wildernet

Divide Ranger District

Quick Facts

Cathedral Campground

Elevation:	9,380 Feet (2923.9 Meters)
Length of Stay:	14 Days
Number of Sites:	29
Reservation Remarks:	29 UNITS. FIRST COME/FIRST SERVED.
Reservation Status:	Not Accepted

		Satellite and Topo Map

General Description

Cathedral Campground is northwest of Del Norte on Embargo Creek. A large campfire pit is located inside the northwest campground loop, which is a favorable area for group use. Campground is located in an aspen grove with a beautiful view of Cathedral Rock to the north. The Embargo Creek Road passes through private property. There is fishing in Embargo Creek and hiking on Cathedral Creek Trail 794 and Fremont's Camp Trail 885.

The facilities include 29 sites with tables and fireplaces, 3 vault type toilets, a developed drinking water system with hand pumps (in season) and ample parking space for RV's and trailers is. Turn around space is available. No refuse receptacles or firewood are provided.

Directions from Del Norte, Colorado: Travel 8.75 miles west on U.S. Highway 160. Take Embargo Creek access road east for 5.0 miles to Forest Road # 650. Take FR # 650 north for 3.0 miles to FR # 640 west/northwest 7.0 miles to campground entrance.

Seasonal Information:
Normal Services Available: Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend (NOTE: Campground alternates staying open after Labor Day until November 15 for Fall color viewing. Reduced services. Campground may close earlier due to deep snow.) .

Fee Information

Type	Price	Remarks
Camping, Single Unit	Call for Current Fee	Tables, fireplaces, vault toil

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

Physically open from mid-may through the October hunting seasons. Water pumps functional June through August. No fee charged year round. Free! Updated: 2000-05-16 17:33:00.0

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Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: The dirt road was moderately long but an easy drive. Just follow the signs. There are two loops in the campground. I stayed on the one on the left as you go in. It has a wide open middle area with a great view of the Rock. The other loop is completely wooded. The other campers were pleasant. Fremont's Camp Trail is within walking distance up the road, but I never found the Cathedral Trail.
Conditions: A good mix of rain and shine, enough to keep things green, yet plenty of opportunity for outdoor activity in the sun. Mild to warm days in the 70's and lower 80's, with nights in the 40's. Bug repellant handled what mosquitoes there were.
Water Availability: There was no water in the loop I stayed in. However, the other loop had a hand-pump that worked great.

Number of People Encountered: 11-25 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: Great campground right on Embargo Creek. Quiet, secluded, not very busy, even on weekend. lots of chipmunks, squirrels. I would definetely go back to this little hidden treasure.
Conditions: most sites have tree coverage and are close to creek. not enough trash cans, but what can you expect with no camp fee. restrooms were ok, not outstanding, on weekend, encountered large group with ATV's all over campground, but they left before dark.
Water Availability: water supply was good, potable.

Filed By: Denise Marks (Buda, Tx)
Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: Remote, very peaceful, the creek ran right along side our camp, the surroundings were beautiful. It's an interesting trek on a dirt road to get to campground, but well worth it.
Conditions: very shady and cozy.
Water Availability: no water available

Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: Spent nights of 6/12-14/00 next to Embargo Creek. Very few mosquitoes and flies. Cathedral is a beautiful setting in mixed aspen and spruce with wide spacing between most campsites assuring privacy. During the week it is quiet but on weekends it reportedly can get noisy with many ATVs and motocross motorcycles using the nearby Cathedral Trail. There is no potable water as of this date; the single water pump does not have a handle attached and is unusable. Trash packed out can be disposed of in the dumpsters at the Tourist Information Center on the east side of South Fork.

Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: May 12-14, only campers there. Cold on friday night, but warming through the weekend. Fishing prospects very low right now.

Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Camping	Cathedral Campground	Yes
	RV Camping	Maximum length 35 feet. Ample parking. Turn around space is available.	Yes
	Tent Camping	Located in an aspen grove	Yes
	Cold Water Fishing	Embargo Creek	No
	Hiking & Walking	Cathedral Creek and Fremont's Camp Trails	No
	Picnicking	Tables, fireplaces, toilets, toilets, trash cans, drinking water (in season)	Yes

Nearby Services

Gas Station: VARIOUS LOCAL CONCERNS (Private - Profit) Directions: 20.75 MILES TO DEL NORTE AND 19 MILES TO SOUTH

Groceries: VARIOUS LOCAL CONCERNS (Private - Profit) Directions: 19 MILES TO SOUTH FORK AND 20.75 MILES TO DEL

Nearest Pay Phone: LOCAL (Private - Profit) Directions: 19 MILES TO SOUTH FORK AND 20.75 MILES TO DEL Norte

Restaurants: VARIOUS LOCAL CONCERNS (Private - Profit) Directions: 19 MILES TO SOUTH FORK AND 20.75 MILES TO DEL Norte

Related Activities

Bear Creek Trail (Divide Ranger District) - This trail is popular with hunters, motorcycles and ATVs, but check current road conditions. It also makes a nice loop trip.

Cathedral Trail - The lower portion of the trail from the campground to Cathedral Rocks is the easiest to negotiate. From Cathedral Rocks, the trail climbs steeper and becomes rocky until it tops out near Groundhog Park.

East Bellows Trail - The trail provides good hiking access to Wheeler Geologic Area, Halfmoon Pass, and the La Garita Wilderness. Beautiful views and unique geologic features are the main attractions of this trail.

Fremont's Camp Trail - The trail passes through several ecosystems as it climbs and from the lower parts of the trail the high cliffs for which Cathedral Campground is named can be seen.