From Yampa River to Lake Granby, Sunset Point Campground near Rocky Mountain National Park

Sunset Point Campground, Near Granby, CO

We enjoyed our two days at Yampa River State Park…it was quieter on Monday than on Sunday, which itself was very quiet.  Weekends are busy…weekdays are not, and those who did not leave on Sunday, departed on Monday only leaving about 10% of the park occupied, with another 5% arriving Monday for a night or two. 

Had a bit of rain Monday afternoon…leaving a great sunset opportunity which I took advantage of.

  

Earlier in the afternoon, I sat outside looking for Osprey…but instead found Pelican and Heron flaying around just before the rain hit.

I am glad we stayed two nights at Yampa River State Park…it now gives us the opportunity to stay in the Grand Lakes region for two weeks, which will put us through past Labor Day.

Our 130 mile journey today took us along the Yampa River…

  

Through Steamboat Springs…

And up over 9,200 feet just east of Steamboat Springs.  A little bit of construction, along with a few stretches of 2nd gear, 30 mph speeds (for us, not others who passed us), and we made it over Rabbit Ears Pass.

Through a narrow canyon, a quick turn onto US Highway 34, and we arrived at Lake Granby nearly 3 hours after leaving Yampa River State Park..  Hoping to get a spot at Sunset Point Campground, a first come, first in type of national forest campground, and we would have it made…and we scored on of the last spots that could fit us in.  Well, there were two others which were “double” spots, or “group” spots…at $48 per night…no thank you.  But there were two which would fit us, and we took one of them…$12 with the National Park Senior Pass!  SCORE!!!!!

   

There are many National Forest Campgrounds in and around the Granby-Grand Lakes area.  The largest, Stillwater Campground, has around 130 camping sites, many available through reservations.  The drawback is, they cut down the trees a few years ago due to the pine beetle epidemic.

On the far side of the lake from us, you can see the RVs camping at Stillwater.  Good views, but there is something about having a few trees to enhance your camping experience.  Another thing about Sunset, it is closer to Granby, which means closer to the store—a nice Kroger City Market store--only 8 miles away from us.

Lake Granby (Reservoir) was created in 1950 by the creation of the dam.  The lake formed is the third largest lake in Colorado, with 40 miles of shoreline, a depth of over 200 feet.  Unlike most dams, the water is not released just at the dam…much of it is pumped out at the Farr Pump plant on the north side, far end of the above picture, where the water is pumped into the Shadow Mountain Lake, which is connected to the Grand Lake, the largest natural lake in Colorado.  This water is pumped through the 13 mile long, nearly 10 foot in diameter, Alva B. Adams Tunnel, through the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountain National Park, to the east side of the Rockies where 80% of the population lives.  This project, which includes ten other dams and reservoirs, was called the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, named after the Big and Little Thompson Rivers.  Constructed between 1938 and 1957, with a break in construction during WW2, the project was completed.  The river that runs into and out of Lake Granby is the Colorado River.

Most likely we will stay at Sunset Point for two weeks, the full 14 days that they will allow…this will get us through the Labor Day weekend.  From here we will take the car on a few trips, especially into the Rocky Mountain National Park…the Grand Lake Entrance is only 18 miles from here…although the eastern entrance near Estes Park is 75 miles away…it will make for a long travel day, that is for sure…but we are use to that.

Yampa River, Northern Colorado

At Yampa River State Park, near Hayden, CO

We first encountered the Yampa River as we go close to Maybell, Colorado Saturday.  The shades of brown…many shades…were suddenly enhanced with green…green trees following the river…along with lots of hay fields and other agricultural material along the river.  First, we will start with Maybell, where we found this nice little city park to stay Saturday night at.

 

The park sits at the center of this small community of under 100 people.  Given to the community in 1939 for perpetual public use, it was first called the "Public Square", but presently known as "Maybell Town Park".  Camping with electricity is $20, $5 to use the dump station (which we did not need to do), and $3 for a shower.  It is widely used by hunters in the fall, and sparsely used by travelers during the summer.  There were 3 RV’s, and about 3 more tent campers that we saw.  Pay in on the honor system.  Founded in the 1880's by May Bell, wife of a cattleman, it never grew very large.  Today it contains a meat processing plant, general store and gas station, an elementary school, hotel, restaurant and a post office.

As I was filling out the envelope to put our check into, I noticed this kid standing in the covered picnic area….I wondered why it was staring at me…

Until I realized it was a wooden statue of someone…no name on it, perhaps it was May Bell. 

As I sat outside Saturday afternoon enjoying the 75 degree weather, this older man drives in with this car.  Lots of travelers seem to pull into the park to use the facilities…which are much better than the outhouse type of facilities provided at the rest areas by the state of Colorado.

