Camping in Frisco, Colorado
Are you looking for a breath of fresh air away from the confines of your own home? If yes, then camping is the right activity for you! If you are looking to get away from the city and go to a place with a beautiful lake and luscious mountain views, Frisco is the place for you.
Frisco, Colorado is a town nicknamed “Main street to the Rookies” due to its picturesque views and closeness to the scenic mountains. It is a town attractive to many people due to various forms of recreation in the summer and winter.
There are many campgrounds near Frisco, perfect for a weekend getaway with serene views. Read on to find out more.
-Surrounding the Dillon Reservoir-
For those who don’t know, the Dillon Reservoir is a large freshwater reservoir in Summit County, Colorado. At 3,233 acres and 26.8 miles of shoreline, it is a great attraction and is surrounded by Swan mountain and the Gore and Tenmile Ranges. There are a lot of campgrounds surrounding it.
#1 Peak One Campground
Peak One has 80 sites where you can put up tents and park RVs and trailers. Surrounding the campground are picnic tables, campfire rings, flush toilets, and drinking water. However, it is to be noted that there are no electrical hook-ups available, and you might have to bring power banks, use flashlights, radios, etc. On the bright side, firewood is available for sale, and boat ramp access is available in the marinas located in the nearby towns of Frisco and Dillon.
Some activities you can do are wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing, camping, boating, and biking. Lake Dillon has a healthy population of rainbow and brown trout and even cutthroat trout. There are various opportunities for hiking and biking as there are more than 7 miles of the trail system. The Old Dillon Reservoir trail is also popular. This quick trail offers wonderful views of the Tenmile Range and Continental Divide. Going through this scenic trail is a must-try.
Other amenities include flush toilets, hosts, a self-pay station, trash collection, and water. Individual sites at this campground operate on a 6-month rolling basis, so you may check their website for availability.
Camping in Peak one is definitely a relaxing experience as you not only enjoy the activities by the lake, but you also see spectacular views of the Swan mountain and Gore and Tenmile ranges.
#2 Pine Cove Campground
The pine cove campground is also located on Dillon Reservoir. It is encircled by the Swan mountain and Gore and Tenmile mountain ranges. There are 56 single sites for tents, RVs, and trailers.
Situated on the Dillon Reservoir shores, you can just walk out of your tent, RV, or cabin and enjoy a day filled with water activities such as boating, lake and pond fishing. At the end of it enjoying a beautiful sunset view of Swan Mountain. You can even enjoy a picnic with your loved ones.
Reservations are on a first-come-first-served basis. Potable water, picnic tables, toilets are also available, and campfires and pets are allowed too. You can bring your dogs or cats and have them enjoy scenic views too!
There is a tremendous amount of trails for hiking, biking, off-roading, and bird watching in the area that you can experience. In other words, it is a great place to just chill by the lake and take in the surroundings’ peacefulness.
#3 Heaton Bay Campground
At an elevation of 9,000 feet, the Heaton bay campground is perfect for recreation and relaxation in the White River National Forest.
The campground has 87 sites to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. It is equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water. You may fill your RV tanks and use electrical hook-ups at a fee. Boat ramp access is also available, and you can buy firewood at the campground.
The campground is also a great base camp to hike or backpack to Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks. You might as well bring your fishing poles too because the fishing is good at the Dillon reservoir. In addition to this, you can also enjoy biking, boating, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, picnicking, horseback riding, hunting, and wildlife viewing.
Some amenities are vault toilet, water spigot, picnic table, grills/fire ring, accessible occupant massage, lantern pole, water hook-up, tent pad, platform, and more. This will ensure that you will have a relaxing time away from home.
There are also nearby attractions such as Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Copper Mountain ski resorts, located within 10 miles if you want to enjoy some more.
-Dispersed Camping-
If you truly want to be in the heart of the forest, perhaps you should try dispersed camping. This one, however, requires a mindset for the outdoor wilderness adventure. It is quieter, and you may see wildlife.
However, you don’t have access to toilets, electricity or potable water. With this, proper rules and regulations must be followed, such as proper waste management, leaving no trace, and following location restrictions.
#4 Miner’s Creek Road
The miner’s creek road is only 15 minutes away from the town of Frisco. It is an out and back route, which means that the trails start and end simultaneously and follow single or multiple trails.
Campsites here are very limited, offering only around 6-8 options. If you want to be able to obtain one, you have to go very early. To access these sites, you need a strong, durable vehicle like a Jeep.
As this is dispersed camping, you are in charge of the campsite. This means you must follow their rules and regulations. For example, you are to make use of the campsite and leave it clean for other campers.
Some activities you can do are mountain biking, hiking, OHV road riding, and winter sports. The upside is that there are no fees, but there is also no potable water, trash, and restrooms.
In other words, dispersed camping provides you with a truly unique wilderness experience should you be interested. There are various things to see, hear, and experience when you are one with the outdoors.
-Beyond the Dillon Reservoir-
If the Dillon reservoir is full, worry not because there are tons of other campsites about 30-45 minutes north of Frisco.
#5 Blue River Campground
This has 24 camping sites and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is a place best known for its tranquility and wonderful scenery.
As it is located along the blue river, a tributary of the colorado river, it therefore, houses many of the most scenic views. It is lined by cottonwood trees and surrounded by the rugged Gore mountains. River and stream fishing is also a popular recreational activity around the site.
#6 Mcdonald Flats Campground
The Mcdonald Flats Campground has 13 sites and is also on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can put up your tents or park your RVs and bring your pets too!
Vault toilets are also available on the site. You can also go boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking, and picnicking.
There is always something for you if you go camping in Frisco, Colorado. From just looking at the scenic views, hiking, fishing, and picnicking. Therefore, going there will always be worth your while. You are bound to gain something more than just relaxation, and that is the admiration of the beauty of our wilderness.
Author
Zyrene Boco
Zyrene is a second-year Industrial Engineering student at UP Diliman. In her free time, she finds herself escaping reality through literary works of fiction. She has a thirst for learning and is always looking to improve herself. With a passion for expressing herself through writing, she enjoys learning and talking about places she’s never been to.
