McClure Campground ~ Gunnison National Forest

​Flickr album link: McClure Campground

​There are places in Colorado where the mainstream tourists tend to go and these destinations are nearly always overcrowded. The bright shiny objects certainly draw attention when browsing a map, while the blank spots that require zooming in for a closer view often are completely overlooked. For those who truly wish to make a great escape happen, the blank spaces on a map are where the wide open spaces can be found and the big crowds can easily be left far behind. One such place is located in the Gunnison National Forest between the Highway 50 and I-70 tourism corridors near Crested Butte. During winter this region is all about the ski lodges, while the nearby national parks get all the attention during summer. For this reason, peace of mind and plenty of elbow room awaits in the lesser known public lands that are not in the limelight. 

National Forest destinations and recreational activities tend to be more time consuming in more ways than one, so camping truly is the best way to go. In fact, when somebody says they are going to a national forest for the weekend, the first question asked most often is "Where do you plan to camp?" The reason why has to do with the thought of the traditional activities that a national forest offers. Rock collecting, birding, berry picking, rock climbing, fishing, hiking and lazing the day away in a hammock all come to mind. These family fun activities are indeed educational experiences that develop necessary skills and natural interests, so plenty of time must be set aside for the experience. For this reason, camping onsite definitely is the best option.  

The Gunnison National Forest offers plenty of lesser known nooks and crannies to explore in central Colorado. There are also many good places to setup a basecamp and one such spot to keep an eye out for is the McClure Campground. This campground is located in the high elevation aspen forests of the Rocky Mountains between Crested Butte and Grand Mesa. This developed campground only offers basic facilities, but the deep aspen forest truly is what summertime dreams are made of. A creek flows nearby and there are several large beaver pons that offer great trout fishing. There are also a few historic areas nearby that are perfect for a day trip. Best of all, the McClure Campground sees very little traffic, so it is very easy to find some peace and quiet. The sunlight glistening through the quaking aspen leaves is simply mesmerizing to see, so be prepared to drift off into dreamland quite often in this unique little campground!