Gateway campgrounds: Seven spots to camp at the doorstep of wild places
For some, the campground itself is the destination. As the parent of small daughters, this is where we are: car camping our way toward the backcountry.
As our children grow and become more capable, I want them to have immediate access to their Colorado heritage: 3.5 million acres of federally protected wilderness in 41 designated areas across the state. That’s why I’ve spent the last few years scouting the best campgrounds that can serve as gateways to even deeper and more remote experiences in the mountains. Grandview
This gemis south of Poudre Canyon, between theneotawilderness, Comanche Peakwilderness and Rocky Mountainnational Park. It’s past a few other campgrounds, near Long Draw Reservoir at an elevation of 10,220 feet. Grandviewis a small (nine sites) campground with access toneota Creek and La Poudre Pass trails.
$16/night, reservations not accepted. From Colorado 14 west of Fort Collins, go south on Long Draw Road, campground is on the left in 11.9 miles. Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest, Canyon Lakes District, 970-2956700, www.fs.fed.us/arp.
Cold Springs
Another tiny, remote, first-comefirst-served campground, west of Yampa. There are larger campgrounds and dispersed sites in the area, too, all with hiking access into the Flat Topswilderness, the secondlargest wilderness area in the state. But every one of the five sites at Cold Springs has views of the Flat Tops and Chinesewall, a massive cliff feature. The campground fills up on weekends but is slow midweek.
$10 per night, no reservations. From Yampa, take County Road 7/Forest Route 900 south for 16.6 miles. Medicine Bow-routt National Forests, Yampa District, 970-638-4516, www.fs.usda. gov/mbr.