Jellystone Park, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Denver and Boulder, and Moon Colorado Camping: The Complete Guide to Tent and RV Camping
The heat is on in Colorado and we know you mamas want to escape to cooler temperatures, fresh air, and refreshing mountain streams. In this installment of the best Colorado summer vacations, we explore local hiking trails, campsites, and off the beaten path ideas. As always, happy, healthy, and safe travels and remember to always check with local guidelines about COVID regulations.
Moon Colorado Camping: The Complete Guide to Tent and RV Camping
Moon Colorado Camping: The Complete Guide to Tent and RV Camping (Moon Outdoors, 6th edition, May 12, 2020) is Joshua Berman’s latest roundup of places to sleep beneath the stars. It lists 480 campgrounds, RV parks, and camp resorts across the state, rating each site, listing amenities and reservation info, and also comes with an advice section for both veteran and first-time campers.
SOOOOOOO . . . where are Berman’s favorite spots? We’ve checked out some incredible sites with his family in Granby and Canyon City, but some of his recommendations even surprised me! Currently, he is on an epic, 100+mile trek of the Colorado Trail, so look for him camping throughout this route in Summer 2020. However, here are some of my favorites included in his book.
- The Flat Tops Trail is a national scenic byway that connects Yampa with Meeker (we featured Meeker in our last post as Colorado Trail and Hitch is located there). Trappers Lake is the big draw for camping in the area (it’s Colorado’s third-largest natural lake (we already featured the largest) and it cools off nicely in the evenings. There are loads of campsites along the route featured in the book.
- Silver Thread Scenic Byway winds its way throughout many historical and legendary Colorado towns—Lake City, Creede, South Fork—that are often quieter than others. There are over a dozen campgrounds in this area, all reservation required, but the book even pointed out some new ideas for this glorious area of the State. https://joshuaberman.net/my-books/coloradocamping6/
60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Denver and Boulder
“Nearly two years after taking my first steps on Colorado’s Front Range trails to do research for my new hiking guidebook, the book is released and available for sale! This book is intended to be for all types of hikers—those still acclimating to the elevation in Colorado, kids and kids at heart, people who don’t have time to drive too far for a hike, people who have already done some hikes, and more—and is not a mountaineering guide. Have fun, be safe, leave no trace, and enjoy the great outdoors!” —Mindy Sink, Author.
You can get a copy of the book at The Tattered Cover Bookstore, BookBar, and soon at I Heart Denver as well as online including the publisher’s website.
If you pick up a copy and use it for some hikes, I’d really appreciate your honest feedback shared on Goodreads or any online platform that you prefer. I can’t wait to hear about people’s experiences doing these hikes. Feel free to tag me on social media too if you share about going on one of these hikes.” —Mindy Sink, Fellow Mile High Mama
Some of Mindy’s recent hikes, even in this heat, have included North Table Mountain, White Ranch Open Space (plan early, she has found the parking at capacity numerous times), Eldorado Canyon State Park, Mount Sanitas, Deer Creek Canyon, Green Mountain Open Space, Reynolds Park, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Peaks to Plains Trail and many, many more. https://www.mindysink.com/blog/2020/6/24/60-hikes-within-60-miles-of-denver-and-boulder
Jellystone Park at Larkspur
New this year to JPL: Everything! This park will debut a complete redevelopment and expansion this summer. Every building, road and amenity is new. The park will offer oversized full hookup RV sites that are all level and four styles of furnished and pet-friendly cabins rentals. The park will debut a new 40,000 square foot waterpark with cabana rentals and a restaurant. Additional amenities include: arcade, mini-bowling, large outdoor event lawn, fitness center, jump pad, playground, general store, three restaurants and two outdoor pools. The resort will offer drive-thru check-in for all lodging and enhanced safety and cleaning measures. (All roads in the park have been paved to ensure easy access.)
Opening: Jellystone Park at Larkspur is currently taking reservations but please keep an eye on the resort website and social channels for updates and earlier stay opportunities.
Continuing: The park will continue to be one of the best family-friendly options in the state that is now even better! They will continue to offer daily interactions with the bears and a robust event schedule including themed activities each week. The park is easy to access, just 30-minutes from Denver and Colorado Springs. https://www.sunrvresorts.com/resorts/west/colorado/jellystone-park-at-larkspur/
Look for our next installment on more local, Colorado hotels and ideas to fill this chaotic time.
Author: Julie Bielenberg
Julie is a mama of three who travels in search of fields, farms, families and more. Sometimes . . . she finds herself in often uncovered, or understated locales, which has since become her niche.
