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charley
Jun 6, 2005, 1:46 PM
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How do you get from turkey rocks campground from denver? That is without getting directions from some other place I don't know how to get to. :lol:
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nthusiastj
Jun 6, 2005, 1:55 PM
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The campground is closed right now. I hear that it may not open this season.
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charley
Jun 6, 2005, 6:06 PM
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How about the rocks then? :oops:
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nthusiastj
Jun 6, 2005, 6:24 PM
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They are open.
My guidebook is in my friends car and I can't give good directions from memory.
Post this on the Front range partners thread. You may get a quicker answer that way.
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tradklime
Jun 7, 2005, 3:27 PM
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Take 285 south from Denver. Turn left (South) on to #126 at Pine Junction. Take #126 to Deckers, at Deckers continue South on #67, #126 essentially turns into #67. A few miles past Deckers take a right on to #68. This is a dirt road and the turn is on a bend in the road. I always look for a fire station sign that signals the turn is approaching, it is easy to miss. At the base of a short decline, take a left at the stop sign. Travel less than a mile to a right turn. The right turn as at the fire station, which is not that obvious, so look for it (looks like a garage). Turn right and continue on this road. Eventually there will be a sharp left turn at the entrance to a private residential area, continue straight. You should be able to pass through a gate, if not, you have to walk a ways. Continue along this somewhat rough road past the left turn to the now closed turkey rocks camp ground. You will pass over a large culvert/ small creek and then go up a hill. At the top of the hill start looking left for the rocks. There will be a not so obvious left turn torwards the rocks. This road takes you to a parking area at the base of the saddle between turkey rocks and turkey perch. Hike the trail (1/4 mile) and your there.
Take this all with a grain of salt and get a guide book. The climbing is fabulous. Best concentration of crack climbs in CO.
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horseonwheels
Jun 7, 2005, 4:28 PM
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Sort of an aside here, although related, so who knows?
Now that the Turkey Rocks campground is closed, any ideas about best places to camp? The whole area is in a national forest if I remember, so would using the national forest camping rules and camping anywhere be an option? Or any other suggestions?
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flamer
Jun 7, 2005, 7:28 PM
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In reply to: Sort of an aside here, although related, so who knows? Now that the Turkey Rocks campground is closed, any ideas about best places to camp? The whole area is in a national forest if I remember, so would using the national forest camping rules and camping anywhere be an option? Or any other suggestions?
You can legally camp anywhere out there. You have 30 days then you have to move.
The only exception is when it's posted(by the forest) that you can't camp in a designated area.
josh
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schveety
Jun 8, 2005, 8:49 AM
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I was just at Turkey rocks a couple of weeks ago, and though it is free to camp, I don't think the rangers like it very much. We talked to one and they prefer that you stay at a campground, but you may want to contact them or just go ahead and camp. We stayed at the Lone Wolf (I think that's what it's called) campground, which is right before you get to Deckers.
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flamer
Jun 8, 2005, 9:48 AM
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In reply to: I don't think the rangers like it very much.
Some rangers opinion doesn't matter. We are talking about the law, if they don't like it than tough shit!! As long as you're not breaking any laws, screw'em!
josh
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climbingnurse
Jun 8, 2005, 9:59 AM
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In reply to: In reply to: I don't think the rangers like it very much. Some rangers opinion doesn't matter. We are talking about the law, if they don't like it than tough s---!! As long as you're not breaking any laws, screw'em! josh
And let's not forget that we are all part owners of that land. You have every right to do anything you want there so long as you are not empeeding (sp?) others' enjoyment of the land.
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schveety
Jun 8, 2005, 10:55 AM
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The ranger's opinions don't matter huh.... I thought it was part of their job description to protect the area so that everyone can use it when IT'S HEALTHY.... I believe the issue with camping in the area is that it was recently burned and still looks pretty bad. Their main concern is that camping anywhere can IMPEDE the restoration of some sensitive areas. I don't care where you camp, just take into consideration that the area is sensitive right now due to the past fire and should be handled with care!!!
