Shortly thereafter, make a right onto Road 50 and keep going until you find a spot. You can always camp low and hike high. Idlewild Campground and Robbers Roost Campground are two good options if youre looking for an established campsite with toilets nearby. Overall the views were gorgeous and we enjoyed it. Just 40-minutes outside of Denver, youll find a wonderful world of high-alpine adventures. Photos (235) Directions. If youre ever trying to meet up with people in the backcountry, they are a must! The following sections contain all the basic information you need to plan a free, dispersed camping trip near Winter Park, Colorado. Keep in mind, there is no winter maintenance on this road and it can be quite treacherous in bad weather! Visit Website. Drive on 40 for roughly . 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. The hike begins at about 10,500 feet and ends at about 12,000 feet for a 1500 To locate these campsites all you have to do is type in Jones Pass Road into google maps or your iPhone and it will take you straight there. Many people travel the road via snowmobile in winter. Flora, and Mt. From there, head east a My friend Austin and I hiked up to Mt Flora last year on what was probably the coldest day ever. Restrooms: No Water: No, although you may be able to pull water from the nearby creek. Established campgrounds include Pioneer Park, Willow Creek, and Gilbert Campgrounds. I have always loved the idea of camping and exploring the great outdoors, and your article has only fueled my desire to experience it for myself. At 11,370 Berthoud Pass crosses the continental divide. It is always important to check current snow conditions, especially in the Spring. If you are able to have a campfire, be sure to completely put it out prior to going to sleep or leaving you campground for any amount of time! (Please keep in mind the minimum distance for camping near water.). Several wooded campsites dot the area and are free to use on a first-come-first-serve basis. In fall, winter and spring, the trail is covered in snow, which makes it ideal for backcountry skiing and snowshoeing. Eventually youll reach an alpine basin with a parking area. Manage Settings Heres some fun-filled activities along the pass. Learn how to plan your route, create GPS files, navigate offline, and even print you own maps. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. I especially appreciated the detailed information you provided on the various camping sites in the area, including their amenities, pros, and cons. We had no problems while camping here besides random strong gusts of wind at night. Or if you want to head west (just north of Silverthorne), you can always go to the area around Green Mountain Reservoir which has many campgrounds and dispersed camping options, such as Cow Creek South, Big Green, Sugarloaf, and Horseshoes Campgrounds. Her mission is to get you out on your greatest adventure. K mountain. Please select a reason for flagging this item: 2023 Campendium Inc. All rights reserved. Skiers will enjoy climbing the mountain and skiing down the bowl. Jones Bay can be also be reached by car, but may be difficult to find. Its sister trail, Butler Gulch, is an all-time favorite hike (both summer and winter), and since they share a trailhead, I knew Jones Pass would be special as well. First-come, first-served. Unsubscribe anytime. If youre coming from Berthoud Pass on Highway 40 (Main Street), youll go 2.4 miles past the Winter Park ski resort. In Yosemite Valley, Upper Pines Campground and Camp 4 are available. The best part about Jones Pass is the incredible alpine camping. Road 72 offer mile upon mile of dispersed camping near Winter Park, just southwest of the town of Fraser. Snow tends to linger in many areas surrounding Winter Park through mid-June and the flurries can begin as early as September at many of the camping areas included in this guide. He's a Coloradan with a passion for camping, hiking, backpacking, and sunsets over Rockies. It takes about 40 minutes to drive to from Winter Park. Distance to Winter Park: 14 milesRestrooms:NoWater:NoCrowds: ModerateMap. Jones Campground at Squaw Lake. Please explore responsibly! Distance to Winter Park: 16 milesRestrooms:NoWater:No, but may be pulled from Meadow Creek/Meadow Creek ReservoirCrowds: BusyMap. It also makes it much easier to see and hear your neighbors. Web Visit website. Be the first to add a video for Jones Pass Road Dispersed Camping! the wing slows this car down a lot. You can continue along Road 50, turning onto Road 32 deep in this area and you will eventually make your way to Horseshoe Campground. Plus, geta free Carry-on OnlyPacking List! Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXv3XxJ2RsaYqbGgX135Wg/joinFollow me: https://socials.aaronrheins.com/#msfs2020 #a. Check out these fun activities in Colorado: What is your favorite campsite in the area? We pulled in around 7pm on Saturday evening and unsurprisingly all the actual spots lower down along the road were taken. There is also the Midland Campground adjacent to the dispersed camping area should a developed site better suit your needs. All of this beauty is within a 40-minute drive from downtown Denver. If you are looking for a fun, groomed, low-angle approach to alpine bowls, look no further than Jones Pass. There are plenty of sites available on the reasonable drive up that are on the left side of the road next to the river but they're all ground tents only. View profile. Merino socks and ankle-height