Collegiate Peaks
PSICC
Collegiate Peaks Campground is located 11 miles west of Buena Vista, Colorado, along Middle Cottonwood Creek near the top of Cottonwood Pass. The campground offers well-spaced campsites and scenic views of the surrounding mountains. Visitors enjoy fishing and exploring local trails. A commercial hot springs inn and spa is located about 5 miles east of the campground.
"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 several single-family sites on three loops. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, campfire ring and grill. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Sites# 1, and 18-30 areĀ first come-first served, also called "Walk-up" sites. All other sites are reservable.
Site #2 is used by the host from mid-May through September. After that time it is available as a "walk-up", first-come, first-served site.
Need to Know
- Please disinfect waders and boots when fishing in beaver ponds; this will help protect endangered toads from the spread of chytrid fungus
- 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
- Maximum 8 persons per site: (2) tents (must fit within site or on parking pad) and (2) vehicles or (1) RV and (1) vehicle per site is included in the camping fee. Parking is limited; a $6 fee will be charged for extra vehicles.
- 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. Due to the remote nature of campgrounds, calling to check availability prior to arrival is not possible.
- Reservations are normally taken from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. After that time all sites are first-come, first-served until operating season ends.
- About 15 minutes from the Collegiate Peaks campground is Cottonwood Lake Campground, a first come-first served, no reservation facility which is located on County Road 344. It is a very popular site for campers, as well as anglers. Campsites fill up quickly on weekends. Camping and campfires are restricted in on County Rd 344 to developed campgrounds only. Starting at about 1 mile west of Cottonwood Lake campground dispersed, primitive camping is allowed.
Natural Features
The campground sits at an elevation of 9,800 feet, tucked in a dense stand of mixed conifersĀ and aspen. Some sites sit alongside the creek while others are tucked back in the woods. Afternoon thunderstorms are common during summer months.
Nearby Attractions
Cottonwood Pass is a high mountain pass across the Continental Divide in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. The road reaches the divide at an elevation of 12,126 feet. The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness offers challenging trails and prime backcountry fishing lakes.
The Town of Buena Vista is 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
Hiking and fishing are among the most popular activities. The Denny Creek Trailhead is less than a mile away and it take hikers through Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area to destinations such as Kroenke Lake and Mt. Yale.
The Ptarmigan Lake Trailhead is less than 3 miles from the campground and boasts views of vivid wildflowers.
Middle Cottonwood Creek is small but fairly well-stocked with brook trout. Determined anglers can often pull rainbow and cutthroat trout from the beaver ponds west of the campground.
Contact Information
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SALIDA RANGER DISTRICT OFFICE (719)539-3591 (FOR INFORMATION ONLY M-F 8AM-4:30PM) 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 306. At the stoplight, go west for 11 miles
toward Cottonwood Pass. Campground is located on the left-hand side of the
road. Highway 306 is paved on east side of Cottonwood Pass.
Available Campsites
- Site B, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 037, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site A, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 033, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 035, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site J, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site C, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 040, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site K, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site F, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site I, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 034, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site N, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site L, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site P, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 031, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site D, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site H, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 036, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 039, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site G, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site O, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 038, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site E, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site M, Loop COLL, Type Standard Nonelectric
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