DISPERSED CAMPING: CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR CAMPING AREA: BUENA VISTA, COLORADO

Hi everyone,
This is very uncharacteristic of me changing horses in the middle of the stream but I was very uncomfortable camping in an area where I’m not very familiar with so we’ll make camping Forest Road 272 and hanging out in Salida sometime in August besides looking at a topographic map I noticed there are no water resources I feel are very important. I just didn’t feel right about it so I’ve changed the camping area to a very nice spot where others and I have camped many times before and have had very pleasant memories.

Besides if we’re heading to Nathrop to hike a couple roadside waterfalls then up to the ghost town of St. Elmos we may as well check out a few ghost towns [Vicksburg https://www.uncovercolorado.com/ghost-towns/vicksburg/](https://www.uncovercolorado.com/ghost-towns/vicksburg/) and [Winfield https://www.uncovercolorado.com/ghost-towns/winfield/](https://www.uncovercolorado.com/ghost-towns/winfield/) a few miles up from where we’ll be camping after we return from the two short hikes a stroll through St. Elmo's Ghost Town and short hike towards Tin Cup.
Even if you’re not camping at Clear Creek the ghost towns of Vicksburg and Winfield are on your way back to wherever you’re heading so we may as well make it a GHOST TOWN ROAD TRIP!!!

Though Clear Creek is quite a distance (20 miles) to Nathrop, Chalk Canyon and St. Elmo's the drive heading towards the Collegiate Peaks is a drive worth traveling. The drive to our destination is about 45 minutes if you’re going the speed limit. Clear Creek Reservoir is an easy lake to reach between Buena Vista and Leadville in Granite, CO. Boating, camping and fishing are available at the lake, but even more recreation exists further west on the county road.

Activities
Ghost Towns: If you continue past the reservoir on Co Rd 390, you’ll reach Vicksburg in 8 miles. There are several buildings and ruins worth stopping for. Rockdale is at 10 miles with a few cabins to see, and Winfield is at the end of the county road in 12 total miles.

Boating: Power boats are permitted on the 407-acre lake. There is a boat ramp and checkpoint.

Paddle boating, kayaking and canoeing: are a stones throw away from where we’ll be camping

Fishing: Excellent boat and shore fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout. Tiger muskie and kokanee salmon are common too.
Hiking: Shorter strolls can be enjoyed around the above ghost towns. For a more rigorous hike, take the 4×4 road 3 miles from Rockdale. It leads uphill to Clohesy Lake.

My favorite route from Denver is I-70 to Leadville, drive through Leadville connecting with US-24 passing Twin Lakes turn-off towards Buena Vista. The address is: 23303 Co Rd 390, Buena Vista, CO 81211. But some people take SB-285, up and over Kenosha Pass, through Jefferson and Fairplay but I’m not too fond of this route.

As I’m not there yet I don’t have a pinpoint and probably won’t have one as I don’t know how to use one on my cell-phone but you could always look for my Colorado State Flag once you get there. Clear Creek is a large area but I’m always easy to find.

I hope to see you sometime between Thursday and Monday. Come and leave whenever you want to.
Drive Safe!
Don