Views. Chatfield State Park is just 45 minutes from Denver and is one of the metro area’s most popular destinations, thanks to the opportunity to play on the beach, take part in a wide range of water sports, hike barbecue, view wildlife and more. Beautiful, epic, and grand, it has it all. Blue Mesa reservoir. Take your boat out on the lake and go just two miles south and you’ll cross the border into New Mexico. If you get hungry — the town of Grand Lake sits right on the north edge of Grand Lake and offers plenty of dining options to satisfy your cravings. Get him, Located in the former #EuclidHall, Bao Brewhouse o, Still have a few names to cross off your holiday s, It’s been a hard year for music. Please keep in mind that no fee means no cleaning or trash pickup, so for the sake of the forests, follow “Leave No Trace” principles by using existing campsites and campfire rings and packing out all your trash. Then just head west along US 50 past Monarch and Gunnison to reach Blue Mesa Reservoir. Head into the mountains along US 285 till you reach Poncha Springs. Campgrounds: Dotted along Blue Mesa Reservoir are many campgrounds giving you access to this beautiful reservoir. Elk Creek Campground is located on the North side of Blue Mesa and has 160 sites spread across four loops. 100% — 3 Reviews. … There’s nothing like falling asleep to the tranquil sounds of the water, and if you’re looking for the ideal spot to do just that in Colorado, consider one of these fabulous places to camp. It’s also a magnificent destination for flat-water kayaking and canoeing, and Pikes Peak creates a stunning backdrop. Why You’ll Love Shady Grove Campground % of the Hipcamps for your dates are already booked. Bill’s Mountain Cabin. Your email address will not be published. One of the most popular beaches in Colorado is the one you’ll find at Jackson Lake State Park. From these two marinas you are able to rent pontoon boats and kayaks if you can’t bring your own. The Lowdown: Blue Mesa Reservoir spans 20 miles and is filled to the brim with activities. There’s plenty of opportunity for hiking, camping, picnics, and water activities like boating, fishing, and swimming. Hiram’s Resort in Florida. With that in mind, here are 7 places to camp for free in Colorado. When you’re not cooling off in this high alpine lake, you can enjoy hikes in the surrounding area, including miles and miles of trails in the park, as well as horseback riding, golfing and four-wheeling. 🎅 Sandwiched between Grand Lake and Lake Granby, this reservoir is a good additional spot to visit if you’re traveling through the area or staying in the town of Grand Lake, which is right next door. (R. Cheyenne Mountain ResortThis mountain-nestled resort in Colorado Springs will keep you busy from dawn to dusk without ever having to leave its grounds. Grand Lake, the western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, is the state’s largest natural lake, making it an ideal spot for camping near the water. From these campgrounds, you can hike around the reservoir, paddle board, kayak and explore the surrounding natural scenes of Colorado. At Sunset Point there are 25 nonelectrical sites available on a first come, first served basis. Where: Lake Navajo is located in southern Colorado. Hike into the Holy Cross and Mount Massive wilderness areas, or … Check-out: 11:00AM. It includes a boat launch ramp, dock, tables, grills, vault restrooms, waters, garbage service and picnic areas. Willow Creek Group Campground has 35 nonelectrical sites and one group site that can hold up to 20 people which will need to be reserved in advance. Winter offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. He loves any excuse to travel and see the world. Restrictions: No camping is allowed in the Lake Agnes area. Be aware that there are actually two campgrounds: Molas Lake and Little Molas Lake. The state park is home to over 200 campsites, too. Located just above Rampart Reservoir in the Pike National Forest near Colorado Springs, Thunder Ridge Campground offers an ideal base for fishing and boating on the water, which is stocked with fish by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, as well as hiking and biking in the surrounding mountains. Facilities also include a marina,  a restaurant, and even a model airplane field with paved runways, frequency posts and field regulations for radio-controlled aircraft. Twin Lakes, located in Leadville, Colorado, are two naturally formed glacial lakes with the beautiful backdrop of Colorado’s highest mountain peak, Mount Elbert. Here in the Denver area, my backyard is the Rocky Mountains with all the adventure they offer. The town of Leadville is just a short drive away from the campsites and offers restaurants, history and other attractions to discover. If you don’t have your own watercraft, boat rentals are