[mtnbound]

I'm planning to take a trip from Denver to Gunnison and then maybe down alittle farther into SW colorado to the ouray/ silverton/ telluride area. I've never been down there and wonder if anyone has any good tips for places to stop along the way. I would like to camp the first night or two, then stay in a motel somewhere for a night and then camp again on the way home for the last night to break up the drive. Im off for a whole week plus a few days in sept, the week after labor day, so that's when it would be.

any help appreciated, maybe one day or night some site members would like to meet up and run a trail and do a group camp somewhere.. just a thought..

 

[medic11]

I use to live in Lake City, south of Gunnison, and it is great. Good camping in the area, lots of mountain passes and hiking. The soda shop is a personal favorite for some good ice cream. You can take Engineer pass from Lake City to Ouray too which is a really fun pass.

 

[mtnbound]

Yeah i need to research what trails I do/ dont want to do. My rigs is mostly stock so nothing super crazy. I guess I should do some of the main ones while im there though.

but, I also want to get into some more secluded wilderness, away from others if possible.

 

[medic11]

Yeah i need to research what trails I do/ dont want to do. My rigs is mostly stock so nothing super crazy. I guess I should do some of the main ones while im there though.

I did Engneer pass in a stock Jeep Grand Cherokee about 10 years ago. I imagine a stock X should be fine.

 

[NaboCRB]

My wife and I just got back from a week long camp trip in our Subaru around that area.

For camping near Gunnison/Lake City/Blue Mesa Reservoir, we stayed here:

Gateview Campground

Gateview Campground · Co Rd 64, Powderhorn, CO 81243

★★★★★ · Campground

maps.app.goo.gl

We were there midweek and only one other person was there. Free camping with a vault toilet. Beautiful spot right on the river.

For camping near Ouray, we camped here:

Dropped pin

37°54'45.4"N 107°40'08.8"W · Ouray School District R-1, CO

Ouray School District R-1, CO

maps.app.goo.gl

Beautiful open field at the base of Red Mountain. I imagine it will be pretty darn cold at this spot by September. We made it to this spot just fine in our Forester, although the Jeeps and Tacomas coming off the mountain gave us some funny looks. So, definitely fine with Xterra.

 

[4EPHOMOPKA]

Take Cottonwood pass from Denver take 285 to Buena Vista. It was closed for two years and it improved a lot. Great views and you will end up in Taylor park. I like fishing there a lot. Visit Tincup. Just don't go over old Tincup Pass yet.
Lake City is very nice and ice cream is great. They used to serve Ann and Mann's ice cream. You can go to Creed . There is Alpine loop.
Slumgillian Pass along Cebolla creek is fun too.

 

[4EPHOMOPKA]

Lake San Cristobal near Lake City. If you keep going up that road along the lake you will get to Alpine Loop. And if you go to the left towards Slumgillian you will see the site where Alfred Pucker...you know.

 

[mtnbound]

View attachment 138222

Lake San Cristobal near Lake City. If you keep going up that road along the lake you will get to Alpine Loop. And if you go to the left towards Slumgillian you will see the site where Alfred Pucker...you know.

Well

thanks for 2 things:

the info on the spots, and, the history lesson on Alfred Packer! I had never heard of this and just spent about a half an hour reading about him and his escapades! It certainly lends some context to the land and times.

 

[4EPHOMOPKA]

Glad to be useful. If you have time go through small Pioneer museum in Gunnison. Packer was on trial in Gunnison but museum was absolutely amazing. They have a great collection of cars, Dodge brothers with star of David on it.
We do a lot of photography together and scenery is breathtaking. Sometimes car enthusiasts get caught to go to next thing, next pass. I was watching utube and there was Jeeper. He went through tough pass and entered Lake City. His remark was that nothing to see in such a small town, better go to the next pass. But he was super wrong. Oh, I remembered, there is free camping aling Cebolla creek up to 14 days. Let me dig in my maps, I will show you the spot. We saw huge herd of elk around there

 

[4EPHOMOPKA]

 

[4EPHOMOPKA]

As you see, I have notes. Restrooms but no water. And it is on the nice sizecreek.
Mason family wildlife area.

 

[BeardnBrew]

Well

thanks for 2 things:

the info on the spots, and, the history lesson on Alfred Packer! I had never heard of this and just spent about a half an hour reading about him and his escapades! It certainly lends some context to the land and times.

The movie probably has not aged well, but there was a film called "cannibal the musical" about packer that was made by the south park guys. Hilarious at the time, have not seen it in years.

