Mount Princeton Campground, CO - Latest Reviews, Photos & Campground Map

Mount Princeton Campground is located in the Salida Ranger District, Pike and San Isabel National Forests (2 hrs 12 min west of Colorado Springs, CO) with an elevation of 8,591 feet. There are a total of 19 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 18 and 58 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $24.00 per night. Some amenities include swimming. Activities include fishing, hiking trails.
Pike San Isabel National ForestPike San Isabel National Forest

Campground Capacity (Next 30 Days)

Campsite Reviews (79)

4.8 out of 5

5 star
84%
4 star
9%
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@StephanieK6294 · Camped on Jul 20, 2025 at Campsite #6
Beautiful spot, we loved the creek and proximity to the lake, even nicer than we expected it to be!
@KellyA5589465 · Camped on Jul 18, 2025 at Campsite #12
Second time to this campground in two years. Both times the host was super friendly and kept the campground very clean. It is a popular campground. It is difficult to find sites on weekends. Our site, 12, and last year, 10, were both near the outhouse. At both sites we got an occasional smell of the outhouse which was not pleasant but it was not constant. I recommend trying for other sites along the Chalk Creek. The center sites have very little shade. The water pump was not working so there was no water on site. The host did have firewood for sale. I would go back here again and again. It is full of outdoor activities!
@AndrewM2888517 · Camped on Jul 6, 2025 at Campsite #8
Great spot near Mt. Princeton Hot Springs. Campsite was easy to navigate and had good parking and tent/picnic area.
@Elizabeth39763 · Camped on Jun 25, 2025 at Campsite #11
I loved this campground! Perfect home base to do exploring in the area. My only negative thing to add was my specific campsite had a strong odor from the pit toilets, as I was camped nearby them in a van and still smelled it quite often. I imagine tent camping would be unbearable camped this close to the toilets!
@BartBBD7573222 · Camped on Jun 12, 2025 at Campsite #13
The Mt. Princeton campground is really a wonderful spot. Scenery is spectacular. The host is super friendly and takes great care of the grounds. We have come to this area to camp almost every year for the last 8 years. Two warnings... if you want a reservation, you need to be ready to book exactly 6 months before your trip. Also, cell phone service is spotty once you get a few miles away from the main highway, although that's not necessarily a bad thing if you're looking to escape.
@CynthiaS564883 · Camped on Jun 9, 2025 at Campsite #4
I was very impressed with this campground. The host took excellent care of the camp sites. He even raked the ground giving it a groomed look. I felt like it was a resort style campground. The river is right behind me in camp site #4. The bathrooms are in front at a distance. No water so bring your own. The fire pit must have been recently upgraded. I was able to cook on the grill.
@ShelleyEC77F17 · Camped on Jun 6, 2025 at Campsite #9
The camp host was amazing and friendly. even took my trash for me in his golf cart so I didn't have to carry it to the entrance of the campground.
@KelliK9305572 · Camped on May 30, 2025 at Campsite #4
Beautiful place to camp. Close to the creek, clean bathrooms, and an attentive and caring host. Close to the CO trail. Bring your own water in as the pump is not in service.
@DuaneM80D56EBC · Camped on May 26, 2025 at Campsite #3
Campsites were pristine! So well taken care of and the restrooms were very clean. Randy the camp host was so friendly and knowledgeable about the area. Thanks Randy!!
@DanielM5313297 · Camped on May 26, 2025 at Campsite #5
Its a beautiful spot.It offers fishing, hiking, a spa, a ghost town, a small townThe host was great. He had a multiple suggestions on activities.The campsites were very clean and raked like a golf bunker. The toilets were clean with no odor at all. Great experience!
@SHANNONH277765 · Camped on Sep 20, 2024 at Campsite #18
Great location. Clean campsite & bathrooms. Roads were easy to drive in an RV.
@DavidW7736336 · Camped on Sep 15, 2024 at Campsite #7
Campsite clean and tidy. Great firewood. Quiet location.
@KorySE05504D82 · Camped on Sep 15, 2024 at Campsite #9
Great and quiet campground with nice sites, well maintained, and all around a beautiful spot for the family.
@SteveS6334481 · Camped on Sep 9, 2024 at Campsite #10
A very comfortable and clean campsite. The tent pitching area was level and had been raked clean when we arrived. Our campsite was close to a restroom. The campground is not large and I think I saw two restroom locations. The camp host had a large inventory of firewood for purchase. This campground is about 4 miles west of Mt Princeton Hot Springs. From the Highway to the campground is all paved roads.There was no water available at the campground. We saw the pump but it was covered with plastic. It may be a temporary event. Mt. Princeton Hot Springs has a small convenience type store in case you need something.
