- San Isabel National Forest
The best camping in San Isabel National Forest, CO
91% (77)
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Kristin
5 days ago
Weekend Trip to Sweetwater River Resort
There are not words to describe the views from our cabin! Hosts were so kind and friendly. I was worried that the cabin would not be warm enough but the heater provided put off way more than enough heat. You’re missing out if you don’t stay here !
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Liv
2 weeks ago
2 nights at Bear Creek Ranch
Seriously the coolest little cabin I’ve ever stayed in! Wood burning stove is amazing and keeps the place super warm. And I couldn’t believe there was a private little ice skating rink just for you in the winter time. Epic trip, highly recommend!
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Evan
2 weeks ago
22 ft travel trailer
Tim was an awesome host, super helpful shining an extra light when we arrived after dark to park the trailer. Quiet and peaceful property to spend a weekend, will be back. Thanks Tim!
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Zachary
2 weeks ago
Tent
The campsite was perfect for our one night stay near Crestone. Our host was super easy to communicate with and even made some really helpful local suggestions in the area to visit. I would definitely recommend booking here. I look forward to another trip in the spring.
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Stephen
3 weeks ago
20 ft pop-up camper
With pets
This was a great campground!!! Right on the river with very active fish and very peaceful!
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Alison Penelope
3 weeks ago
With pets
Sweetwater was the perfect spot to rest and recharge. The sounds of the river were fantastic and the general scenery was breathtaking.
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Val
3 weeks ago
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Joseph
3 weeks ago
With pets
Loved it! As advertised, great little cabin in awesome location. Me and my 6 year old son went for the weekend. Hiked the local mountains in the day, camp fires at night. Went November 7, but still wasn’t too cold in the cabin at all.
Highly recommend .
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Lulu
3 weeks ago
25 ft Class C
Lovely place! The bathrooms were clean and you can’t beat a hot shower. They had several bbq grills for guest to use. It was nice to be so close to Royal Gorge. Don’t pass up your change to stay here, you won’t regret.
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Dena
October 2025
4 nights at Bear Creek Ranch
It's too cold to tent camp so this quaint cabin was perfect. Still cooked on camp stove outside but with the benefit of electricity to heat up water in kettle provided. Had a lovely campfire one night but mostly stayed warm with the wood burning stove. We normally bring 10 gallons of water but this had a potable well pump that saved us the trouble. It was a perfectly relaxing atmosphere and stay. The night sky was gorgeous. The hike around the property lovely. The dogs were friendly and charming. Lorie is attentive and helpful. At my questioning she suggested Beckwith Ranch a worthwhile stop. I spent 2 hours there and got a private tour! It was a wonderful stay. Oh, and the the outhouse was positively posh😊
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Shaun
October 2025
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Michael
October 2025
16 ft pop-up camper
I loved camping there, clean bathrooms and nice vintage charm
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Taylor
October 2025
Tent
Great host, made everything easily available. Anything you needed Paul was there for you. Site 4 was great and easy to get to. Only like 50 minutes from the Dunes. Will be coming back!
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Chris
October 2025
17 ft travel trailer
It's a nice quiet spot off the beaten path. Dan is a great host. This isn't an RV park with full hook-ups or anything. But there's a nice view of the surrounding hills and a cattle pen with cows and some chickens. A great place to park and take a break for a night or two.
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Trevor
October 2025
30 ft travel trailer
Very comfortable, quiet place to get away from the noise of life.
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Brian
October 2025
25 ft travel trailer
Awesome spot. Host was amazing and was quick to answer all our questions. 10/10 would recommend!
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Danielle
October 2025
Tent
We loved staying on Tim's land. He was attentive and suggested places to go and see and the site was secluded but also has access to a community area. The scenery couldn't be beat.
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Scott
October 2025
25 ft pop-up camper
With pets
This is a budget friendly place to camp. The hosts were helpful, and the bathrooms were actually quite clean. Old, but clean. Hwy noise is a bit of an issue, but does quiet down a bit after 8 pm or so. The river was very lovely, and my kids loved the suspension bridge. The camp sites are very close to each other though, so if you don’t like to be that close to people, you may want to look elsewhere. Overall, this was a great place I would go to again, but would stay in Corral 1 instead of 2. Corral 2 was difficult to get power and water since they were on the opposite side of our camper and had no tree shade like 1 did.
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Sarah
October 2025
With pets
This was a great stop on my best friend reunion tour! We opted for a cabin and it was a cute, warm, clean and cozy little place. You don't have your own bathroom and have to walk to the common building for stalls and showers, but that was ok- it was clean and not too far away from the cabin. Be sure to peek in to the vintage "RV museum"- 3 restored RVs that are retro outfitted and fun to explore. The woman manning the check in/shop was super friendly and gave good recommendations for places in Cañon City, which is about 15 mins away. We were also pleased to be a short walk from the Gold Mine gem shop, full of beautiful things! In October the area is out of season, so it was pretty quiet, and we were happy with that! I would recommend Starlite for a welcoming glamping experience.
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Ffion
October 2025
Tent
all of the comments are true! paul is incredibly knowledgeable and kind. the bathroom is great & so is the campsite. so peaceful with a wonderful view of the stars!!
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.
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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!
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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!
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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).
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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Jennifer G.
8 years on Hipcamp