Car Camping at Guanella Pass / Bierstadt Trailhead

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MichaelWG
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Car Camping at Guanella Pass / Bierstadt Trailhead

Post by MichaelWG »

Hey gang,

Any issues with me sleeping in my car overnight at the Bierstadt trailhead? This is almost always my go-to approach with 14ers to avoid an early morning drive from Denver, but wanted to check before committing me and my friend to that this Friday. I haven't been active on the forums or followed 14er news very closely for the past year but I know a lot of new regulations have been popping up in various places (e.g. Mt. Evans, Quandary) so wanted to check whether things have tightened up at Bierstadt / whether I might have a ranger tell me I need to leave. Appreciate any input!

Thanks,
Michael
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mtree
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Re: Car Camping at Guanella Pass / Bierstadt Trailhead

Post by mtree »

Depends. I've done it with no issues. I've seen others get the boot... WHILE I was there! So I don't know what criteria they use. I think if you have multiple folks with you there's a good chance they send you packing. Pitching a tent within sight of the road will get you kicked out also, but I've seen others pitched further out, no fire, and with no hassle.

I was "checked" on twice in one night. Once shortly after sunset. Later around midnight as a "drive by". I was already asleep so no wake up call. The other times (2) I don't recall anyone checking on me, but they did check others. Even kicked out an RV one night.
- I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was blaming you.
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Trotter
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Re: Car Camping at Guanella Pass / Bierstadt Trailhead

Post by Trotter »

Search the forums, theres been threads about this before. But short version, if you just quietly sleep in car youll probably get away with it.
After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. -Nelson Mandela
Whenever I climb I am followed by a dog called Ego. -Nietzsche
MichaelWG
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Re: Car Camping at Guanella Pass / Bierstadt Trailhead

Post by MichaelWG »

mtree wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:11 pm Depends. I've done it with no issues. I've seen others get the boot... WHILE I was there! So I don't know what criteria they use. I think if you have multiple folks with you there's a good chance they send you packing. Pitching a tent within sight of the road will get you kicked out also, but I've seen others pitched further out, no fire, and with no hassle.

I was "checked" on twice in one night. Once shortly after sunset. Later around midnight as a "drive by". I was already asleep so no wake up call. The other times (2) I don't recall anyone checking on me, but they did check others. Even kicked out an RV one night.
What do you mean by "checked" on? Did they just shine a flashlight in your window or did they actually tap on the glass and try to talk to you? I'll actually be in my van so wouldn't be surprised if they give me more trouble than a usual car since van-lifers have a reputation for abusing stealth camping spots. I was planning to get there are 10pm and just go straight to sleep, though. Not like I'll be sitting there with my door open and lights on drinking beer and acting like I own the place.

Kind of a bummer to hear that they do this at bierstadt. I slept at the trailhead for probably 40+ 14ers and never had an issue, but I guess this one is right off the highway. Also feels like a tricky thing for them to enforce anyway. People do 14ers at all hours of the day. If I just don't answer the tap on my van door, who is to say I'm not out there hiking?

Any experience snagging a first-come first-served campsite at Guanella Pass or Clear Lake Campground? I'm not above paying for a campground, just didn't want to overcomplicate this.

Thanks again, guys.
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mtree
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Re: Car Camping at Guanella Pass / Bierstadt Trailhead

Post by mtree »

MichaelWG wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:03 am
mtree wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:11 pm Depends. I've done it with no issues. I've seen others get the boot... WHILE I was there! So I don't know what criteria they use. I think if you have multiple folks with you there's a good chance they send you packing. Pitching a tent within sight of the road will get you kicked out also, but I've seen others pitched further out, no fire, and with no hassle.

I was "checked" on twice in one night. Once shortly after sunset. Later around midnight as a "drive by". I was already asleep so no wake up call. The other times (2) I don't recall anyone checking on me, but they did check others. Even kicked out an RV one night.
What do you mean by "checked" on? Did they just shine a flashlight in your window or did they actually tap on the glass and try to talk to you? I'll actually be in my van so wouldn't be surprised if they give me more trouble than a usual car since van-lifers have a reputation for abusing stealth camping spots. I was planning to get there are 10pm and just go straight to sleep, though. Not like I'll be sitting there with my door open and lights on drinking beer and acting like I own the place.
Once they walked around and chatted - including with me shortly after sunset. Nice enough. I told them I was gonna grab some shuteye and get up at midnight for a full moon hike. They (or someone) came by again around midnight. They walked around with a flashlight shining in windows. I actually didn't start my hike until 3am that night. Tried to catch sunrise.

I'm a light sleeper so wake easily. The other times they drove around in car looking in windows(?) and another time walked around looking at "certain" vehicles... not mine. Couldn't hear any conversations so don't know what was said. Cars come and go all night so they may have been up more than I know. Not a great night of sleep up there.
- I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was blaming you.
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Ed_Groves
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Re: Car Camping at Guanella Pass / Bierstadt Trailhead

Post by Ed_Groves »

It sounds like a truck bed tent would not be acceptable then.
"Education is the process of moving from cocksure ignorance to thoughtful uncertainty." (Utvich)
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SkaredShtles
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Re: Car Camping at Guanella Pass / Bierstadt Trailhead

Post by SkaredShtles »

Ed_Groves wrote: Thu Sep 09, 2021 5:11 pm It sounds like a truck bed tent would not be acceptable then.
Correct.
peter303
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Re: Car Camping at Guanella Pass / Bierstadt Trailhead

Post by peter303 »

Guanella Pass campground had 3 openings the late August day I was there. But they charge money for camping. They are mile below the summit. There are three other forest campgrounds on the pass.
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