- San Isabel National Forest
The best camping in San Isabel National Forest, CO
91% (77)
Camper favorites near San Isabel National Forest
Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.
Snag sold-out campsites.
Get notified the instant a national park campsite becomes available, for free.
See the best spots in one place.
Explore 500K+ public lands, RV resorts, and private sites you won't find anywhere else.
Book with confidence.
Read millions of real reviews from campers like you—so you know what to expect.Stories from the community
Kansas
October 2025
20 ft pop-up camper
With pets
Very clean well maintained campground. It's very near hiway but the creek is strong and loud enough to drown out any traffic. There is only a porta potty available if you are tent or RV camping. But it's clean and maintained. Very nice propane fire pit that is very warm and no need to wood are worth the fee.
See more
A
Anne
October 2025
Weekend Trip to Little Buffalo Cabin
What a wonderful visit to the sweetest Cabin imaginable. Hartsell is a darling little town with lots to do within a short drive… Hot Springs, a drive-in, movie theater, great restaurants and outdoor activities. The house was exactly as pictured with wood for the fireplace, a well stocked kitchen, a cozy bed, plenty of extra blankets and pillows, and absolutely stunning views. We had an incredible time and would go back in a heartbeat!
See more
L
Laura
October 2025
21 ft travel trailer
Whether you’re staying for a night or a month, this place is simply lovely. Waking up to the sounds of the Arkansas River was magical and the amenities were great. The owners were equally as great and so friendly!! We’ll definitely be back!
See more
Mary
October 2025
17 ft travel trailer
Our camping space amongst the beautiful aspen trees and the creek made our adventure all the more enjoyable.
Hiking trails were close by too.
See more
E
Evelyn
October 2025
19 ft campervan
With pets
Lovely stay on Eric’s property. He was quick to respond and we enjoyed some beautiful stars!
See more
A
Aaron
October 2025
Tent
With pets
The campsite was private and well maintained. Plenty of firewood in the tree line and the fire pit was designed perfectly for the winds. Be prepared for high winds! Great site! And great host!
See more
A
Alicia
October 2025
32 ft pop-up camper
Beautiful property with excellent views! Steve was great at communicating expectations, directions and provided clear information. Outhouse was clean and well stocked. Fire pit with option of wood or propane was really neat, so much so that my husband now wants one in our backyard. We experienced a bit of wind and Steve was helpful and understanding. We recommend leaving the property the same way you enter. We turned on a road thinking it would lead us to the highway (google maps said it was the quickest way to Cottonwood Hot Springs) but it led us astray. Overall happy campers.
See more
J
Jo
October 2025
Tent
With pets
Let’s See… friendly hosts who go out of their way to show you their camp sites and even help you start your campfire ✅. camping in a grassy pine grove with Fall leaves popping ✅ tasty homemade cookies ✅ a pond with rainbow trout for fishing ✅ fresh farm hen eggs ✅ beautiful sights as far as the eye can see ✅ uncluttered starry skies ✅ graceful deer roaming the grounds ✅ plenty of space for our puppy to run around off leash ✅
We LOVED 💕 Camp Penguin 🐧 !!
See more
A
Alexis
October 2025
Tent
Group trip
Had the BEST time tent camping here over the weekend! The staff onsite was friendly and helpful. The sites and bathrooms were clean and well managed. I was shocked to see there was laundry on site as well which was so nice to have after coming back from the hot springs. Definitely recommend 10/10 will stay again.
See more
R
Roman
October 2025
Tent
With kids
Magnificent place with incredible views, privacy and a lot of tranquility, the boys enjoyed all the outdoor activities offered and fishing in the lake was the icing on the cake
See more
Heather
October 2025
16 ft travel trailer
My husband and I enjoyed our stay :) The river view was beautiful and we appreciated all of the amenities available.
See more
Whitney
October 2025
16 ft car
Absolutely loved this spot! Peaceful and beautiful. We could hear the creek all night which was so peaceful! Host was very kind and courteous.
