Heads up: The reservation scene there is a freakin nightmare. The reservation office typically opens up late January or early February and books the whole season immediately. It’s right up there with trying to get a JMT permit out of Happy Isles. I have nightmares about both of those reservation offices…
The campground is what it is. You might get lucky and have a nice spot with some quiet but don’t count on it, particularly on a holiday weekend.
You do not need a bear can. No bears. Just tons of feral dogs. You need to hang food in the trees.
The bathrooms are really nice composting toilets. They have literally zero stink. Best pit toilets ever.
I have not hiked to the Colorado and back. It scares me because of so many water crossings (I don’t want blisters for the hike out). You are walking with wet feet much of the day. It’s an all day hike (about 7 miles each way IIRC). One friend recommends thick wool socks and Tevas (open toes let the silt out) while another friend swears by thin Darn Toughs and Salomon Tech Amphibians for the dayhike.
I’ve climbed out in about 5 hours last February but we were hauling ass. The switchbacks are something like 1200 or 1400′ in the last ~1.5 miles climbing out. It’s a climb but not a huge deal. There’s a bit of a slog uphill coming out of the campground (lots of sugar fine sand too) and then it’s a gradual uphill until you get to the switchbacks. It will be much hotter over Memorial Day.
Fires and alcohol are not allowed at the campground. I have seen many people break the alcohol rule.
The store in the town typically has Choco Tacos and Drumsticks. Bring a few bucks for an ice cream treat. They have fast public wifi at the store as well.
There’s a spring at the campground and a hose bib with potable water at the tourism office in town.
I would not want to tarp or cowboy camp there because of the feral dogs. I’d be pissed if I came back from day hiking to find a couple of dirty dogs full of fleas taking a nap on my quilt. It’s a good place for an enclosed tarp/tent or maybe a hammock. Lots of people hammock there but I’d be extremely hesitant to hang on a holiday weekend because there aren’t many trees.
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