We have spent a fair amount of time in SW Colorado: above Cortez and Durango. Have not done Silverton. Also spent time at Taylor Lake area, Twin Lakes and Leadville. Looking for new places. We have never camped the Creede area and hope to start the summer there in a couple weeks. We will be on the road all summer til mid Sept.

We like to be up around 8k or higher. National Forest CG or dispersed camping prefered. Access to fishing and hiking trails desired. I just bought a rubber ducky (Sea Eagle inflatable kayak) so can do small lakes. Would appreciate any and all recommendations. Also, we are considering Grand Mesa but have heard tales of many mosquitos there. Anyone spent time there? Good fishing? Finally, in scanning the options, there look to be some prospects up around Steamboat Springs. But several of those CGs are closed due to pine beetle damage and dangerous trees. How does that part of Colorado compare to the southwest? Thanks, Bill

You said you have been above Cortez...did you get as far up as Cayton?
That's near Rico, and Matterhorn, above that is closer to Telluride. We liked those. If you haven't been around Silverton, South Mineral is very nice and there is some dispersed camping on the road in. I'm not into dispersed camping but I have seen quite a bit on the road that loops
around by Groundhog Reservoir and comes out at Dunton. We have been up to Grand Mesa several times and never had a problem with mosquitos, probably because it's always been very cool. But it is very damp up there so I can see that mosquitos could be an issue if it gets warm. Cottonwood Lake , out of Buena Vista is also nice and there is also some dispersed camping on the east side of Cottonwood Pass. Hope that helps a little.

Ed

As I said in answer to your post elsewhere, Marshall Park, a USFS campground west of Creede is nice.

If you're going to be traveling and camping in Colorado, you might also be interested in checking out the Colorado Division of Wildlife camping areas. It does require the purchase of a Colorado Wildlife Annual Habitat Stamp for $10.25, http://wildlife.state.co.us/ShopDOW/AppsAndLicenses/HabitatStamp/. If you are age 65 or older, you don't need to purchase this Habitat Stamp.

I've tried looking for the CO DoW camping areas online, but had no luck. However, if you want to take the time to go through all the areas, you can find the areas that allow camping in their State Wildlife Areas brochure, http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/733ED2ED-9DE0-422F-A3BD-09F344319831/0/StateWildlifeAreas.pdf.

Thanks Linda. I have the listing in the back of the CO fishing directory and have tried to find a way to sort it there or on line for camping specific info. I even called them and there is not easy way. But, I do plan to try using some of them. I see there are actually several NFS CGs in the Creede area. I somehow got to searching the wrong NF. We will be in that area later this month.

Anyone have more feedback on the scenic, fishing and camping quality of upper CO, around Steamboat? I will start calling some of the districts Monday, but nothing better than recent first hand experience. Getting way too hot in TX. Bill

Spent about a week at Palisade campground in Rio Grande NF and thought it was super but maybe beyond your target area. Is Trappers Lake Recreation Area in the White River NF too far? At the edge of Flat Top Wilderness it is a delicious place. But I would go back to Deep Lake campground, also White River NF, in a NYC minute. What you've heard about mosquitoes in Grand Mesa NF double it and you could be close to reality. They aren't as big or has hungry as the mosquitoes in Michigan but there are more of them. However, this forest has the best display of wildflower anywhere and I understand the fishing is outstanding. You might find the Steamboat Springs area to be too "developed" for your taste but it is beautiful country.

Have you been to Warner campground in Manti-LaSal NF? They are starting to re-develop a nearby campground named Oowah. If it is half as pretty as Warner, Oowah must to glorious. Don't know about the quality of the fishing but hiking is good.

IMHO, the problem isn't where to go but where do you find the time to go <G>.

Happy camping, Suzi

We stayed at the Difficult Creek Campground SE of Aspen. Most of the sites are separated from neighboring sites with trees and bushes.