See more
A
Amalie
October 2025
Tent
Absolute gem of a spot to camp. The Ouray site has a small set of stairs down to an area perfect for a few chairs or a hammock right by the flowing creek! We were able to really enjoy the sounds of the water and scenery. You can definitely still hear cars/semis passing on the road, but the white noise of the water mutes most of it out! and ZERO bugs! The porta-potty is decorated with fake flowers and twinkly lights - its those little things that made our trip feel extra cozy and cared for. We will be back!!
See more
Jeff
September 2025
16 ft travel trailer
Beautiful property, super friendly and interesting hosts. I hope to spend an extra day or two next year if they’re available/ willing to host me again. Definitely a great spot to relax.
See moreR
Richard
September 2025
18 ft travel trailer
Great little family run rv park. Beautiful sites along Arkansas River. Clean restrooms, all the stuff, friendly staff. Going back, God willing.
See more
Angel
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Spacious, super clean and inviting campsites with creek beside. The grounds are beautiful and well kept! Lovely to have well water available. There is traffic noise but it was mostly drowned out by creek sounds Also felt very safe.
Owners are kind and accommodating if there is a problem. Easy drive to downtown Salida. Thank you for the pleasant stay!
See more
A
Alex
September 2025
20 ft campervan
With kids
We had a wonderful stay! The hosts were fantastic, the camp site was clean, and the pond was a lot of fun to fish.
See moreK
Katy
September 2025
21 ft travel trailer
With pets
This is a hidden gem in BV. The facility is great and they have river access.
See more
A
Amy
September 2025
Tent
Group trip
We had a beautiful secluded camp spot right on the river. It’s next to the road but the river is so loud you don’t hear it. Great accommodations, lovely staff and great location!
See more
I
Ian
September 2025
17 ft campervan
Group trip
Cool spot, there was no moon light so I probably saw more stars than I have ever seen before. Spot was easy to find with the directions given, don’t let maps route it for you.
See moreTop public campgrounds in the park
Stay at a public campground in San Isabel National Forest
Top-rated campgrounds
The best camping in San Isabel National Forest, CO guide
Overview
About
This park's location in the Rocky Mountains makes it a magnet for mountain climbers. You've got 19 14'ers to choose from! The big one is Mount Elbert, the highest summit in all the Rockies at 14,440 feet. You can also hit the second-highest, Mount Massive, and the fifth-highest, La Plata.
If you've got kids with you on your adventure, definitely hit the Picketwire Canyon Trail. This trail takes you to the largest known sample of dinosaur tracks in the country! Getting all the way through this 10.6-mile haul is a serious undertaking, so pack plenty of water.
Prefer a less strenuous, more relaxing San Isabel experience? High-altitude fishing at Chalk Creek or Cottonwood Creek is great for landing trout. Be sure to come between July and September. These alpine lakes often ice over during the colder months of the year.
With over 300 days of sunshine, we're sure you'll be baggin' peaks and takin' names in no time!
91%
77 ratings · 42 reviews
Although it was the only advertised HipCamp near Leadville it was NOT a HipCamp. It was a rundown about to fold RV Park with sites so closely spaced they were spitting distance apart.
L
Linda O.
4 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
Hosts were helpful and super friendly. The spot looked out to lake and it had everything we needed for our getaway. Will be back for sure!
E
Eden R.
3 reviews
Recommends
· July 2021
Love this place. 10,200 feet up in the Rockies, big sites, clear Alpine lake full of trout. Been going many years but this was our best trip. Lake recently stocked with trout, caught 2 salmon in the runoffs. The camphosts Sara and Roy are awesome. Clean bathrooms, clean sites, great tips, warm, fun and welcoming. Grandkids loved Junior Ranger activities from them. Best hosts experienced in all of our 7 trips there. Book in advance, sites get locked in 6 mos in advance, for good reason!