hiking boots will suffice in most situations, and your feet will be far happier in insulated boots. Until at least May of 2022, Vasquez Creek will remain closed to dispersed camping. Theres a variety of options, including skinning the trail and skiing trees or making your way up to the low-angle bowls. At the end you will experience beauty and solitude that only Colorado can provide. Go through the town of Fraser, and just before you reach Tabernash, make a right turn onto Road 83. Nearby Grand Lake offers up water-filled recreation. About Us >. Sewer and water always on. Most of Yosemite's campgrounds close for the winter, but four remain open year round for hardy travelers, all on a first-come, first-serve basis (even the ones that require reservations during the summer). This is the essential info before you head out! Your email address will not be published. Yes, it is right off of the road and you may hear some noise from the highway and from the nearby train tracks. Dispersed camping near Winter Park is no different, and none of the dispersed camping areas in this guide require a permit or have any associated fees. Or, you can venture on the East or West side of the road and do out and backs. Would have liked to explore further. These helpful maps show all of the Forest Service Roads that permit dispersed camping, including a few we chose not to include. If those options arent enough to satisfy your needs, I recommend checking out camping near Granby, Lake Granby, or Grand Lake all to the north of Winter Park. Well start off with dispersed camping because here at Off Path Travels, we love to get away from it all. The area features a rustic camping cabin, fishing & boating on the Wapsipinicon River, and an on-site park ranger residence. Find a spot that fits your needs and enjoy! There are several more spots up here, although most of them are small and may require a small walk to get to. After nine . Some sites in the area have had to be cleared of large trees due to pine beetle infestations.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'offpathtravels_com-leader-3','ezslot_8',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-offpathtravels_com-leader-3-0'); This campground is located just north of Winter Park ski resort and south of the downtown area of Winter Park. Jones Bay is one of Lake Roosevelt's smaller, more rustic campgrounds. The park provides mooring buoys on two coves, a dock, an ADA trail, a Cascadia Marine Trail (PDF) campsite and 24 primitive campsites. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. For those looking for more solitude and a quieter dispersed camping area near Winter Park/Fraser, look no further than Country Road 50. At the end you will experience beauty and solitude that only Colorado can provide. Tips for making camp in the snow: Pick a spot that's sheltered from the wind and free of avalanche danger, then prep your tent site by packing down the snow. DMX. More Information: FreeCampsites.netApproximate GPS Coordinates: 39.899251, -105.806662if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'offpathtravels_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_3',193,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-offpathtravels_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Meadow Creek Reservoir has some of our favorite dispersed camping near Winter Park. While still technically a dispersed camping . Hi Anthony! Looking to find more dispersed campsites? Part of the allure of Vasquez Peak is the extensive wildflowers of the summer months. website belongs to an official government organization in the Be sure to let us know in the comments below if you have any questions and be sure to tell us about your trip! Would not recommend any rig longer than 22ft beyond the main camping area. Its also common courtesy to slow down as you pass any inhabited campsites so you dont throw a bunch of dust their way. With such excellent free camping, this area makes a great home-base to explore other areas. Location submitted by: Loving Every Mile. To get there: Take I-70 west to the US-40 exit towards Winter Park. Jones Pass Road is located on the south side of Berthoud Pass and makes for a stunning dispersed camping area near Winter Park. From simply driving to the top of Jones Pass to enjoy a sunset to a weekend of camping in some of Colorados best wilderness, Im an expert in Colorado travel. Thank you and glad you enjoyed the photos! Sites begin to appear almost immediately, although continue further back for more solitude. There were approximately 4 sites on the road up but they were more suited for vans or tents. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Guide to Camping on the Tour du Mont Blanc, Guide to Hiking from Aspen to Crested Butte, Guide to Camping on the West Highland Way, Guide to Camping on the Walkers Haute Route, The Ultimate Guide to the Coast to Coast Walk, The Complete Guide to Snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park, The Best Dispersed Camping Areas Near Winter Park, check fire restrictions at this website before heading out, Butler Gulch trailhead which features a beautiful hike, The BEST Dispersed Camping Near Glenwood Springs. The campground is mostly gravel and packed dirt, with not much vegetation, on the lake shore. The most popular spot here is right at the entrance to the reservoir. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock This means that the prime camping season will be over the summer months from May-September.