Fall in Colorado: A Perfect Time to RV
Beautiful fall foliage, cooler weather, less people and lower priced campsites, make fall a perfect time to RV. Most people think summer is the only time to enjoy the great outdoors. Here are some things to consider before you get your RV ready for winter.
Rocky Mountain National Park: Travel through Rocky Mountain National Park to observe the gorgeous fall foliage. The fall colors peak in late September to early October in Colorado. Check out fall colors along Trail Ridge Road, Old Fall River Road or Bear Lake Road, to name a few. Trail Ridge Road or know as the "highway to the sky," is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet. The entire trip crosses about 50 miles of spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery and can take anywhere from 2 hours of non-stop driving to an all day trip with scenic and meal stops. Besides changing leaves, you could also listen to bugling elk. During the September-October mating season, for bull elk. The characteristic rutting call of bulls can be heard from just before dusk to dawn. The experience will astound you. Some prime viewing areas are: Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and the 18-hole golf course in Estes Park.
Reserve a Campsite: It should be much easier to reserve a campsite during the fall in Colorado. After Labor Day many campgrounds drop their rates, stop taking reservations, and become first come first serve. With peak season behind you, now's the time to get the most affordable rates. Some of our favorites spots are:
Mountain Views at RiversEdge RV Resort and RV Park: Mountain Views at RiversEdge
Mountain Views RV Resort and RV Park is nestled among the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado along the banks of the mighty Rio Grande River near the town of Creede. Our outdoor RV Resort and RV Park offer luxury amenities and unparalleled outdoor opportunities in the Rocky Mountains. https://www.mountainviewsrv.com
Moraine Park Campground (8,160 feet) is located in Colorado's awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain National Park, near the Beaver Meadows Entrance on Highway 36. It is situated on the north side of Moraine Park, offering beautiful views of the vast park and the surrounding mountains.
Paradise RV Park Tucked away along the Big Thompson River, just 1.5 miles to downtown Estes Park; Paradise On The River offers a great location for any getaway. Full hook up RV sites with a view of the river will keep you coming back. http://www.paradiservcolorado.com/index.html
Tips for RV Preparation:
If you plan on camping in the fall or winter you may need to take some special precautions. The weather changes often in fall in Colorado, so it's smart to make sure you have all your tanks dumped before traveling. Also add some RV antifreeze to help protect against any extra liquids that may not have drained. Also I believe that you can't go wrong investing in a heated water hose. Colorado's weather can be a little tricky and temperatures can drop into freezing levels without warning. Having a heated water hose can help insure you don't wake up without water or burst pipes.
Make sure you have enough propane! Keeping your hot water heater going and running in cold temps is key! Some water heaters have aluminum tanks which have no forgiveness to freezing. Think of it like putting a pop can into a freezer. If you are staying long term in the fall, look into custom skirting. This will also help with the insulation of your rv while in cold weather. I also suggest always carry some good RV antifreeze. If you are ever in a bind, having RV antifreeze on hand can be a lifesaver. It's also smart to buy insulation pads to stick up in the roof vents. Roof vents are one of the main areas that you can lose heat. There are numerous products you can buy for cold weather camping that most RV dealers carry; insulated hoses, tank heaters, insulated window and vent blankets, skirting, rv antifreeze and numerous other products. We carry most of these items in our parts department!