Ponderosa Campground

In

San Isabel National Forest

1 site · RV, Tent

Escape the heat at Ponderosa Group Campground. At 8,500 feet above sea level, it’s the perfect high-elevation getaway during the dog days of summer. But the real attraction here—be it spring, summer, or fall—is Lake Isabel. This man-made, 40-acre lake is a popular spot for kayaking and canoeing as well as fishing, mostly for brown and brook trout. Also on-site at this 60-person group campground: volleyball and horseshoes. Should you prefer to hike, bike, or ATV, hit the nearby Cisneros Trail or Snowside Trail.

What this place offers

Campfire allowed

No pets allowed

No showers

Toilets

Potable water

Picnic tables

No sewage hookups

No electric hookups

1 site

RV, Tent

Explore 658 campgrounds near San Isabel National Forest

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Available campgrounds nearby

Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near San Isabel National Forest

Sweetwater River Resort

42mi from Ponderosa Campground · 72 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Cotopaxi, CO

Sweetwater River Resort is located right on the Arkansas River, 30 minutes from Canyon City and 30 minutes from Salida where Hwy 50 follows the river through Bighorn Canyon. Skiers, we are only 40 miles from Monarch Ski Resort. We do offer fly fishing lessons and fly rod rentals on arrival. Sweetwater is the perfect getaway for anglers, hikers, rafters or nature-lovers. You’ll find uncrowded sites to unwind on our private 1/2 mile stretch of the Arkansas. At night you’ll find the clearest skies around, perfect for stargazing. Experience a range of accommodations at Sweetwater River Resort, from budget-friendly cabins to glamping tents to old-timey cabins and RV sites. For larger groups, we offer a spacious house overlooking the Arkansas River, all just a short distance from the river itself. Sweetwater is a short drive from 45 miles of 4x4 and ATV trails at Texas Creek, the Arkansas Headwaters Hiking Area, Vallie Bridge, Loma Linda, Lone Pine, Hayden Creek, Royal Gorge and Rainbow Trail near Westcliffe. It's the perfect base for river rafting trips throughout the season as well as a private stretch of blue-ribbon water for trout fishing. Come stay with us and experience all that Sweetwater River Resort has to offer!

Hummingbird Ranch

12mi from Ponderosa Campground · 16 sites · Tents, RVs · Rye, CO

Learn more about this land: Hummingbird Ranch is a gorgeous sprawling ranch in Colorado's Spanish Peaks Country with panoramic views of the Wet Mountains and across the plains to the Spanish Peaks. Location is only 12 easy driving minutes from I25. Come experience the dark Colorado skies and quiet secluded campsites with scenery all around...

Starlite Vintage Resort

39mi from Ponderosa Campground · 58 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Cañon City, CO

Starlite Vintage Resort is located minutes from the world-famous Royal Gorge Bridge and Park in Cañon City, Colorado. Situated on over 10 acres with eye-popping views of the Rocky Mountains, the Starlite Vintage Resort provides a variety of luxury accommodations themed around the timeless trends and classic movies of the era that introduced America to the Beatles, man’s first walk on the moon, Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, the Woodstock Rock Festival, and the enduring kids’ TV shows, Sesame Street and The Flintstones.

Camp Blanca

42mi from Ponderosa Campground · 1 site · Tent, RV · Blanca, CO

🌄 Peaceful Desert Camping Near the Great Sand Dunes – Blanca, Colorado Come enjoy the raw beauty of southern Colorado on this quiet, off-grid camping site just 30 minutes from Great Sand Dunes National Park and Zapata Falls! Our land in Blanca, Colorado offers: 🏕️ Private, level space for tents or RVs 🌌 Stunning mountain views and clear skies for incredible stargazing 🔥 Campfires allowed (seasonal fire bans may apply) 🐾 Pet-friendly 🚗 Easy access (2WD OK most of the year) This is primitive camping – no hookups or amenities – just peaceful land, freedom, and nature. 📍 Located near Blanca & Fort Garland, just off Hwy 160 📅 Available year-round 💲 Affordable nightly rates (message for weekly discounts) We welcome solo travelers, families, van lifers, and adventurers of all kinds!

Bear Creek Ranch

19mi from Ponderosa Campground · 1 site · Lodging · Westcliffe, CO

Tent camp, park your RV or stay in the glamping log cabin that sleeps 4 on this 35 acre private property. The cabin has electricity and a wood burning stove for cold nights but is a dry cabin. There is a pump outside the cabin for water and a vault toilet. Bring your horses, bikes ATV's or hiking shoes to explore trails in the Wet Mountains one mile from your site. The town of Westcliffe is 14 miles away with more trails in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and is a National Dark Sky Community.

