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You want mountain scenery, lake fishing access, and comfortable summer temperatures at a moderately priced alpine campground.
Blue Lake Campground - San Isabel Nf (Co)
4.3484 reviewsSAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT, 3028 EAST MAIN STREET, CANON CITY, CO, 81212, USA
Summer Destination
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Quick Facts
10,500 ftPrice
$25/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
16 campsites
Season
Peak season from Jun...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
RV Friendly
Get DirectionsReal-Time Availability
Select a month, then check for open campsites
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
Quick Facts
10,500 ftPrice
$25/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
16 campsites
Season
Peak season from Jun...
Cell
No Service
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
RV Friendly
Get DirectionsBlue Lake Campground - San Isabel Nf (Co)
$25.00 - $25.00 / night
Campsite Fees
STANDARD NONELECTRIC: $25.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction fee ($8 online / $9 phone / $3 in person).
No paid fee categories listed.
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Recreation Dot Gov
ProviderFOR RESERVATIONS CALL (877) 444-6777, FOR OTHER, NON REAL TIME INFORMATION, CALL (719) 269-8500.lstewart@goexplorus.com
I manage this campgroundCampground Map
SAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT, 3028 EAST MAIN STREET, CANON CITY, CO, 81212, USA
Blue Lake Campground - San Isabel Nf (Co)
SAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT, 3028 EAST MAIN STREET, CANON CITY, CO, 81212, USA
Nearby places
Cuchara (approximately 4 miles), La Veta (distance unspecified), Colorado Springs (approximately 2.5 hours drive)
Weather at Blue Lake Campground - San Isabel Nf (Co)
About Blue Lake Campground - San Isabel Nf (Co)
RV details
Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist
Skip if
You need level tent sites, quiet mornings without generator noise, or debris-free trails.
C+
Camper Report Card
How campers graded it
Rated higher than 46% of graded campgrounds
Graded on what 52 campers actually wrote - graded on 14 things that make or break a trip. Each topic is graded against every other campground on it - A is among the best, C about average. No star ratings.
Strengths
- Grade A-.Things to do
- Grade A-.Belonging
- Grade B.Facilities
Watch-outs
- Grade D.Bugs & weather
- Grade C-.Safety
- Grade C.Getting there
Every grade - tap to see what campers said
Each topic is graded against every other campground on it; a topic campers liked never grades below C−. ± shows the 95% confidence range from the sample size.
See how Colorado grades overallFrom the U.S. Forest Service
Reference information about Blue Lake Campground - San Isabel Nf (Co) sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
Overview
<p>Blue Lake Campground is a developed campground with first-come-first-served sites. Available attractions: Lake and stream fishing. Blue lake is approximately one mile from the campground and the tributaries of Cuchara River run through campground.</p><p>For trail use, from the campground, take FSR 436 1.5 miles to the non-motorized <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recarea/?recid=12769">North Fork Trail #1309</a>. FSR 436 continues to old mine and saddle approximately 500 vertical feet below summit of Trinchera Peak. Access to the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recarea/?recid=12748">Indian Trial #1300 </a>trailhead at Bear Lake campground one mile further up FSR 422. This trailhead is a multi user trail system and accesses 23 miles of motorized trails available for ATV, motorcycle, bicycle, foot, and horse use. There is a 3/4 mile non-motorized trail between Bear Lake and Blue Lake.</p>
About the campground
The elevation is 10,700 ft. The campground is a short walk from Blue Lake, located on the eastern slopes of Sangre de Cristo Grant and composed of two loops. One loop is larger and more open. The second loop is very small in a stand of mature spruce and fir trees. This loop also has the only wheelchair friendly vault. The campground is convenient to the North Fork Trailhead. The sound of a Blue San Isabel National Forest 470 Lake feeder creek can be heard throughout most of the campground. State Rt. 12 is the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway. The drive from La Veta to Trinidad, CO is gorgeous with lots of vistas and beautiful Fall colors (from the aspens) of yellow, lime green and some orange/reds. Pick up an interpretive pamphlet at any nearby tourist office, store, etc. Go to www.highwayoflegends.org for more information. A pleasant excursion just off Rt. 12 is the "woodsy" town of Cuchara. Enjoy a little shopping, lunch, beverage and a cook’s night out. This is bear country; practice safe food storage techniques.
Seasons & access
Open May 11 through October 7 - weather dependent. No water after first freeze.
Facilities
The water spigot is a hand pump. San Isabel National Forest 471
Water activities
Blue Lake is 3 acres.
RV information
The parking aprons are gravel.
Directions
From La Veta, CO, take State Rt. 12 south 14.2 miles to campground sign (Forest Rt. 422). Turn right at sign onto Rt. 422 (dirt) and go 4 miles to campground sign. Turn right into campground.
- National Forest
- Isabel National Forest
- Ranger District
- San Carlos
- Elevation
- 10700
- Rate
- $21 per day
- Maximum Stay
- 14
About PSICC
Context for the broader area surrounding Blue Lake Campground - San Isabel Nf (Co), sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
<p><strong>Peaks to Prairies - Tracks to Trails</strong></p> <p>Pike and San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (<a class="offsiteicon" href="http://www.fs.fed.us/locatormap/index.php?lat=37.59&long=-104.77&zoom=7" target="_blank">forest locator map</a>) cover nearly 3 million acres, between the prairies of western Kansas and some of Colorado's highest mountain peaks along the Continental Divide. These sprawling forests and grasslands are an eight hour drive from boundary to boundary. This landscape offers a variety of ecosystems rich in history, geology, scenery, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities.</p> <p>The rolling prairies to the east are home to prairie chickens, wildflowers, paleontological resources and historical areas. The snow-capped Rockies to the west are a scenic backdrop to millions of residents and a draw to forest visitors. The forests are home to nearly half of <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/recreation/?cid=stelprd3798321">Colorado's fourteeners</a> with numerous alpine lakes, reservoirs and key rivers. Over 385,000 acres of <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recreation/recarea/?recid=37201">Wilderness</a>, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, Colorado Trail, and Santa Fe National Historic Trail are special areas worth exploring.</p> <p>People who live near these areas maintain a strong relationship to the lands. The commitment and volunteerism that these community members have for these public lands is the foundation for our ability to maintain a quality, sustainable recreation program in the face of intense, and growing, urban demand.</p> <p><strong><strong>Critical Information about the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems</strong></strong></p> <p>Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or “drones” are increasing in popularity and can provide wonderful opportunities to explore the forest. Please be aware that these drones are regulated and must follow certain laws to be safe and legal.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3846515.pdf">Recreational Drone Tips</a> (.pdf)</li> <li><a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/science-technology/fire/unmanned-aircraft-systems">Forest Service Unmanned Aircraft Systems policy</a> (fs.fed.us)</li> </ul>
