We're planning on heading to NM to visit family, but want to head back to Telluride or Ouray for a couple of days... Can any of you recommend any good campsites for families around this area (or the trails that surround them)? We're familiar with Ophir, Imogene, Corkscrew, and a few others... Just haven't camped there before.

 

Ouray has a nice KOA Campground just north of town.

 

A group of us will be there from Florida in two weeks. We plan on just camping along the trails. Will be checking this thread for places.

 

Along the trails.. Just about anywhere wide enough to get off the main path.. Check for burn bans and DO NOT CAMP at the old mine sites..

After a few days out in the backwoods, there's a City Campground in Telluride that's nice.. Hot showers, make sure you've got a good pile of quarters though.. They are Pay to use.. When you think you're almost done, go on and slip another quarter in just to make sure, or you pay another full fee to start it back up.. After 3 days camping on the trail it was WELL WORTH it for a good hot shower.. No campfires in the city park though..

On the far north end of Ouray there's a gas station that's also a motel and has some cabins out back along the river.. Once again, nice place to get a hot shower.. I think theirs are free to guests though.. Hot Tub there last time I was through too..

Further south near Silverton.. Animas Forks is kind of a neat place to camp.. Was pretty crowded when we camped there, but not noisy... When you look for a place to camp.. Walk the spot first.. We found a couple of spots that were gnat hell, but 20 ft away you wouldn't have a single one and didn't all night even after bringing out a small LED lantern..

For trails.. Check traildamage.com

Enjoy the trip..

 

National Forests (most of the Colorado high country) have camping in designated areas only. You cannot just pitch a tent anywhere along the trail. Some campgrounds near Ouray are Amphitheater, Thistledown, and Angel Creek. Some campgrounds near Telluride are Alta Lakes, Matterhorn, Priest Lake, Sunshine, and Woods Lake. South Mineral Campground near Silverton is one of my favorites. There are many others in the Lake City area as well. Most of the campgrounds fill up quickly on the weekends.

 

Lots of areas in the national forest out here do have free dispersed camping that is not in campgrounds, you just need to figure out where they are where you are wheeling...

 

I've stayed at Amphitheater, just outside of Ouray a few years ago. I liked it a lot...has vault toilets for the family if you're interested in that kind of thing.

 

Thanks for all the info. I've heard KOA is good, but unlike Texas, it sounds like there are lots of public land options as well...

 

USFS Rocky Mountain Region:

Dispersed camping can be in either designated areas or in non-designated areas. When camping in non-designated areas, the general rule is to be 100 feet from any road, trail or water source. Some areas in National Forests are closed to dispersed camping, so check postings carefully and check with the local Ranger District office before you head out into the backcountry. Please respect private landowners.

As of July 2, 2013, fire restrictions are in place for the entire San Juan National Forest. Restrictions at lower elevations are more restrictive than those at higher elevations.

 

Google Owl Creek Pass and camp up in West Fork. Beautiful country and TONS of camping. Little to no traffic and usually only locals. It is about 30-45 min from Ouray.

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