Another year has passed and my in-laws are here at last. With their visits always comes a camping trip. This time, we headed east to Pawnee Buttes. When Paul first suggested this to me, I had the same reaction any self respecting Front Ranger would have: 'You want to go camping in eastern Colorado? Why?' He assured me there were trees at the campsite, so I agreed. I've flown over the Buttes several times with Dad, and I know them well as Rattlesnake Buttes from Michener's book Centennial, so I wasn't too reluctant to agree to camping on the prairie.
wind farm (photo by neville)
We spent only one night, and it's only about an hour from Fort Collins, so it was an easy trip and well worth it. The campsite is about 45 minutes away from the Buttes near the town of Briggsdale. Main Street is a dirt road. The campsite is along a mostly dry creek bed with large cottonwood trees. They even have a 'farm museum' with every kind of rusty plow you can imagine and some literature about the Dust Bowl. To get to the campsite, drive east on 14 past Ault. To get to the Buttes from the campsite is a little complicated, but the wind farm serves as a good landmark.
part of the farm museum
tim made his hat at nursery school
camp chairs are so comfortable
We drove out and had a look the first evening, and then Paul and Neville went back at 06:00 the next morning for the four mile hike around them.
paul waiting for the early morning mist to clear (photo by neville)
Jenny and I were happy to watch the boys play around the tents and in the dirt.
luke climbed into the fire pit and tim followed closely behind. they played there for nearly an hour, but what a mess
We were back home by 12:30 on Sunday. It's no Maroon Bells, but it's worth seeing, especially if you're a native or near native and have never camped on the prairie.
