Camp trip starting in Colorado plz help

[JM8610]

So my wife and I are planning a 14-18 day camping trip with our three kids and I'm looking for any insight or tips for the area. This includes trails we can drive and camp on. Basically we would like to hit some trails that takes us north staying in the mountains making are way to Wyoming and into Montana. I'm sure in that time frame I doubt there would be enough time to drive that completely off road and that isn't a problem. We just wanna off road couple days at a time pull out get supplies and track north more. This trip will won't take place until school lets out but I'm preplanning now and I have never planned something like this.

And on a side note so my kids love the show gold rush and they are watching the season where they are mining in Colorado. If anyone knows any trails that will take us into a area that I can take them gold panning would be awesome for them. I don't care if we find anything just want me kids to have a awesome experience.

Thanks for any help provided!

 

[4wheelspulling]

Hope you know that an artic storm brought in lots of snow and cold weather to the North part of the country, just this weekend? So, be ready with warm gear, and for lots of wind! Not so much for gold, but in the North, MT. Philipsburg Montana, you can pan for Montana sapphires! On a 1 - 10 scale, Diamond being at 10, Sapphires are a 9. South MT. Lewistown, MT. has places you can pan for Sapphires. If you find the right grade of Sapphires they are worth more per weight than gold! Beautiful Blues, and very rare are Purple. Plus other colors as well. In Casper, Wyoming, there are some stores that have mining supplies and may give you some good places to look and tour. You will go over many rivers that are famous for gold and silver! Watch out driving around dark 30, as we saw a couple hundred antelope! And even some, bison. Lots of historical information about battles and more, abound. Hope you have a great trip! Benz.

 

[JM8610]

That’s interesting didn’t know about the gems looking into the areas you mentioned. Just funny that we told them about the trip and today they realized that one of the crews on gold rush is in Colorado and my oldest begged to go panning. So thought we would map out some locations to try this out for him.
We won’t be going until may of 2018 so not worried about the winter storm. I’m just preplanning. I just wanna make sure we are fully prepped for a long trip with wife and the kids at that time they will be 10-6-3

But we are very excited about this trip and we have been prepping vehicle for the first
Of several long hauls we will be doing. Thanks again for the specific locations. It at least gives me a start in what directions we need to be going


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[Corey Carrico]

This website is helpful for understanding when some of the higher elevation passes typically open for the year. I'd stick to the front range trails in May as snow will still be prevalent at higher elevations and some north facing slopes.
http://bushducks.com/tripreps/passopen.htm

 

[Boort]

@JM8610

And on a side note so my kids love the show gold rush and they are watching the season where they are mining in Colorado. If anyone knows any trails that will take us into a area that I can take them gold panning would be awesome for them. I don't care if we find anything just want me kids to have a awesome experience.

Where in Co are you planning to start from? You mentioned South to North. the Colorado branch of BDR maintain the following page and route planning for what they call the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route http://ridebdr.com/COBDR I've done some of these trails in my Tacoma others may only be passable on a overland motor bike. For a great reference of Colorado Trails get or borrow a copy of Guide to Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel-Drive Trails by Charles A. Wells ISBN: 978-1934838044 (Sorry Amazon link got crushed to Media and was not showing, Swapped it for a B&N link)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1100124263 (A lot of Libraries around here have it so you should be able to request it via Inter-library Loan from your local library.)

For Gold panning and mining, Lots of Mtn towns have a history rooted in panning and mining. Everything from tourist trap panning shows to the real deal going on if you look. If you pass through Breckenridge or Nederland take the kids into Natures Own. Lots of pretty rocks to be found there generally a good selection from Colorado. Ask the folks there, they have always been helpful. If you can time it right Colorado has many Gem and Mineral trade shows. One of the biggest is http://www.denvermineralshow.com/ in September. Others include http://www.rockngem.com/ShowDatesFiles/ShowDatesDisplayAll.php?ShowState=CO

For panning sites check out: http://www.goldfeverprospecting.com/cogolo.html
For Gem Stones Start at: http://www.coloradoprospector.com/Gems&Minerals/Colorado_Gems_&_Minerals.html

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has been digging up a Triceratops in Thornton just north of Denver over the last few weeks. http://www.dmns.org/press-room/press-kits/thornton-triceratops/ http://kdvr.com/2017/08/29/construction-crew-finds-rare-triceratops-fossil-in-thornton/ Heard they found some T. Rex teeth as well.

Boort

 

[JM8610]

A lot a great info here thank y’all. Trail wise I wanna keep it easy going seeing how as of now we are riding solo so didn’t wanna get into something sketchy for my wife.

And as far as what areas we plan on starting we are unsure. We have never been there which is why I’m starting here for insight for best place to go with 3 younger kids that isn’t necessarily “tourist trap”. We wanna see the country and this is where we are starting. O guess wouldn’t hurt to mention we will be coming from Mississippi just south of Memphis


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[OVRLNDNAIR]

@JM8610
Did you guys end up making your trip through colorado and beyond? Just wondering, trying to put something together for the July 2019 using the BDR. Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks!