Ponderosa Group Campground
This is a developed group campground within the Lake Isabel Recreation Area. Attractions include hiking, fishing and motorized trails. St. Charles Creek is close to the campground and may be fished. Access to motorized trails, including Cisneros, St. Charles and Snowslide, is available. There is a pleasant hiking trail along Lake Isabel. Outside of peak season, reduced services such as vault toilets, water, trash or a host may not be available.
In 2025, this campground will close on September 2, 2025, for the season for a toilet replacement project.
Reservations
Make Reservations HereCall 877-444-6777 or visit recreation.gov at least four days in advance. A minimum stay on Friday and Saturday night is required on weekends. A three-night minimum stay is required on holiday weekends. Walk-ups are exempt from the nightly minimum.
General Information
Check in: 2 p.m.
Check out: 12 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The following restrictions apply to this campground:
- Pets must be on a leash at all times within the campground.
- Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.
- Campfires are restricted to fire rings only. Be sure any campfire is completely extinguished before leaving.
- No more than a 14-night consecutive stay is permitted in the campground.
- Bears are common in the area, and a bear closure order is in place. All bear attractants, both food and nonfood items that can attract bears, should be kept in a bear-resistant manner. Bear bags, bear boxes and coolers within hard-sided vehicles are safer ways of storing attractants. Pop-ups, tents and open-top vehicles are not safe storage areas. Tips for camping in bear country are available from camp hosts.
- Maximum overnight occupancy is 60 people.
- Maximum day use occupancy is 120 people.
- Maximum number of vehicles allowed is 28.
$150 fee for overnight camping, by reservation only.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
Contact Name: San Carlos Ranger District
Contact Phone: 719-269-8500
Address: 3028 East Main Street Cañon City, CO 81212
Phone: 719-269-8500
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed on federal holidays)
Getting There
Latitude / Longitude
Latitude: 37.9804424
Longitude: -105.07387926
Directions
Located 43 miles southwest of Pueblo, Colorado.
From Pueblo, travel 25 miles south on Interstate 25 to exit 74. Travel west 16 miles on U.S. Highway 165. Turn into the south entrance at Lake Isabel, continue for 1 mile and look for the Ponderosa Group Campground signs.
Facility and Amenity Information
Restrooms
Restrooms are available at this site.
Water
Potable water is available at this site.
A hand pump is available.
Picnic Tables
Picnic tables are available at this site.
Other Amenities
The group campground has a picnic shelter that seats 25-30 people, a group-sized charcoal grill and eight single-site campfire rings. A horseshoe pit, volleyball court, vault toilets, drinking water from a hand pump and dumpsters are provided.