San Isabel National Forest

The sun shines bright on Cottonwood Lake, a perfect getaway for anglers, floaters, and relax-to-the-maxers. You’ve got a few serious mountains nearby with endless hiking opportunities, and for you couch potatoes, you’ll be hard pressed to find a prettier drive than the one west of the campground on Forest Road 344 to Mineral Basin. Lake, mountains Read more...

Mount Princeton Campground is located in the popular Chalk Creek Canyon. The campground is in an open area without much shade. Visitors will find Chalk Creek, Cascade Falls, and Chalk Lake nearby. Visit St. Elmo, a historic mining town, just a short drive away. Read more...

The campground is located on the shores of the placid O’Haver Lake in a forest of ponderosa pine and aspen. During the peak season, interpretive programs are offered on most weekends. The beautiful Monarch Pass scenic drive, with 360-degree views of the Sawatch Range is highly recommended. Read more...

Social butterflies will love this scenic campground on the Chalk River (not Chalk Lake, which is a mile away). There’s not much privacy at Chalk Lake Campground, but you won’t need it if you spend the day hiking through the canyon, fishing for trout in the rambling creek, and shmoozing with your neighbors long into the night. There’s lots to do an Read more...

Angel of Shavano Campground is a small, tranquil site in a forest of aspen and spruce. The site is named for the angel image that appears as snow falls on Shavano Mountain. The campground is ideal for tent camping, so pop your tent on the banks of the South Arkansas River and enjoy one of the area’s best kept secrets! Your prayers just came true. Read more...

Bootleg Campground is located on Colorado Trail near Chalk Creek. This is a popular pit stop for backpackers who are hiking from Denver to Durango. The campground is ideal for tent campers, and there is a vault toilet, but only during peak season. Read more...

North Fork Campground sits on the shores of the North Fork Reservoir. The high-elevation lake offers excellent fishing opportunities for rainbow trout. The road to the campground is only recommended for high-clearance vehicles that are not towing trailers, so leave the low-rider at home for this trip!Read more...

Hold onto your graduation caps, kids! Snuggled under Mt. Princeton, you’ll find a perfectly tidy campground with quiet and restful sites with lots of privacy. Splish splash in Cottonwood Creek that flows right through the grounds, or let its sound hush you to sleep. There’s lots of wildlife and wildflowers hanging around to keep your Instagram gam Read more...

Cloaked behind the white waters of Lake Creek, Parry Peak Campground is landscaped by the area’s endemic towering ponderosa pines. A walk-in style camping experience, Parry Peak Campground campsites follow this well-echoed, colloquial mantra: “finders keepers, losers weepers. ” Be sure to be the former, not the latter. Read more...

Massive glacial lakes, a world-famous hiking trail, and lung-bustin’ mountain biking. Are you in? White Star Campground is your jumping off point for grand adventures. Nearby Twin Lakes will take care of all your sailing, fishing, and swimming cravings, the nearby mountain biking trails will seriously leave you breathless, and the 3,100 mile long Read more...

You know what they say: “the best things in life come in twos. ” And Twin Peaks Campground is well-versed with that dialogue. Nearly ten-thousand-feet above sea level, the campground is soundtracked by the white-water of Lake Creek and is within a short-hike between both Mountain Elbert and The Continental Divide trails. Pick-up your hiking stick, Read more...

Constructed from humble beginnings in 1911, Bassam Guardstation sits in the vegetative confines of Buena Vista, Colorado. Diminutive but efficient, the cabin is furnished with one full-sized bed, two chairs, and a propane stove (although, you’ll have to provide the fueling agent). But, should you make the trek out to this enchanting cabin, you’ll Read more...

Angel of Shavano Group Camp Area is most suitable for tent campers. Chose a site along the river, or in the open meadow. Make sure to check out the nearby beaver pond as well as the Colorado Trail!Read more...

