Wanderings of an Unsettled Mind: Camping on the Rio Grande River

Labor Day weekend we took a break from working on our CTC (Cargo Trailer Conversion) and took Petunia to River Hill campground near Creede. We had camped in the area a few years ago and scoped out River Hill and 30 Mile which are both forest service campgrounds along the Rio Grande River below the Rio Grande Reservoir. At the time River Hill was still closed for clean up from a wildfire in 2013.

This area is near the headwaters of the Rio Grande where it joyfully flows out of the snow capped San Juan Mountains swift, ice cold and crystal clear before it ends its journey 1900 miles downstream slow moving and lazy into the Gulf of Mexico.

The mighty Rio Grande River starts on the slopes of the Rio Grande Pyramid (13,821 feet above sea level) in the distance.

June 5th 2013 the West Fork Complex forest fire was started by lightening and would ultimately burn 109,615 acres in the Weminuche Wilderness, the San Juan and the Rio Grande National Forests. The fire spread into the steep canyon below the Rio Grande Reservoir but the campgrounds were not lost. In 2016 after several years of clean up River Hill was reopened to campers.

In July we reserved a perfect spot right next to the river for our September trip.

Petunia in River Hill Campground

The canyon walls behind us are untouched by fire. Across the river, the charred trees stand as silent sentinels of a ghost forest.

Even though it's only September 1st, autumn has returned to the high country, the oaks and aspens were beginning to change and nights were brisk, in the mid to low 40's.

The pups required some blankets to snuggle in.

Some of the humans also required blanket snuggles.

Mollie is a world class blanket snuggler.

We decided to drive to the Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest body of water in Colorado to check out the water level which I heard was at a historic low. It was shocking. We drove down and let the dogs run on the lake bottom which is normally under 20 feet of water.

The bridge we are on should be over water.

The Gunnison River is just a little strand. It gives you an idea of what the valley looked like before the dam. We headed back to our campground, the sun was out and it was time for cocktails by the river.

I am trying to keep Phoebe out of my bourbon

The new solar panels and solar generator soaking up some rays.

This is such a gorgeous area, the night skies are amazingly dark and the view of the Milky Way is incredible. We even came across a heard of Bighorn Sheep crossing the road above the campground.