Free Camping ~ Aspen, CO (for sport climber unwilling to walk more than 50' with tent)

Anyone know of any free, reasonably nice camping around the Aspen area? Doesn't need to be super close to Aspen. Our intention is to climb Pyramid Peak in the morning, so the closer the better, but anywhere in the Roaring Fork Valley would probably be close enough. I'd be willing to drive a bit further if the area is more secluded.

Is there anything near the Snowmass Creek or Capital Creek Trailheads? Anything on the way to Independence Pass (on the Aspen side)?

Thanks!

I only know of Independence Pass camping. Lincoln Gulch campsite is very nice and about half way up the pass, but it's a pay site as are all of the other sites on the Pass.

There are two free options outside Carbondale on BLM land, one up Prince Creek and one by Thompson Creek (climbing here too). Either of those would put you about an hour from the trailhead for Pyramid.

I thought a bunch of sites up Lincoln Creek road on the Pass were free, but I haven't been up there in awhile.

There is free camping all along the Castle Creek road, south of the trailhead to Castle, but you have to camp in one of the 6 designated campsites and they fill up fast on weekends. You would probably need to drive 1/2 hour or 45 min. to the Pyramid trail head.

We poached a site in a non-designated area and no one said anything.

I was afraid of that. We will be getting in pretty late Saturday night, so I figure anything obvious will be occupied. I've been up Castle, so I'm sure that would work, it would just be kinda out of the way, and probably quite a bit colder at the trailhead.

Regarding Lincoln Creek, there is a pay campsite about two minutes from HW82 down Lincoln Creek. The primitive and free sites start about 5 minutes from the road and keep on going for the next 30 minutes or so. Like all camping in the RFV, they are usually full during the weekends.

If Pyramid peak is your goal, then set up a camp at Crater Lake. Despite being less then two miles from the Maroon Bells parking lot, there are usually spots available.

This puts you pretty damn close to where the main pyramid peak climbing trail branches off from the crater lake trail.

Phillip Morris wrote: set up a camp at Crater Lake.

Does this require hiking with a sleeping bag?

Perhaps I forgot to mention that I'm a sport climber :)

EDIT: I've fixed the problem. Refer to new thread title.

Monomaniac wrote: Does this require hiking with a sleeping bag? Perhaps I forgot to mention that I'm a sport climber :)

Yes...its going to require you to backpack in. Its like a 30 to 45 minute walk on a well maintained trail. Even a sport climber should be able to hack it. The crater lake camping is about a 1/4 mile past the turnoff for pyramid peak, so it will save you some effort in the morning.

Otherwise I would recommend a reservation at the sky hotel. The the pool view is outstanding.

Heading towards Redstone from Cdale not far out of town there is a left hand turn that heads up to the trailhead for Mt. Sopris. When I lived in Glenwood I used to mountain bike up around there a lot and seem to remember plenty of pull offs and side dirt roads you could camp on easily enough for one night. There is also a dirt road heading north out of Redstone leading to the Coal Miner's Daughter trail that you would likely have no problem with, or even the road heading south out of Redstone that puts you at the trailhead for all the bouldering up the hill there. I know none of this is specific, but I don't remember the exact road numbers. Check on trails.com or something, they will have all the directions you need. If you're getting in late and leaving early, camping in any of these places would not get anyone's attention.

If you feel adventurous enough for the 2 mile mostly uphill hike to Crater Lake, you won't be disappointed. Possibly the best camping I've done in Colorado. And much closer to Pyramid. It's not free, but not too pricey either.