Oklahoma to Colorado

[GladiGator]

I am planning a trip for a 2 truck trip to Colorado in August. We will be leaving Oklahoma City with the idea to trek around W/NW Colorado ending up somewhere around the Alpine Loop. I want to plan out the trip on Gaia and provide the map to the other truck. Where I am getting stuck is figuring out where to camp each night. Trying to stay out of KOA's etc. and stay full wilderness. I need some advice from the experts here. Where do I get started, should I just pick a National Forest or BLM land and explore? I'm a complete greenhorn.

Thanks in advance. Sharing my rig for attention.
View attachment 156050

Side note: I know the site is messy. It was like that before we arrived and we left it better than we found it.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Try iOverlander.com for starters. They have an app.

While you're in the area, I strongly suggest you look at doing Imogene Pass, Ophir Pass, and Corkscrew/Hurricane/California/Placer/Picayune. Look at Stony Pass too. It's a good one to spend a night or two on. It's pretty long. Last Dollar road is easy, but very scenic and has camping along the way.

Here's some good sources of trail info:

Trails Offroad: 4x4, Jeep and Overland Trail Guides & Maps

Search for the best off-road trails, complete with trail info, maps, trail reviews, gpx tracks, photos and videos.

www.trailsoffroad.com

Bushducks Colorado Pass Page

The Colorado High Country Pass Page shows the open and closed status of many high country 4wd and jeep trails. Useful for jeeps, 4wds, ATVs, mountain bikes, dirt bikes, snowshoers, hikers and anyone wanting to get out and about in the Colorado Rockies.

bushducks.com

Let us know more about your route as we may have some specific camping ideas. For example, I've camped at the bottom of Corkscrew several times.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Also, look us up if you happen to be in the area on these dates:

Colorado Mountain Jam 2020

Colorado Mountain Jam 2020 will be a low key stroll throughout the amazing San Juan Mountains and dispersed base-camping outside of Ouray, [TBD]. We’ve got 4 trail

www.overlandbound.com

 

[Prerunner1982]

Also, looks at the MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Maps) either online or stop into the local Ranger office to get a paper copy.
They will show what roads allow dispersed camping, some up to 300 ft off of the road.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

Also, looks at the MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Maps) either online or stop into the local Ranger office to get a paper copy.
They will show what roads allow dispersed camping, some up to 300 ft off of the road.

This should get you going in the right direction:

San Juan National Forest - Maps & Publications

San Juan National Forest - Maps & Publications

www.fs.usda.gov

 

[Prerunner1982]

Also the Forest Service Interactive Visitor map is pretty easy to navigate to see what routes are open and where the FS camp grounds are.

Forest Service Visitor Map

Explore your National Forests and Grasslands with the new and improved Visitor Map 2.0

www.fs.fed.us

 

[Pathkiller]

I am planning a trip for a 2 truck trip to Colorado in August. We will be leaving Oklahoma City with the idea to trek around W/NW Colorado ending up somewhere around the Alpine Loop. I want to plan out the trip on Gaia and provide the map to the other truck. Where I am getting stuck is figuring out where to camp each night. Trying to stay out of KOA's etc. and stay full wilderness. I need some advice from the experts here. Where do I get started, should I just pick a National Forest or BLM land and explore? I'm a complete greenhorn.

Thanks in advance. Sharing my rig for attention.
View attachment 156050

Side note: I know the site is messy. It was like that before we arrived and we left it better than we found it.

You can overlay the US Forest Roads & Trails, the MVUM (USFS) and the Outdoors maps which should show some sites.

 

[GladiGator]

Try iOverlander.com for starters. They have an app.

While you're in the area, I strongly suggest you look at doing Imogene Pass, Ophir Pass, and Corkscrew/Hurricane/California/Placer/Picayune. Look at Stony Pass too. It's a good one to spend a night or two on. It's pretty long. Last Dollar road is easy, but very scenic and has camping along the way.

Here's some good sources of trail info:

Trails Offroad: 4x4, Jeep and Overland Trail Guides & Maps

Search for the best off-road trails, complete with trail info, maps, trail reviews, gpx tracks, photos and videos.

www.trailsoffroad.com

Bushducks Colorado Pass Page

The Colorado High Country Pass Page shows the open and closed status of many high country 4wd and jeep trails. Useful for jeeps, 4wds, ATVs, mountain bikes, dirt bikes, snowshoers, hikers and anyone wanting to get out and about in the Colorado Rockies.

bushducks.com

Let us know more about your route as we may have some specific camping ideas. For example, I've camped at the bottom of Corkscrew several times.

This is great! I am going to start mapping it out and come back with a route. Stony Pass was on my list as I've heard some good things from a couple of guys here in OK. Thanks for the great info!

 

[Aequitas1916]

Check out freecampsites.net as well. Between ioverlander.com and that one, you can probably find some previously reviewed camping along your route, if you don't feel like blazing a trail based on MVUMs and such. Dispersed camping is awesome and I highly recommend it. But, sometimes a spot that looked promising on map doesn't turn out that good, or even viable. And, when your timetable for your next destination depends on reaching a campsite for rest before continuing the next day, it can be difficult to call an audible in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal available to help you find another spot.

I guess it depends how safe you want to play it. Mix in some exploration with known camping spots, plan alternatives to your selected explorations, or just wing it.

 

[GladiGator]

Check out freecampsites.net as well. Between ioverlander.com and that one, you can probably find some previously reviewed camping along your route, if you don't feel like blazing a trail based on MVUMs and such. Dispersed camping is awesome and I highly recommend it. But, sometimes a spot that looked promising on map doesn't turn out that good, or even viable. And, when your timetable for your next destination depends on reaching a campsite for rest before continuing the next day, it can be difficult to call an audible in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal available to help you find another spot.

I guess it depends how safe you want to play it. Mix in some exploration with known camping spots, plan alternatives to your selected explorations, or just wing it.

This is super helpful. I do know that saying "2 is 1 and 1 is none" holds true with overlanding. Exploring the Ozark-St. Francis forest is one place where you never know if your spot is taken already. I appreciate the help.

 

[Neal A. Tew]

This is great! I am going to start mapping it out and come back with a route. Stony Pass was on my list as I've heard some good things from a couple of guys here in OK. Thanks for the great info!

I haven't run Stony in a couple years. If you're game for any company, hit me up!