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You want summer alpine camping with creek access, clean facilities, and a serene mountain environment near Salida.
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Price
$25/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
19 campsites
Season
Open May 23–Septembe...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$25/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
19 campsites
Season
Open May 23–Septembe...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Mount Princeton Campground, Salida Ranger District Office, 5575 Cleora Rd, Salida, CO, 81201
You want summer alpine camping with creek access, clean facilities, and a serene mountain environment near Salida.
You need detailed site dimensions before booking or prefer campgrounds with restrooms away from all campsites.
Context for the broader area surrounding Mount Princeton, 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>
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Best season: summer. Summer gives you full access to the campground, reliably warm days and cool mountain nights, and the best window for hiking, fishing Chalk Creek, and mountain biking. Expect daytime highs roughly 65–80°F and nights that dip into the mid-30s to low-50s at 8,600 ft, with long daylight and lush alpine scenery. All campground services are open, trails and approach roads are usually clear, and wildlife viewing is strong—note that July and August see the highest visitor numbers so reservations (when/ Peak months: July, August, June, September Avoid: October, November, December, January
Summer is peak season with open services, clear trails and reliable weather; busiest time.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
Mount Princeton Campground offers a range of amenities designed to enhance the camping experience. The campground features individual campsites equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings, and grills. Specific sites (#1, 14-17) are available as first-come, first-served options, while the rest can be reserved in advance. Site #2 is host-occupied during peak season but becomes first-come, first-served afterward. Firewood is available for purchase on-site, and parking spurs are gravel. "Wheelchair accessible vault toilets are provided," and "firewood is sold on-site." However, there are no hookups for electricity, water, or sewer. Trash collection services and old-school water pumps are also available for camper use.
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