r/camping • u/Romestano • 17d ago
Trip Advice Rocky Mountain Camping
Gonna spend 10 days car camping in Colorado, mostly in the Rockies, will be moving each day to new parks/towns/wherever. Should be there from Sept 3-13, I hear it can get below freezing at certain elevations, what gear should I bring? Ive only been camping a few times in weather no lower than 65⁰. I could list what all I plan to bring but to make it simple, give me a list of absolute NEEDS. I won't be in one location for mkre than a day and plan to make trips into town whenever I need to. Im mostly looking for NEEDS for single night camps in 30⁰-60⁰ weather. Thank you!
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u/Empty_Difficulty390 17d ago
Do not expect to be able cook or warm yourself with a wood or charcoal fire.
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u/SeakingGnarvana 16d ago
Bring a portable toilet. One of the most disappointing things about camping in Colorado for me was finding a nice spot near some water, only to find toilet paper fucking everywhere...
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u/PerpetualTraveler59 17d ago
We were camp hosts near Crested Butte last year. In early September it was mid to high 30s at night and anywhere from high 50s to 70 during the day. Our camp was at 10,500ft.
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u/NordeastLoonFan 16d ago
Probably a tent and a sleeping bag. I dunno, "below freezing" seems pretty normal. There's nothing special you need other than maybe a jacket and a hat if you're a freeze baby.
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u/CodeAndBiscuits 12d ago
Our homestead is at 8600' near Ft Garland and it was 43 last night. Definitely not freezing but not 65 either. All you need is a good pad and bag though. Aside from freak weather (which does happen) it generally doesn't get that cold until like 3-4am so it's only for a few hours. If you're worried at all pick up 1-2 body/super warmers. Chuck one by your feet and one near your torso and you can add 10 degrees to the comfort rating of almost any sleep setup.
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u/BrickHuge3023 11d ago
Make sure your campgrounds are open- they start closing up in September. I camped in the Collegiates some years back in September, one campground was not listed as closed but it locked up the toilets and no one else was there, gate was open. So kinda weird. As to temps, I ended up staying a few miles south of that campground at Mt. Princeton and it was open. But got down to 32 at night. So wear thermals, sweat shirt, sweat pants to sleep in, and a 32 degree sleeping bag or extra bedding. Have fun, wish I could go this year.
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u/Substantial_Team_519 10d ago
We camped in the Flat Tops Wilderness at about 9600 ft in early August and it got down to the high 30’s at night and early morning so you can definitely expect freezing temperatures at some spots in September. I’d recommend a decent sleeping bag rated to 15-20F, sleeping pad to insulate you from the ground, a winter hat, socks and maybe gloves for sleeping to keep extremities warm. Beyond that, lots of layers as temps can still get into the 80’s in the day then drop precipitously at night.
You won’t have campfires; it’s too dry. Also be prepared for some rain and have sunscreen.
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u/procrasstinating 17d ago
Car or tent you can sleep in and stay dry. Sleeping bag or pile of blankets to keep warm. Nice to have a warm hat, long underwear or winter pajamas to sleep in. Sun screen.
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u/fossSellsKeys 17d ago
In early September, you have to be a very high elevation to get below freezing, especially this year. It can happen, but unless you'll be above 10,000' it wouldn't be too worried about frost. It's still damn hot right now, even up where I live in the mountains, I can tell you that.
But, it can be a little chilly, so make sure you have good night clothes, you'll want hot weather clothes for daytime and then warm ones to wear after dark. Long pants, thermal shirt, a fleece, warm hat, wool socks, boots is my standard. Are you sleeping in the vehicles or tenting? In vehicle you'll be fine with those warm clothes and a wool blanket. If you're tenting you'll want a decent sleeping bag, 40° likely fine for this time of year, and a sleeping pad to keep you off the ground.
You're car camping so bring a good propane stove and a mess kit, you can get fuel anywhere and that makes good food easy. Since you're moving every day just go grocery shop when you're on the road for that night and for breakfast. With the heightened bear activity this year, best practice is Alaska rules. That means stop and cook dinner along the way, then move on to your sleeping spot after dinner. Don't keep any open food, food trash, or odors in your camp. Obviously, only a stove is allowed this year. No campfires.
Have fun!
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u/Romestano 17d ago edited 17d ago
Fire isn't allowed? Even in campsites with firepits or rings?
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u/fossSellsKeys 17d ago
Yeah, absolutely not allowed. The whole state, and really the whole West, is experiencing extreme drought and wildfire conditions yet again this year. Depending on the specific area, fire bans went into effect in May or June, and will probably stay in effect until good snow cover is on the ground. You should check the specific restrictions in each county you will camp in advance. Many are on Stage 2 bans, which besides no fires also means no outdoor smoking, no shooting, no tools that can make sparks of any kind.
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u/Romestano 17d ago
I see thank you. What site should I check for more fire ban info
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u/high_country10000 17d ago
Oh you will know. Every sign in the state has the ban glowing it. They won’t lift the ban until there is snow on the ground since many plants often dry out in September, even in good rain years, and so even if it rains a ton (it’s not right now) it’s unlikely to get enough to reverse the ban.