available. While on land, there are scenic trails for horseback riding, biking and hiking throughout the area. From there it’s just a few minutes before the lake comes into view. With access to Andrews Lake, a high-altitude tarn stocked with rainbow and brook trout, the Colorado Trail and views from Molas Pass, it’s truly hard to beat. Camping is available year-round and includes traditional sites as well as camper cabins and even winter camping with electric outlets in the marina parking lot. Just north of Silverton, CO, lies the South Mineral Valley which is reachable down a well maintained, and paved dirt … Please DO NOT cut or gather wood on the park. If you prefer to stay around your campground — take a boat out on Grand Lake or Lake Granby and water ski or just soak up the sun while navigating these beautiful mountain lakes. You’ll find a thick evergreen forest, towering mountains and a 1,800-acre lake as well as eight campgrounds, all sitting at a crisp and cool 10,000-foot-high elevation. Follow US 285 south till you hit US 160. Look out for our newsletters in your inbox soon. 3rd Night Free at Crown Reef Resort, SC is Open | Free Night at Beach Cove Resort, Florida | Winter Golf Package in Palm Beach, SC is Open | Up to 40% Off Carolina Winds Resort, 9-Day Southern River Cruise - Up to $5,800 off, 9-Day Pacific NW River Cruise - Up to $5,800 off, FL | Up to 25% off Compass Hotel Anna Maria Island, 4-Nt Bahamas Cruise on Celebrity Infinity. By subscribing I agree to the terms and privacy policy. There are 10 campsites, all of which include fire grates but there is nothing else in the way of amenities – no tables, no drinking water or trash service. Lake Navajo — Photo by Ken Lund via Flickr Creative Commons. Follow him on Instagram @Lukas_Crosby and on Twitter @LukasCrosby. If you’re looking for a fairly easy hike or bike excursion, the 12-mile paved Mineral Belt Trail loop starts in downtown Leadville, just four miles east of the lake. Just take I-70 west till you hit US 40. Loops A and D are reservable — but B and C are first come, first serve. There are a number of hiking trails that can be easily accessed from the campsites, leading along streams and into the high country, including longer treks into the Weminuche Wilderness and short walks to scenic overlooks. It also has a mini general store and restaurant/bar. Twenty six of the campsites are reservable and 17 of these campsites … The local marina offers speedboats, canoes and fishing boats for rent, while the village itself has an historic boardwalk lined with more than 60 shops, eateries, bars and art galleries. Little Molas Lake, located in the southwest corner of Colorado in the San Juan National Forest between Durango and Silverton, is a primitive campground that offers spectacular views of the glistening water and the surrounding jagged peaks of Snowdon, Grand Turk, Engineer and Twin Sister. If you can score a spot along the Commanche Loop or the Crown Loop, you’ll have immediate access to the banks of the river where kids can splash around when the water is low, fishermen can cast their lines and you can enjoy the gurgling sounds of the water. 671. $75/night. Campgrounds: Tucked along the north rim of Lake Navajo area three campgrounds in the Navajo State Park. Blue Mesa Reservoir. After enjoying the high alpine lake, you can even take the beautiful Trail Ridge Road back to the Front Range to finish your trip with sweeping vistas of the Rocky Mountains. Follow that north to Granby and then Grand Lake is just a short drive north up US 34. Lukas is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder and a writer and photographer at 303 Magazine. Emerald Lake in the San Juan National Forest, Colorado’s third-largest natural lake, is a 10-mile trek from the Pine River Trailhead near Vallecito Reservoir. Stevens Creek has 53 spots available spread across three loops — but only loop A is reservable. Bear Lake is another scenic campsite located inside Rocky Mountain National Park that is sure to please outdoor enthusiasts. Vallecito Reservoir is located east of Durango in the southwest region of the state, and is one of Colorado’s few large reservoirs (along with Chatfield) that blends the joys of camping with the opportunity for an extensive array of water sports. Of things to do, at about 10,000 feet research is editorially independent but we may earn a for! The Denver area, my backyard is the Rocky Mountain National Park that sure., swim, or even boat while camping the Denver area, stunning! Mile west of Denver near Leadville — Turquoise Lake is just a short two-hour from... Music around Boulder hit Copper Mountain then follow Colorado 91 till you see Chimney Rock and Colorado 151 a,! Hold up to 30 people and require a reservation hike around the Reservoir, board. 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