M
Mark R.
4 years on Hipcamp
Not recommend
· June 2021
This campground is best suited for campers that have no children or pets, people who will spend zero time at their campsite or folks who are in their tent/camper by 9:30 pm.
**This campground has zero tolerance for children**
- Quiet hours between 10pm - 8am mean: No more than 8 people around the fire, even if you’re quiet. You cannot ride your bike from one campsite to another because your headlamp might bother someone. No talking. No music, even if it can’t be heard outside your campsite. No laughing. (We seriously got yelled at for laughing when they told us there were 6 minutes and 33 seconds left until quiet time).
Sara and Roy are the most aggressive camp hosts we’ve ever encountered.
Sam D.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2021
We camped at a spot right by the bathroom. I went with my parents, sister, aunt, uncle, and my 3 year old daughter. The couple who runs the property had wood for sale on site. They did great! In the 3 days we were there they serviced the bathroom multiple times.
Unfortunately, someone tagged the bathroom while we were there(wtf guys) and they had to shut down for a few hours to clean it up. They were on it right away though. They came through to tell us goodbye while we packed up. We did walk through the other sites and down to the river, very beautiful property. Lake and fishing areas were only 15 minutes away!
I will be bringing my hubby and kids later this year so my little family can experience it.
We had 1 popup, 3 tents, 3 cars.
Brittney R.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2020
Quaint lovely little campground in a valley with huge sites and lots of wooded areas to explore. Stayed in site 17 which was adjacent to a tributary (there are several in the area) which was nice for washing pots and pans. Enjoyed exploring the surrounding hillsides and the rustle of the leaves in this secluded spot. There are also options for dispersed camping on the road leading into the campground. Thorough enjoyed.
Mark S.
10 years on Hipcamp
July 2020
Great camping experience. The camp host, Tom, was super helpful and friendly. I have stayed at this campground many times and it is never disappointing.
Jennifer R.
5 years on Hipcamp
January 2020
Great camp. Large wooded sites, with great trails nearby. Easy quarter mile walk to Turquoise Lake. Quiet and secluded. Can't go wrong.
Mark S.
10 years on Hipcamp
July 2019
typical FS campground in some ways, but it's laid out nicely. Some serious hikes here.
Jeff L.
10 reviews
June 2019
This site is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
I'm from Kansas City, KS and it's hard to escape the city for some nice dark, peace and quiet. I originally saw the town Westcliffe in a Real Big Story video promoting the town as a dark city. We happened to be going rafting in Cañon City the next valley over and decided to stop and camp. There's plenty of wood lying about or for purchase, the bathrooms are well kept, and didn't experience any bugs! The sky is GORGEOUS! Just when you think it can't get any better it does! It probably peaked at around 2AM and you can see the entire Milkyway with your naked eye. It's great for long exposure photography as well. It's very peaceful, and we've been back twice now. If you're trying to get away... this is it.
Josh L.
6 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2019
I love this campground, this is my all time favorite lake to camp on in Colorado with kids!
Sheena H.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2018
This is one of the most beautiful camps I've ever seen!! Make sure to bring warm clothes!!
Mya M.
7 years on Hipcamp
August 2018
Amazing views of Chalk Cliffs and mountains. The sound of the river makes a great soundtrack for falling asleep. The ghost town of St Elmo is 15 minutes up the road and worth the trip.
Kristin A.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2018
Was a great hiking/camping experience.
Justin W.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2018
Great spots with fantastic privacy from other campers (relatively speaking). The kids and the wife gave their bathrooms two thumbs up (clean and not stinky).
S
Scott R.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2018
Beautiful area! Clean toilets and nice sites. They had just trimmed trees, so free firewood during our cold fall stay. We didn’t build a fire but the pit was clean and good sized. Tons of wildlife walking about the campground. Great access to a moderate trail. Another reviewer noted t was closed in winter. Sometimes if the weather clears and Monarch Pass stays open, they will open the gates and let you stay. We have stayed here in spring, summer, and fall. Each time it was full. Love the drive here!
