I'll give away two of my favorite camping spots that fit that description. Please take good care of them...
First going south on 550 from Ouray, after you pass Ironton (which is just a sign now, IIRC) you'll come to Forest Road 886 that goes off to your left. It's right before the giant red mass of the retention facility below the Idarado Mine, which is a little further south.
There is some forest for a mile or so, then the climb begins up what is called Turntable or Corkscrew Gulch. It's a very windy road that sits on unstable ground, so gets regularly graded. Near the top of that area, you are roughly level with the site of the Silverton RR covered turntable, to the south across the creek in the bottom of the gulch. That's why it's called Turntable Gulch. There's very little left and you have to really look carefully to find it, but I digress...
Just when you get to the top of the climb out of the steep part of the gulch, the road levels out in a medium sized meadow to the left (north) of the trail. There are short trails that turn off and circle the meadow, where I've camped several times. A very nice spot, not above the tree line, but close. You'll see a lot of people drive by, depending on the day and weather, but you can get a little more privacy by camping on the far side of the meadow. It will easily accommodate half a dozen trucks.
FR 886 goes over the top and downhill into Gladstone, where another of the Mears narrow gauge shortlines, the Silverton, Gladstone and Northerly RR, that ran north from Silverton terminated.
The other location is found by taking Stony Pass east from 110 at Howardsville, which is also the route of the third narrow gauge line, the Silverton Northern RR, that continued and ran up to Eureka and Animas Forks. There you can hook up with sveral options to get you from Ouray and Lake City. But again, I digress, you're going east up Stony Pass through Cunningham Gulch on FR 520...
Stony Pass is pretty steep, but not a problem with a little care. Go over the top and continue east on FR 520. You'll ford the creek a couple times, IIRC and come to the Colorado Trail, which turns off south to -- are you ready -- Beartown! after briefly following along FR 520. It's not marked in my Delorme as a road, just shows the Colorado Trail. However, it definitely was a road the last time I was there, based on the signage. As you drive south to Beartown, watch for suitable camping locations on the left/east side of the gulch where the creek is. I won't tell you the exact spot that is my favorite, but you'll find it if you keep watching.
When you do, it is big enough to hide several vehicles behind the rocks and hill, but not so sure about six. Besides, the need for a greater part of the level ground for that many people will mean some tents, trailers will be in the meadow, as you're going to need more space than I do solo behind the rocks. There will be a few folks hiking along the road on the Colorado Trail, so be careful to watch for them, as the brush is a little high in spots so hard to see far around the curves. The road eventually dead-ends at the entry of the Colorado Trail into the wilderness area continues to the south. The turnaround point for vehicles was clearly marked when I was last there a few years back.
No bears, though, at least that I've seen. I could hear them going through peoples trashcans on the scanner, however, when listening to Durango police freqs, so you might come across one. It's just that so far, Beartown hasn't lived up to it's name for me -- and I'm actually OK with that
FR 520 continues east once you backtrack to it from the deadend at Beartown. After a fairly long run, say 20 miles? (watch your fuel situation, as there's no fuel for a ways once you get back on the pavement, either) FR 520 will eventually come to 149, which gives you the option of either Lake City or Creede on a very scenic drive. I usually come in from the east to Silverton and this is my shortcut from the last paved road, 149. It's also the original toll road into Silverton before it got all developed in, say 1880.
As always, check my directions and locations against current guidance from Rio Grande National Forest in the form of a MVUM that is up to date. Things changes, but I hope this hasn't, cause they're both great camping spots.
Sorry, no GPS coordinates, as the last time I was at either spot was pre-GPS for me. Also, sorry about all the train stuff. But that's another hobby. I have a layout that is centered on Silverton and these railroads, so the history is important to me. My avatar is a pic of me in Animas Forks, longer ago than I really want to admit. Me and the truck were both in a lot better shape. It's gone, I may be slow, but I get there.
