Lakeview Campground Review

[Jeremy Nix]

Lakeview Campground sits on top of the hill with a spectacular view of the reservoir and the mountainside. It includes paved RV/tent sites and walk-in tent sites. The RV/tent sites can accommodate tents, small trailers, large motor homes and pickup campers with pull-through sites and back-in sites. They include full hookups with water, sewer, and electric, and also have picnic tables and fire pits. The walk-in tent sites are nestled within pinion and juniper trees, providing some privacy. They are basic sites and include covered picnic tables and fire pits. Restrooms with flush toilets and coin-operated showers are located in the center of the campground. 

 

We camped in site #6. It was private, and had a great view. The lake was obscured by trees, but spectacular lake views were just around the corner. The restrooms were some of the cleanest we have seen in our experience. The hosts were accommodating and friendly. Multiple vehicles could easily fit in the parking pad. Firewood was sold on site. The loop was paved, and the campground itself was huge. One negative aspect of our particular site was that a frequently accessed storage shed was directly adjacent to it, a minor annoyance. If your planning on camping here take a look at the sites on the link above. There were several sites that had prime lake views. I imagine with an early enough reservation you could treat yourself to some of those views. 

 

Camping here was a great experience. I highly recommend it. Here are some pictures of our journey along Highway 285, as well as Cottonwood Pass and the Taylor Park Reservoir. Enjoy. 

 

Site #6 Fire Pit and Picnic Table. The table is made of fiberglass, so if you were thinking about stapling your tablecloth to it, bring some tape.

The Pig in Site #6

Tent Pad for Site #6

Sunrise from Lakeview Campground

Clouds rolling through. Taken from the campground.

Sunrise from Lakeview Campground

 

The view from just below site #6.

 

Cottonwood Pass (elevation 12,126 feet (3,696 m)) is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of south-central Colorado, United States. It is located near the border of Gunnison and Chaffee counties in Colorado and is in the Sawatch Range. The area surrounding the pass is mostly forest, with the San Isabel National Forest to the east and the Gunnison National Forest to the west. The Continental Divide is marked at the saddle point of Cottonwood Pass. The pass is closed seasonally due to heavy snowfall, typically from around October until sometime in May. When open, the pass can be accessed from Buena Vista to the east by following Chaffee County Road 306. Near the summit, the road name changes to Gunnison County Road 209 as it continues to the west, passing near Taylor Park Reservoir and continuing down into the town of Almont. The majority of this road is paved, with the exception being the section linking the summit of Cottonwood Pass with Taylor Park Reservoir, which is gravel. When open, the pass is one of the few routes through the Sawatch Range accessible in a standard two-wheel drive passenger vehicle. Independence Pass is another such seasonal route through this mountain range, while efforts are made to ensure that U.S. 50 at Monarch Pass remains open year-round for all vehicles, barring extreme weather conditions.

A view of Cottonwood Pass

Cottonwood Pass

 

 

Cottonwood Pass

 

The view from the top of Cottonwood Pass

 

Scenic views from the summit of Cottonwood Pass

 

An example of the unpaved portion of Cottonwood Pass

 

 

Wetlands surrounding Taylor Reservoir

 

Deer taking a drink, just outside Taylor Reservoir

 

 

 

The clouds were hanging low Saturday morning

 

 

The Taylor Park Reservoir is a body of water created by the Taylor Park Dam, which dams the Taylor River of Colorado, United States. The dam and reservoir, located about 35 miles northeast of Gunnison, are part of the Uncompahgre Project in Colorado. Recreation management at the reservoir is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service and offers camping and fishing. Available fish species in the reservoir include rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout, mackinaw, kokanee, northern pike, and brook trout in the tributaries. The summit of Cottonwood Pass lies a few miles east of the reservoir and can be accessed via Gunnison County Road 209 during the summer months.

 

 

Taylor Park Reservoir

 

 

Dogs are allowed as long as they are leashed.

 

Crystal clear water

 

 

Fishing at Taylor Reservoir

 

Entrance to the Taylor Park Marina

The Pig at Taylor Park Reservoir

 

 

On the way home we decided to see if we could get Penny closer to the lake. Ignorantly, I assumed that all the trucks that were parked up on the lake edge meant I could get that close as well. Needless to say, I got a little too close. We instantly sank about 5 inches into this mud with quicksand like qualities. Fortunately, some of the more intelligent folks in the area helped push me out. It took about 5 guys to push me out. It was extremely embarrassing. We were in up to the bottom of the muffler.

 

After they pushed me out, I drove in reverse as far as I could get from the lake edge. Here you can see the camper parked right next to the lake. This is what gave me the idea in the first place.

The Pig on the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Matt Vander Meulen]

Looks like an awesome time great spot