Has anyone camped at Lizard Head Pass dispersed camping?

[landshark]

Yes I have camped at Lizard Head and it is so beautiful, flowers everywhere! The drive after the last set can be pretty trying. But it's quiet and beautiful and we use to park right next to our tent way in the day, not sure if you still can.

[Cindy Lou]

up the road towards Dunton there are some wonderful places to camp that are fee-free. The road takes off past the summit, on the side away from Telluride. You will drive up some switchbacks for a ways, then if memory serves me, it straightens out a bit and over on your left will be a road with some camping spots on the right, and there is also a bathroom up there. Sorry I can't recall exactly how far up the road it is, but I think not more than 30 minutes. It has the most amazing views from up there, and very peaceful except for coyotes howling in the distance.  This will give you an idea. It is the road that takes off to the left after the switchbacks. It hooks up with hiking trails so you can probably get a better map looking at hiking trails, but hopefully this will work.
http://www.ask.com/maps?a1=&a2=Dunton%252c+CO&o=15527&l=dis#YmJxPTEmbXM9c3RyZWV0JmR0PWRyaXZpbmcmbG9jcz1EdW50b24lMkMrQ08lN0M=

zoom in and scroll to the right and you will see the switchbacks coming off of 145. the road I refer to  is almost straight across and up a bit from the spot they where they mark Dunton. If you don't turn off on that left, you keep going and the next squiggles in the road are some sharp, steep curves that go down, down, down. You don't want to go that far. But, if you are coming up from AZ, and want to take the scenic route, you can turn off at the West Dolores Road (Road 38), about 15 minutes out of Dolores, and go UP past Dunton, up and over the steep part, and you will be heading east when you come to the road to turn on, then when you come out you will just continue on and end up on 145 just a bit below the summit of Lizard Head. Have I got you thoroughly confused now? The road is paved almost to Dunton from that direction (I think), but dirt after that.

[3boobykins]

Thanks so much Cindy Lou and Landshark!  Everyone has been so helpful, as always!

This is going to be some beautiful camping, but there is SO much preparation to do still! 

[Auntie Hope]

Thank you, mtnmama.  We thought this might be the case (we have the same restrictions in AZ, due to a couple fairly bad fires), and thanks for the link as well.  We'll be camping at the HS during the festival, so distance is fine for our pre-festy camping.  We'll just have to bring extra warm clothes.

Are propane stoves allowed during this restriction?

I believe they are allowed. Ya gotta EAT! 

Auntie Hope 

[Que Rico]

I lived in Rico, just past Lizard head for 11 years.  DO NOT camp there.  Take a day trip for a really nice hike in the woods.

Day Hikes:
Google Hope Lake, which has great fishing and an amazing hike at the end of the lake.

Google Alta Lakes, which you if your are in really really good shape..you could do a loop hike.

CAMP at Sunshine Mesa Campground.

Have a great time, we will see you next year...and next and next..

If we can keep the ROTTEN SCALPERS off our skin!

[3boobykins]

Auntie Hope, have you heard the new-out-today Bela Fleck with Marcus Roberts Trio album, Across the Imaginary Divide?  My husband pre-ordered it and I received it today for my birthday.  SO, so good!  And yeah, you gotta eat for sure!  And not cold cereal and sandwiches, either--bacon and steak and yummy hot food!

Que Rico, why do you recommend not camping at Lizard Head?  We're doing two nights of pre-festival camping, two nights at the Victorian Inn in Telluride, and then we have High School camping, so we don't have to be in totally easy driving distance of the festival for the pre-festi camping, but would like to be in the general area.  We'll check out Sunshine Mesa and other areas as well.  We're pretty much going with the flow when it comes to the pre-festival part of our vacation, so we're open to many possibilities. 

[Auntie Hope]

Auntie Hope, have you heard the new-out-today Bela Fleck with Marcus Roberts Trio album, Across the Imaginary Divide?  My husband pre-ordered it and I received it today for my birthday.  SO, so good! 

Thank for the good review of 'Across the Imaginary Divide'. No, I haven't hear it yet, not even a snippet, but I am really looking forward to the show at FESTIVVVAAALLL!!!

