Blue Lake Campground - San Isabel NF (CO)

Overview

Blue Lake Campground is located in the beautiful San Isabel National Forest at an elevation of 10,500 ft. Views of the nearby Culebra Range Mountains with aspen and spruce forests offer campers a genuine Colorado experience.

Recreation

A well-marked trail system between Bear Lake and Blue Lake is open to foot and horse traffic. Across the road from the campground FSR 436, a rough jeep road, provides access to Trinchera Peak where Big Horn Sheep are often seen.

Facilities

This rustic campground has 16 campsites, each with a table and fire ring. An on-site camp host offers firewood bundles for sale. Vault toilets and drinking water are available. No electric or septic hook-ups are available. Both reservation and first-come, first-served sites are available.

Natural Features

A tributary of the Cuchara River runs through the campground. Blue Lake is 1/2 mile from the campground, and Bear Lake is one mile away. Both of these small lakes are stocked several times during the summer providing for good fishing.

Contact Info

For facility specific information, please call (719) 489-2034.

Nearby Attractions

The nearby mountain town of Cuchara offers shopping and visitor information. The town of La Veta offers a grocery store, gas stations, and shops. The Spanish Peaks Wilderness, 14 miles from the campground, is a popular hiking destination.

Charges & Cancellations

Cancellations

Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. 

A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite.

Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.

No-Shows

A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.

No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.  

Refunds

Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended.

Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.

For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. 

In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.

Camp site features

Across 16 camp sites:

  • Picnic table: all 16 sites
  • Pets allowed: all 16 sites
  • Longest RV: 36 ft
  • Largest party: 8 people

Directions

From Colorado Highway 12 south of the Town of Cuchara, take FSR 422 4 miles west to the campground.

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

27 reviews
5 stars
16
4 stars
2
3 stars
3
2 stars
3
1 stars
3
Sean L
Loop:Blue Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed 4 months ago
Do NOT tent camp!! The wind will destroy your tent. It sounded like a 747 was taking off.
James D
Loop:Blue Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed 5 months ago
The forest service has done an excellent job restoring this great area for camping and family fun! The campground attendants were amazing and take great care of the place - latrines were very clean!
Ruth B
Loop:Blue Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed a year ago
Windy for 2 days. Due to the blowdown, there aren’t any trees in the campground. The wildflowers were outstanding. Not many trails to hike around the campground. Restrooms were clean. Didn’t like 4 wheelers on trails.
Jason S
Loop:Blue Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed a year ago
Simply incredible site with plenty of access to so many adventures. Facilities were flawless and the host Scott was beyond helpful and on point.
Judith O
Loop:Blue Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed a year ago
There was a huge blow-down in this area three years ago. Crews finally cleared the road and campground to be able to open this season, but it's treeless and has no privacy. Winds were howling and when we read reviews about how vulnerable tents were in the winds, we went down to La Veta and stayed in a cabin.
Brian S
Loop:Blue Lake Campground
Site:
Reviewed a year ago
High altitude, mostly open area camping. Somewhat level sites. Windy. Not sure why the area looked like a tornado went through with many trees toppled over. Amenities are fine but note the lake is not immediately adjacent to the campground.
Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve

Season dates

Walk In season

May 28, 2027 – Jun 10, 2027

First come, first served

Peak season

Jun 11, 2027 – Sep 12, 2027

Reservable online

Off Peak season

Sep 13, 2027 – Sep 26, 2027

Reservable online

Walk In season

May 28, 2028 – Jun 10, 2028

First come, first served

Peak season

Jun 11, 2028 – Sep 12, 2028

Reservable online

Off Peak season

Sep 13, 2028 – Sep 26, 2028

Reservable online

Camp Sites

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