Cascade Campground is a popular camping spot in Chalk Creek Canyon, at an elevation of 9,000 feet. The campground is partially wooded by Douglas fir and aspen, and is near the Chalk Creek. Explore the nearby Cascade Falls or stop by the private hot springs resort, only 10 miles away. Take a day trip to the historic ghost town of St. Elmo, a 15-min Read more...

Coaldale Campground is quiet with a capital Q. Even in the thick of the summer camping season, the only sound you’re likely to hear is the babbling of Hayden Creek as it frolics through the campground. Campsites are shady and secluded, with trees that are just begging for a little hammock action. Longing for adventure? Not far from the campground, Read more...

Hayden Creek Campground is a small, secluded, tranquil campground on the wooded banks of the creek. Sitting at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this is a great spot for fishing and hiking on nearby Rainbow Trail. Read more...

Iron City Campground sits in the Chalk Creek Canyon, one of the most popular destinations in the valley. This is a small, quiet campground near Chalk Creek. You’ll want to explore the historic cemetery on the east end of the campground, which boasts interpretive signs that tell the story of the early settlers and miners who are buried here. The hi Read more...

Both the Halfmoon East and West Campgrounds are common favorites among the outdoor-savvy. Halfmoon East, specifically, is a high altitude testament to minimalistic camping; there’s no electricity or even drinking water available. And be forewarned that high altitude sickness may ensue. It is, after all, above nine-thousand feet from sea-level―and Read more...

Looking for that elusive double rainbow? You're halfway there―Lake Creek Campground is within walking distance of Rainbow trail! Here, you’ll be able to explore both wilderness and “non-wilderness” hiking rails, all located in the vicinity of Lake Creek Campground. These are, like most of the campgrounds in the area, on a “early bird gets the worm Read more...

Oak Creek Campground offers year-round camping, should weather be permitting. And, aside from its seasonal ease, Oak Creek Campground is within mere miles of some of San Isabel National Forest’s premiere hiking trails. Start stretchin' those leg muscles now!Read more...

Both the Halfmoon East and West Campgrounds are common favorites among the outdoor-savvy. Halfmoon West, unlike it’s more granola kin, offers drinking water―but no electricity. Bring a flashlight on your way to fill-up your bucket; odds are that you’re still a bit dizzy from the soaring elevation. It is, after all, above nine-thousand feet from se Read more...

Near the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, Alvarado Campground is in an ideal location for explorers. Take one of the many nearby wilderness trails to discover the pristine high mountain lakes, waterfalls, and great views of the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. Read more...

Set your sails 10,000 feet above sea level in the beautiful Turquoise Lake among huge mountain peaks and a breathtaking forested wilderness. Campsites are shady and secluded, and a few hug the shoreline, providing you with dreamy views from the door of your tent. As far as we can see, the only downside is getting there really early to set up camp. Read more...

Posted up at an altitude of nearly 10,000 feet in a shaded lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forest, Baby Doe Campground lies at the eastern shore of Turquoise Lake. Gentle Turquoise Lake Nature Trail lines the shoreline and also connects to the 6. 4-mile Turquoise Lake Trail that runs parallel from Sugar Loaf Dam to May Queen Campground. Also near Read more...

Silver Dollar Campground is a lustrous, monetary gem situated within the shoreline of the equally enamoring Turquoise Lake. Aside from the well-manicured hiking trails that hug the lake’s shoreline, you’ll be treated to picturesque sunsets and sunrises that bath the lack in Instagram-worthy uploads. Read more...

Lakeview Campground offers just that―a postcard-worthy view of Twin Lakes Reservoir. Situated atop of the pine and sage forests 9,000 feet above sea-level, Lakeview Campground offers both traditional and trailer camping sites. But make sure you're quick about it; all campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis!Read more...

Named after the Titanic’s “unsinkable” American socialite, Molly Brown Campground is a string of both walk-in and hook-up style campsites that grip Turquoise Lake’s eastern shore. And, once you’ve arrived after booking your site four-days in advance, you’ll “never [want to] let go” of your high-resolution camera. Read more...

The Monarch Park Campground is a wooded site on the south fork of the Little Arkansas River. It gets pretty cool here at night, so come prepared! You’ll find beaver ponds nearby, and many excellent hiking trails that are covered with wanderful wildflowers in the summer. Read more...

Ring-in the Memorial weekend with Mother Nature riding shotgun! Open from―yep, you guessed it―Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend, Ophir Creek Campground is unique among many of the area’s other campgrounds; it provides well-equipped RV hook-ups. Pitch-up a tent or hitch-up your climate-controlled RV and enjoy a long, three-day-weekend fishing and h Read more...

Strike it rich with Instagram gold, or, more like silver at Matchless Campground. Situated ten-thousand feet atop the eastern shores of Turquoise Lake, and as alluded to, this area was named after a lucrative silvermine in Leadville, Colorado. But be mindful when occupying one of the area’s walk-in style campsites; altitude sickness has been known Read more...

An all-’in’-one campground, Pinter Boy Boy Campground offers accessible walk-in, hook-up, and even centrally-located cooking shelter for the early birds. Here, well-above 10,000 feet in elevation, you’ll be treated to a numerous recreational activities (like horseshoes, for example) geared towards the whole family. Read more...

“It looks like someone ‘dyed’ the lake a postcard aqua blue. ” Father Dyer Campground is situated within the blue-hued confines of Turquoise Lake, nine-thousand-feet above sea-level. Talk about going blue in the face. But, with around seventeen campsites available between May and October, you’d be green with envy should you miss out on this elevat Read more...

Tabor Campground completely ignored Drake’s lyrical mantra―and started nine-thousand-feet from the bottom. Here, you’ll be treated to accessible campsites (regardless of your vehicle’s size) and picnic-friendly views of the Turquoise Lake. So, pitch-up a tent in one of the campground’s fire-ring embellished sites―because now we’re here. Read more...

Make sure to pick-’n’-choose your closest camping buddies, this small campground packs a big punch. And you better get there early too; Davenport campground doesn't take reservations. But, should you and your party make the trip in time to pitch your communal tent, you’ll be treated to Davenport Campground’s plethora of both hiking and biking trai Read more...

Royalty among postcard-worthy campgrounds, May Queen Campground is nestled within the western shores of Turquoise Lake, hugging the lake's refracting, gem-like horizon. Here, you’ll be able to kick-back at one of the area’s twenty-seven campgrounds and appreciate the blue mosaic that Mother Nature, herself, pieced together―just make sure to reserv Read more...

The San Isabel National Forest can be a busy place, so find some peace and quiet at St. Charles. This campground rests on the shores of St. Charles Creek, making it a wonderful fishing spot. Leave the white noise machine behind and fall asleep to the sounds of water dancing over the river’s large boulders. If you want to be extra close to the rive Read more...

Located within a stepping stone from Lake Isabel and St. Charles Creek, Las Vista Campground served-up a well-packed tackle box of hydrophilic activities; you’ll be perpetually pruney, for sure. The area offers tent-only campsites that aren’t reservable―so pack-up your rod 'reel' quick!Read more...

This campground is the jump off y’all! If you want a place to pop-up your tent (or park your RV) but plan on spending lots of time out on the trails, this is the perfect spot. Sure it’s a great place to hang around the campfire too, but with Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive trailheads just steps away, we know you’re gonna be out baggin’ those peaks! Thi Read more...

Do you fancy traveling back in time? Of course you do! Feel like an early 20th century homesteader (but with access to electricity) in Mingus Ranch, a cabin built in 1908 and recently renovated. Grab your favorite people and rent the entire place. The location couldn’t be more idyllic: a massive meadow, near the base of Round Top Mountain, and sma Read more...