It is a beautiful Ford Fairlane 500 Convertible, circa, late 1950’s, probably 1957.  Wow, she was sure a sweet looking car.  Came in from east, departed to the east.  Might be a local, might just be passing through, got gas, and decided to use the facilities at the park.

Anyway, we enjoyed our short stay in Maybell…except the Internet was nearly non-existent.  Finally was able to pull in 2 bars of 3G, which barely allowed for a little browsing and email checking.  In the morning we headed the 30 miles to Craig where there was a Walmart, and 5 bars of 4G, and we got to watch most of our Florida Church over the Internet.  After church I went in and purchased some more cheese and eggs, brewed up some coffee in our percolator, and drove the remaining 15 miles to Yampa River State Park, about 4 miles west of Hayden, along US-40 still. 

The picture above is typical of the land between Maybell and Hayden.  A working farm, the river, trees lining the river, green grass mixed with the yellow-tan hay.  Saw LOTS of hay, it takes a lot of hay to get the cattle through the cold, harsh winter.  We are above the 6,000 foot level now, the weather is cooler, summer thunderstorms in the afternoon and night are common but brief. 

We pull into the park around 11:30…looks like many campers are getting ready to leave. 

I go into the Visitor’s center, and notice the building to left says “showers”, and find out that it also includes coin operated washers and dryers.  I ask the Ranger about openings for up to two nights…no problem at all, he says.  Fills up over the weekends, but normally you can get a spot during the week.  Because we are trying to line up a two week stay at a National Forest Campground over by Grand Lake and Lake Granby that would take us through the Labor Day weekend, and knowing that there are a number of first come, first serve campsites in that area, along with a 14 day maximum stay…I figure we will stay here until Tuesday, and drive the 130+ miles to where those lakes are located, at the foot of the Rocky Mountain National Park’s western entrance.

He puts us in spot # 34, but the guy using that spot has not left yet.  He tells me to pull into #1, which has a clear view of #34, and to put the card he made out for us on the post in 34.  It is 11:40…they are suppose to be out of the campsite by 12 noon, and this pop-up tent camper has not even showed signs of breaking camp.  This guy is not the only one...I saw about six campers leaving past noon...but our spot is the last to leave.  Around noon I see movement inside, and one end of the pop-up starts to collapse.  It took him another 40 minutes before he pulled out, vacating the site at 12:30…we were in and set up by 12:40.

I took these two pictures above of our site around 2:30, just before I headed out to a nature walk along the river.

Above is the boat launch here at the headquarters campground.  This time of year the water level is near its lowest...I did not see any boats at the park, did not see nor hear any boats out on the river.

  

This large family of ducks are headed to the faster moving part of the river, and in just seconds, they are lined up, in the fast moving stream, headed down river.  It surely was not the first time they had ever done that…probably a daily ritual.

The Yampa River starts near the town of Yampa, about 35 miles to the southeast of our location.  The 250 mile river travels along US-40, stays to the north at Maybell, and then heads west to the Green River, where it merges about 15 miles from the Utah boarder in the Dinosaur National Monument area.  One can take dirt roads in a small RV, Class B or a Pickup Camper, and camp right near where they merge, in a very isolated area of the monument.  My guess is…no Internet, no cell phone, no noise…

The Nature Trail is along packed crushed rock, but heavy with mosquitoes…a good incentive to walk faster. 

There are three or four information stands which have been freshly installed…probably since spring.  No information yet, but that will enhance the walk immensely…so would bug spray.

The real treasure is the bird blind…although that ramp needs a bit more filling in to meet up with path a bit better. 

What I saw was lots and lots of Canadian Geese, and perhaps some ducks.  Having the window ledge of the blind to set the camera on, I was able to zoom in, put the camera on a 2 second shoot, hold it steady, push the button, and in two seconds, a fairly clear picture from a long zoom.  They sure were noisy from time to time.

Yampa River State Park provides 13 access points for boaters along 134 miles (216 km) of the Yampa River from Hayden to the eastern boundary of Dinosaur National Monument.  We are staying at the Headquarter Park, which has the larges campground, and the only campground within the state park system which has electrical sites…it can get a bit hot at times.  The park itself is broken up between public land and private land…they have done a good job with signs letting boaters, canoers, and kayakers what is public and what is private.  If it is private, you need to respect the rights of the land owner.  It cost $31 per night to camp here, of which $7 is an access pass for the vehicle.  They do count a motorhome and a tow car as one vehicle, so for $7 you get a pass for both.  For $24 you get an electric site…but at the other campgrounds along the river which are primitive, the cost is only $10 (plus $7 access pass), and there are some tent only sites here where we are, and they are $18 (plus $7 access pass).