Motorcycle Camping Along Cottonwood Pass and Taylor Canyon

Head west out of Buena Vista and you come down to Almont, a small town midway between Crested Butte and Gunnison. Along the way you pass over Cottonwood Pass, past Taylor Reservoir, and down Taylor Canyon. There are numerous good motorcycle-accessible campgrounds along this route, primarily on the western end, through the canyon.

In the canyon you'll find seven campgrounds: Gunnison Mountain Park, Granite, North Bank, Rosy Lane, Lodgepole, Cold Spring, and Lottis Creek. On the south side of Taylor Reservoir, on the hillside overlooking the valley, is Lakeview, and around the lake on the north is Rivers End. Collegiate Peaks is the one campground on the east side of Cottonwood Pass.

Gunnison Mountain Park Campground

Gunnison Mountain Park Campground, as near as I can tell, is what the name implies, a mountain park owned and operated by the town of Gunnison. Not particularly relevant.

About 3 miles east of Almont, the campground has 11 sites with tables, tent pads, fire rings, dumpsters, outhouses, and water.

The camping fee is $7 per night. Most of the sites are walk-in but the way they're strung out along the highway you could easily pull over, unload, carry your stuff to the site, and then pull up and park in the lot.

The entire area is wooded and shady. It will be noisy depending on traffic on the road, and Taylor Reservoir up the canyon is very popular, but that will inevitably be true of all campgrounds along this road.

Granite Tent Campground

Granite Tent Campground is a U.S. Forest Service campground, with a $12 per night camping fee. Tents only, as the name implies.

There are only six campsites. The campground has an outhouse and each site offers tables and fire rings.

All sites are walk-in, tent-only but most are very close to the road, and also close to the river.

There is a dumpster but it appears they charge $4 per bag of trash, although that may apply only to people not camping there.

North Bank Campground

At this point along Taylor Canyon the creek is on the north side of the road and to get to North Bank Campground you cross the river traverse about one-quarter of a mile of gravel road. It's a good gravel road, though, and when we were there we saw several motorcyclists camped there.

The 17 campsites offer tables and fire rings. The campground has an outhouse, dumpster, and firewood for sale.

Some sites are on the river, and not all sites are shady. Camping is $14 per night.

Rosy Lane Campground

Rosy Lane Campground is more expensive than other campgrounds along this road because it is set up to accommodate campers and offers electrical hook-ups. The nightly fee is $24 with a hook-up, $18 without.

There are 20 campsites. The campground has outhouses, dumpsters, and the road is paved. Each site offers tent pads, tables, and fire rings.

There is also one handicapped-accessible campsite.

Lodgepole Campground

There is a decent gravel road running through Lodgepole Campground, which is divided into two separate sections.

The 16 sites offer tables, fire rings, and shade. The campground has outhouses, water, andfirewood for sale.

Some of the sites are right alongside the road.

The nightly camping fee is $16.

Cold Spring Campground

The gravel road going in to Cold Spring Campground is not as good as at some of the other spots along this road. On the other hand, this means it is not a good campground for trailers or RVs so you don't have those to contend with.

The campground offers dumpsters and outhouses. The sites have tables but no fire rings. There's no water available here.

The nightly camping fee for the six sites is $10.

Lottis Creek Campground

Lottis Creek Campground is another with electrical hook-ups, and that is reflected in the price. With a hook-up you'll pay $24 per night; without, $18.

There are 45 camp sites with 25 reservable and 20 first-come, first-served.There are also 4 reservable ADA accessible sites and 38 sites with electric. The road is paved through much of it. However, the campground is divided into two sections, and the section further from the road is not paved. We found the west section to be a bit nicer than the east section.

The campground has outhouses, dumpsters, and water is available. Each site offers tables and fire rings.

Lakeview Campground

To reach Lakeview Campground you turn off the main road to the south and climb the hill a bit. The road up and all through this large (65 sites) campground is paved.

This is a favorite with boaters and families so expect it to be busy. It has a great view out over the lake.

As with other campgrounds featuring electrical hook-ups, the nightly fees are $24 with power, $18 without.

All sites have tables and fire rings, and there are dumpsters and vault toilets, water is available, and firewood is for sale.

There is not a lot of shade in most sites, although there is more in the upper loop, but not as nice a view.

Rivers End Campground

Rivers End Campground is a typical fisherman's campground, right on the shore with no trees or shade.

It is on the north side of the lake and by the time you get here the pavement has ended. The gravel road is in good shape. The road throughout the campground is gravel.

The campground has water and outhouses. The 15 sites have tables and fire rings. The whole place is windy and dusty.

The nightly camping fee is $14.

Collegiate Peaks Campground

Collegiate Peaks Campground is the only campground on the east side of Cottonwood Pass.

There are 56 campsites, in three loops, with a paved road coming in from the main road, but gravel within. The gravel portion was pretty rough when we were there, with a lot of potholes.

The campground has vault toilets and each site offers tables and fire rings.

The entire area is very shady. Camping fees are $20 per night.

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