Lake Colden, Adirondacks
Labor Day has come and gone. To many, this marks the end of summer. Call us old fashioned, but we go by the ol’ Gregorian calendar: there are still officially 15 days left of summer (the equinox falls on the 23rd this year). To confirm our autumnal denial, we’ve compiled a list of six end-of-summer destinations. So take a sick day and enjoy the last days of summer.
Kebler Pass, Colorado
Lost Lake/Erikson Springs Campgrounds
Colorado Aspens
There are only two E’s in Kebler Pass, and you won’t find any elves there either. However, if you follow Whiterock Avenue west out of Crested Butte, CO, you’ll find yourself driving through a magical landscape. Kebler Pass is reputedly home to Colorado’s largest aspen grove. If you time it right—sometime from mid to late September, the dirt road will be completely covered in newly fallen aspen leaves. The Raggeds Wilderness borders Kebler on the north side, with the West Elk Wilderness to the south. There are plenty of hiking opportunities along the Pass, off Ohio Pass and near Lake Irwin. Lost Lake and Erikson Springs campgrounds are nestled in the aspens. If you started your drive in the Butte, Marcellina will be the last, jaw-dropping view to the right before reaching the paved road above the Paonia Reservoir.
- Gunnison/Uncompahgre National Forest
- (970) 874-6600
Lake City, Colorado
Big Blue Campground
Despite its beautiful surroundings, the laid-back Colorado town of Lake City is most notorious as the town where Alfred Packer was tried and convicted of cannibalism in 1883. Surrounded by five fourteeners and Colorado’s second largest natural lake, San Cristobal, Lake City provides virtually unlimited wilderness access and obviously, incredible scenery. The Gunnison and Uncompahgre National Forests comprise much of the public land that surrounds the small town of less than 400 people. Several Forest Service campgrounds surround Lake City. Whether or not you’re into bagging peaks, the Big Blue campground provides easy access to hiking in the Uncompahgre Wilderness. The ideal timeframe for fall foliage is mid-September to early October. Because Lake City sits above 8,000 feet, expect cool temperatures and even snow as October approaches. Take plenty of food so you won’t be tempted to gnaw on your friends.
- Gunnison/Uncompahgre National Forest
- (970) 874-6600
Late summer Colorado
Snowy Mountains, Wyoming
Lincoln/Nash Fork Campgrounds
Wyoming Open Road
Traveling across Wyoming on I-80 can be less than exciting. Spice up your drive with a side trip into the Snowy Mountain Range. Take Highway 130, the second National Forest Scenic Byway designated in the country, to the alpine paradise of the Routt National Forest. There are serious rock climbing routes throughout the range and plenty of easier hiking trails that access alpine lakes, as well as Medicine Bow Peak, the range’s highest at 12,013 feet. At lower elevations, autumn aspens contrast with the gray granite slabs and pristine lakes. Camping is available at the Lincoln and Nash Fork campgrounds. Due to the altitude and high alpine climate, early snows can close the road, so get up there before October. You’ll return to I-80 with a fresh perspective.
- Medicine Bow and Routt National Forest
- (307) 745-2300
Escalante National Monument
Escalante National Monument, Utah
Calf Creek Campground
Amongst some of the most incredible and unique rocky formations and some of the most extreme canyon country on the planet is a seemingly non-descript little campground. Calf Creek is easy to drive right past and never notice. It’s right on Route 12 roughly halfway between Boulder and Escalante. The titular creek runs through the middle of the campground, feeding local vegetation that gives the sites a surprisingly private feel. The campground also serves as the trailhead for the easy, short, and scenic hike to Lower Calf Creek falls. For serious hikers, the trail is a perfect way to work the cobwebs out of your legs and can be tackled in the evening you arrive, provided you’re not adverse to headlamps on the return journey. The following day the campground’s central location puts you in easy driving distance of all Escalante’s most popular hikes and both towns.
- Escalante National Monument
- (435) 826-5499
Adirondack High Peaks – New York
Lake Colden
Lake Colden in the Adirondack High Peaks is beautiful and soothing, standing in sharp counterpoint to the exciting, spectacular approach through Avalanche Pass. From the Adirondack Loj you ascend to Avalanche Pass. Once over the pass, you descend to Avalanche Lake. “Rugged” doesn’t do the trail along Avalanche Lake justice. Massive cliffs rise on both sides of the lake, forcing you to proceed along ledges, over boulders and through crevices by way of ladders and bridges of varying vintage and sturdiness. Once you’re past Avalanche Lake, Colden opens up before you. Lean-tos can be found around the lake, but are sparse in number to cut down on crowds. The good news is that tent sites are plentiful, and it takes more work to find a bad spot than a good one.
Avalanche Pass near Lake Colden
Appalachian Trail
Anywhere, Georgia
At the extreme southern end of the AT, you’ll find yourself a way down south in Georgia. This is a decidedly good thing because while it’s raining, cold and nasty up north in mid to late fall, Georgia is just beautiful. What is particularly great about Georgia is that along its stretch of the AT, there is dispersed camping, meaning you can camp (almost) anywhere within the trail corridor. Campsites are provided all along the trail, and using a prepared site is preferable (flat spots without rocks are few and far between), but if you happen to stumble across the perfect spot to throw up a tent, well, go for it. There are a bunch of rules associated with dispersed camping, most of them designed for your own good and that of the trail. Learn them, live them, love them, then hit the trail.
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Tags: backpacking, camping, hiking, trip reports