Late Season Colorado Camping

[stanley6.7]

Hello,

For those of you who rifle hunt Colorado late season, how are y'all going about it? Are y'all finding campgrounds that are still open in late November, or are y'all just staying at motels/hotels down the road and driving in daily?

My father and I hunted near Alamosa last year during 3rd rifle. We had brought everything to set up a wall tent and camp, but all of the campgrounds we e-scouted were closed due to the heavy snow in the area. So, we just pitched up in a nearby hotel and day hunted from the truck. We're not sure if this is the usual way of doing things or if it was just a fluke since south/southeastern Colorado got hit with a massive amount of snow at that time.

We're trying a different unit this time around with what seems to be better options for campgrounds. But, if there is a good amount of snow again this year which is likely, were wanting to see if it would just be better to find a motel/hotel nearby.

Thanks everyone,
Darrel

 

[Poser]

Most or all official campgrounds on Forrest Service lands will be closed in November. You can set up camp on FS, BLM land etc, though. The advantage to campgrounds are running water, electricity and bathrooms, but most are not set up for winter operations -they don't plow them, the water sources would freeze up and so would the bathrooms. You might also have trouble setting up a wall tent at an official campground unless they allow you to do so in a RV slot. The tent pads aren't usually big enough for a wall tent.

Realistically, if you have a wall tent, stove etc, you don't need a campground, you just need a place on public land to set it up.

 

[sodaksooner]

Look up "dispersed camping" Ive never actually camped in a "real" campground in CO in all the years weve hunted there. Where we hunt, the only advantage of that is a pit toilet and maybe a picnic table.

 

[justinspicher]

Find a spot big enough for your wall tent in the National Forest and set up shop.

 

[5MilesBack]

Normally we hunt where there aren't any campgrounds anywhere near us. Just set up camp in any open spot on FS/BLM land.

 

[sodaksooner]

Oh, and I think it may differ depending on which NF you are in but we can't be any closer than 100 feet to any body of water.

 

[stanley6.7]

Look up "dispersed camping" Ive never actually camped in a "real" campground in CO in all the years weve hunted there. Where we hunt, the only advantage of that is a pit toilet and maybe a picnic table.

Thanks for your reply sir. Though I am a little unclear still on how to find areas to set up camp. I understand how MVUMs work and how to find where we can set up camp legality wise, but with the snowfall and such making roads near inaccessible, how does one even be able to get his vehicle through the forest to find a clearing? Lol this was one of my issues last year. There was so much snow that most roads/trails had a couple feet of snow and we couldn't even get through.

 

[stanley6.7]

Most or all official campgrounds on Forrest Service lands will be closed in November. You can set up camp on FS, BLM land etc, though. The advantage to campgrounds are running water, electricity and bathrooms, but most are not set up for winter operations -they don't plow them, the water sources would freeze up and so would the bathrooms. You might also have trouble setting up a wall tent at an official campground unless they allow you to do so in a RV slot. The tent pads aren't usually big enough for a wall tent.

Realistically, if you have a wall tent, stove etc, you don't need a campground, you just need a place on public land to set it up.

Solid reply sir, thank you. I didnt put much thought into why official campgrounds close down but what you said makes a ton of sense.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Usually the Forest Service campgrounds close when the "campground host" leaves for the winter. They collect the fees, clean the restrooms and generally run the campground. After Labor Day, you need to call the National Forest Regional Office for the status. Otherwise as stated, find and open area and setup camp. The onlt thing I would caution is they all differ on campfires. Need to check local regs on that.

 

[patagonialuke]

Freecampsites.net is a useful resource for finding 'dispersed' camping where you can just pull off a road and set up your tent on public land.

As for the road conditions, you can often get intel by calling the relevant local office for the Forest Service or BLM. If there's a SNOTEL weather station nearby, that can also give you an idea of what to expect in terms of snow.

Snow during 3rd rifle is always unpredictable. Some years it's fully dry, but the past couple I've dealt with multiple feet; last year we ended up spending more time on our skis than our hiking boots.

 

[5MilesBack]

with the snowfall and such making roads near inaccessible, how does one even be able to get his vehicle through the forest to find a clearing?

I've hunted 3rd rifle enough in my distant past to expect heavy snow. I'm not sure I remember a 3rd rifle where we weren't pushing snow with our bumpers coming out. Chains are your friend. But ya, just setting up camp in 2 feet of snow is going to be a problem. In 1984 during 1st rifle we got hit with a huge storm that dumped over 3 feet. Luckily we had already set up camp before it hit. If the snow gets too deep, you'd probably be better off hunting lower anyway.

 

[NMNomad]

I was just passing through Alamosa a couple of week ago and was wondering the same thing. That is a beautiful area.

 

[intunegp]

Thanks for your reply sir. Though I am a little unclear still on how to find areas to set up camp. I understand how MVUMs work and how to find where we can set up camp legality wise, but with the snowfall and such making roads near inaccessible, how does one even be able to get his vehicle through the forest to find a clearing? Lol this was one of my issues last year. There was so much snow that most roads/trails had a couple feet of snow and we couldn't even get through.

If the roads aren't accessible I'm not sure why you would want to hunt or camp there. When things are reaching that point the elk are heading for lower ground where they can graze. You should probably do the same. That's not to say there aren't elk running around in the deep snow, but even if you plan to hunt there you don't need your camp in it.