Chalk Lake
PSICC
Chalk Lake Campground is located in beautiful Chaffee County, Colorado. This popular facility sits near Chalk Lake and is within 4 miles of a private hot springs resort, making it an ideal location for rest and relaxation.
"First come, first served" does not necessarily mean that the site will be available when you get there. Someone may get there before you. This is a popular campground and is normally full starting on Friday, sometimes as early as Thursday, so plan accordingly.
The campground offers single-family sites, a few of which are accessible. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Accessible vault toilets are provided. Firewood is sold on-site.
Sites: #4-9, and 14 "walk-up", first-come, first-served sites. All other sites are reservable.
Site #1 is used by the host from mid-May to mid-September. After that time it is available as a "walk-up", first-come, first-served site.
Need to Know
- Do not climb chalk cliffs
- Be bear aware; keep all food out of sight in approved containers or locked inside your vehicle and remove all food from area after eating
- This is a high elevation facility; please use caution when traveling from lower elevations
- No hookups available
- Click here for more information on Pike and San Isabel National Forests
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing organisms by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
- If reservations are not available, some campsites are first come-first served, also called "Walk-up" sites. First-come, first-served sites must be occupied the SAME NIGHT they are paid for. These sites usually fill Friday evenings and through the weekends. Due to the remote nature of campgrounds, calling to check availability prior to arrival is not possible.
- Camping and campfires are restricted in the Chalk Creek Canyon to the four developed campgrounds only. Cascade, Chalk Lake and Mount Princeton campgrounds take reservations, Iron City campground does not.
- Campers unable to find a campsite in a developed campground may camp above the townsite of St. Elmo on County Road 267( 4-wheel drive only) or near the Hancock townsite located 5 miles south on Forest Road 295. Additional camping is available in the Browns Creek area south of County Road 162 at the junction of County roads 270 and 272. Practice leave-no-trace (www.lnt.org) camping principles when dispersed camping.
Firewood is for sale at the host site fro $10.00/bundle.Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance.
Two vehicles or one RV/Trailer and tow vehicle per site is included in the camping fee. $10.00 for a third vehicle.
Firewood is available for sale at host site for $10.00/bundle.
Natural Features
The campground sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet in Chalk Creek Canyon, which gets its name from the soft, white, chalk-like kaolinite canyon walls. Kaolinite is a clay mineral that was deposited by percolating hot springs. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the area, including chipmunks, hummingbirds, birds of prey and mule deer.
Nearby Attractions
Take a day trip to the historic ghost town of St. Elmo, just 15 minutes from the campground. An old saloon, county courthouse and many other historic structures remain from the days of its mining glory. Rock hounds come to the area in search of quartz and aquamarine.
The city of Salida and Town of Buena Vista are only a short drive away where visitors can enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops, incredible art galleries and a large selection of antique shops. The area boasts more than 100 miles of Arkansas River to raft, fish, float or kayak in, as well as fifteen 14,000 ft mountains. Visitors can choose from recreational activities like hiking, biking, ATV/UTV riding, kayaking, rafting, fishing, horseback riding, zipping and swimming.
Recreation
Chalk Lake is located next to the campground and is a great family fishing spot with rainbow, brook and brown trout. Motorized boats are not allowed on the lake. Chalk Creek also offers fishing, and it's best above Cascade Falls.
Plenty of off-road vehicle trails are near the campground. Recommended rides include Mount Antero, Baldwin Lake, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy Lakes, and Hancock Lakes.
The Cascade Loop Trail is located across the street from the campground. The Chalk Creek Trailhead is about 2 miles east of the campground which gives hikers access to the extensive Colorado Trail, which extends nearly 500 miles from Denver to Durango.
Changes & 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.
Contact Information
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SALIDA RANGER DISTRICT FOR INFORMATION ONLY (M-F 8AM-4:30PM) 719-539-3591 5575 CLEORA RD SALIDA CO 81201
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: CAMPGROUNDS DO NOT HAVE PHONE SERVICE, CALLING TO CHECK AVAILABILITY PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IS NOT POSSIBLE. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 1-877-444-6777
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Buena Vista, Colorado, take Highway 285 south to Nathrop. Turn west on County Road 162 and travel 8 miles to the campground.
Available Campsites
- Site 009, Loop CHAL, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop CHAL, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop CHAL, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop CHAL, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop CHAL, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop CHAL, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop CHAL, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop CHAL, Type Standard Nonelectric
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