Camping at Elbert and Shavano

[mupitch34]

Hey! This weekend me and one of my friends will either hiking Shavano or Elbert this weekend. The plan is to camp Friday night and get an early start on Saturday. I have read that you can camp at the Shavano trailhead. Can we camp at the Elbert trailhead as well?

[LURE]

for a fee

edit: which trailhead you lookin at?

[peter303]

The standard Halfmoon trail on the northwest side of Elbert has lots of free dispersed forest camping as well as a couple developed forest campgrounds. I expect the formal campgrounds to be fully taken the very popular July 4 week. Dispersed camping will be crowded too but doable.

When I drove by Elbert last weekend I saw a lot of snow above treeline. I dont see recent trip reports saying how much of that snow is avoidable or whether you still need snowshoes and microspikes. The previous hordes may have stomped a path for you.

[mupitch34]

I am planning the standard route. I read a peak condition report that said microspikes were needed, but not snowshoes. I read a facebook post that said they didn't even need spikes because the snow could be avoided, but I plan to bring microspikes and snowshoes just in case.
Are those campsites at the trailhead or near it? Is that dispersed forest camping at the TH and does that require a fee? I just ask because we probably wont get to the TH until 10PM so trying to figure out exactly where to go.

[Trentadue32]

Hi.
This won’t help in your planning but can you post where you ended up camping and how the conditions of the hike were?
We are planning on Elbert Tuesday and trying to make a final decision. Thanks so much and Good Luck

[LURE]

I am planning the standard route. I read a peak condition report that said microspikes were needed, but not snowshoes. I read a facebook post that said they didn't even need spikes because the snow could be avoided, but I plan to bring microspikes and snowshoes just in case.
Are those campsites at the trailhead or near it? Is that dispersed forest camping at the TH and does that require a fee? I just ask because we probably wont get to the TH until 10PM so trying to figure out exactly where to go.

camping at the trailhead is a forest service campground. up and down the road you should be able to find dispersed camping

[thebeave7]

I was up Shavano last weekend and other than microspikes no need for any other gear. I made the summit in tread-less shoes then skied the Angel. The normal trail is 90% clear and snow is easily navigated. For camping, both the roads to Shavano and Elbert THs have tons of free dispersed camping along it. The road to Shavano was very busy last weekend, probably because so many other places are snowed in still, but still lots of options.

Eric