Colorado 2 hours max from Denver with some sort of Water Car Camping...

[SHTF]

Anyone in Denver have a favorite spot they like to go that has a stream, Lake, River? We love to go to Wellington but they recently jacked up their rates. Looking for somewhere not to far from Denver. may 2 hours max from Denver. The wife isnt much into backpacking and more into car camping so when I take her out it entails unloading the truck and setting camp on the spot with creature comforts. If you guys know a great spot. Love to hear about it.

I also like to fish and she likes to hang out by the water or in it on hot days. So water is a good thing.

Thanks in advance.

 

[6t4nova]

Go to Hall Valley and hike to Gibson Lake

 

[SHTF]

Nova how far in is the hike? Shes not much of a backpacker. So gotta keep it relative to her skill level. Id love to get her up to some amazing lakes but shes not ready for all that yet.

 

[6t4nova]

The hike is 2.4 miles, but you gain 1,544 feet of elevation. The road getting to the trailhead is a little rough, but not hard to get to.

 

[SHTF]

Yeah that would be out of her league. Unfortunately. Anywhere else?

 

[6t4nova]

Camp Dick is a cool area. 40 minutes to Estes, RMNP not too far, and there is a stream that runs right through the campground. Good fishing in it.

 

[dotman]

I think you need to broaden your horizon and go further then 2hrs. Take a weekend trip down to Pagosa Springs, leave the wife in town to relax and hit the trails and get some fishing in.

 

[bowinhand]

Cotton wood lake near Buena Vista, Jenny and Yankee doodle lakes near Rollinsville. Are you opposed to paying at a National Forest Campground and just want to pull off the road? if not then Braianard Lake is hard to beat but maybe hard to get a camp site. The camp ground at the boundry of Lost Creek wilderness. Tarryall res. has a campground and very good fishing and you could also try Antero, spinny, and Eleven mile near by.

Fly or spin fishing?

 

[camelcluch]

Red feather lakes is a nice area

 

[SHTF]

We are gonna head to rainbow lakes this weekend we thought it was closed for the year but bowinhand just showed us its open. This is one of our favorite campgrounds for car camping.

 

[LostInSpace278]

Halligan lake!! No electric, very few people at all. Take 287 to Cherokee Park Road. Drive to the middle unit, it is open all summer. Drive back to the lake there is a parkinfpg area. You will need AWD or 4x4. Great views, miles from people, but only 20 minutes from Ted's Place.

 

[SHTF]

Halligan lake!! No electric, very few people at all. Take 287 to Cherokee Park Road. Drive to the middle unit, it is open all summer. Drive back to the lake there is a parkinfpg area. You will need AWD or 4x4. Great views, miles from people, but only 20 minutes from Ted's Place.

So we went out to Rainbow lakes this weekend. We have gone there for years and this year we pulled up found an open spot. I started to setup camp so I could head to the lakes. Wife went to pay the fee but the Camp manager wasnt around. So she came back to camp. Just when we pitched the Sawtooth up the manager guy came by and was telling us we had to take it down. He stated that the camp was already paid for and that they where full. Last years we have come up there its always been first come first serve well according to this guy he had someone pay for the camp at 7am that morning and he just needed to clean it. So we broke camp. Then a guy in the next camp came by and told us they have had all kinds of trouble with this guy who runs Rainbow lakes. he said you guys should be the ones to get it because as the Forest Service website says its first come first serve and no reservations. We never have had issues like that before up there. So we ended up going and finding some dispersed camping area and setup there about 16 miles up the road by Beaver lake. Wasnt the best area lots of drunks and people shooting off guns at 1am in the morning. You could hear them hooting and hollaring. But we made do. LIP I will check out that spot you mentioned. we are always looking for good primitive campsites next to water. This sounds promising.

 

[LostInSpace278]

If you have clearance on your vehicle you can drive back to Northern Branch of the Platte and be completely alone. I offer my apologies, it is Halligan Resivoir, not lake.

 

[Trr15]

Red feather lakes is a nice area

+1 - the red feather lakes area is pretty incredible.

 

[bowinhand]

Never made it up there as I had get a new battery for the car this weekend. Sorry to hear about your trip SHTF, maybe you could complain about the reservation thing