Ponderosa Group - Lake Isabel
PONDEROSA GROUP - LAKE ISABEL
Part of PSICC
Overview
Ponderosa Group Campground, located near the sparkling 40-acre Lake Isabel, beckons large groups for picnicking and camping in the Lake Isabel Recreation Area.The campground accommodates 60 guests for overnight camping. Visitors can enjoy entertainment like volleyball and horseshoes, or head to the lake for canoeing and fishing.
Lake Isabel is one of the few lakes in Colorado developed solely for recreational purposes. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the lake attracts many campers who come to hike, canoe, fish and spend time bird watching. St. Charles Creek flows near the campground and offers additional fishing opportunities.
Facilities
The group campground has a picnic shelter that seats 25 to 30 people, a group-sized charcoal grill and eight single-site campfire rings. A horseshoe pit, volleyball court, vault toilets, drinking water from a hand pump and dumpsters are provided.Natural Features
Shady pine and aspen trees are scattered throughout the campground. The shoreline of Lake Isabel meets the rocky base of sweeping mountains at an elevation of 8,600 feet. At 8,600 feet the area enjoys cool summer days, a welcome relief from the heat in the plains far below.The Pike and San Isabel National Forest includes over a million acres of wilderness and over half of Colorado's mountain peaks that reach above 14,000 feet.
Recreation
Kayaking, canoeing and fishing are popular in Lake Isabel. Brown and brook trout are stocked in the lake and the St. Charles headwaters reap brook trout.Guests can enjoy hiking, bicycling or motorcycling on either the Snow Slide Trail or Cisneros Trail. The 15-mile Cisneros Trail, also open to ATV riders, leads to the heart of the Wet Mountains, through forests and open, wildflower-speckled valleys. Along the way, the trail connects to St. Charles Trail, which heads to St. Charles Peak.
Nearby Attractions
The Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway is a great route to explore and snap photos.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (719) 489-2034.Important Notices
Check in: 2 pm, Check out: 12 pm (noon)
Be BEAR AWARE; please keep all food out of sight in approved containers or locked inside your vehicle and remove all food from area after eating
- No electric hookups available
- No firearms or fireworks
- Limited water available; no RV water hookups
- For more information on Pike and San Isabel National Forests, click here
- 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.
Cell phone service may not work at this location
Notifications and Alerts
ALERT: Due to the nearby Aspen Acres Fire this campground's closure has been extended for safety reasons until Tuesday , 9/01/2026. A decision will be made on Monday, 8/31/2026 whether this closure will continue.
Stage 2 fire restrictions are currently in effect that prohibit all fires. Generators and fires or stoves that use liquid petroleum (LPG) fuels are permitted but must follow specific rules.
Available Activities
- HIKING - Hiking
- FISHING - Fishing
- CAMPING - Camping
Directions
From Pueblo, go 25 miles south on I-25 to exit 74. Go west 18 miles on state Highway 165. Turn into the south entrance at Lake Isabel and drive 1 mile. Look for Ponderosa Group campground signs.
Cancellation Policy
<p>Group Sites</p> <p>Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.</p> <p>No-Shows</p> <p>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.</p> <p>No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. </p> <p>Refunds</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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.</p>
Contact Information
Phone: FOR RESERVATIONS CALL (877) 444-6777, FOR OTHER, NON REAL TIME INFORMATION, CALL (719) 369-8500.
SAN CARLOS RANGER DISTRICT3028 EAST MAIN STREET
CANON CITY, CO 81212
