I used to not think much of “black top camping.” Why on earth would anyone choose to pay money to stay in a parking lot? Particularly when you can often drive a few more miles and find a boondocking spot? But there are those instances where the assets outweigh the asphalt. The Lake Fork Campground overlooking beautiful Blue Mesa Reservoir is just such a place.
There are certain benefits that come with black top camping over boondocking. One can enjoy the monsoons without worry. Watching the deep, ominous clouds form while sheets of rain roll across the lake on the heels of rolling thunder is meditative to me. But I have to confess, the soothing sight is negated by fears of being buried up to the axles. Being in a boondocking location usually means being on dirt, sand, or some other surface easily compromised on a whim from Mother Nature. At least on asphalt, there is no danger of getting stuck. I can watch the rivets of rain on my windows without worrying about rivers of runoff beneath my tires.
An asphalt campground typically offers other benefits as well. Its lack of campfire rings insures I won’t fall asleep wondering if the forest is on fire because someone built a campfire from wet wood. I used to love a good campfire, but when it’s someone elses, you don’t get the ambiance, only the smoke. And after dodging smoke clouds all summer from forest fires, the last thing I want to smell as I drift of to sleep is a smouldering campfire. Besides, the inability to have a fire typically lessens the chance of three year olds on tricycles. Because heaven forbid, it wouldn’t be camping without a campfire, right?
Black top camping versus boondocking also offers some guaranteed policing. In these days of increasing crowds in boondocking areas, there is risk that you will end up with a 24/7 generator operator as your neighbor. Or a drone flying over your bedroom window at 6:00am, as I had outside of Sedona. At least in a campground, there is assurance of some semblance of an enforced quiet hour.
And lastly, should you find an asphalt parking area that offers camping, particularly fee-based camping, you can usually count on some kind of attraction nearby. In this case, it’s access to the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water at 20 miles long with 96 miles of shoreline, and the state’s largest lake trout and Kokanee salmon fishery. I loved walking down to the fish cleaning station every morning as the boats were coming in with their catch. Fishing was good while I was there, though I never mustered the nerve to ask if anyone would sell me a salmon filet or two. I did ask at the marina if this was common practice, but the volunteer teased me about being a “Black Market Fisherman” which made me lose my nerve.
Located halfway between Montrose and Gunnison, there’s plenty to do here. A couple of nice hikes in the area, the 1900 ft deep Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park to explore, as well as the Morrow Point Boat Tour which I did back in 2015.
Though Blue Mesa is a popular destination for boating, I appreciate the fact that you can see the boats, but cannot hear them. One would expect being this close to the lake, the roar of speedboats and jet skis would prove to be annoying. But in fact, they were nowhere to be found. Just pontoon boats and fishing boats, peacefully trolling about, moving on and off the lake with the wave of storm clouds. I can’t figure out where all the speed demons were, not that I am complaining! Watching the boats without the roar of a motor made for zen-like viewing.
Should you pass an asphalt parking spot, don’t judge the black top by its cover. There might just be a Blue Mesa right beneath it.
Now that is one impressive rainbow and the reflection in Blue Mesa Reservoir just makes it that much more awesome!
That is one intense rainbow! Any spot that is peaceful and has a fab view is ok in my book!
What luck to watch that spectacular rainbow!
You were really in the right place at the right time to catch that rainbow!
Sure, that rainbow is flashy (and lovely), but I’m partial to the pinnacles and that gorgeous tree! And to a non-Rver, this kind of campground looks absolutely perfect.
Sorry that we missed you! Blue Mesa looks like it still has enough water for recreation. Drove by a large reservoir north of Paonia today that had such low water that 3/4’s of the lake was gone and not enough water for a boat. Hoping for a snowy wet winter for that area of Colorado!
Love the concept of blacktop camping coming from you. We love to boondock, but as you wrote about in the last post, it is getting more and more difficult to find somewhere to be without a whole lot of effort. Our version of blacktop camping is much like yours, and for similar reasons. Overlooking the ocean at an Oregon State Park is a good version of blacktop, as are some of those spots on the Florida Emerald Coast.
Great pictures. Take whatever campsite suits is my motto. Here in the UK we have far more restrictions on “wild camping” than in the US, so there is far less choice. But at least we’re out there enjoying it.
Great rainbow! For only $8 and with that view, I wouldn’t have any problems parking there for a few nights.
Ohhhh, the blues and the greens, and, yes, yes, yes…that rainbow! One for the books. The best pan fried trout I ever had was not far from this spot right here…thank you for this lovely post. 🙂