Spring had come! Our luck would have it that over the winter we had made fast friends with several families in our new neighborhood and were invited to go on a huge group camping trip with lots of people, kids, and mutts. As long as they didn’t find the bodies buried in our back yard, we would hopefully keep them as friends. It was a short drive up 285 to Meadows Group campground where we all spread out and admired each other’s camping traditions and gear.
This is a group campsite you have to reserve way in advance, but well worth it. Tons of camping spots, bathrooms, hiking and mountain biking trails. Directions: Take 285 to Pine Junction, turn south on Pine Valley Road 126, go all the way through Pine and Buffalo Creek. Take dirt road 550 west and follow that for a few miles. You’ll see the sign on the left. About a two hour drive from Denver.
Wellington Lake is nearby and a great place to spend the day. There is a day fee at the little shack you have to pay. Worth it.
There was a great beach at the lake where lunches were eaten and kids and adults played in the freezing cold mountain water. Fishing this lake is fun and there are ample opportunities for SUPs and canoeing.
We took our raft out with a ton of kids on it and the wind took us to the other side of the lake. We paddled and argued the whole way back, wind in our faces. Worth it.
Later on in the trip we all packed up and headed to a hiking trail on the north side of the lake where we encountered a long waterfall that was carved into a gigantic granite stone the size of a large building. One goofy ass bastard in our group soaked for a few seconds before he was thoroughly frozen.
There were a lot of folks on the trail and some of them with their 4-legged friends. While taking in the waterfall, an unleashed dog scampered onto the wet slippery waterfall and screams emanated from all in attendance as he plunged 60 feet to a pool just large enough for a dog. The hound was lucky to be alive or paralyzed, and all on the trail were relieved.
Great spot if you want to splurge with a large group of friends. Like I said, you need to get on the website at midnight on January 1 to reserve.
The Confluences 