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schveety
Jun 8, 2005, 10:56 AM
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And besides, just because you aren't breaking the law doesn't mean it's the right thing to do, I have full confidence that people are smart enough to figure out if an area is okay to camp in or not...
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tradklime
Jun 8, 2005, 12:02 PM
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Interesting... I recall when i worked for the FS that the restriction on camping was to limit your stay in National Forest to 16 days per month, but its been awhile...
Anyway, flamer is correct that you can camp anywhere (within reason) in the national forest unless it is specifically prohibited. The rangers should do their best to represent the law. They should also take the opportunity to educate users on low impact camping/ usage, if there is a real concern.
That said, if there is a real argument that the current condition of the forest in the area is sensative, it is conceivable that the area could be closed to all camping (although it is not entirely simple to do so). And that would suck. So we should all do our part to minimize our impact, such as utilizing existing camping areas/ fire rings rather than making new ones, picking up after ourselves (not leaving bags of trash behind), putting out our camp fires when done, etc. Simple common sense stuff, but you'd be amazed at what gets done.
If people camp responsibly, I would be very surprised if the area got closed to camping. Also, I suspect that there is NO legitimate argument that the area is in a fragile state, such that the usage it is seeing would constitute any real environmental risk.
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mbg
Jun 8, 2005, 12:43 PM
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It's worth mentioning that even though camping is pretty much free for all in the Turkey Rocks area, you can't camp just anywhere on the driving route tradklime describes until you are a ways past the hamlet of Westcreek (where the fire station is). The Pike NF gets a lot of use and car camping isn't allowed in many places between Denver and Turkey Rx. There are still some obscure side roads that aren't restricted but you're out of luck on the main roads. Established forest service campgrounds are, of course, an exception.
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schveety
Jun 8, 2005, 12:53 PM
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Well stated Tradklime, sorry if I got a little crazy in my posts, :oops: I certainly don't mean people shouldn't camp there, but certain areas are sensitive right now because of the fire and disturbing the forest floor can disturb regrowth that is direly needed, especially to stop runoff. Camping where others have camped is certainly feasible, but from the looks of things it didn't appear that many people were camping right near the rocks, it looked as if they were driving in from elsewhere.
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flamer
Jun 8, 2005, 1:27 PM
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In reply to: Well stated Tradklime, sorry if I got a little crazy in my posts, :oops: I certainly don't mean people shouldn't camp there, but certain areas are sensitive right now because of the fire and disturbing the forest floor can disturb regrowth that is direly needed, especially to stop runoff. Camping where others have camped is certainly feasible, but from the looks of things it didn't appear that many people were camping right near the rocks, it looked as if they were driving in from elsewhere.
I don't know where you parked, but the standard parking area for turkey rocks is also a fairly standard area where climbers car camp. There are a couple of established fire rings as well as flat spots should you want to pitch a tent. This area was also not burned.
You don't need to lecture me about fire stuff there slick...I know all about fire ecology.
It's our land folks, use it with respect, but there is know need to not use it because joe blow ranger doesn't like it.
josh
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schveety
Jun 8, 2005, 3:01 PM
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Sorry, didn't mean to lecture you josh, and by the way, i'm not slick, i'm schveety :D, which is kind of like slick, but really it only happens when i am climbing. We did park behind the rocks, I guess I just didn't notice anyone, just making observations, sorry again. Camp away!
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flamer
Jun 8, 2005, 4:11 PM
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In reply to: Sorry, didn't mean to lecture you josh, and by the way, i'm not slick, i'm schveety :D, which is kind of like slick, but really it only happens when i am climbing. We did park behind the rocks, I guess I just didn't notice anyone, just making observations, sorry again. Camp away!
It's all good my friend!! Glad to see you caught the slick and schveety reference...it was intended as a play on words and it's good to see someone who can read a joke as joke!!
josh
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