Late Season Camping
Add to Del.icio.usFive choice spots for a perfect backcountry Fall
by Jackie Baker, Todd Cox Kebler Pass, Colorado
Lost Lake/Erikson Springs Campgrounds
View from Kebler Pass, Colorado
There are only two E’s in Kebler Pass, and you won’t find any
elves there either. However, if you follow Whiterock Avenue west out of
Crested Butte, CO, you’ll find yourself driving through a magical
landscape. Kebler pass is reputedly home to Colorado’s largest aspen
grove. If you time it right—sometime from mid to late September, the
dirt road will be completely covered in newly fallen aspen leaves. The Raggeds
Wilderness borders Kebler on the north side, with the West Elk Wilderness
to the south. There are plenty of hiking opportunities along the Pass, off
Ohio Pass and near Lake Irwin. Lost Lake and Erikson Springs campgrounds
are nestled in the aspens. If you started your drive in the Butte, Marcellina
will be the last, jaw-dropping view to the right before reaching the paved
road above the Paonia Reservoir.
Gunnison/Uncompahgre National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/index.shtml
970-874-6600
Lake City, Colorado
Big Blue Campground
Lake Cristobal, oustide Lake City
Despite its beautiful surroundings, the laid-back Colorado town of Lake City is most notorious as the town where Alfred Packer was tried and convicted of cannibalism in 1883. Surrounded by five fourteeners and Colorado’s second largest natural lake, San Cristobal, Lake City provides virtually unlimited wilderness access and obviously, incredible scenery. The Gunnison and Uncompahgre National Forests comprise much of the public land that surrounds the small town of less than 400 people. Several Forest Service campgrounds surround Lake City. Whether or not you’re into bagging peaks, the Big Blue campground provides easy access to hiking in the Uncompahgre Wilderness. The ideal timeframe for fall foliage is mid-September to early October. Because Lake City sits above 8,000 feet, expect cool temperatures and even snow as October approaches. Take plenty of food so you won’t be tempted to gnaw on your friends.
Gunnison/Uncompahgre National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/index.shtml
970-874-6600
Snowy Mountains, Wyoming
Lincoln/Nash Fork Campgrounds
Medicine Bow Peak, Snowy Mountain Range
Traveling across Wyoming on I-80 can be less than exciting. Spice up your
drive with a side trip into the Snowy Mountain Range. Take Highway 130,
the second National Forest Scenic Byway designated in the country, to the
alpine paradise of the Medicine Bow National Forest. There are serious rock
climbing routes throughout the range and plenty of easier hiking trails
that access alpine lakes, as well as Medicine Bow Peak, the range’s
highest at 12,013 feet. At lower elevations, autumn aspens contrast with
the gray granite slabs and pristine lakes. Camping is available at the Lincoln
and Nash Fork campgrounds. Due to the altitude and high alpine climate,
early snows can close the road, so get up there before October. You’ll
return to I-80 with a fresh perspective.
Medicine Bow National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/
307-745-2300
Escalante National Monument, Utah
Calf Creek Campground
Calf Creek Falls, Escalante National Park
Amongst some of the most incredible and unique rocky formations and some
of the most extreme canyon country on the planet is a seemingly non-descript
little campground. Calf Creek is easy to drive right past and never notice.
It’s right on Route 12 roughly halfway between Boulder and Escalante.
The titular creek runs through the middle of the campground, feeding local
vegetation that gives the sites a surprisingly private feel. The campground
also serves as the trailhead for the easy, short, and scenic hike to Lower
Calf Creek falls. For serious hikers, the trail is a perfect way to work
the cobwebs out of your legs and can be tackled in the evening you arrive,
provided you’re not adverse to headlamps on the return journey. The
following day the campground’s central location puts you in easy driving
distance of all Escalante’s most popular hikes and both towns.
Escalante National Monument
http://www.ut.blm.gov/monument/
435-826-5499
Colden Lake, Adirondacks, New York
Colden Lake, Adirondacks
Colden Lake is beautiful and soothing, standing in sharp counterpoint to
the exciting, spectacular approach through Avalanche Pass. From the Adirondack
Loj you ascend to Avalanche Pass. Once over the pass, you descend to Avalanche
Lake. “Rugged” doesn’t do the trail along Avalanche Lake
justice. Massive cliffs rise on both sides of the lake, forcing you to proceed
along ledges, over boulders and through crevices by way of ladders and bridges
of varying vintage and sturdiness. Once you’re past Avalanche Lake,
Colden opens up before you. Lean-tos can be found around the lake, but are
deliberately few in number to cut down on crowds. The good news is that
tent sites are plentiful, and it takes more work to find a bad spot than
a good one.
Adirondack Mountain Club
http://www.adk.org
Appalachian Trail – Anywhere, Georgia
At the extreme southern end of the AT, you’ll find yourself a way
down south in Georgia. This is a decidedly good thing because while it’s
raining, cold and nasty up north in mid to late fall, Georgia is just beautiful.
What is particularly cool about Georgia is that along their stretch of the
AT they allow dispersed camping, meaning you can camp (almost) anywhere
within the trail corridor. Campsites are provided all along the trail, and
using a prepared site is preferable (flat spots without rocks are few and
far between), but if you happen to stumble across the perfect spot to throw
up a tent, well, go for it. There are a bunch of rules associated with dispersed
camping, most of them designed for your own good and that of the trail.
Learn them, live them, love them, then hit the trail.
Georgia Appalachian Trail Club
http://www.georgia-atclub.org
