Badger Flats Dispersed

My girlfriend and i recently moved here from Ohio and we wanted to get a night out before it got cold. Well we may have chose the last night lol but it was amazing! The sites are big and spread out, the sights just a few minutes hike away are astounding! Definitely need 4x4 if any weather is inbound or has been recently. Cows are out and about so mind your animals! Other than the occasional moo, all we heard was the wind and the birds! Serenity!

This was a nice spot with lots of areas to choose from. East access from main road. No issues with a 30+’ trailer.

There’s was quite a bit of OHV’s out and about.

Cell service is hit and miss. Our particular spot didn’t have any service but just a couple hundred yards away had 3G.

Overall enjoyed our stay here and would return.

Because of its relatively easy access and numerous campsites, we chose Badger Flats as the location for our first boondocking experience. There are three excellent fisheries close by all of which are fed by the South Platte River. A short 20-minute drive westward you’ll find Spinney Reservoir, The Dream Stream and Eleven Mile Reservoir. These fisheries provide access to cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout as well as northern pike and even Kokanee salmon.

As we turned off highway 24, we immediately saw No Camping signs but soon realized this applies only to the state-owned land which borders the highway. One mile further up CR 31, we reached the federal land where camping is allowed. The side roads are flat and in reasonable shape which allowed us to tow our 22-foot trailer without concern. There are likely more than a hundred campsites scattered throughout the area some in the trees and some more exposed. Riders of off-road vehicles are aware of Badger Flats. Everyone was considerate always slowing down when approaching a campsite. Target shooting occurred throughout the day which might be a consideration for some.

Our cell phones had a difficult time connecting to a Verizon signal despite the close proximity of a cell phone tower on top of Badger Mountain. Signal strength was 1-2 bars at best. We rarely received a 3G carrier.

Being near the top of Wilkerson Pass, the area can become rather windy at times. We took advantage of some calmer weather on day two to take a short hike during which we spotted a badger crossing the OHV trail. We kept our distance as he intently watched us from his home which was less than 10 feet from the trail. Not sure who named Badger Flats or when, but it was fun to see they are still doing well there today.

This area is popular for off-roaders, but we were here on a quiet fall weekend just to do some exploring & get away. This is just east of Wilkerson Pass, with Tarryall Reservoir to the north, and Eleven Mile Reservoir to the south. This site was off the main spur, so should be relatively quiet even on big off-road weekends. Nice views to the west of Badger Mountain (especially w/the fall colors). Huge site - there would have been plenty of room for multiple tents and/or campers. Road was a bit rutted coming in, but very doable if you go slow & take your time. Had Verizon 3G (about 3 bars), although it did come & go a bit. Were even able to pick up a few tv channels using the antenna.