@DanielW5233823 · Camped on Sep 4, 2024 at Campsite #19
Unleashed dog from next campground knocked my seventy year old wife to the ground. The day before another camper complained and the host talked to the dog owners, they did nothing about the dog. Hosts need Rangers or sheriff to back them up.
@GeorgeC007DA80 · Camped on Aug 11, 2024 at Campsite #9
I tried to cancel on the day of arrival, as I had obtained a better "first-come-first served" site a few miles away. It turned out that the cancellation policy is very misleading. I would have been satisfied if it stated directly that cancellations on the day of arrival are not valid. The campground host representative did not seem to really understand the rules, telling me to call Recreation.gov, which led to a "loop" that said I was supposed to talk to the campground host (which I did, of course). Something should be fixed!
@NatalieP6BA7F3 · Camped on Aug 6, 2024 at Campsite #7
Lovely quiet campground on a creek. Outhouse was very clean and well maintained.
@JulieL4270812 · Camped on Jul 22, 2024 at Campsite #5
We loved are time
@PamB8346179 · Camped on Jul 21, 2024 at Campsite #3
Randy the host has been there for many years. He is attentive, and always making his rounds without intruding.
@JohnD1553494 · Camped on Jul 8, 2024 at Campsite #5
Thanks to camp host, maintenance of this campground is excellent--from raking of campsites between users to cleanliness of the outhouses. The fact that there are only 19 campsites keeps the area enjoyably small. At least two good hiking trails are nearby--one is a 6 mile round-trip from the "Bootleg/Chalk Creek" trailhead, situated about 1 mile east of the Mt. Princeton Campground on CR162. The Chalk Creek trail crosses Chalk Creek here and then rises precipitously to CR290. Turn west and walk along CR290 to a parking lot at the end of this road. From there you will walk along the Denver, South Park, and Pacific railbed, constructed in the late 1800's and last used in 1926. With a few exceptions, where rockslides have covered the railbed, the trail continues up to the Chalk Creek Cascades. Along the way, shap eyes can pick out the Mt. Princeton campground far below. A little further along you can get a clear view of the Chalk Lake Campground/Day Use Area. The view of the cascades is worth the long hike. Alternatively, one member of the your party could drive to the Cascades via CR162 while and pick up the one-way hikers there. Another hike, shorter but far more strenuous hike is a 3 mile round-trip to the top of the ridge immediately south of the campground, again starting from the Chalk Creek Trailhead and then branching off to the south, up the Colorado Trail. In the 1.5 miles to the top, the elevation gain is approximately 900 feet. While you are in the area, don't miss the Iron City Cemetery, situated in a beautiful aspen grove at the far end of the Iron City Campground as you drive up to the St. Elmo Ghost Town. The earliest recorded burial in this cemetery is 1883. A registry at the cemetery gate provides interesting details of how the pioneer residents of this area, many working the Mary Murphy mine, died and when they were burried.
@AimeeG8945417 · Camped on Jun 28, 2024 at Campsite #9
Beautiful campground - loved hearing the river running nearby. The host, Randy, was a pleasure to talk with and did a wonderful job making us feel welcome. Our site was clean and raked when we arrived and bathrooms were well maintained. Love the proximity to the hot springs and will stay again.
@johnc3063297 · Camped on Jun 23, 2024 at Campsite #18
Camp host Randy was great! He kept the campground and sites in beautiful shape and order, and he was genuinely helpful and engaging. This was definitely a first rate experience thanks to Randys efforts. The AT&T service was weak, but adequate as long as you are patient. Great location with easy access to many different places/things.
@LyndaW2402175 · Camped on Jun 19, 2024 at Campsite #8
Quiet and private. Easy to get to, lots of trails around.
@CaskelS78ECC40 · Camped on Jun 18, 2024 at Campsite #11
This is a fantastic area to hike, fish, take pictures, dine at local one-of-a-kind places, and just kick back to enjoy the beautiful landscape. Chalk Creek runs right next to Mount Princeton campground. It's an easy hike and so very pretty. Kids have a great time at the fish hatchery down the road. Agnes Waterfall is nearby. Only the last quarter of the trail is challenging. The Narrow Gauge Trail is another easy hike and has a wonderful view of the canyon. Iron City campground, St. Elmo, and the Iron City Cemetery are interesting too. St. Elmo never disappoints. Of course there is the Hot Springs down the hill. The Mount Princeton Lodge has great food, WiFi, and big screen TVs at the bar if you really feel the need to catch up on what's happening in the world.
@DeborahVEEC8C9 · Camped on Jun 11, 2024 at Campsite #7
Love the peace and quiet of Mt Princeton, especially in June with the snow melt rushing in Chalk Creek!

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