14ers.com

Someone on the 14ers.com Facebook group posted a pic of "No Overnight Parking" signs at the South Colony 2WD lot. I have no recollection of these signs, so I'm thinking they're new. (I was in the lot as recently as March and didn't notice them.)

This is a little puzzling - and a huge game-changer for a lot of folks. Anybody hear anything through the grapevine why the landowner is cracking down on overnighting here?

I'm pretty familiar with the area and can't think of an alternative even remotely closeby.

Yes the signs are new this year. There used to be just no camping type signs. They aren’t saying you can’t park your car here overnight, just that you can’t sleep there. At least that’s how I take it. The lot was almost filled last week at 3:30am. I’ve been here many times over the past few years and I was always of the understanding that you shouldn’t car camp here. I usually sleep in my car over at Horn Creek (15-20 minutes away) but the flat areas tend to fill up quick, especially on weekends.

Istoodupthere wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 7:55 am Yes the signs are new this year. There used to be just no camping type signs. They aren’t saying you can’t park your car here overnight, just that you can’t sleep there. At least that’s how I take it. The lot was almost filled last week at 3:30am. I’ve been here many times over the past few years and I was always of the understanding that you shouldn’t car camp here. I usually sleep in my car over at Horn Creek (15-20 minutes away) but the flat areas tend to fill up quick, especially on weekends.

It does literally say no overnight *parking*, though, and especially if they've switched out the signs to be MORE specific, that definitely makes me think this is a full-on restriction on any overnight parking there at all, in the truest sense.

But it's puzzling.

I respect private landowners handling things how they want, it's just I don't know what the alternate is for backpackers, especially, who don't have vehicles that can get to the upper TH.

I was there on Sunday 6/1. I assume every one of the cars there were camping up at the lakes. No cars were being ticketed when I got back. I wouldn’t worry about it unless we start hearing specifically that cars are being ticketed or worse

Istoodupthere wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 8:14 am I was there on Sunday 6/1. I assume every one of the cars there were camping up at the lakes. No cars were being ticketed when I got back. I wouldn’t worry about it unless we start hearing specifically that cars are being ticketed or worse

I understand where you're coming from, but I don't agree with that mentality. I think it's important to do the right thing regardless of being caught especially with bigger picture in mind. Clearly, the landowner felt there to be good enough reason to restrict overnighting - to the point of putting up even more explicit signage. Landowner would have every right to just close off the lot completely instead of going through the bother of enforcement.

MaryinColorado wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 8:47 am

Istoodupthere wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 8:14 am I was there on Sunday 6/1. I assume every one of the cars there were camping up at the lakes. No cars were being ticketed when I got back. I wouldn’t worry about it unless we start hearing specifically that cars are being ticketed or worse

I understand where you're coming from, but I don't agree with that mentality. I think it's important to do the right thing regardless of being caught especially with bigger picture in mind. Clearly, the landowner felt there to be good enough reason to restrict overnighting - to the point of putting up even more explicit signage. Landowner would have every right to just close off the lot completely instead of going through the bother of enforcement.

Totally agree. First step, no camping signs. When people are still camping in the lot, no overnight parking signs. When that's still being ignored, next step just closing it all together. Not surprising things may be headed that direction, but disappointing in many ways none the less.

^ or a fee to park, like St Marys.

There are also new signs saying not to park along the road. Of all the times I’ve be been there, I’ve never seen people car camping, trash, or people parking where they shouldn’t be in the lot. That’s just my experience though. If the landowners are indeed telling people they can’t park there so they can go camp, then that’s very unfortunate. I’d foresee more issues of people parking where they shouldn’t up the 4wd road and the 4wd road deteriorating even worse from the increased traffic. I guess that this would mean the route up from Cottonwood Creek would be used much more often.

Not surprised. More and more yahoos camping along the road lately. They have no intention of hiking the peaks... or maybe just Humbolt. Its more of a party to them. Last time I car camped some folks were up til 2am with a radio blasting and whooping it up. Now I pack in and camp.

mtree wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 9:40 am Not surprised. More and more yahoos camping along the road lately. They have no intention of hiking the peaks... or maybe just Humbolt. Its more of a party to them. Last time I car camped some folks were up til 2am with a radio blasting and whooping it up. Now I pack in and camp.

Yeah, it's kinda weird up there. My worst overnighting experiences have all been up at the SCL 4WD lot which is not at all what I expected the first time I was up there. Thought it was a fluke; not so much. Unpleasant the second time, as well. Slightly better the third time but people rolled in around midnight with radio blaring, and I'd swear their truck had ten thousand doors judging by how many loud door slams followed.

MaryinColorado wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 10:19 am

mtree wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 9:40 am Not surprised. More and more yahoos camping along the road lately. They have no intention of hiking the peaks... or maybe just Humbolt. Its more of a party to them. Last time I car camped some folks were up til 2am with a radio blasting and whooping it up. Now I pack in and camp.

Yeah, it's kinda weird up there. My worst overnighting experiences have all been up at the SCL 4WD lot which is not at all what I expected the first time I was up there. Thought it was a fluke; not so much. Unpleasant the second time, as well. Slightly better the third time but people rolled in around midnight with radio blaring, and I'd swear their truck had ten thousand doors judging by how many loud door slams followed.

Yup. Been there. Done that.

MaryinColorado wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 8:02 am It does literally say no overnight *parking*, though, and especially if they've switched out the signs to be MORE specific, that definitely makes me think this is a full-on restriction on any overnight parking there at all, in the truest sense.

But it's puzzling.

That's quite a walk to do Humboldt + Crestones + Kit Carson in a day from the 2WD trailhead, versus as a one-night overnight, so I hope they just mean "no sleeping in your car." It's still a bummer, though, and a reminder to roll in late, head out early, and not be a jerk.