Bela tweeted back in January that he was really excited about the new music. He returned from Tallahassee, Fl after recording with the Marcus Robert's Trio just in time to go to a birthday pick/jam at Earl Scruggs house here in Nashville, which ended up being Earl's last birthday (no, I wasn't there). Sure did make for some nice memories surrounding this CD for Bela, I'm sure!

Auntie Hope 

[3boobykins]

Auntie Hope, have you heard the new-out-today Bela Fleck with Marcus Roberts Trio album, Across the Imaginary Divide?  My husband pre-ordered it and I received it today for my birthday.  SO, so good! 

Thank for the good review of 'Across the Imaginary Divide'. No, I haven't hear it yet, not even a snippet, but I am really looking forward to the show at FESTIVVVAAALLL!!!

Bela tweeted back in January that he was really excited about the new music. He returned from Tallahassee, Fl after recording with the Marcus Robert's Trio just in time to go to a birthday pick/jam at Earl Scruggs house here in Nashville, which ended up being Earl's last birthday (no, I wasn't there). Sure did make for some nice memories surrounding this CD for Bela, I'm sure!

Auntie Hope 

Very cool story!  I'm happy he was there for Earl's last birthday.  Bet you wish you'd been there, though!  Me too!

[AnythingAtAll]

Roll off Lizard Head towards Telluride just past Trout Lake and check out Matterhorn campground.  Real campground with host and one of the (extremely) few with hot showers.  A mix of RV and tent sites.  Great location.  Close to Trout Lake, access to Hope Lake trail and Lizard Head, T-ride is just 12mi. the other way for supplies.

On the south side of the pass is Cayton Campground.  Very nice too, but I perfer Matterhorn- anyway, if you camp at Cayton, say hi to Bob from Albuquerque if he's there.

[3boobykins]

Roll off Lizard Head towards Telluride just past Trout Lake and check out Matterhorn campground.  Real campground with host and one of the (extremely) few with hot showers.  A mix of RV and tent sites.  Great location.  Close to Trout Lake, access to Hope Lake trail and Lizard Head, T-ride is just 12mi. the other way for supplies.

On the south side of the pass is Cayton Campground.  Very nice too, but I perfer Matterhorn- anyway, if you camp at Cayton, say hi to Bob from Albuquerque if he's there.

Do you think there will be sites available at Matterhorn or Cayton, or other popular camgrounds in the area?  We're camping Saturday and Sunday nights before the Festival.

[AnythingAtAll]

Some of Matterhorn's sites are (at least once were) reservable via internet.

Between Cayton, Matterhorn and Sunshine you should be able to find something.  Also, look for campsites Saturday in the 10am to 1pm timeframe if possible.  Checkout is usually noon.

[3boobykins]

Some of Matterhorn's sites are (at least once were) reservable via internet.

Between Cayton, Matterhorn and Sunshine you should be able to find something.  Also, look for campsites Saturday in the 10am to 1pm timeframe if possible.  Checkout is usually noon.

THANK YOU SO so much for this information!  We just were able to reserve a campsite at Matterhorn for 3 nights (decided to add Friday night, because it was required), and it's near the river.  There were only two sites left, and we got one!  Plus, we got half off the fee with our National Parks pass.  So thanks for taking the time Anything, and again to all who have posted here and been extremely helpful!  Your kindness means a lot to us. That festivarian spirit will indeed keep us coming back year after year!    

 

[Sunnyand70]

Wow, thanks to everyone who participated in this thread! 

This year it was really important for mental health to arrive in Colorado early and leave a little late with lots of camping. Something to do with "Take the Day of Work. Take the Weekend too!"

Thanks for making this possible for us!

This is starting to feel really good at this point!

 Listening to: Bela Fleck and Marcus Roberts Trio

[TellurideTom]

Wow, thanks to everyone who participated in this thread! 

This year it was really important for mental health to arrive in Colorado early and leave a little late with lots of camping. Something to do with "Take the Day of Work. Take the Weekend too!"

Thanks for making this possible for us!

This is starting to feel really good at this point!

Even though I didn't participate in THIS thread, that what this forum is for.

We're all here to pass on the festivarian spirit.

Can I get a FESSSSSTTTTIIIIIIIVVVVVVVAAAAAAALLLLLLLL

[3boobykins]

FESSSSSTTTTIIIIIIIVVVVVVVAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!