Campground Camping

Campground Camping Areas

• Cimarron National Grassland

  Welcome to the Cimarron National Grassland, one of twenty National Grasslands administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Located within Morton and Stevens Counties in southwestern Kansas, the Cimarron National Grassland manages 108,175 acres.

• Cimarron Campground
• Leadville Ranger District

  The Leadville Ranger District is home to the Sawatch Range, the highest mountain range in Colorado. These rugged, glaciated mountains form the crest of the Continental Divide. Mount Elbert, at 14,443 feet, is Colorado's highest peak and one of ten "fourteeners" located on the district.

  Leadville was once a booming mining town during the Colorado gold rush and competed with Denver to be the capitol city of Colorado. At 10,152 feet, it is the highest incorporated city in the United States. Leadville is a rustic mountain town rich in mining history and unsurpassed natural beauty.

  Large, developed campgrounds and picnic areas at Turquoise Lake Recreation Area and Twin Lakes Reservoir provide abundant recreation opportunities. Fishing, boating, and hiking are popular summertime activities. Because of the district's high altitude, late spring snows occasionally delay the opening of some facilities.

  At 12,095 feet, Independence Pass is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the United States. It is here the Top of the Rockies National Scenic and Historic Byway crosses the Continental Divide offering motorists breathtaking views of the Rockies and a close look at its rugged alpine tundra habitat. It is also here the Arkansas River begins its long journey to the Gulf of Mexico. There are many opportunities to drive on four-wheel drive roads on the Leadville Ranger District, but OHVs must be registered. See OHV registration Information for the Leadville Ranger District to see how you can register your OHV.

• Halfmoon Recreation Area

  Forest Service Road 110, known as the Halfmoon Road, follows the southern border of the Mount Massive Wilderness. It provides access to several popular campgrounds, as well as two of the most popular trailheads on the Leadville district, the Mount Massive trailhead and the North Elbert Trailhead. From the Mount Massive Trailhead, visitors can access the beautiful Mount Massive Wilderness.

  There are many opportunities for recreation along this road, which leads to very busy summer months.

• Elbert Creek Campground
• Halfmoon East Campground
• Halfmoon West Campground
• Turquoise Lake Recreation Area

  Sitting deep in the forest west of Leadville, Turquoise Lake takes its name from the Turquoise mines that produced the semiprecious stone in Leadville's not too distant past. A spot prized for its fishing, camping, and hiking, Turquoise Lake provides some of the most beautiful views on the Leadville Ranger District. The east end of the lake hosts the majority of campgrounds, while the west end of the lake hosts the popular May Queen Campground near the Timberline Lake trailhead, which accesses the Holy Cross Wilderness. To the southwest of the lake rises the Mt. Massive Wilderness, along with such beautiful hikes as Native Lake and Windsor Lake. Snow in these areas can stay well into midsummer and possibly longer.

  Turquoise Lake is heavily visited, especially during the summer months. Reservations for the campgrounds on Turquoise Lake that take reservations are often filled early, especially for holiday weekends. Camping is only allowed in developed campgrounds in the Turquoise Lake Area. There is no dispersed camping available.

• Baby Doe Campground
• Belle of Colorado Campground
• Father Dyer Campground
• Matchless Campground
• May Queen Campground
• Molly Brown Campground
• Printer Boy Group Campground
• Silver Dollar Campground
• Tabor Campground
• Twin Lakes Recreation Area

  Located nearly in the center of the Leadville Ranger District, the Twin Lakes Recreation Area provides many different opportunities for recreation. Scenic drivers and road cyclists can enjoy the beautiful Independence Pass and view the aspens in fall, which draw thousands of people every year. Hikers can enjoy the nearby Interlaken trail and Big Willis Gulch trail, while also taking in some of the historic sites, such as the Twin Lakes Historic Village and Interlaken Historic Resort. Twin Lakes also hosts many sites for fishing, camping, and sight-seeing. On either side of Twin Lakes rise fourteeners such as Mt. Elbert and La Plata Peak, and a host of smaller peaks such as Mt. Hope and Twin Peaks. Within driving distance are three wilderness areas; Buffalo Peaks, Collegiate Peaks and Mt. Massive Wildernesses are located close to the Twin Lakes Recreation area.

  Twin Lakes sees a great deal of visitor traffic, especially during the summer months. Reservations for the Lakeview and White Star campgrounds fill up early in the season.

• Dexter Campground
• Lakeview Campground
• Parry Peak Campground
• Twin Peaks Campground
• Whitestar Campground
• Pikes Peak Ranger District

  601 South Weber Street

  Colorado Springs, CO 80903

  Phone: 719-636-1602

  Fax: 719-477-4233

  Coming North: Take I-25S and exit Hwy 24W/Cimarron Street (Exit 141). Keep right at the fork to go on W Cimarron Street. Turn right onto Weber St.  Located on left side of street.

  Coming South: Take I-25N and exit Nevada Avenue (Exit 140) toward Tejon Street. Turn right onto Nevada. Make a right onto Rio Grande Street and left onto Weber. Located on right side of street.

• Colorado Campground
• Crags Campground
• Meadow Ridge Campground
• Painted Rocks Campground
• Rampart Reservoir Recreation Area
• South Meadows Campground
• Springdale Campground
• Thunder Ridge Campground
• Salida Ranger District

  The Salida Ranger District is part of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands located near the towns of Salida, Buena Vista and Poncha Springs. The district encompasses over 440,000 acres in central Colorado, "the heart of the Rockies." It's an outdoor recreation paradise with seven 14,000- foot peaks "fourteeners" (Harvard, Tabeguache, Yale, Columbia, Shavano, Princeton, Antero), three wilderness areas (Buffalo Peaks, Collegiate Peaks, Sangre De Cristo) and Browns Canyon National Monument.

  The Forest Service manages most of the higher elevation areas, while the Arkansas River corridor is managed by Colorado State Parks and the Bureau of Land Management. The Arkansas River is one of the nation's most popular rivers for whitewater rafting and kayaking. It's also a designated "gold medal" trout fishing river. For fishing & hunting licenses or off-highway-vehicle (OHV) licenses, please contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife. 

  The majority of the Salida Ranger District is located within Chaffee County. Nearly 80% of Chaffee County lands are public lands. Small portions of the district are also located in Lake, Fremont, Saguache and Park Counties.

• Angel of Shavano Campground
• Angel of Shavano Group Area
• Browns Canyon National Monument
• Cascade Campground
• Chalk Creek Canyon
• Chalk Lake Campground
• Coaldale Campground
• Collegiate Peaks Campground
• Cottonwood Lake Campground
• Hayden Creek Campground
• Iron City Campground
• Monarch Park Campground
• Mount Princeton Campground
• North Fork Campground
• O'Haver Lake Campground
• San Carlos Ranger District

  The San Carlos Ranger District manages the southern half of the San Isabel National Forest. The District is 50 miles wide and 110 miles long with about 400,000 acres of National Forest in Fremont, Custer, Huerfano, Pueblo and Las Animas counties. Mountain ranges include the Wet Mountains, the Sangre de Cristos and the Spanish Peaks.

  It is home to the one of the first Forest Service Campgrounds designed by Arthur Carhart, the first landscape architect of the Forest Service. Prior to Carhart being hired in 1919, the agency focused primarily on timber uses of the forest. Carhart envisioned what we now know as sustainable recreation. His recreation plan for the San Isabel National Forest was the first for the agency. He went on to work with conservationist Aldo Leopold in creating the wilderness concept. The picnic shelters and fire hearths at Davenport Campground were reconstructed in 2006 using Carhart's original designs. 

  There are 11 campgrounds with 210 fee campsites plus two group sites which are reservation only. These campgrounds are operated by a concessionaire (contractor hired by the United States Forest Service), as well as a picnic area at Lake Isabel Recreational Area and four small sites in the Cuchara Creek Recreational Area.

• Alvarado Campground
• Bear Lake Campground
• Blue Lake Campground
• Cordova Pass Picnic Area and Campground
• Davenport Campground
• La Vista Campground
• Lake Creek Campground
• Ophir Creek Campground
• Purgatoire Campground
• Southside Campground
• St. Charles Campground
• South Park

  South Park Ranger District includes South Park, part of the Mosquito Range, Eleven Mile Canyon and Jefferson Lake Recreation Areas, and the Tarryall Mountains and Puma Hills.

   

• Blue Mountain Campground
• Buffalo Peaks Wilderness - East side

  Buffalo Peaks Wilderness offers a great variety of recreational opportunities. There are many miles of trail in or near the wilderness area, and all wilderness regulations apply. Trails in the wilderness area are for foot traffic only and not open to motorized vehicles or bicycles. 

  • Weston Pass Campground is located adjacent to Buffalo Peaks Wilderness on the east side. It is a first come, first served campground.  
  • Buffalo Springs Campground is closer to US Highway 285 but only about 3 miles from the wilderness. It can be reserved at recreation.gov.

  The east side of Buffalo Peaks Wilderness is located in Pike National Forest, and the west side is located in San Isabel National Forest.

• Buffalo Springs Campground
• Weston Pass Campground
• Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area

  Eleven Mile Canyon Recreation Area is located below the dam of the Eleven Mile Reservoir near Lake George in the southeast corner of South Park. The narrow, dirt road traversing the canyon used to be the old Colorado Midland Railroad bed before the dam and reservoir were constructed. Unlike the reservoir area, which has an open basin and rangeland type topography, the canyon itself is forested, lush and rocky.

  Eleven Mile Canyon cuts through the plain holding the South Platte River in its rocky bottom. As the river is unleashed from the dam above, its twists and crashes against huge boulders lining the canyon floor. A canopy of large trees provides a screen of shade that floats across the canyon with the moving sun. Eleven Mile Canyon is an unexpected paradise.

  Eleven Mile Canyon is generally accessible year round; however, service are reduced during the winter months.
  
  The Elevenmile Canyon Scenic & Historic Auto Tour guide can be downloaded HERE. Brochures are also available at the South Park Ranger District office in Fairplay.

• Cove Campground
• Riverside Campground
• Spillway Campground
• Springer Gulch Campground
• Fourmile Campground
• Happy Meadows Campground
• Horseshoe Campground
• Jefferson Lake Recreation Area

  Jefferson Lake Recreation Area is a popular area for camping, picnicking, fishing and hiking. Campgrounds include: Jefferson Loop (area is unavailable) trails also offer day hikers options for long or short walks.

• Aspen Campground
• Jefferson Creek Campground
• Jefferson Lake Trail
• Lodgepole Campground
• Kite Lake Campground
• Lost Park Campground
• Michigan Creek Campground
• Round Mountain Campground
• Selkirk Campground
• Spruce Grove Campground
• Twin Eagles Campground
• South Platte Ranger District - Recreation

  The South Platte Ranger District is located east of the Continental Divide in the central Rocky Mountains and lies adjacent to the Denver metro area in Park, Jefferson, Douglas, Clear Creek and Teller counties.

  The South Platte District is 450,000 acres in size with elevations ranging from 5,800' along the South Platte River, to over 14,000' at Mount Evans.

  Feel free to stop by our visitor center on Highway 285 in Conifer to ask what's going on and get maps you may need to enjoy your visit on our district.

  Note: For camping near Morrison or Red Rocks Amphitheatre, contact Bear Creek Lake Park at (303) 697-6159 or Chatfield State Park at (303) 791-7275.

• Buffalo Creek Recreation Area

  The Buffalo Creek Recreation Area is more than 50 miles of multi-use, nonmotorized trails that tie into the Colorado Trail in several places. There are a lot of options available for riding or hiking. Some of the old logging roads provide two-track while connecting trails offer single track. It takes about an 1.5 hours to drive to this area from Denver.

  Please know and respect local area restrictions including; parking and camping in designated sites only. Developed camping is available at nearby Forest Service campgrounds including Buffalo, Green Mountain, Kelsey and Meadows Group Campground.

• Buffalo Campground
• Green Mountain Campground
• Kelsey Campground
• Deer Creek Area

  Located north of Bailey and US Highway 285 along Park County Route 43. Provides access to the south side of the Mount Evans Wilderness including the Deer Creek and Meridian Trailheads.

• Deer Creek Campground
• Meridian Campground
• Guanella Pass Scenic Byway

  The Guanella Pass Scenic Byway can be accessed from either Grant or Georgetown.

  The south side of the Byway is located on the Pike National Forest/South Platte Ranger District and provides access to several hiking trails: Geneva Creek Trail (#697), Whiteside Trail (#697.A), Threemile Trail (#635), Burning Bear Trail (#601), Abyss Lake Trail (#602), South Park Trail (#600), Rosalie Trail (#603) and Bierstadt Trail (#711).

  There is also a short interpretive trail with a good viewpoint at the Guanella Pass summit. This is accessed from the west end of the upper/west parking area.

  Developed campgrounds include Burning Bear and Geneva Park.

