Boondocking at Olive Ridge

Camplite 11FK at Olive Ridge Campground

Olive Ridge is a campground I've passed over many times in favor of other campgrounds with more amenities.   Nothing but the basics at Olive Ridge - no flush toilets, no dump station, no showers, no electricity, no frills, not even water.  So, staying here meant dry camping, which I was eager to try with the new Camplite trailer.

In spite of a couple down pours that tested the seaworthiness of the trailer, I was pleasantly surprised at what a nice experience boondocking at Olive Ridge turned out to be.  The sites are well spaced and surrounded by trees and rock outcroppings.  "Dry camping" was a bit of a misnomer on this trip though.  It rained hard a couple times - of course right when I arrived and was trying to set up, and then once more in the middle of the night, which was actually more of a steady, relaxing rain that I could enjoy tucked away and comfy inside the trailer.  Happy to report, "No Leaks!"

St. Malo Chapel, Allenspark, CO

Anyway, 2 thumbs up for Olive Ridge.   It is also very close to a back entrance into Rocky Mountain National Park, called the Wild Basin area.   There is a wide variety of hiking opportunities in this area that take you through dense forest and up to scenic mountain lakes.

Additionally, just off Highway 7 is one of the most scenic churches in the area, St. Malo Chapel.  Pope Saint John Paul II prayed at the chapel during his visit to Denver for World Youth Day in 1993. Many visitors, including myself, stop by to take pictures and enjoy the beautiful setting.

If you go:

Olive Ridge Campground is located off Highway 7, near Allenspark, Colorado.   There is no water available, so be sure to bring all that you will need for your stay.   Public showers and necessities can be found a few miles down the road at Meeker Park Lodge.  Full services, a supermarket, gas, restaurants, etc. are only about 14 miles away in Estes Park.  A dumpstation is available in Lyons, CO, for a $10 fee.