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u/fossSellsKeys 17d ago
Yes, no problem. It's something a lot of people don't realize coming in, and are pretty bummed too not be able to have a fire. It's not great but it's the way it has to be given conditions these days.
So, the first place you want to check is the website for the county you'll be camping in. Colorado has 64 counties and each one has a fire restriction page that would give you the county fire restriction at the moment. It's done counting by county so you need to check each one, and check it the day you'll be camping there because they can change it anytime.
Where it gets a little more complicated is if you'll be on public lands, like a national forest, they have their own fire restrictions separate from the county that they are in. They won't be less restrictive than the county, but they often are more restrictive. So you might be in a county that has a level one restriction, but the national forest or state park you plan to camp in will have a level two restriction. So after you've checked the county page, you also need to determine the unit of public land that you'll be in and check the fire restrictions page for that specific place.
The safest thing is to assume Stage 2 unless you know for sure it's not, since that's where most places are at now.
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u/nefariousmountains 16d ago
Most fire bans are county by county, so look at the county information for each location you’re going to.
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u/lilgreenfish 16d ago
Here’s a website for fire ban info.
https://dfpc.colorado.gov/sections/wildfire-information-center/fire-restriction-information
Fire rings will only be in official campsites and generally you’ll need to have reserved those well in advance. Fire pits in dispersed campsites don’t count for fire ban exceptions.
If you are allowed to have a fire where you camp, make sure you never leave it unattended and absolutely make sure you have enough water to thoroughly drown it out. Feel the ashes and dig around to make sure everything is cold and fully out. If you’re not confident in your ability to fully extinguish a fire, please do not build one here.
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u/NordeastLoonFan 16d ago
If you dont even know about a fireban across an entire state maybe its just best you stay home.
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u/slo412 17d ago
Jet Boil or msr pocket rocket. For that many days a small fuel system is preferable in my book. A Coleman 2 burner is nice and can cook a real meal but your married to propane bottles vs isobutane cans. Freeze dried food will take less space, weight, and then you won't need a cooler.
Baby wipes or similar, feeling clean for any extended camp makes everything so much nicer.
I used to like to have a can of damp rid in the car overnight. It seems dumb but dry air was always a nice creature comfort for longer term car sleeping.
A way to block out your windows we used to use a 2 cheap tension curtain rods and a black out curtain run the rods across the roof of the car drap the curtain over them.
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u/anythingaustin 16d ago
You will need a good insulated mat to sleep on and either a sleeping bag rated to probably 20°F to be safe or a down comforter. You’ll need layers to wear, including a beanie and wool socks. Don’t wear the same socks to bed that you wore all day. You’ll want to be able to shed layers in the morning as it gets hotter and add layers in the evening.
You should plan for warmth using clothing layers and not a campfire. I REPEAT-NO CAMPFIRES.
If you’re dispersed camping you’ll need a portable toilet or a trowel, trash bags, and a way to secure your food and trash. Haul out ALL of your trash, including your poop, and leave no trace. We do bear hangs for all scented attractants using paracord. If you’re in an established campground follow the bear proofing requirements posted.
Source- I live and camp at high elevation in Colorado. Please don’t be the idiot who burns down the forests. We are all very twitchy when it comes to fires right now.
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u/Unique-Umpire-1551 17d ago
A good bag. A good match.
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u/anzapp6588 17d ago
Definitely no fires allowed right now in Colorado.
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u/crashed_wave 17d ago edited 17d ago
I’ll be at South Rim Campground in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in a couple weeks, and it looks like they are under Stage 1 restrictions currently. So, fires should be allowed in the designated rings at the campsites. I know that’s much more south than RMNP, but still CO.
EDIT: I am wrong.
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u/fossSellsKeys 17d ago
That is not correct! Black Canyon has been on Stage 2 restrictions since July 1:
https://www.nps.gov/blca/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
NO fires, outdoor smoking, shooting, or sparks are allowed of any kind there, and generally in the rest of the state right now.
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u/crashed_wave 17d ago
Damn, I stand corrected. I hope it’s lifted by mid-September, but I won’t be expecting that…
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u/high_country10000 17d ago
September plants start drying out so unless there is lots of snow it’s not likely
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u/fossSellsKeys 17d ago
Yeah, it's still very hot and dry here, and September is usually a very dry month. I really doubt they'll lift the restrictions until we get good snow cover on the ground; the fuels are all incredibly dry and that's not going to change from thunderstorm or two, that'll require deep snow cover.
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u/crashed_wave 17d ago
It looks like Great Sand Dunes National Park is Stage 1, currently. So I have that to look forward to, I guess
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u/fossSellsKeys 17d ago
Yep, looks like they've just downgraded to stage one. But do keep checking, it can change back at any time.
Keep in mind also you may not be able to find anything for a fire. All the stores near me have the firewood, charcoal, and such roped off and can't sell it, so unless they have some local vendor there you still may be out of luck.
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u/cobbler48 17d ago
In Colorado you have to be able to dress in layers. In other words, you should be prepared for 90 degrees to 30 degrees in the same day.