This location is beyond words. We are a truck team of three and we headed up on Sunday afternoon. We planned to camp at the trailhead and not the lake itself. There were plenty of spots open at the time but we nabbed one next to a small stream. Ample room at the spots and good distance from each other which reduced the neighbor noise. The scenery was stellar. Because they were finally getting loads of rain, we did have a pesky fly problem in addition to the mosquitos but it did not deter us from staying the whole week. No, you will not have cell reception there. Yes, the road gets a bit rough. Ideally have a vehicle with higher bottom clearance. Yes, this area is quite busy so getting a spot is hit and miss. I highly recommend this area for an immersive Colorado nature experience.

The views here are nothing short of spectacular. There are lake activities available such as fishing, swimming, if you even dare, paddle boarding, or kayaking. All of which you must bring yourself. It is also a very popular wedding destination with the plentiful parking off the main road. Old mines dot the landscape and an easily accessable old cable house. Explore with caution. A hike up to some spectacular waterfalls or further up past the reservoir are the only real trails around the immediate area. Remember you are over 10k ft. The weather can change from 70 to 40 degrees very quickly even in July. Be prepared. The camping itself is mostly situated right along the lakeside. Please note that our good ol' rangers do not take kindly to folks camping within 100ft of a water source. You can park and hike up into the woods and find some spots but most prefer to stick with their vehicles. This also means you will be battling flooding, should it rain, and mosquitoes. There is very limited spots and this is a popular area so go early! The area does not have large campsites so doing group camping will be difficult. The rocky road can be done without 4 wheel drive and it is very narrow but opens at the tail end for a turnaround spot. There is no cell reception by anyone and no facilities for miles so be prepared and enjoy the nature.