Colorado: Rocky Mountain RVing
Published: Monday, July 23, 2007
Colorado is, without a doubt, the ultimate camping paradise. From the deep canyons of the northwest down to the historic Arkansas River of the southeast, Colorado is filled with attractive camping grounds that offer pure and simple delightful experiences.A virtual world of wonders awaits prospective travelers to Colorado. Campers, in particular, should anticipate seeing a wealth of spectacular places once they get to step into the exclusive world of Pikes Peak Country. Still, to fully enjoy the experience, exploring Colorado by region is the most effective action to take.
The Regions
Colorado has seven general regions essentially divided into the Northwest, the Front Range, the Northeast, the Denver area, the Southwest, the South Central, and the Southeast zones. When choosing to visit any particular region, it is always best to settle for those where travel trailers, including RVs, are generally welcomed. Still, in the case of Colorado, this should not pose any significant problem since it is one US state where RV camping is a popular outdoor activity.
The Northwest Region
The region is made famous by several celebrities who have made this particular area of Colorado their home. The late country singer John Denver, writer Hunter S. Thompson, and tennis great Martina Navratilova are among such celebrities. However, what should particularly interest RV travelers to this region is the opportunity to see up close the world-famous Colorado River and the impressive canyons that its flows have produced through the decades.
Grand Junction is the largest northwest city in Colorado, famous for its fine wines and home to over 120,000 local residents. Famous landmarks that are worth visiting here include the Colorado National Monument with its awesome rock formations and Grand Mesa whose lakes are surrounded by pristine forests.
The region is principally a resort district as seen through its many upscale cities like Aspen, Winter Park, Keystone, and Breckenridge. The latter should prove to be significant as it hosts one RV park site although several other cities within the region like Clifton, Carbondale and Colorado Springs are known to host a couple of RV camp sites as well.
The Front Range
Essentially, the Front Range region is a mountain community but that has not stopped the area from becoming a highly urbanized center with Fort Collins leading the way with its rows of dine-in restaurants and entertainment complexes.
Fort Collins is known as the largest Front Range city and is also considered by some as the educational center of Colorado since it houses two major universities namely the University of Colorado and the Colorado State University.
For RV travelers, the cities in the Front Range region that offer great accommodations and access to local attractions are Central City, Fort Collins, and Estes Park, among others.
The Northeast Region
Local residents of this particular Colorado region refer to it as Colorado's Outback since it is characterized by vast grasslands contrasted by antique structures and establishments. Another attraction are summer reenactments of ancient gunfights, carriage parades, and heritage festivals.
The region also happens to best represent the outdoor orientation of Colorado with its many lakes that should prove to be excellent camping grounds and great venues for water sports events like boating and fishing.
Sterling is the largest northeastern city in Colorado and is also the site of several campgrounds where RVs are most welcome.
The Denver Area
Originally started out as a mining district, the Denver area is presently a fast-growing region in Colorado state full of activity as seen through the many restaurants, galleries, boutiques, museums, and clubs that line its downtown district. Technically, it is considered as the main commercial center of Colorado.
A good number of the cities located within the region offer great RV campgrounds. These include the towns of Castle Rock, Aurora, Brighton, and Denver itself. RV users will find them suitable holiday destinations not only because they are near many commercial establishments but also because of the natural attractions located within the grounds.
The Southwest Region
This is the region where many natural wonders exclusive only to Colorado can be seen. There are numerous hot springs scattered all around that seem to appear out of nowhere, flatlands that suddenly open up and create deep dark canyons, and distant ridges that appear to turn soft and vulnerable when the setting sun casts its remaining light upon them.
Man-made attractions likewise abound within the region, including abandoned mines set within the San Juan Mountains, and several ancient landmarks like the Anasazi Heritage Center, and the Mesa Verde National Park.
The largest city is Durango which also happens to host several RV parks, making it an excellent jump-off point to learn about the natural attractions of the region but also about the American Indians whose influence on Southwestern Colorado is quite strong.
The South Central Region
Equally known for its endless array of natural wonders, the South Central region boasts of high mountain peaks, silver lakes, and hillsides literally adorned with an incessant row of pine and aspen trees. Still, there are many other attractions within the region that are definitely worth seeing even as one passes through aboard a trailer van. The San Luis Valley, for instance, boasts of flatlands where farmers are known to raise their crops in marshy meadows.
Leadville is the premiere city of the region largely because it is acknowledged as the highest American city. RV-boarded tourists will be glad to know that the city is also home to several campgrounds as are several other cities like Antonito, Buena Vista, Cripple Creek, Cascade, and Canon City.
The Southeast Region
The Southeast region is perhaps the best representative of the early history of Colorado for it was the site where the first real American gold rush took place, when Francisco Vasquez de Coronado arrived here in 1540 to start the legendary search and kicked off the initial state evolution. Consequently, the region became witness to the first of the many American settlements when Bent's Old Fort welcomed the original wave of settlers.
Pueblo, one of the two large cities in the region, plays host to several RV camp sites, giving travelers the chance to learn about its history, including its early attempts at prosperity through ancient coal mining and ranching activities.
Colorado Cities
Every city in Colorado, scattered across its seven regions, is worth visiting not only for its many attractions, both natural and man-made, but also for the many RV parks that one can drop by in as part of an extensive travel plan. Some of the more prominent ones include Aspen, Boulder, Sterling, Castle Rock, Durango, Cripple Creek, and La Junta.
