Quick Durango Getaways
"Where's a good place to camp near Durango?" The first renter of my campervan asked me this, as she was driving up from Arizona for Labor Day Weekend. Since she was only renting it for one night to see how she liked the #vanlife lifestyle, she didn't want to venture too far. At first, I wasn't sure what to tell her. Truth be told, we haven't done much camping in the van, since we moved to Durango in December. Shameful I know! Thankfully I was able to think of a few good options and decided to write these down for future renters or anyone in Durango looking to get out of town for a night or two. All of these suggestions can be accessed by a 2-wheel drive vehicle, and are great for car/tent camping or camper vans/RVs.
La Plata Canyon
La Plata Canyon is a local's favorite and it's not hard to figure out why. Located only 30 minutes away from town; it's the quickest way to feel completely immersed in nature (and completely devoid of cell signal.) Per the name, it's surrounded by the gorgeous La Plata mountains. Several FCFS (first come first serve) campgrounds line the La Plata River that runs through the canyon. The campsites closer to the entrance charge a fee i.e. Kroeger and Snowslide, however campsites further into the canyon are free. (The only notable difference between the fee-based and free campsites that I can tell are the presence of pit toilets.) We recently stayed at the free La Plata City campground, which contains numbered campsites right by the river. Each site had a fire ring and room for at least 2 vehicles. Once situated in your camping spot, there are a multitude of hiking and mountain biking trails to enjoy.
Directions: Google maps will take you to any of these campsites, just type in the name. Once you're on the road leading into La Plata Canyon (Co. Rd 124), there's not much opportunity to get lost; one road in, one road out. All campsites are well marked with signs, and the gravel road is nicely graded.
Lake Vallecito
All about that lake life? Driving out to Lake Vallecito will take about an hour, but it's well worth it. The lake is typically calm enough for your paddle board or canoe, and there are several FCFS and reserved campsites lining the water's edge. We stayed at Middle Mountain campground over Memorial Day weekend, and it was perfect. We paid the attendant $28 (cash) for a lake-front camping spot with a picnic table and fire ring; pit toilets and a water spigot were also nearby. For more info on camping at Vallecito, click here. (There's also free camping up Pine River (602), but you'll lose the lake views.) Hike the nearby Vallecito Creek trail and prepare to be wow'd.
Directions: Google maps will also take you to any named campground; we used it to navigate to Middle Mountain. Not surprisingly, there's only one road that goes around the lake so again, less opportunity to get lost. The road to the lake is paved but turns to a nice gravel road as you drive closer to the campsites.
Junction Creek
Perhaps the trickiest campground to access but also the closest to Durango (about 20 mins), this site is located near the start of the Colorado trail. The gravel road going up to the campground is a little slippery, so you'll want to take it slow. However if you're really keen on getting a good hike in, this is a great spot. Campsites can be reserved here; camping spots start at $26. Once you're settled in, you can walk down to Junction Creek or even hike up to Gudy's Rest (should only be 6ish miles if starting from Junction Creek campground), a great lookout point. This option requires the most planning, as there is no free dispersed camping at Junction Creek.
Directions: Again, Google maps is your friend - just type in Junction Creek campground.
Mancos State Park and Adjacent Area
For a different perspective of the La Platas, head west towards Mancos and then up Forest Road 561 for a plethora of campsites as well as dispersed camping in the San Juan national forest, about an hour away. We recently checked out the Transfer campground, which can be reserved online here, however we saw several people dispersed camping all along this road. FYI: Camping in national forests is generally free game as long as you don't disturb any of the flora or fauna and there's no "no camping" signs. See a pullout along a forest service road? You just found yourself a free spot to camp (provided you're in a campervan.) Although this area is great for hiking/biking, it's also a great jump off point to explore the nearby town of Mancos or even Dolores. If you have the time, drive out to Sutcliffe Vineyards for some tasty wine and beautiful views.
Directions: Google Transfer Campground in Mancos, CO.
If you're interested in more free dispersed camping sites in and around Durango (some of which cannot be accessed by 2-wheel drive), check out this blog post.
Interested in trying out the van life? Check out my campervan "Squatchy" and use "GODURANGO" for a 10% discount on your rental.