 

[mtnbound]

Question:

I want to try some fishing if possible. I have a small fishing rod, reel type, no fly stuff here. so, can i do this, what bait or lures should i use and where should I buy a permit? is there just a "colorado" fishing permit, or is it more regional. I fished in FL but havent since moving here. thanks in advance.

 

[mtnbound]

Ok so at this point im pretty sure i want to do immogene and engineers pass, and maybe the alpine loop? not sure if ill have enough time for all three. not sure im up to black bear, it seems pretty butt clenchy.

 

[medic11]

Question:

I want to try some fishing if possible. I have a small fishing rod, reel type, no fly stuff here. so, can i do this, what bait or lures should i use and where should I buy a permit? is there just a "colorado" fishing permit, or is it more regional. I fished in FL but havent since moving here. thanks in advance.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife
You can get it at Walmart or any other sports store.
As for the fishing. With a spin caster I usually use a bubble float and fly. Woolybugger is a good fly for Colorado usually but you can check with a local shop and see what is good now. You can check the great teacher, YouTube, to see what you all need and how to set it up. You can also use spinner baits like a rooster tail. Be careful, you can really go down a rabbit hole with trout fishing in Colorado.There is a great fly shop in Buena Vista and I'm sure there is one in Gunnison that you could probably get some tips from for what to use and where to go. Have fun!

 

[IM1RU]

I did Engneer pass in a stock Jeep Grand Cherokee about 10 years ago. I imagine a stock X should be fine.

The Engineer part is fine, but the Mineral Creek part is not. OP - Do not take your stock rig down or up Mineral Creek. Take Engineer into Animas Forks, then up California, then down Corkscrew and into Ouray.

And I shouldn't have to say it, but no Black Bear for you.

Also if you end up in Silverton, the Mining Museum is fantastic!

The Fun Treks Book, their GPS tracks, and the Nat Geo paper map will do you right.

Air down, hold on, pay attention, and have fun.

 

[4EPHOMOPKA]

Fishing license you can buy in walmart.
What kind of rod you have? I only fly fish.
Best overall rigging for colorado is classic san juan worm as attractant fly and rs2. It's all in the proper weighting.
You can try spinning in Blue mesa, but spinning us not my forte so I can not speak to it. Taylor river is tricky as it has pools and shallow runs, depth always changing. Hermosa creek is nice in Lake City. Arkansas river is great fishing near Granite.

My advice try not to pack to much in one trip.
And on a cautious note. Hwy50 was closed for whole summer niw with I70 being closed due to mudslude dot reopend 50 as one lane road. It can affect gas stations in the area. Bring gas can.

 

[mtnbound]

The Engineer part is fine, but the Mineral Creek part is not. OP - Do not take your stock rig down or up Mineral Creek. Take Engineer into Animas Forks, then up California, then down Corkscrew and into Ouray.

And I shouldn't have to say it, but no Black Bear for you.

Also if you end up in Silverton, the Mining Museum is fantastic!

The Fun Treks Book, their GPS tracks, and the Nat Geo paper map will do you right.

Air down, hold on, pay attention, and have fun.

yeah im not going to attempt Black Bear until maybe next year with some other more experienced folks, I think imogene will be enough "fun" for me lol. thanks for the tip.

FYI its not totally stock, 2" lift and by then 285's. oem skids. few other odds and ends, but its no where near a "fully built rig". I also plan on new pads and maybe rotors, possibly a brake fluid flush by then as well, lol i want to be confident in my brakes.

 

[mtnbound]

Fishing license you can buy in walmart.
What kind of rod you have? I only fly fish.
Best overall rigging for colorado is classic san juan worm as attractant fly and rs2. It's all in the proper weighting.
You can try spinning in Blue mesa, but spinning us not my forte so I can not speak to it. Taylor river is tricky as it has pools and shallow runs, depth always changing. Hermosa creek is nice in Lake City. Arkansas river is great fishing near Granite.

My advice try not to pack to much in one trip.
And on a cautious note. Hwy50 was closed for whole summer niw with I70 being closed due to mudslude dot reopend 50 as one lane road. It can affect gas stations in the area. Bring gas can.

thanks for the tips! I literally have a mini rod/ reel, used it for fishing in shallows around my condo in the swamps of FL! I dont plan on doing a whole lot of fishing, but if im camped by a lake or river, the ability to cast out a few times would be nice.

to your point on not packing too much. I've already started going through my 4 bins of camping gear and pulling out only the good stuff that I know i will use. Im also looking at building a lightweight stove/ drawer set up on one side of the rear to help keep things organized and easy to access.

 

[Brunnie]

Also be aware that some waters are "Catch and Release", some are "artificial flies and lures only."