Rabbit Hole Ranch

44mi from Ponderosa Campground · 198 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Mosca, CO

We are closed for the season. PLEASE READ IN ITS ENTIRETY The Rabbit Hole Ranch offers beautiful night skies with little to no light pollution and unobstructed views of the majestic Blanca Massif. The Great Sand Dunes and Zapata Falls is just a (gorgeous) 35 minute drive. Camping here at the Rabbit Hole Ranch is primitive and dispersed (no numbered sites) and there 30 acres available for you to use. Just follow the signs to the designated area and pick out a spot you like. Some spots have fire rings, some don’t. We are working on getting more, but in the meantime you’re welcome to bring your own. Or feel free to dig out a little hole. It works great and is easy to extinguish when you fill it back in and bury it. Please do not bury any trash. Typically, you will experience a rare kind of solitude and silence that feels…. other-worldly, with incredible sunrises and sunsets filling the enormous skies. On holidays, however, expect it to be busy. Our dogs are working dogs and they are more than happy to help keep you and your pets safe. Please help make their jobs easier by not leaving any food or trash in or around tents. Please keep your pets on leash or under control until you’re comfortably certain they get along with our dogs. And please report any issues promptly. This year we have a new Great Pyrenees to greet you, her name is Boudicca and she’s excited to meet everyone! Returning this season is 12 year old KayLee, also a GP and and Finn, our little dude from Alaska. Quiet time begins at 10:00 pm. Note: Holidays still offer the excellent location and spectacular views, but are likely to be less quiet and far more busy. We typically do not strictly enforce quiet time during holidays.

Camp Two Oasis

20mi from Ponderosa Campground · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · Gardner, CO

A great base camp access to the Sand Dunes,Mt Lindsey, and Blanca Basin. Great biking around the camp.Close to the Huerfano River with a secret spot and trout fishing.We have nice level r.v. or tent sites in valley farm / old.orchard setting with mountain views ,electricity and well water. We provide an outdoor sink at the Pumphouse, and plenty of good well water. , 20 minutes to the top of Laveta Pass and hwy.160, 35 minutes to Lily Lake trailhead via 4wd road,and 20 minutes to the Mosca Pass trailhead to the Great Sand Dunes. A great day trip is hiking from Mosca Pass to the Visitor center at Great Sand Dunes ,explore the creek and dunes down there and then trek back up to your car at Mosca Pass.About a 8.5 mile round trip. Decent cell phone reception here at camp.We have wifi available . Easy and nice bikerides right from camp. ,Camps have fire circles and grill for firepit. .Plenty of mowed grassy areas for the kids. Well behaved pets on or.off a leash are welcome . Be mindfull that your pet does not chase or harrass potential livestock.on neighbor's property . Grassy tent site,near power and water. Pit toilet. Corner Camp or Orchard Camp. Orchard Camp has 20 amp power and fresh water hookup.. Pull through with 50 amp hookup and water hookup for the Camp 2 site for longer setups.Pull through is possible.

Mountain Bird Alpine Desert

42mi from Ponderosa Campground · 8 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Moffat, CO

Our land is out away from all the noise and lights. You can see the milky way and the stars at night are amazing. then to have the view of the Sangre de Christo mountain range is amazing to enjoy. The surrounding valley has lots to offer from the quant little towns and coffee shops to the home style meals at the restaurants. and all the hot springs are amazing. Your site is overlooking the Sangre de Christo mountain range. The land is Alpine desert with sagebrush and ground cactus and incredible star gazing. There are 2 great hiking trails within a couple miles. There are 3 hot springs within 30 minutes. The Great sand dunes national park is within 1hr. The San Luis valley offers, hiking, mountain biking, ATV trail, Horse back riding, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, rafting, refuges for wildlife watching. New for 2024, The flushable toilet and shower are now operational. The shower house is located in the center of the loop with sites 1,2,3 on the south side of the building. It has an on demand water heater, there is also a a flushable toilet located in the same space. An important note about the toilet, Do Not flush anything other than toilet paper please. DO NOT flush feminine hygiene products, napkins or hand wipes or anything other than toilet paper. These type of things plug and burn up the pump while pumping out the tank. This will cause the toilet to be unusable. ATTENTION: THE SHOWER HOUSE AND TOILET WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN AND GETTING WINTERIZED OCTOBER 1ST UNTIL MAY 1ST. No fireworks are permitted at any time.

