Photo by: Whitney Van Cleave
In the distance, the faint sound of semi trucks shifting gears to climb Kenosha Pass is barely audible over the crackle and pop of an evening fire. The smell of burning pine fuses with the odor of damp, decaying plant life still sleepy from its long winters’ nap. The air is alive with a crispness that awakens the senses, reassuring you that spring camping in Colorado is an invigorating experience that is worth waiting for the whole year.
For those students looking to dip away from the hustle and bustle of campus for a quick commune with nature, the Kenosha Pass area of the Pike National Forest offers optimal springtime camping. Just over an hour from Denver, up the gentle curves of U.S. highway 285, a series of prime camping and hiking spots exist free of the masses that descend upon the road’s sister parallel, 1-70.
The 285 corridor makes no assumptions about tourist traps and the like, instead offering a humble slice of small town goodness in the town of Bailey, Colo., which should be the first stop on any weekend trip to Kenosha.
Seemingly stuck in a time warp, Bailey is a hodge-podge of wooden buildings covering the basics of mountain life: a liquor store, general store, gun shop, Laundromat and a police station.
For those looking for a quick fix of coffee and kitschy gifts, the Knotty Pine provides an unusual combination of espresso, ice cream and outdoor recreational supplies. Two doors down, the Platte Canyon Grill dishes up delectable Cajun cuisine with more class that one would expect from its faded façade and modest decor.
At the far end of town stands Bailey’s most striking feature, a giant stucco hot dog-shaped building. Coney Island is the newest edition to the town’s appearance after being moved there from its longtime home in Conifer about 20 minutes away. Inside this Colorado landmark, the classic diner décor looks as authentic as the outfit the woman behind the counter wears. Clad in pink from head to toe, she presides over the large steaming steel grill while confidently talking to the line of customers snaking its way out the door.
“You got here just in time. In the summer you best get here and expect to wait two hours or better for a Coney dog,” she says as a smile flashes across her face, lighting up her unnervingly blue eyes.
The eclectic mix of locals and people just passing through are a testament to the undeniable fact that the food at Coney Island is worth the wait.
As highway 285 winds through the Platte Canyon, various roadside novelties like hot dog and roadside jerky stands spring up near every small grouping of homes. In Grant, the town after Bailey, a country store offers the final place to pick up any last minute provisions before hitting Kenosha Pass and its two camping areas.
Grant also boasts the south entrance to Guanella Pass, a scenic byway that spans a 22-mile stretch between Grant and Georgetown. Although it takes about two hours to travel the full pass, it is a great place to check out bighorn sheep and incredible mountain views. This route can serve as a great alternative drive back to Denver.
When the need for a quick weekend escape from homework and feisty professors strikes, grab your friends and a sleeping bag and head up highway 285 for a great escape.
