Camping at Lake Wellington, Colorado
Lake Wellington is conveniently located one hour from Denver in Bailey, Colorado. It's the perfect spot to camp or day trip because it's not far and offers incredible views and privacy. It's a privately owned lake and campground that is open to the public year-round. We camped (highly recommend) with friends but they also offer day passes. You can read more here.
We camped with 5 other couples on July 12-14th, and the livin' was easy! We stayed at site 56G. It was lakefront, had ample space, a gorgeous view, and close proximity to the bathroom (aka outhouse). The site offered shade under the one tree with a picnic table under it. Considering the size of the site, there was little shade and I recommend brining additional shade options for a large group. It was fairly pricey but if you have a large group it's the perfect setting!
The weather was ideal at this time of year. We did have some random scattered rainstorms which left us sprinting into our tents to take a nap until it passed.
Being lakefront was key! We all brought floats and enjoyed the refreshing clean lake water during the day. Some of our crew fished and kayaked. Another major plus of our campsite is that it's located close to a little waterfall trailhead. It was a short, easy walk to see a pretty waterfall.
Note:
Plan Ahead! Lakefront sites get booked fast so be sure to reserve your spot early in the year.
The bathrooms are really just outhouses. I grew up camping but when it said "bathrooms" I imagined the times we camped with bathrooms that had a shower, toilet stalls, and a sink. This is nowhere like that. On hot days, it's so gross.
No cell phone service. Literally, I had zero cell service our entire trip. The main check-in house/office on the lake has a landline. However, the dirt road to our site was about 5-10 minute drive so that's something to keep in mind for emergencies.
I'd say the last 10-15 minutes before you get to the lake is all dirt roads. Prepare for it to be dusty on dry days.
No drinking water is available at the lake. Bring plenty of water and ice.
Campfire wood must be purchased on-site. In a Stage 2 Fire Ban, no campfires are allowed. You can call ahead of time to see the current conditions. Jefferson County Fire Information Hotline - 303.271.8200