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Camping · Colorado

ALVARADO CAMPGROUND

USFS · Campground · Fee

Fast facts

Cost
Fee charged
Managed by
USFS
Type
Campground
Hours
Check in: 2 pm'Check out: 12 pm (noon)'Quiet hours: 10 pm to 6 am
Reservations
recreation.gov
Phone
FOR RESERVATIONS CALL (877) 444-6777. FOR NON REAL TIME INFORMATION, CALL THE DISTRICT OFFICE AT (719) 269-8500.
Nearest dump station
Taylor Lagoons Dump Station · 71.6 mi
Coordinates
38.0789, -105.5633
Last verified
September 19, 2026
38.0789° N · 105.5633° W
Last verifiedSeptember 19, 2026

About this place

Overview Alvarado Campground, located at an elevation of 9,000 ft., is a prime location for accessing easy to challenging hikes in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. The variety of trails lead to high elevation lakes, picturesque waterfalls, and a number of stunning scenic overlooks. Alvarado is designed for a range of campers, with facilities for tent, RV and equestrian campers. Pike-San Isabel National Forests include over a million acres of wilderness and over half of Colorado's mountain peaks that reach above 14,000 feet. Recreation Near the campground are several trailheads that provide visitors with a variety of recreational opportunities. All trails are open for horseback riding and hiking. The Rainbow Trail is a premier ATV and motorcycle trail. The non-motorized Comanche and Venable Trails lead into the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness where waterfalls and alpine lakes may be enjoyed. Facilities Alvarado is divided into three unique areas. The lower level accommodates tents and RVs, the upper level is designed for walk-in tent campers, and part of the middle section caters to equestrian campers. There are no corrals but there is space to put portable corrals for horses. Parking aprons are dirt and gravel. Tent pads and lantern posts are located in the lower campsites only. Natural Features Alvarado is perched on the side of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains among sweet smelling ponderosa pine, aspen, lodgepole and gambel oak trees. Some sites offer views of the Wet Mountain Valley below while others sit beside Alvarado Creek. The campground is within reach of the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, which spans 226,455 acres with 60 alpine lakes, 400 miles of streams and over 400 miles of trails to explore. Large aspen stands visible in the area today are a result of fires set in the early 1900's to clear pasture land, expose minerals and produce charcoal. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (719) 489-2034. Nearby Attractions Explore the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway that takes drivers through the Wet Mountains and provides spectacular views of 22 peaks, all within the San Isabel National Forest. 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.

From the USFS.Official page

Is ALVARADO CAMPGROUND free?

No. ALVARADO CAMPGROUND charges a fee. It is managed by the USFS. Sites are reservable through recreation.gov.

How do I get to ALVARADO CAMPGROUND?

From downtown Westcliffe, CO; travel 3 miles south on State Highway 69 to County Road 140 then 7 miles west to the campground

What are the rules at ALVARADO CAMPGROUND?

The following restrictions apply to this campground : Maximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle. Dogs must be leashed at all times. No discharge of firearms or fireworks. Only licensed vehicles can operate inside campground. Camping is NOT ALLOWED behind a LOCKED GATE. Water from a handpump. Water faucets. Acessible toilets; outhouses.

Nearby

SourceData from the USFS. Last synced September 19, 2026. Community reports and photos are submitted by travelers and are not verified by the agency.

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Disclaimer TerrainKit is an independent product with no affiliation with, sponsorship from or endorsement by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service or any other public agency. Site and access information is compiled from publicly available sources and can go out of date without notice. Confirm current rules, closures, fire restrictions and stay limits with the managing ranger district or field office before you camp.
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47.5053° N · 111.3008° W
ALVARADO CAMPGROUND, Camping in Colorado - TerrainKit