Big Creek Lakes•Routt NF

00:00     Title
00:15     Vaughan Lake Campground 
02:15     Big Creek Lakes
08:20     Roadside Camps
09:20     Juniper Springs 
10:50     Freeman Campground
13:20     Fin

The Big Creek Lakes area is located about one hour west of Walden, Colorado and the dirt roads are fairly smooth. This destination is over 9,000 feet above sea level and a visitor can expect chilly nights even during mid summer. The daytime temperatures are cool and comfortable, so this definitely is a good place to escape the extreme heat of summer. Planning a camping trip is the best option, because you will likely not want to leave anytime soon after taking in the views of this majestic alpine setting. 

There are a couple of large lakes that are part of the Big Creek ecosystem of mountain snow melt wetlands. There are streams and bogs to explore, so the chances of spotting wild moose are much better than average, especially since the neighboring Walden is the moose capitol of the world. In fact, if the goal is to capture a once in a lifetime moose picture with a camera or paint set, then the chances are good that you will not go home empty handed. The pine, fir and conifer woods are deep in this region, so there will be opportunities to photograph all sorts of Rocky Mountain wildlife, which include deer, elk and a wide variety of migrating birds.

There is a large campground with facilities at Big Creek Lakes and there are scattered boondocking campsites that are easy to find along the roadside. There are group camping areas and sites for special events. Campsite reservations are recommended and the current conditions can be found at the Routt National Forest website.

Camping, fishing, star gazing and nature viewing are prime activities mid summer. During the autumn season, this area is all about hunting and most of the campsites are occupied by hunters with tags to fill.  The surrounding mountain peaks add to the charm and there are plenty of hiking trails to take on. Drinking water is not currently available, so be sure to stock up heavy or pack a purification system. Supplies can be found downhill in Walden and there are several wildlife areas in between that can make the trip interesting. Big Creek Lakes certainly is a great place to leave the modern world behind, so be sure to chalk this lesser known spot high on the list!