View Full Version : Closest spot near Denver to hang?
I'm thinking about buying a setup and hanging this weekend as a test run. I'm looking for a suggestion for a drive-up spot I can take a front wheel drive car and hang my hammock--basically--right there. Maintained fireroad, not rutted, would be mandatory as I have very little clearance. I'm not looking for a car-camp campground, just a side of the road forest land site with trees and nice atmosphere.
Suggestions?
Weekend is getting close. Any suggestions?
Cannibal
06-26-2013, 10:26
Drive down Deckers Road (by Deckers :D). You'll find lots of little pull-off campsites along that road. With the nice weather here, it may be tough to find a car-access site unless you get there Friday afternoon/evening.
Drive down Deckers Road (by Deckers :D). You'll find lots of little pull-off campsites along that road. With the nice weather here, it may be tough to find a car-access site unless you get there Friday afternoon/evening.
How about the dirt road across from the Deckers Store? Or another dirt road that would be passable for a few miles off the main highway? That would be ideal. My little car can't deal with too many ruts but Dirt and gravel are fine...
Maybe just turn at the store, head all the way past the CO-67 and the Pine Creek turns that go to Sedalia and keep on the dirt for a while... Hmmm...
Have you checked out this site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72 BTSw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAng7kaQ!!/?ss=110212&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003705&navid=110130000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&recid=12403&actid=34&ttype=activity&pname=PSICC%2520-%2520Dispersed%2520Camping
I know of 2 places: One is about 20 minutes outside of Ned - Rainbow Lakes. There's a campground there but they also have some first-come-first-serve (FCFS) spots not in the campground that you can drive up to. I would call the ranger and ask about them: Boulder Ranger District: 303-541-2500
I just got back from camping there this morning. I got there using my Subaru Forester. You have to slow down to about 20-25mph when you get past about halfway up the road that turns off of Peak2Peak Hwy (look for the Rainbow Lakes sign).
The other place is about 20 miles north of Ft Collins - Red Feather Lakes. Same deal - there's a campground but they also have FCFS spots away from the campground that are isolated.
In both cases, the word is that if you haven't got a spot by noon on Friday, all the spots are gone for the weekend.
HTH
Here's a listing of those "dispersed" camping areas around Ned: http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/arp/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=28024&actid=34
Have you checked out this site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72 BTSw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAng7kaQ!!/?ss=110212&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003705&navid=110130000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&recid=12403&actid=34&ttype=activity&pname=PSICC%2520-%2520Dispersed%2520Camping
I know of 2 places: One is about 20 minutes outside of Ned - Rainbow Lakes. There's a campground there but they also have some first-come-first-serve (FCFS) spots not in the campground that you can drive up to. I would call the ranger and ask about them: Boulder Ranger District: 303-541-2500
I just got back from camping there this morning. I got there using my Subaru Forester. You have to slow down to about 20-25mph when you get past about halfway up the road that turns off of Peak2Peak Hwy (look for the Rainbow Lakes sign).
The other place is about 20 miles north of Ft Collins - Red Feather Lakes. Same deal - there's a campground but they also have FCFS spots away from the campground that are isolated.
In both cases, the word is that if you haven't got a spot by noon on Friday, all the spots are gone for the weekend.
HTH
Here's a listing of those "dispersed" camping areas around Ned: http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/arp/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=28024&actid=34
Awesome! Exactly what I needed!
I really just want to hang for a couple nights to make sure my back can handle it overnight and out of doors before I start hiking in. I would hate to find out my back is shot when I'm 10 miles from the trailhead.