Camping Near Buena Vista

[4runninfun]

Looking for a good place to free camp. pref. not at chinamens most members of our group are ready to take a break from that trail. I've got a trailer so needs to be fairly open. any suggestions?

[jimfoo]

There are some places between BV and Leadville, or maybe between Trout Creek Pass and BV as there are lots of fairly mellow trails in there. There are also some mellow trails east of Chinaman that can be accessed from FR 187 by the Mushroom Gulch turnoff or even from Salida.

[Volcom]

Off of Cottonwood pass, past the pay Cottonwood pass campground, there is free camping in the NF. I camped up there last Labor Day weekend. It's a decent spot and you can get a trailer up that road. But there are tons of ATVs and dirtbikes in that area as well.

[mrladewig]

Just get away from the developed camping and you'll have plenty of options.

First off, there are plenty of places to camp around Trout Creek Pass where you can take a trailer. This is a popular hunting area, so be mindful of that if you'll be camping in there during that time. Wear blaze orange.

Cottonwood Pass past Cottonwood campground, Clear Creek Road past the reservoir, west side of Tincup Pass, Grizzly Lake, Hancock Lake, Halfmoon Creek Road past the developed campgrounds and the road that goes up the valley north of Shavano all have areas where you could camp alongside the roads.

But at the same time, there are plenty of nice established campgrounds in the BV area where you could easily park your trailer. The fees are not that high.

[coloboardin]

Go over Cottonwood pass, once on the other side you will come to Taylor Park Res. take a right, a ways up the road turn right on to Texas Creek... My favorite spot to camp! Haven't been there in a few years so I don't know how it is still. Storms like to sit in that valley though, just a heads up.

[4runninfun]

Thanks for the replies. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[JimhatTJ]

some nice places right off 315 down their