Pinewood Reservoir: A Cozy Campground By The Lake

Last summer some friends and I "discovered" Pinewood Reservoir Campground.

View from my tent (site #27). Lake in the background.
 

 

 We wanted a site next to water so that we could bring our kayaks. This was the perfect spot! The campground was fairly secluded and with a nice tree canopy for most of the sites. The next best thing: water! We were able to camp and kayak whenever we wanted. It was great.

Most of the tent sites were walk-in sites. We parked in the parking lot and had to make several trips to the car but otherwise it was the perfect campsite. There were vault toilets and water spigots available. Swimming is only allowed at the swim beach area but we did see people wading (and by people, I might mean our group).

At night we heard coyotes howling from across the lake. And during the day we enjoyed the trees, water, and sunshine. A very relaxing getaway! We will definitely be back!

**I recommend sites 27, 18, and 19. But they all looked decent.

My good friend made a homemade key lime pie to enjoy around the campfire!
 

Reservations:

Strongly recommended if going on the weekend!
Click HERE for the Larimer County camping reservations.
Entrance and camping permits are required.

Directions:

Interestingly enough you will pass a few other reservoirs on your way to Pinewood Reservoir. Carter Lake was huge and had several boat and jet ski rentals. Horsetooth Reservoir is also not too far. You will eventually follow a 4 mile road with a decent grade at times (fairly narrow). Just when you start to think you may have passed it...you will find it. When we went there wasn't much of a sign...but once you pass Carter Lake and Flatiron Reservoir...it will be the next one on the left...after about 10 minutes from Flatiron Reservoir....a small, cozy campground on a secluded lake.

The directions below were quite accurate when coming from Denver.

Take I-25 to Berthoud Exit (Exit 250). Turn left (West) onto Highway 56 and continue for 9.5 miles, passing through town of Berthoud. At the foothills, the road will turn sharply to the right (north). Turn Left (west) onto County Road 8E and continue for 3 miles to the entrance station where you can purchase permits. Follow County Road 8E west to the intersection with County Road 31 and continue around the lake for 5.5 miles to the intersection and County Road 18E. Turn left (west) and continue about 4.5 miles to the lake.

Curecanti National Recreation Area

In the heart of Colorado, along the edges of ruggedly beautiful mesas and where the Gunnison River once flowed freely, sits the Curecanti National Recreation Area.  Now three dams (Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal) form a more tame waterway and beckon outdoorsy folk to come and play. This area is perfect for all kinds of water sports (motorboats, kayaks, stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing,etc.), fishing, hiking, camping, picnicking and best of all--nurturing your wild spirit. 

 

Managed by the National Park Service, there are a couple of NPS staffed visitor centers where you can learn more about the landscape and context of the region....or where you can simply stop for refreshments or to check your map. The Elk Creek Visitor Center is along Hwy 50, about 16 miles outside of Gunnison. The Cimarron Visitor Center is along Hwy 50 near the town of Cimarron. Stop in for more information. You can also sign up for a National Park Service guided pontoon boat tour!

 

Recreational Activities Abound!

There are several marinas in the area where you can rent pontoon boats, kayaks and fishing gear. I stopped at the Elk Creek Marina (pictured below) and rented a kayak for a half day. They also have paddleboards available for rent.

There are ten official campgrounds in the Curecanti Recreation Area. Several of them are available by reservation while others are not. Also, due to the arid climate many of the campsites do not provide shade. However, the Dry Gulch Campground (9 sites), Red Creek Campground (group site), East Elk Creek Campground (group site) do have some shade available. For sites that take reservations, you may book online here.

The view as you drive along hwy 50 is refreshing; nothing but mesas, vistas and buttes almost as far as you can see.

Should you decide to get out of your car and hike or picnic, there are many trails and resting points nearby. 

For a list of hiking trails click here.

Also, if you have time remaining, be sure to check out the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park just a few miles to the west.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and go for a float, a swim, a boat ride, a hike, a picnic....or just a good ol' fashioned drive! 

Lake Appreciation Day

Cherry Creek State Park is seeking volunteers for Lake Appreciation Day, July 21, 2012.

From 8am till noon,  come and help us with shoreline cleanup and noxious weed removal. Then, from about noon till 3pm enjoy free fishing clinics, boating, archery and food!!

Help take care of this beautiful urban park! If interested please contact Karen at 303-690-1199, X6566.

Thanks!!

Bear Creek Lake Park

Bear Creek Lake Park has been my favorite stomping ground this summer. Located in Lakewood, just minutes from Morrison, this park has something for everyone! There are 15 miles of hiking trails, 3 lakes for boating, boat rentals (kayaks, paddle boats, etc.), an area for swimming, campground, horse stables, archery area, picnic spots, and nature programs. So, for a nice family fun day near the water or for a solo nature excursion; check out Bear Creek Lake Park.

*Note: There is an entry fee of $5/vehicle (cash only).

Afterwards, grab a drink or some grub in the cute town of Morrison. Or meander through red rock formations at Red Rocks Ampitheatre.

Eleven Mile State Park

I recently camped at Eleven Mile State Park. This was my first time visiting the park. It is very picturesque seeing such a huge lake set amidst the backdrop of snow-capped peaks! There are over 300 campsites and it is very ideal for fishing and boating. I really enjoyed being near the water and it definitely met my desire to find a wide open space! However, there were some rules that put a slight damper on the trip: no swimming, only 3.2% alcohol allowed (though I'm not sure how well this is followed), and there was currently a fire ban. So, definitely check ahead if you absolutely have to have the campfire experience! Despite these minor setbacks, I really enjoyed my time here...gorgeous sunsets!!

Excursion of the week: Fort Collins and Horsetooth Reservoir

I recently explored Fort Collins, Colorado. Fort Collins is about 1-1.5 hours north of Denver. I was really impressed with this cute town. It was such a balance and seemed to fit almost any different type of person. For instance, the town seemed simultaneously rural and urban, small and big.


One of the best parts of my visit was the discovery of Horsetooth Reservoir. Here you can camp, boat, swim, scuba dive, and hike. This is one of the bigger reservoirs in north-eastern Colorado. The water was surrounded by tall red rock walls and veered around in a snake-like structure--unlike several of the circular reservoirs I've seen. There is a campground on the south side of the park, along with several camping cabins.

The park is just a few minutes from town so you can always drive into town and grab a beer at one of the local breweries.

Anyway, so if you travel north of Denver, be sure to check out Fort Collins and Horsetooth Reservoir.



More Links:

http://www.co.larimer.co.us/parks/brochure_horsetooth.pdf

http://www.co.larimer.co.us/PARKS/horsetooth.htm

www.newbelgium.com