Dispersed Camping Near Lake City / Handies

[sieggy80305]

I have group that's doing Handies, Sunshine and Redcloud in the middle of July. I was looking for suggestions on good spots for dispersed camping over a long weekend. Thanks!

[Conor]

there's a crapper in grizzly gulch or whatever they call it, across from the parking lot of Sunshine/Redcloud's standard trailhead. Plenty of "dispersed" camping spots to be had. Can also start handies from there.

[Sean Nunn]

Mill Creek campground, while not "dispersed" (I assume that is kind of code for "free") is primitive camping, first-come, first-served, and pretty cheap. Plus you can climb Sunshine & Redcloud just by crossing the road from the campground.

[huffy13]

Mill Creek campground, while not "dispersed" (I assume that is kind of code for "free") is primitive camping, first-come, first-served, and pretty cheap. Plus you can climb Sunshine & Redcloud just by crossing the road from the campground.

The cost is $7 but the vault toilet facility is kept clean, the trash receptacles are never overfilled and it is a great little campground. Very quiet and you are very likely to come across all kinds of wildlife. We had a moose walk right through the middle of the campground right at dusk.

That being said, there are plenty of dispersed places right around the trailheads for Grizzly Gulch and Silver Creek. Another beautiful area, and all three peaks can be hiked from here.

[RyGuy]

Mill Creek campground, while not "dispersed" (I assume that is kind of code for "free") is primitive camping, first-come, first-served, and pretty cheap. Plus you can climb Sunshine & Redcloud just by crossing the road from the campground.

The cost is $7 but the vault toilet facility is kept clean, the trash receptacles are never overfilled and it is a great little campground. Very quiet and you are very likely to come across all kinds of wildlife. We had a moose walk right through the middle of the campground right at dusk.

That being said, there are plenty of dispersed places right around the trailheads for Grizzly Gulch and Silver Creek. Another beautiful area, and all three peaks can be hiked from here.

Another vote for Mill Creek. We have the Fall Gathering there every year because it's close to Handies/RC/SS, has bathrooms, running water, clean, cheap and quiet.

-Ryan

[Matt]

there's a crapper in grizzly gulch or whatever they call it, across from the parking lot of Sunshine/Redcloud's standard trailhead. Plenty of "dispersed" camping spots to be had. Can also start handies from there.

As long as you arrive before Friday evening, this is the place to be. Even if you do get there Friday evening, it's worth taking a look. Why pay to camp?
IDK how big your group is, but there are plenty of dispersed sites around here on both sides of the road, a number of which are either large or adjacent to other sites. I've slept there at least seven times without incident.
If there are no spots, you can keep driving and there are a few sites scattered on either side of the road toward American Basin.
You may also check out the road to Cuba Gulch that leaves the Cinnamon Pass road a few miles before Grizzy Gulch. I slept in my car before hiking Half Peak, but I'd expect there are dispersed sites on this road, too.