StarryNight
Retired Colorado Chapter Leaders
Camping season is coming up fast! I for one am excited as well as in the dark about what really is "nice and available" out there in our own state!!
Colorado has 42 state parks (with a new one coming "on line" in a few more years). I was wondering if you have a favorite one (or two) to camp that you could share with our Chapter. Not all of Colorado state parks have camping available and there are some that offer only dry camping. Pictures/sketches and the PR stuff put out by the state are fine but sometimes having someone tell their side is even more helpful.
If you could share your fun experiences, what you liked about the camping facilities as well as what is available I'm sure some of us could benefit! I know I will!!
In the Denver area there are several parks that offer camping: Cherry Creek (CC)& Chatfield (CF) are the 2 Don and I are most familiar with. Both offer full hookups and group camping sites. They both have paved trails, bike lanes & water access. CC has plenty of shade trees (large cottonwoods) for most of their campsites, whereas CF does not. CC is near a major highway (225) but is actually quiet since the campground is a bit lower than the road plus the dam blocks a lot of the traffic noise. The new bath-houses @ CC are really very nice! They also have washers/dryers in each of the 2 new bath-house buildings. There is a grocery store about a mile from CC; for CF you have quite a distance to go (several miles, anyway) to get groceries. CC fills up pretty quick for the peak-season, especially weekends; CF is not as bad, even though it stays pretty busy. Both parks have always been well-maintained & clean (we visit for the day as well as for camping so I feel very confident about saying this)
I am lucky to be able to turn my computer on so as far photos go....without Don here to do it for me you are out of luck! But if you have photos of a campsite or camping area that would be great to add.
I hope this thread will be helpful to all as a good resource; plus, "staycations" are fun!
Monica
Colorado has 42 state parks (with a new one coming "on line" in a few more years). I was wondering if you have a favorite one (or two) to camp that you could share with our Chapter. Not all of Colorado state parks have camping available and there are some that offer only dry camping. Pictures/sketches and the PR stuff put out by the state are fine but sometimes having someone tell their side is even more helpful.
If you could share your fun experiences, what you liked about the camping facilities as well as what is available I'm sure some of us could benefit! I know I will!!
In the Denver area there are several parks that offer camping: Cherry Creek (CC)& Chatfield (CF) are the 2 Don and I are most familiar with. Both offer full hookups and group camping sites. They both have paved trails, bike lanes & water access. CC has plenty of shade trees (large cottonwoods) for most of their campsites, whereas CF does not. CC is near a major highway (225) but is actually quiet since the campground is a bit lower than the road plus the dam blocks a lot of the traffic noise. The new bath-houses @ CC are really very nice! They also have washers/dryers in each of the 2 new bath-house buildings. There is a grocery store about a mile from CC; for CF you have quite a distance to go (several miles, anyway) to get groceries. CC fills up pretty quick for the peak-season, especially weekends; CF is not as bad, even though it stays pretty busy. Both parks have always been well-maintained & clean (we visit for the day as well as for camping so I feel very confident about saying this)
I am lucky to be able to turn my computer on so as far photos go....without Don here to do it for me you are out of luck! But if you have photos of a campsite or camping area that would be great to add.
I hope this thread will be helpful to all as a good resource; plus, "staycations" are fun!
Monica