Imagine this: Camping with no mosquitos. Camping with no summer vacation crowds. Camping without an obsessive mid-day heat wave causing you to sweat, or the constant application of bug spray, or the humidity of summer preventing you from sleeping. What you’re imagining is possible with winter camping.
As long as you stay warm, pick a good, sheltered location, stay hydrated, and prevent cold-induced injuries, winter camping will be a blast. Winter is one of the more popular seasons to take a camping trip, according to the latest American Camper Report. That same report also found that the country’s Mountain Region, the area stretching from Montana down to New Mexico, has the highest camping participation rate.
Fortunately for anyone looking to experience the best in winter camping, you can do so almost all-year round by going to the state smack-dab in the middle of the Mountain Region: Colorado. Here are six of the best places in Colorado for winter camping:
San Luis State Wildlife Area
A former state park with asphalt pads and over 50 camping sites, San Luis State Wildlife Area is a 7500-foot high dream for campers near Hooper, CO. Not only does it offer a beautiful view of the sunrise and sunset, but there are free electrical hookups. The downside is that there are no water hookups, shower, or bathroom facilities. You’ll also need to arrive early, as sites are first-come, first-serve. After camping here, consider driving out to either the nearby Great Sand Dunes or Zapata Falls
Mammoth Gulch
A slightly secret and often overlooked spot, Mammoth Gulch is a free campsite near Idaho Springs. The rough, dirt roads to get here necessitate a vehicle with four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, but once you’re here, you’ll be able to enjoy hiking, hunting, and wildlife viewing at over 9,000 feet in elevation.
Brainard Lake Recreation Area
Close to Boulder, Brainard Lake is a popular retreat for skiers looking to avoid an expensive resort and campers looking to experience their first taste of backcountry camping (overnight backcountry permits are required here). In addition to great camping, there are four trails, one cutoff, and an unbounded area for exploration.
Herman Gulch
Have a fever for winter backcountry camping? The flat terrain of Herman Gulch makes staking out a campsite a bit easier than in other locations. Just watch out for potential avalanche-prone areas and set up your camp low on the trail. It’s not unusual to see elk, moose, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep along the ridgelines or lower gulch. Another thing to keep in mind if you venture into Arapaho National Forest is staying on designated trails and wearing bright colors during hunting season.
Vasquez Ridge
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Elk Ridge Campground / Dakota Terraces Campground
A quiet spot near the Blue Mesa Reservoir, these campgrounds are part of the Curecanti National Recreation Area and are open all year-round, with amenities including dump stations, grills, fire pits, electricity hookups, drinking water, and an amphitheater. Not only is it a good area to camp because of the beautiful expanse of sagebrush. but it’s a good spot because its proximity to three reservoirs makes it a great area for bird-watchers, especially those eager to spot bald eagles in the winter.
How You Get There
In winter, how you get there is just as important as where you’re going. Just any car won’t do, especially when you’re taking your whole family.
Consider investing in a vehicle that’ll last long, can manage adventures in the snow, and won’t buck under the pressure of taking care of your whole family, like the Subaru Crosstrek. With its all-wheel-drive, heated seats, and ample cargo space, you’ll be able to keep your family safe and comfortably store all your camping gear.
But even with a great winter warrior like the Crosstrek, you’ll need to take some other steps so that your vehicle’s ready for winter. To start with, you should check your tire pressure as soon as winter’s on the horizon because tire pressure drops with air temperature, and driving with tires with an inefficient amount of tire pressure can lead to wear and tear that’ll eventually cause an accident.
While you’re down there inspecting your tires, look into getting snow tires so that your rides are even safer and accident-free. Round off your preparations by topping off your antifreeze, doing a volt test on your car’s battery, and change your headlights if they’re starting to dim. Finish off your checklist by tossing a fully stocked emergency kit in the trunk or glove compartment.
If you can brave the cold winter weather and head to one of the places listed above, you will be rewarded with possibly one of your most memorable Colorado camping trips to date. Just remember to take the necessities, drive safe, and stay warm. Enjoy your time in any of these beautiful locations, it’s likely you won’t see many other people during your trip!