E
Erica E.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2018
Made it up here in our Ford Transit but with bigger all terrain tires that gave us better clearance. Fun drive but the description is correct that it’s not one just any vehicle can traverse. Great views that were well worth the slight stress of the drive in a rig that isn’t excatly meant for it.
E
Erica E.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2018
The description is spot on! Love that drive. Scenic area we visit often. We love staying all throughout this National Forest!
E
Erica E.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2018
Beautiful area with clean facilities and friendly hosts. Secluded and open spots available when we visited in the spring and fall. Wasn’t too full. Great access to hiking trails and an easy drive to the area. Suitable for any vehicle. Fun drive, too!
E
Erica E.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2018
Must hike Mt. Princeton! If you summit be sure to take you PLB in case of emergency. I had spotty cell coverage with ATT and Verizon in many places. Weather changes rapidly so be sure to take proper clothin and gear. You can’t beat the views! I love all the collegiate peaks and visit multiple times a year because I just can’t get enough!
E
Erica E.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2018
It does fill up fast, yes! Every campground in the surrounding area is worth a visit. I’m a sucker for Colorado National Forest camping though. We usually do dispersed camping but hit up campgrounds when we need to stock up on water. This place was so scenic and enjoyable. A must see as you explore the collegiate peaks. Cell service is iffy with Verizon and ATT in certain areas. Most areas, though, I had enough to stay during the week and work remotely.
E
Erica E.
2 reviews
Recommends
· January 2018
It gets chilly the higher up you get! Make sure to bring lots of layers. When I went backpacking in this area, it was amazing but also lots of rain!
Hannah R.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2017
The Alaska State Ferry System is a great way to access Cordova from Whittier, Valdez, or Kodiak.
Claire N.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2017
Bring your camera and hiking shoes you'll use them both. This location is amazing.
T
Thomas H.
8 years on Hipcamp
July 2017
This is a great campground that is on the Colorado Trail. The outer campsites are really nice and private in aspen trees and by the stream. The inner campsites are small and exposed. Get there early to get a good site. Bathrooms are vault toilets and clean. The campground hosts were a husband/wife team and very conscientious. They even put solar lights in the bathrooms at night so you could find your way. A portion of the Colorado trail ends right at the campground. I had Verizon cell service 3G intermittently.
Amanda A.
2 reviews
July 2017
Our family (two adults, three kids under 11 yrs old) just spent seven nights at Parry Creek Campground above Twin Lakes and had an incredible experience. We camped at site #20.
The great: Location next to mountain stream and with several trails was amazing. Site #20 and others have primitive tent locations that make for a great experience. We were in an aspen grove. Sites 20, 23-26 looked like the best spots. Camp hosts were super friendly and did a great job providing info. Fire wood was for sale on site as well.
The good: The bathrooms smelled like spruce trees.
The bad: Potable water wasn't available but we were able to access water at Twin Peaks about a half mile away. Provided tent pad was small. Monsoon season.
John C.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2017
Fills up fast!
J
Jeff R.
8 years on Hipcamp
June 2017
One of the first campgrounds in the area, Davenport has a lot of history. See if you can find one of the brochures available in local information centers describing the development of recreation in the area. A few years ago, this campground was renovated to resemble its original state. The tables are all a beautiful log construction although I'm not sure how well they'll hold up over time. There is a group area available. Two hiking trails are accessed right at the campground and many more are nearby.
Kate G.
8 years on Hipcamp
June 2017
My favorite campground in the valley! There are lots of sites to choose from and the place was recently renovated so the facilities are very nice. There is easy access to great trails. The campground is situated high enough on the mountain slopes to have fabulous views.
Kate G.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2017
You can see everyone - very open. Beware of mosquitos!
J
Jennifer G.
8 years on Hipcamp