Vaughan Lake Campground•Routt NF

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

High elevation campgrounds certainly are enticing when trying to escape from the extreme heat of summer. The crisp clean mountain air, bright sunshine and comfortably cool outdoor temperatures all add up to a great experience the entire family. On the other hand, those who are accustomed to living in the desert southwest climate likely will not look forward to packing winter gear for the icy nights. Both summer and winter gear may be necessary for a comfortable campout in the high elevations. 

The Colorado Rocky Mountains offer plenty of high elevation camping opportunities, yet the highest percentage of visitors tend to flock to Rocky Mountain National Park, which is infamous for extreme overcrowding problems. In reality, this national park only covers a small patch of land in this big mountain range, so there is plenty of room to roam in the neighboring national forests. 

The Routt National Forest is just a short drive west of Rocky Mountain National Park and there is a famous touring route from Meeker to Yampa in this territory that offers several roadside camping opportunities. County Road 8 is basically a smooth dirt road highway during the summer season. Small RV campers and trailers can easily handle the grades on this touring route. Most of the campgrounds in this region were designed with seasonal hunters in mind, so the campsites tend to favor vehicle tent campers and small recreational vehicles.

One of the best camping opportunities to keep an eye out for along CR 8 is the Vaughan Lake Campground, which is situated in a mountain meadow setting that is as picturesque as can be. There are only 6 campsites at Vaughan Lake, but each pad is nestled in an aspen forest, which is like a dream come true for those who plan on lazing the day away in a hammock. Vaughan Lake is just a short walk downhill and the trout fishing is supreme in this big pond, so putting some fresh food on the table can be done. This is a dark sky night region that is perfect for star gazers and wildlife viewers will feel right at home.

On the downside, this is a sheep herding and cattle ranching region, so this area can have low appeal at times. The autumn season is when this campground becomes a hunter basecamp and these kinds of visitors are usually in no hurry to leave until the tags are filled. Campsite availability may be limited during hunting season, which means summer offers the best opportunity for casual campers. The cool shade of the aspen trees next to a mountain meadow lake certainly is an appealing thought during the peak heat of summer, so be sure to keep Vaughan Lake Campground in mind!