  The north side of the byway is located on the Arapaho National Forest/Clear Creek Ranger District and provides access to hiking trails including Silver Dale Townsite Historic District, and Silver Dollar Lake Trail (#79).

  Developed campgrounds include Clear Lake and Guanella Pass.

• Burning Bear Campground
• Geneva Park Campground
• Hall Valley Area

  The Hall Valley/Handcart Gulch staging area provides limited day use parking for vehicles and trailers for those continuing to Webster Pass and Red Cone by OHV. No overnight camping allowed at the staging area. This staging area is located approximately 4.5 miles northwest of Webster/Highway 285 off Park County Route 60.

  Just to the north the road splits to Hall Valley Road (NFSR 120.C), Handcart Gulch Road (NFSR 121) and Red Cone Road (NFSR 565). Handcart and Red Cone climb to the top of the Contiental Divide and meet at Webster Pass and a junction with the non-motorized Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

  Please contact the South Platte Ranger District (303-275-5610) for accessibility to Red Cone and Webster Pass. Due to snow conditions, these trails are typically not open until late June to early July. These routes are very steep, narrow, technical, high clearance 4x4 only.

• Hall Valley Campground
• Handcart Campground
• Kenosha Pass Area

  Kenosha Pass provides access to the Colorado Trail as it heads southeast towards the Lost Creek Wilderness and west towards the Continetal Divide and Jefferson Lake. The Colorado Trail starts outside of Denver and ends in Durango. It runs adjacent to the Kenosha Pass and Kenosha East Campgrounds.

  There is also a wetland interpretative area and the remnants of the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad wye (Y). "Helper" engines from either Webster on the east side or Como on the west side of Kenosha Pass, assisted the regular engine in getting the train to the top, and then used the wye to turn around and head back down hill.

  The Kenosha Pass area is well-known for its colorful stands of aspen in the fall. During peak leaf season (late September-early October), the trailhead at Kenosha pass can be very busy with leaf-peepers. Please use extra caution along the Highway 285 road corridor during this time. Kenosha Pass also provides scenic views of South Park from a small pullout area on the south side of the pass.

• Kenosha East Campground
• Kenosha Pass Campground
• Timberline Campground
• Matukat Area

  The Matukat Road (NFSR 211) provides access to the southeast portion of the Lost Creek Wilderness and to Cheesman Reservoir. It provides a scenic drive with expansive views through part of the area that was burned in the Hayman Fire of 2002 and continues south to connect with the Taryall Road (Park County Route 77).

• Goose Creek Campground
• Rampart Range Recreation Area

  The Rampart Range Recreation Area provides a unique setting for off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts to enjoy a variety of riding experiences. From intermediate to expert riders, ATV or motorcycle, the Rampart has something for everyone.

  Please make sure you are prepared and ride within your abilities. Changing conditions, natural hazards as well as oncoming traffic may be encountered. Please become familiar with and obey all local rules and regulations.

  Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) are available for free at your local USFS office or can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/psicc/mvum.

  The Rampart area appears on the following maps:

  • Pike National Forest Visitor Map
  • USGS Quad Devil's Head
  • National Geographic Trails Illustrated #135 (Deckers/Rampart Range)

  Dispersed camping available in designated sites only for a fee. Camp hosts are located in the Flat Rocks Campground and at Rim Road.

• Devil's Head Campground
• Flat Rocks Campground
• Indian Creek Campground
• Indian Creek Equestrian Campground
• South Platte River Corridor

  The South Platte River Corridor near Deckers, Colorado, has been a popular fishing location for decades. In the 1890s, Stephen Decker built a general store and later a saloon in this area. The South Platte Hotel, located at the confluence of the North Fork of the South Platte, was a popular resort in the early 1900s and was accessible only by train. The confluence provides access for fishing, kayaking and trail use.

  The South Platte River is part of a 1.6 million-acre watershed that reaches from the Continental Divide to Strontia Springs Reservoir, southwest of Denver. The watershed is a recreational mecca with over 1 million acres of public lands; it provides municipal water for about three quarters of Colorado’s residents; it is renowned for its “gold-medal” fishing streams; and it is home to numerous threatened and endangered species.

  The Upper South Platte Watershed varies in elevation from about 6,000' to over 14,000' above sea level and contains five major municipal and several smaller reservoirs.

• Lone Rock Campground
• Osprey Campground
• Ouzel Campground
• Platte River Campground