Book this place with a huge group. Do it now! The long drive is so worth it. Total privacy and totally kick ass. We took a very large group of coworkers up here for a long weekend in July last year. There were probably forty of us, and we could have fit a lot more, but some of our group wimped out due to being afraid of fresh air.
The amount of space at this campground is insane. Even better is the access to quaint Chapman Reservoir, which is a short walk down the road. If you want unspoiled access to the upper Frying Pan and its variety of beautiful trout this is the best spot on the river. The river spills into Reudi Reservoir down the road several miles away where fishing pressure is heavy. There is a huge permanent fire pit with logs to sit on while roasting marshmallows. Plenty of room for archery and cornhole, running around naked, or whatever. Exploration on foot is endless. Wildlife is epic. This is the best group campground known to man.
They stock the little lake (Chapman Reservoir) with trout, mostly tiny ones, but the lake is perfect for a picnic and SUPs. A few in our group actually swam, but the water is mighty cold. (Cue Augustus McRae in the river with Miss Lorena for shriveling reference.)
Directions: Drive to Basalt, then to Reudi Reservoir. The campground is on the road past Reudi many miles. Make sure you are stocked up in Basalt before you leave as it’s about 45 minutes to the campground. Easy to find, impossible to beat.
The Confluences 