cheyenne mountain state park

Off to Frontier Days

20 07 2024

In what has become an annual tradition, we’re headed to Cheyenne, WY for the 128^th presentation of the “Daddy of ‘em All” rodeo, carnival and concerts. We’re seeing two concerts this year, Lainey Wilson on Friday and Thomas Rhett on Saturday. And, we’ll spend 1 afternoon enjoying the rodeo and carnival.

Cheyenne Frontier Days, Lainey Wilson

But, before arriving in Cheyenne, we’re parked at Boyd Lake State Park, just north of Loveland, CO. We’ll be in two sites during our 4 night stay, #39 and #126. Both sites offer 50A electric. Water can be filled on arrival, and there’s a dual dump station for use on departure. The big news at Boyd is the expansion and rebuilding of the former A loop. Originally with about 30 sites, the loop has been expanded to the north and now boasts about 85 sites, with about half of these new sites offering full hookups! The construction fencing and gates are still closed on this new area as they finalize site utilities and try to get some ground cover to grow. With an planned opening date in June, they appear to be about 90 days or more behind schedule. But, this new space is going to be great – we can’t wait to check it out next year!

Boyd Lake Campground Redevelopment

In Cheyenne, we’re at AB Camping again this year – we think the best and only option for CFD stays. The BBQ restaurant serves up tasty burritos for breakfast, amazing smoked meats for lunch and dinner along with delicious pies and ice cream for anytime. And, with regular shuttle service to Frontier Park, no need to hassle with parking and traffic. Thanks again Marc and Jane – it was a great stay!

Cheyenne Mountain State Park, site #16

From Cheyenne we’re headed to Cheyenne Mountain State Park outside of Colorado Springs. We’re parked on Gobblers Gove loop, site #16 for the next 3 nights. As with many sites in this park, the views out across Colorado Springs are awesome. From Cheyenne Mountain we’re headed home. With only 6 weeks at home since the beginning of the year, we’re anxious to actually spend some time there.

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Tags: boyd lake, cfd, cheyenne, cheyenne mountain state park
Categories : Summer Camping 2024

Best of Colorado State Parks #1

25 06 2023

This year we decided to return to some of our favorite Colorado State Parks that we’ve stayed in over the years. Reservations are nearly impossible to get at some of these more urban parks, but fortunately on exactly the 6 month reservation window, we were able to snag some great sites. Thanks P&D for the online help!

Our first stop is Cheyenne Mountain, just outside of Colorado Springs. In our list of “best”, this State Park certainly ranks in the top-10. Beautiful views over Colorado Springs, excellent facilities, well maintained sites and miles and miles of hiking trails. And, it’s literally about a mile to entrance of the NORAD Installation deep within Cheyenne Mountain made famous by movies such as StarGate and War Games.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park

NORAD from War Games

From Cheyenne Mountain we’re off to Mueller State Park. Not as close to Colorado Springs, but still very busy – this park is located in the western shadow of Pikes Peak, between Divide and Cripple Creek. Campsites are Mueller are uniquely placed along the top of 4 mountain ridges. With over 35 miles of trails in the park, there’s plenty of places to find beautiful scenery and wildlife.

Mueller State Park, site #35

Mueller State Park, site #40

Mueller State Park, site #41

After a great stay in Mueller, we’re off to Chatfield State Park outside of Denver. Not necessarily one of our favorites, but this park provides easy access to all things that Denver offers. Tonight it’s a Brother’s Osborn concert at Fiddlers Green.

Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village, CO

From Chatfield we’re headed home for a weekend, then up to Lake Pueblo State Park, then to Cheyenne for the 127^th annual Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, carnival and concerts. More from Cheyenne…

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Tags: chatfield state park, cheyenne mountain state park, Mueller state park
Categories : Summer Camping 2023

15 05 2015

Cheyenne Mountain State Park

Good morning from Cheyenne Mountain.

Perched on the side of the mountain that houses NORAD and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force base, this busy State Park is an urban oasis just a few miles from downtown Colorado Springs. Boasting 2700 acres, 20 miles of biking and hiking trails and 50 full service campsites along with 10 walk-in tent sites, this is one of the best State Parks Colorado has to offer.

With reservations for Friday through Sunday, we decided to arrive early on Thursday and were quite fortunate to end up in the very last site available, #36. In the northern end of Swift Puma campground, this back-in site provides views out over Ft. Carson at the base of the mountain and Colorado Springs spreading out to the north and east. This site has a fairly short and steep downhill approach that could discourage travel trailers and coaches with low ground clearance. On Friday we occupy our reserved site, #38, just on the other side of the Host site and designed with a longer and more level entrance and pad. All of the sites provide full hookups; sewer, 50/30/20 amp electric service and water. They each also have a picnic table and fire pit with a secondary water faucet.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park

All around the park are fire hoses that can be connected to the standard water taps. These secondary taps and fire hoses seem very forward thinking with the sometimes high risk of fire that can become a reality along the front range. We’re not more than a few miles from the Waldo Canyon fire that erupted in 2012 and the Black Forest fire of 2013 that destroyed nearly 500 homes making it the most destructive in Colorado history.

While we’ve been in the 5th wheel nearly 50 nights since we left for Texas in mid-March, we consider this our first trip of the 2015 summer camping season. Along with friends that are spending their first night in a new camper, we enjoy chilly nights, sunny mornings and rainy, windy afternoons and evenings at Cheyenne Mountain. But, it’s only 5 days until we head west to Moab, UT where the weather promises to be a bit more mild . More from there…