I'm flying into Denver on Saturday, 7/21 and plan to spend the next 4 full days exploring northern Colorado and hopefully climbing a few 14ers in the process before flying out of Denver again on Thursday the 26th. I've climbed a few easier 14ers in the past (Elbert, Handies, Belford, and Massive, as well as most of Sneffels before realizing my dog probably couldn't handle the big boulders near the top), but I'm not too familiar with the Northern part of the state and will be traveling solo, so thought I'd reach out with some questions here and see if anyone has any helpful advice!
I'll have a rental SUV with a small backpacking tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad, and I plan on mostly camping, and am looking for some tips on that:
(1) Recommendations on places to camp for climbing Grays/Torreys and Bierstadt? I've seen that there's a Guanella Pass campground, but looks like it's first come, first serve and I'm not sure how booked out it tends to be. I fly in later in the day so don't know if I'd be too late and miss all the spots. I'm totally down to do some backcountry camping too (or even sleep in my car), but it looks like there are possibly some restrictions along Guanella Pass Road, so if anyone has any pointers on that it'd be super helpful.
(2) Similarly, how is camping in Rocky Mountain National Park? There's a slight possibility I may attempt Longs Peak, and if so I'd like to camp near the trailhead to ease the super early start, but I again I'm not sure how likely I would be to get a spot at the campground near there. I'd be totally happy to just stay the night in my car at the trailhead, but from what I've gathered online it looks like that's more of a no-go in national parks and you need some sort of permit to do that? Basically, I guess I'm wondering what my options are if I get to the Longs Peak campground and there are no spots left.
Any answers or other advice on any of the peaks/places I've mentioned are so very appreciated!
Denver area 14ers solo trip- camping recommendations?
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lnh507
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Mtnman200
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Re: Denver area 14ers solo trip- camping recommendations?
(1) You can camp at the trailhead for Grays & Torreys, assuming your rental SUV can get up the road.
(2) For Longs Peak, try camping at the Meeker Park Overflow Campground. It's located on the west side of SH 7 at mile marker 11, across the highway from a picnic area. It's a short distance (2 miles) to the turnoff for the Longs Peak trailhead. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/rec ... ecid=28298
(2) For Longs Peak, try camping at the Meeker Park Overflow Campground. It's located on the west side of SH 7 at mile marker 11, across the highway from a picnic area. It's a short distance (2 miles) to the turnoff for the Longs Peak trailhead. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/rec ... ecid=28298
"Adventure without risk is not possible." - Reinhold Messner
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Ptglhs
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Re: Denver area 14ers solo trip- camping recommendations?
For longs the best place to camp is the boulderfield, but you need reservations and to pay. You'll also need a bear canister. Call ahead and try for a weekday reservation. If boulderfield is sold out try Goblin's Forest. It's further away from the summit than the other, but beats the hell out of a midnight start imo.
For bierstadt you can read the regs on wilderness back country camping but iirc you can camp anywhere in a wilderness at least 100' from a trail and 200' from a water source. You'll be in the mount evans wilderness for most of your time on Bierstadt.
For bierstadt you can read the regs on wilderness back country camping but iirc you can camp anywhere in a wilderness at least 100' from a trail and 200' from a water source. You'll be in the mount evans wilderness for most of your time on Bierstadt.
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rmd
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Re: Denver area 14ers solo trip- camping recommendations?
1) I've stayed at the the Guanella Pass campground with reservations (the last time was in 2015, although their policies may be different now).
2) If you don't mind sleeping in your car, you can try the actual parking lots at Guanella Pass. I did that for several nights last year and it was surprisingly quiet (and it also has an outhouse). If you do, use the upper lot. When I left there on a Thursday morning it was almost deserted, yet the lower lot was full with a lot of overflow parking by the side of the road.
3) I've been to Colorado 8 times. By far my worst experience has been going up and down the road to the Grays/Torreys trailhead (and I have a pickup truck with good clearance).
2) If you don't mind sleeping in your car, you can try the actual parking lots at Guanella Pass. I did that for several nights last year and it was surprisingly quiet (and it also has an outhouse). If you do, use the upper lot. When I left there on a Thursday morning it was almost deserted, yet the lower lot was full with a lot of overflow parking by the side of the road.
3) I've been to Colorado 8 times. By far my worst experience has been going up and down the road to the Grays/Torreys trailhead (and I have a pickup truck with good clearance).
