Okay, so my wife has invited two of her friends to come camping with us the 4th July-- unfortunatly they do not backpack and thus I must brave the crowds at the campgrounds.

We would be going for the entire 4th July weekend and so distance isn't too much of a problem, however her friend's only have a '98 Camry and so the roads need to be friendly to non 4WD vehicles. The only other requirement is that the campsite must have a lake that is fishable (teaching friends to fly-fish) and running drinking water.

So far I only have three possible locations: Echo Lake/Chicago Lakes south of Idaho Springs. The Lakeview campground at Forebay and Twin Lakes. The other option is Turquoise Lake at one of the various campgrounds around the lake.

I was also thinking about Terrayal Res, just over Kenosha Pass, but I am not sure about the fishing there or in the creek.

Any other suggestions welcome.

I have limited car camping experience, but how about Manitou Lake between Deckers and Wookland Park?

Clear Creek Resevoir?

Turquoise Lake?

There is a lake west of Guanella Pass.

Lake Grandby/Shadow Mountain/Grand Lake?

Green Mountain Reservoir?

Chatfield and Cherry Creek Sate Parks have campgrounds.

Bear Creek Lake Park? - rent the yurt.

ElevenMile Canyon?

Antero?

Rampart Reservoir?

Red Feathers?

I could tell you a lot of places in Utah, but that is probably too far.

Thank you for the reply.

Clear Creek, Grand Lake, GMR, ElevenMile and Antero have been added to the list.

I figure that with these places and the ones previously mentioned I have enough to let my wife and her friends make the decision on where they want to go based on how pretty the campsites are

If I am ever in the area, I will give you a call

Whatever you do, book your reservations ASAP, it's probably too late for everything you've listed.

Thank you, we decided to go to a little place just outside of Basalt instead and we are all booked.

Where at around Basalt?-I've spent a little time in that area.

We decided to go to a little campground that my wife and her family have been going to since she was a little child. The campground is called Chapman Campground-- it is about 30 miles from Basalt.

I stayed in Chapman campground a few nights while elk hunting a couple years ago. At that time of year I had the whole place to myself. I never looked at the lake there, but the stream was beautiful. Not much in the way of views from within the campground, but tons of beautiful scenery nearby. You should have a great time there (be "bear aware"; lots of them around; I had an uncomfortably close encounter in the area last archery season).

For the sake of throwing in more ideas for the future and for others:

The Bear Lake campground 17 miles west of Yampa is top notch. It sits a few hundred yards from Bear Lake and two other reservoirs are very close by. All three lakes are stocked with rainbows and fishing is fantastic. Mosquito Lake (more good fishing) is an easy two mile hike away and wonderfully picturesque. More great fishing can be had the Mandall Lakes, five easy miles by foot to the north.

Another sublime destination is Trappers Lake campground(s) in the Flat Tops. Trappers is the DOW's home lake for Cutthroat stock. All of the fish are 100% wild and the lake is loaded with them. Three other great Cutthroat lakes are within a mile hike.