What is the Best Area of Colorado for Me to Boondock

[myway_1]

I'm going to be driving out of Kansas tomorrow. I'm looking for an area of Colorado that will currently have moderate temperatures (around 50 at night and 75 in the day), camping sites not too remote or rough (I'm in a Prius and still being a novice, don't want to stray too far from a town of at least 5,000 people) and decent cell signal for a Verizon phone without a booster. I will do some research on my own when I get settled down but am hoping someone can help me out with a recommendation for an initial area.

 

[rvwandering]

Here are a couple of nice spots about 30 - 50 miles from Woodland Park, CO. 6,500 people so there's a Walmart and other stores. Temperatures that you want but rain is in the forecast until Weds or Thurs so you might want to hold off for a while.

 Pike NF Dispersed Camping  39.02641, -105.472
  This is open forest with many places to camp. I think you should have phone service. We camped here and loved it.

  Antero Reservoir South Shore Campground  38.97617, -105.89551
  This is a small primitive campground with tables and trash can. It's on the shore of a little lake. Most people come to fish. Nice place to spend some time.
   We had good AT&T service. http://www.denverwater.org/Recreation/Antero/RulesRegulations/

  You should be able to get to both spots with your Prius.

 

[7wanders]

there are two urban boon docking videos on this channel... one in Denver and other is Boulder where the guy provides maps and video. you might find them helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH9PiYXhOi42ixtVfZjStVQ

also, seems walmarts in Denver and Boulder don't seem to be fond of overnight parking due to local laws. however, streets are plentiful for 72 hr parking if you find the right areas

not sure if you were wanting city or forest. as mentioned, there are lots of BLM and national forest areas for dispersed camping (you can actually go to ranger stations outside of Idaho Springs and ask for dispersed camping sites and they will help you locate them and explain the rules

 

[akrvbob]

Leadville, CO is perfect for you! Since it's at 2 miles high, you may want to adjust to the elevation.

 

[myway_1]

^Won't that high elevation be too cold right now?

 

[akrvbob]

No, it'll be cool but not cold.

 

[StarEcho]

Leadville is a pretty neat place.  My DH and I went up there this past weekend, Friday night to Saturday.  We were checking out a mining claim just outside of town, near Mt. Sherman.  Here are some pictures I took.


The claim was up a good bit higher than the town... I think it was around 12,000 ft.  Unfortunately, the snow was still where the claim is located.  


This town seemed to me a mountain biker's paradise.  Plenty of trails just for bikes.  Unlike the road from Buena Vista to Leadville where the bikes have to ride on the road and risk life and limb.


If you're interested in history this place is loaded with it.  Thought this was interesting and then went to the mining museum afterwards and they explained this type of structure.


Speaking of the mining museum.... it's more than that, it was really interesting.  We spent over an hour there and only left because my ADD (joke) was kicking in....

The weather was not bad at all.  Up on the mountain of course with the snow it was in the high forties.  In town it got up in the high 60's on Sat, very sunny.  It did get down to the mid to high 30's Friday night though.  It gets warmer every day though... we hit it that first Sat in June, and the season is just starting there.

 

[Van-Tramp]

Yea the places that come to mind is Leadville (Twin Lakes area) or Steamboat Springs (Rabbit Ears Pass). Both are at 10,000 elevation but daytime temps are acceptable. You will not find 75 degrees during the day unless you are at 9000+ elevation, and even then it is not guaranteed.

This is a great time to be up at Crested Butte (although it will be very crowded soon) thanks to the wildflower bloom coming up. Also 10,000 ft

Buena Vista has boondocking areas right on the river just North of town. It is 8000 ft. Surely it will be hotter, but what a cool town.

There are also many places down by Durango, but I have no experience with them myself.

check out Campendium.com, all the locations I speak of are listed on that website.