Lead King Basin (FR 315.1) in CO -- Free Camping & Overnight Parking in Colorado
Lead King Basin (FR 315.1) in CO
A 10.4-mile stretch of dirt National Forest road in Gunnison County, CO. The road serves Sheep Mountain Overlook. The road is open seasonally, May 21 to November 22.
White River National Forest, Sopris Ranger District allows dispersed camping here -- 14-day limit in any 30 days.
All 10.4 miles in are maintained only for high-clearance vehicles. 8.4 of the 10.4 miles in are dirt. Climbs 4,300 ft over 10.4 miles -- sustained grades near 24%, with pitches to 56%. Stretches run along a shelf with a drop of up to ~150 ft on the downhill side. Little level ground alongside -- few of the stretches measured have a flat spot to pull onto. Winds through 33 switchbacks. Dead-end road -- no mapped turnaround; expect to back out or unhitch. Water crossings 0.8 and 8.9 miles in.
Whitehouse Mountain stands 3,260 ft above the site, 1.6 miles south. Lizard Lake lies 0.3 mi off. Private here -- the nearest through road is 1.2 miles off. The nearest town, Snowmass Village, is 16 mi off.
September normals 43–67°F, 2.5″ rain. Monthly averages, PRISM 1991–2020.
Set by White River National Forest, Sopris Ranger District. Stage 1 and 2 orders change within days -- check the current order before you build a fire.
fs.usda.gov