Big Fish,

I took an unplanned float down a section of the Guadalupe several years ago . I always wondered

Too bad you didn't capture that on video!

That floundering action consummated with a fat old white dude, nekid on the bank beside his truck changing into dry clothes

i usually camp at navaho lake state park in NM. then i fish the san juan river for monster trout (what a blast!!!).
i believe this year they had plans to upgrade the facilities (i thought they were better than most of texas state parks).
it does get hot in august when i go (middle 90's) but when you are standing chest deep in 40 degree water you really don't notice.
also it cools off in the evenings unlike texas which is often still in the middle 90's at 11:00 pm.

hookset

Check out Williams Creek Lake north of Pagosa Springs, Colorado. From Pagosa Springs drive 18 miles north on Piedra (county) road. Good gravel road. Pulled my 5th wheel in there several years in a row. There are 3 state campgrounds near the lake and there used to be a full service campground about 5 miles south of the lake. (Sportsmans Park - full hookups and a store)Good bank fishing for Trout and Kokanee Salmon. If you take a small boat go to the mouth of the creek. It's quiet and peaceful and there is wildlife to see.

Oldgringo,

I missed the "going to Lake City Part". Right at the dam on Lake San Cristobal is some pretty good trout fishing. Any of the rivers have trout. Also right near the crest of Slumgullion pass is a turn off to Deer Lakes. There are three lakes which are stocked and offer pretty good fishing. My wife and I camped out one year right at Deer Lakes and caught our limit every morning we fished. Henson Creek and the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River come together right in town and I have caught fish right where they meet. Go to the ice cream shop and have a Choclate Chip Mint cone for me and the wife. Oh yeah - DO NOT get in a hurry coming down Slumgullion Pass into Lake City. The road is nice, but it's like a can of worms and drops from 11000 to about 7500 ft in just a couple of miles. Good Luck & have fun....

Thanks for the info, y'all. We have a 35' Alpenlite 5th wheel towed by a Dodge Cummins with auto Tranny. I wonder whether it is safer to approach Lake City from Gunnison or from South Fork with the RV in tow?

I don't know about getting to Gunnison from Tx. but the passes from South Fork to Lake City are a bugger just my 2cents worth. Great on a Harley though.

Gunnison is not a problem. I-25 to Pueblo. US 50 West over Monarch Pass to Gunnison.

Over Slumgullion Pass from Creede to Lake City is a whole different ball game.

If you come down the "Slum" you will be alright if you just don't let your speed get up. Start slow from the top and keep it slow. Use your gears, but don't overwind your diesel. The last 1/2 mile is a "gotcha". You swing around a right turn and here is this big long straight downhill stretch with a beautiful view, you start looking off, and the next thing you know you're in a left hairpin turn.

Coming in from Gunnison is a long way around, but it's a piece of cake.....

Oh yeah, there used to be a bakery on the north side of town near the grocery store that made the best durn kolachies and cinamon rolls you could wrap your lips around. We'd get there early, get goodies, and take em with us fishing.

FYI - Pulled my travel trailer and 5th wheel all over that part of Colorado - Just don't get in a hurry going up or down. Let the truck work! On some of those passes you may get down to 19 or 20 mph going up, let the truck work, don't overwork the truck. My rule is I never went down much faster than I could go up. Once you get there, you'll see what we're talkin about.

Wish we were going with ya!!!!

Thanks everybody for your input. We're confirmed into Henson Creek Campground in Lake City, CO for 10 July through September.

The proper approach to Lake City (for us) is from the north.

Did I mention that the temperature in Tyler was 91� at 1700 hrs today while it was 73� in Gunnison at that time?

Oldgringo,

You're probably getting tired of hearing from me...but

- make sure you have a water pressure regulator. (Cheap preset will work just fine) Put it on the faucet then connect your hose. The town's water pressure was extremely high. The supply tank was located on a cliff about 700 feet higher than the town right behind Henson Creek campground.

Henson Creek - good place to stay, about half the sites are right on the creek and you will be within walkin distance of just about everything.

Another tidbit -Just a short walk south from the RV park and on the other side of the street was an excellent sporting goods store with a "beverage" shop right next door.

(Clean trout, insert butter in body cavity with seasoning, almond slices and piece of lemon. Wrap in tin foil. Put on grill. When butter is sizzling, they're done.)

Quite the contrary, Hunt n Fish . Your "local" knowledge has been a source of inspiration and information.

We've checked out Lake City on the internet and coupled with your input along with input from a couple of the guys who also have annual RV leases on Lake Fork, we're chomping at the bit to go. Thanks for the tip on the sporting goods and beveredge store. I wouldn't knowingly go where the one wasn't realtively near.