Aspen
Aspen is principally considered as a skiing area and with its numerous ski resorts, it does not really come as a surprise. Yet, the place offers more than just fun in winter time. During summer, Aspen can be equally enchanting since alternative activities also abound in the area. One nearby attraction, the Maroon Bells, feature several hiking trails amidst breath-taking scenery. The Independence Pass, meanwhile, beckons extreme hikers with its high trails that are open only for approximately three months every year.
Boulder
Boulder boasts of about 33,000 acres of land devoted primarily to trails of every kind as well as attractive parks, making it a suitable destination for many travelers aboard RVs. Yet, those are not the only attractions that the city can offer. Landmarks like the Pearl Street Mall offer great shopping experiences while the University of Colorado and the Naropa University, a Buddhist institution, provide diverse educational tours.
Sterling
Sterling is the largest northeastern city of Colorado and offers several popular outdoor activities like mountain climbing, hiking, and fishing. The latter should prove to be particularly exciting because Sterling is the official home of the North Sterling State Park where most anglers are known to catch one or two species of bass, muskie, and walleye.
Chimney Canyon, meanwhile, is perfect for hikers with its incredible-250 foot cliffs. Alternatives are the Columbine Park and the Overland Trail Museum which feature early Colorado sculptures and state history respectively.
Castle Rock
Castle Rock has many tourist destinations that RV riders will definitely want to see, including the Pike National Forest and the Castlewood Canyon State Park, famous recreational areas that are actually bonuses to the real attraction of the city, Castle Rock, which is a monstrous rock outcropping that looks like an ancient European fortress. Castle Rock city was named after this particular rock that offers an extensive hiking trail for many nature lovers.
Events to see in Castle Rock include the Elephant Rock Cycling Festival, the largest city affair that involves a bike tour covering 100 miles that begins and ends in Castle Rock. Another one is the Wine Fest at The Meadows where participants stroll across the park, randomly tasting various wine offerings as prepared from more than 20 Castle Rock wineries while being serenaded by an outdoor live music.
Durango
Acknowledged as the largest city southwest of Colorado, Durango is a rich outdoor land where RV travelers can engage in a wide array of fun activities. One is white-water rafting, which is the main event during the Animas River Day, an annual sports event held at three river venues namely Dolores, Piedras, and Animas. Alternatively, the three rivers are good areas for fishing ventures.
Durango is also a mountain biking village and local residents prove this during the annual summer event dubbed as the Horse Classic Bicycle Race where cyclists all across the US are known to participate. RV-boarded tourists should, however, find the Vallecito Reservoir particularly engaging since there are rental cabins in the area where one can spend the day in total freedom as the cabins settle on mountain lake.
Cripple Creek
A largely little-known Colorado city, Cripple Creek actually has several notable attractions that make it a place worth paying a visit to. Its Butte Opera House, for instance, is a live theater that features shows where the history of the town is presented in melodramatic fashion.
For outdoor activities, Cripple Creek has excursion tours to the ancient Cripple Creek and Victor Railroad where early rail transportation can be experienced. Another one is a mine visit to the Mollie Kathleen Mine where tourists are guided to an underground tour into the pit of the earth.
La Junta
Literally translated as the Junction, La Junta is one southeastern city of Colorado that is rich in state history. One will have a grand but educational time browsing through local artifacts found inside Otero Museum. Meanwhile, a rare collection of relics from American Indian culture can be seen at the Koshare Indian Kiva and Museum apart from Indian dances regularly performed within the premises during special occasions.
However, what should prove to be the more interesting venture in La Junta is a visit to the Comanche National Grasslands Picketwire Unit. Outdoor lovers, especially RV travelers, will find bird-watching and prairie hiking in the area truly enjoyable. Likewise interesting should be a hike through various dinosaur tracks that are located nearby.
Visiting Time
Many Colorado RV parks are open all year round making a visit to the Rocky Mountain state enjoyable at any given time. Nonetheless, summer is usually the more recommended season for visits in most Colorado areas because the more exciting state outdoor activities usually take place at around this particular time. The annual cycling event in Durango, for example, is a popular summer event. Ditto for Aspen that offers exhilarating summer events like the annual Independence Pass and Maroon Bells hikes.
Garden of the Gods Campground
For RV sightseers in search of a good Colorado camping site, there is one found in Colorado Springs called Garden of the Gods Campground. It has 65-inch pull-through's that are newly built, fully hooked-up, and powered by 30 to 50 amp electricity. Amenities include three restroom areas, laundry sites, two heated pools, wireless Internet, large-screen TV, a playground, pool tables, barbecue areas, picnic tables, and many more.
At the park, morning coffee is served along with donuts and pancakes. During summer, watermelon feasts and ice cream indulgences can be enjoyed, while dinners are often served under themed settings.
Nearby attractions that can be easily accessed through the campgrounds include the Seven Falls, the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, the Royal Gorge Country, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Florissant Fossil Beds, and many more.
Estes Park Campground
Located along Tunnel Road in Estes Park, the Estes Park Campground is known for its family-oriented camping areas set amidst a long row of aspen trees. There are about 68 camp sites in the area, including RV sites and powered by a 27 to 30 amp electrical capacity.
A swimming pool is available for use anytime, but the more popular activities engaged in here are fishing and nature trail hiking. The latter is usually done along Rocky National Park, one among the many attractions of the Estes Park Campground. The former, meanwhile, is more common at the East Portal Reservoir, another campground attraction where boating is also a prominent activity.
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