Camping Near Yankee Boy Basin 4th of July Weekend

[MichaelWG]

Hey guys,

Any idea how busy those campsites along the road up to Yankee Boy Basin would be on 4th of July weekend? They were virtually empty when I was there last year but that was late May so probably early season for most people. I'd be getting in that Saturday afternoon.

If that sounds like a non-starter, any other ideas for camping in the area? I'm not actually doing Sneffels or any of the other peaks up there so I don't desperately need to make that my base camp - it's just the first place that came to mind from past experience.

Thanks!

[PI Joe]

Not sure about how busy or popular those campsites are however there is dispersed camping along the Portland Mine Rd. It is off of US550 just one switchback uphill from the turnoff for Yankee Boy Basin. Right at the same pulloff is the entrance road to the Amphitheater, a national forest campground. The Amphitheater will require reservations.

[TheOtherIndian]

Piggybacking on this thread, have a few questions about the area -

1. How crowded the campsites at Blue Lakes are going to be for Jul 4th?
2. Is Blue lakes area wag bag mandatory or waste burial is an option?
3. I know there is a way to get to Sneffels, both routes from the blue lakes side, was just wondering if its a decent trail or if its all bushwacking and scree surfing.

Any info would be helpful. Thanks

[dwoodward13]

Piggybacking on this thread, have a few questions about the area -

1. How crowded the campsites at Blue Lakes are going to be for Jul 4th?
2. Is Blue lakes area wag bag mandatory or waste burial is an option?
3. I know there is a way to get to Sneffels, both routes from the blue lakes side, was just wondering if its a decent trail or if its all bushwacking and scree surfing.

Any info would be helpful. Thanks

Given that the lake is apparently still under snow pack, I'd wager there won't be too many campers overnight. I'm not aware of any area in Colorado that is wag bag mandatory, but places around the Maroon Bells and Chicago Basin are encouraging that. Just practice LNT. The trail from Blue Lakes to Blue Lake Pass is pretty good. There was one section right after the lower lake outlet crossing that was a little confusing a few years ago, but otherwise it was well traveled from what I remember. This is of course assuming no snow cover with may or may not be the case.

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/threport.php?recnum=6657

https://www.facebook.com/OurayTrailGrou ... 9127090622

[ltlFish99]

There is camping off ouray county road 7 .25/.5 mile before you get to the blue lakes trailhead.
I was there on Sat. 07/15. Road is snow free to the trailhead.
Trail to blue lakes is snow free for 1.5 miles.
Patchy snow for next .25 mile
Solid snow after that.
I turned around at approx. 2.25 miles at the stream crossing as people ahead of me were turning back just past the stream due to a rather large amount of avalanche debris that had covered the normal trail.

There is a substantial amount of snow on that trail compared to last year, as I was able to get to the lower lake last may 25, 2018 with just a little snow at the end.

Last summer the trail was clear to blue lakes pass in late June.

I will be trying to get to blue lakes again on 07/05 and will provide an update of conditions.

[TheOtherIndian]

Thanks dwoodward and ItIFish99. The FB link with pictures was particularly helpful. Guess we'll be looking elsewhere for July 4th weekend. Going with a couple of first time campers and don't want to lead them to less than favorable conditions.