Haven Hill

9.8mi from Ponderosa Campground · 3 sites · Tents, RVs · Rye, CO

Thirty-five private natural acres high above Scenic Byway CO165. A secluded mountain top with privacy. You will be overlooking the beautiful Greenhorn Valley, with wide open views of Greenhorn Mountain and the Spanish Peaks. The stars at night are often breathtaking. It feels like you are on an island in the sky. It’s conveniently close to lakes, hiking, outdoor activities and supplies, restaurants and gas stations. Several roundabouts exist for turning around large vehicles. RV sites are pull through. For digital Nomads, Cell phone and satellite service is good here. ATV's are welcome on designated roads and trails. Fires are allowed. But PLEASE check https://www.pueblo.us/2602/Fire-Restrictions. Fires must be in campfire circles only! PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU FULLY DROWN YOUR CAMPFIRE BEFORE YOU LEAVE. Dead wood on the property is OK to burn but please do not burn your trash. All trash and waste needs to be packed out. There are trash cans and restrooms at the rest stop at I-25 and Highway 165. Firewood is available to purchase nearby in Colorado City at Ace Hardware and others. You will have your choice of Camp site #1 and/or #2. They have flat mulched areas for an RV/Camper or for tent camping. Each has a fire ring and picnic table. Both sites allow room to turn around an RV or camper. Bring your own toilet for now. There is minimal shade available, so plan accordingly. Potable water is available at the blue ground hydrant in front of the little cabin to the west. It takes about 10 seconds to start running. Use of firearms is prohibited. No fireworks are allowed. Quiet time is after 10:00 p.m. Please be respectful of neighboring properties. remember you are on a hilltop so sound can travel :)

Twin Bridges Campground

46mi from Ponderosa Campground · 16 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Coaldale, CO

Overnight, Seasonal, and Extended Stay Camping, we are open year-round. We have 30/50amp sites (shade and partial shade) around our lake, 20 amp in the "upper campground," and dry camping (full facilities) along the Arkansas River (Gold Medal fishing) with access for all campers for fishing and floating. Many of our sites are great for star-gazing, watching meteors, looking for fireflies, and seeing the birds zip on by. We are conveniently located on Hwy 50, in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, and have all sorts of rental options for your outdoor adventure needs. Whether you want to pitch a tent, try out the glamping experience, enjoy the convenience of an RV, or rent one of our fully equipped RVs, we have the perfect spot for you. We have four entrances marked by sail flags into the campground, two by the lake, one near the bathhouse, and one by the post office (on our property). The map of the Arkansas River has our campground listed! Adventure awaits with home to the highest mountain peaks in Colorado and the river and 102 miles of Trout Gold Medal Water. There is access to white water rafting, guided fishing, and fishing lessons. There are at least 5 hot springs within 60 miles of Twin Bridges Campground. Salida is considered the white-water rafting capitol of the US by some and has a whitewater park and surfing wave. Salida area is also home to a ton of hiking (14'ers anyone?) and mountain biking trails. The Royal Gorge is a quick 30 minute drive with restaurants and other fun near Canon City. The Sand Dunes are 90 minutes and Monarch Ski Area is 45, we have some of the best bird watching! Warbling Vireo, Western Wood-peewee, Cassin's Kingbird to name a few.

Stars, Mountains, Wifi, Hummingbird

42mi from Ponderosa Campground · 12 sites · Tents, RVs · Blanca, CO

Located near the base of Mt. Blanca, a beautiful 14'er - and close to the Great Sand Dunes, wildlife and nature preserves, and reservoirs. Camp sites are located just 1 mile from the base of the mountain. The entire property is a hummingbird sanctuary, so your chances of seeing hummingbirds is quite high! We are also next to the elk migration crossing, so you could see elk, deer, pronghorns, or even get a visit from one of the wild horse packs in the valley! This is a great location if you want to be close to things, but feel like you're far away! Lots of athletes come to this area to train at the higher altitude! Visit the town of San Luis (the oldest town in Colorado), hop over to Antonito and check out the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic railroad, hit the UFO tower in Hooper, or just lounge on your campsite and get the best view of the Milky Way you've ever seen! Wifi available if you have a device that can connect at long range! Firewood, Fresh Baked Bread, Jams and other farm goodies available on site! RV dumpsite/Convenience Store/Water available at the RV park located 2 miles from the campsite!

The Nomad Ranch

14mi from Ponderosa Campground · 5 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Rye, CO

About a half mile off Highway 69 and two miles outside the tiny town of Gardner, this is the perfect retreat if you are looking for fantastic views of the Sangre de Cristos, Spanish Peaks, and Wet Mountains. Our property is close to hiking, a wolf preserve, Bishop's Castle, thousands of acres of national forest, over 800 miles of dirt roads (with jeep and ATV trails), and within 40 minutes to one of the most quaint and best kept secret towns in Colorado, Westcliffe. We are about 30 minutes northwest of Walsenburg, CO and about 40 minutes southeast of Westcliffe, CO. Maximum RV length is 30 ft. No hookups are provided for RVs so please plan to be self contained during your stay. We also offer a small dry cabin (no running water or electricity) which is perfect for those looking to not get quite as close with nature. We also offer tent camping!

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LocationPonderosa Campground, San Isabel National Forest, Colorado, United States

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What this place offers

Campfire allowed

No pets allowed

No showers

Toilets

Potable water

Picnic tables

No sewage hookups

No electric hookups

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