Be prepared when you go to a dispersed campsite near Denver (or anywhere). The road then continues down the other side of Boreas Pass for another 10.4 miles to the town of Como in Park County. The road itself is built at a relatively gradual grade due to the technological restrictions of rail travel in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which makes the ride to the top easier than many other high alpine passes in the area. PhotographyOutdoors. If you’re camping on a budget, or simply prefer to not worry about reserving campsites, there’s plenty of free camping … There is almost an endless supply of free campsites in Colorado. And there are dispersed camping sights (please check the rules and regulations for dispersed camping). Drive on through Como and take the main road north out of town that follows Tarryall Creek. Pike National Forest is quintessential high desert landscape—all ponderosa pine, rolling hills, and weathered granite stacks that glow pink at sunrise. The Boreas Ponds Parking Area provides access for four permit holders per day to within 0.1 mile from Boreas Ponds. Boreas Pass is a scenic road near Breckenridge, Colorado. Roadside dispersed camping all along Boreas Pass Rd. It's a wonderland of rock and trail for a variety of activities including hiking, fly fishing, camping, rock climbing, trail running, and mountain biking. You can "dispersed camp" anywhere in the national forests. This is sometimes called dispersed camping, and is free, but does not provide amenities such as restrooms, picnic tables, fire rings, or garbage service. Food Storage & Camping: Effective May 2019 – October 2023, visitors camping in developed sites or dispersed sites must store food in a bear-resistant container or inside locked vehicles. In San Juan National Forest, visitors can find plenty of dispersed camping sites along the way. US Dept of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service Denver/Boulder, CO 325 Broadway Boulder, CO 80305-3328 Forest: Pike National Forest District: South Park Ranger District Description: Boreas Pass is a diverse site high in the Mosquito Mountains. Please view the Forest Order here. The last auto-adventure trail is the Boreas Pass tour. Just be cautious of side roads along the pass often leading dispersed camping areas. The Boreas Pass Road follows an old railroad grade that connected Breckenridge and South Park. Roadside dispersed camping all along Boreas Pass Rd. Boreas Pass Road (FR 404) Aliases: Tarryall Creek Another backcountry road heading into beautiful montane habitats, the Boreas Pass road is among the best places near Denver to search for highly sought after species such as American Three-toed Woodpecker and Boreal Owl (look in August, especially around the campground). Rock fire rings are available in some spots. Also, there are several designated campsites where you are allowed to have a fire (inside the designated fire ring), pit toilets, and picnic tables. Three major trailhead areas with multiple fire rings at each one, plus a couple dozen super scenic pull offs. Some areas have dozens of dispersed camping sites spread over the mountainside while others flaunt solitary sites, away from civilization. At a 10,000 feet altitude, there’s no wonder they call this the High Country! Along the front range there are large areas of national forest land (primarily in the Roosevelt, Pike, or Arapaho National Forests) that offer 100's of miles … Located just an hour from Fort Collins, this area is a labyrinth of forest service roads that offer endless camping opportunities. Flat spots and fire rings are the only things provided. Help us protect the area by observing these regulations: Use the privies for all human waste. Click here if you’re looking for information on RV Camping or National Forest Campgrounds in the Dillon Ranger District, that typically include the previous mentioned amenities. All of the following are prohibited: 1. It’s no secret that Colorado is host to some of the West’s best camping: from Rocky Mountain National Park to the southern San Juans, the mountain views are seemingly endless—though many of these areas fill up fast and require reservations and site fees.. The second auto-adventure trail is Weston Pass named for Algernon S. Weston and Philo M. Weston who, in the 1860s, lived along this route. Some are easy to go to via car while others require 4wd or AWD. Photo Credit: PhotographyOutdoors (iStock). Dispersed camping within the Eagle’s Nest and Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness Areas are subject to the following additional restrictions. Boreas Pass is a historic railroad route which once connected the towns of Breckenridge and Como that has been converted into a high alpine pass road. Blog, truck camping, Vancouver, Canada, USA, Denver, Colorado, immigration, Kanada, Auswandern, Leben in Kanada, Leben in den USA, RV, Reiseblog For those seeking access to the summit, the Georgetown/I-70 access is the best and closest plan. There is great camping heading east out of Breck on Tiger Road (the west side of Georgia Pass), nice spots on Boreas Pass Rd. There are some rules about how far off the road you can go to camp etc, but most forest roads have many places you can see have been used for camping before, and you can stay there too. The 16-mile tour roughly follows the old toll road into Leadville. Como was the south terminus and the railroad roundhouse can still be viewed there. Before 1859 this route was little more than a trail used by pack trains. Check in with the Dillon Ranger District for the Dispersed Camping Guidelines, and the Breckenridge Police Department when in doubt. To get there from Fort Collins, take US Hwy 287 … From a geographic perspective, Guanella Pass Road closes on the Georgetown/I-70 side at 0.8 miles from the summit and Bierstadt Trailhead. Kenosha Pass Campground is small but mighty. Elevation of 11,000 to 12,500 feet, slopes up to 60 percent, and varying aspects add to the diversity of microhabitats in the area. Along the pass there are some first come, first served "unofficial" camping spots. It used to be a railroad pass between Denver and the mining mountain town of Leadville (during the famous Colorado Gold Rush), but today it’s popular among travelers, people looking for beautiful views, mountain bikers and hikers. Photo Credit: miws16 (iStock). A backpacker’s dream, this family-friendly settlement is situated among Kenosha Pass, one of our nation’s highest mountain passes. Campsites are not designated but camping at a previously used site is preferred. Three major trailhead areas with multiple fire rings at each one, plus a couple dozen super scenic pull offs. Bumpy road but … One of our favorite spots is located at the junction of Deadman Road and Forest Service Road 502.How to Get There: The area is located up Deadman Road, northwest of Red Feather Lakes. Dispersed camping means camping outside a developed campground. ... Boreas Pass (12,126') Boreas Pass is a high mountain pass that rises to an elevation of 11,481 feet in Summit County. I believe all of them are in the national forest but they are not highly populated from the times I've been there. For the Park County/Hwy 285 side of the pass, the road is closed 6 miles down from the summit/Bierstadt Trailhead. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/georgia-pass-4x4-road This area is patrolled by Rangers and Summit County Authorities. Approved bear-resistant containers for backpacking can be found here. and amazing stuff all along Weston Pass. Regardless, dispersed camping has one … This is the "Boreas Pass Road" or FR 33. Dispersed camping or boondocking refers to free campsites that are available for you to use. Sedimentary rocks of differing ages, igneous intrusives and glacial deposits underlie the landscape. In its entirety, the forest stretches 1.8 million acres, with terrain ranging from deserts to meadows, canyons to mountains. Dispersed sites are abundant in this area. The national forest is also home to one of Colorado's more popular Fourteeners, the eponymous Pikes Peak, as well as several other summits above 14,000 feet in elevation Entering or being in the area with more than 15 people per group with a maximum combination of 25 people and pack or saddle animals in any one group. If you carry it in, carry it out. Boreas Pass. However, since these campsites are free, this often means that there are no amenities. From 1872 to 1938 the road was used as a narrow-gauge railroad and gained fame as the nation’s highest narrow-gauge railroad, running from Como to Breckenridge.