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Salida Ranger District

Quick Facts

Collegiate Peaks Campground

Capacity:	560 People
Elevation:	9,800 Feet (3054.9 Meters)
Length of Stay:	14 Days
Number of Sites:	56
Reservation Contact:	National Reservation System: 877-444-6777
Reservation Remarks:	reservations accepted for sites 3-17, 20, 22, 24, 32,33, 35-40 and the Alphabet loop A-P
Reservation Status:	Accepted for Selected Sites

		Satellite and Topo Map

General Description

The Collegiate Peaks Campground is heavily wooded with Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and aspen trees. The site receives heavy use during the summer on weekends and holidays. For this reason, reservations should be made as early as possible. Sites 28 - 34 offer some shade, but are not as heavily wooded as other sites in the campground. Sites 31 and 33 have double tables that are ideal for larger groups. A number of sites are located next to Middle Cottonwood Creek. There are 56 sites total at the Collegiate Peaks Campground. Most of the sites can accommodate RV's between 30 - 35 feet, with the largest site having a lengths of 60 feet. Services include drinking water from two hand pumps, six vault toilets, tables, fire rings and trash dumpsters. No hookups are provided.

Fishing is accessible from the campground in Middle Cottonwood Creek. A few alpine lakes are accessible by foot those include Ptarmigan Lake, Kroenke Lake and Hartenstein Lakes. Campers will find these hiking trails close to the campground: Colorado Trail, Ptarmigan Lake Trail, Denny Creek Trail and Delaney Gulch Trail. The Denny Creek Trailhead, located two miles west of the campground, serves as the major access to the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Commercial hot springs are also available in the area.

Directions from Buena Vista: Drive west approximately 10.9 miles on Highway 306. The campground is on the left (north) side of the highway.

Seasonal Information:
Normal Services Available: Late May through Mid-September .

Fee Information

Type	Price	Remarks
single-unit campsite	Call for Current Fee	Services include drinking wate
extra vehicle fee	Call for Current Fee	An extra vehicle charge of $5.

		Current Conditions & Trip Reports
		Add your own trip Report! Newly re-released feature. One of the most popular features on Wildernet, trip reports allow you to share your experiences with others. This is an invaluable resource for determining what to expect on your outdoor adventure, so please participate! To prevent spamming, you must be a registered user of Wildernet in order to submit a trip report Filed By: Karyn (Buena Vista, CO) Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl Recommend to a Friend: Highly Report: Heavily wooded sites. Could not see folks in the next sites!Creek running though the campground lends a wonderful sound. Conditions: Aspens were changing and the views are gorgeous. Water Availability: Water throughout the campground. Number of People Encountered: 25-50 ppl Recommend to a Friend: Highly Report: Spacious sites, with lots of tall pines and bushes. Our entire extended family comes to this site each year for a family camping trip. Very quiet and relaxing place to camp with fishing in the creek within a few minutes walk and Cottonwood lake about 10-15 minutes away by car. No designated tent pads, so you have a wide area of the HUGE campsites to choose your tent site. Conditions: Most afternoon we enjoyed a cool shower that lasted for only 30-45 minutes--but it was welcome. Don't plan to use a tv, radio, or cell phone here.....It wont receive anything. There were some mosquitoes, but repellent worked well. Shade is not hard to find, and most campsites were in the shade. Water Availability: We brought water, but water was also available at the nearby pump. Chemical toilets on occasion were overpowering, but generally, were ok. The campground host was EXTREMELY pleasant, and made our visit more enjoyable.

Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Backpacking	Colorado Trail	No
	Family Camping	Collegiate Peaks Campground	Yes
	RV Camping	Collegiate Peaks Campground	Yes
	Tent Camping	Collegiate Peaks Campground	Yes
	Trailer Camping	Collegiate Peaks Campground	Yes
	Camping	Collegiate Peaks Campground	Yes
	Fishing	Middle Cottonwood Creek, Ptarmigan Lake, Kroenke Lake, Hartenstein Lakes	Yes
	Hiking & Walking	Denny Gulch Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Colorado Trail, Ptarmigan Lake Trail	Yes
	Horseback Riding	Denny Gulch Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Colorado Trail, Ptarmigan Lake Trail	Yes
	Big Game Hunting	Collegiate Peaks Wilderness	No
	Hunting	Collegiate Peaks Wilderness	No
	Small Game Hunting	Collegiate Peaks Wilderness	No
	Animal Identification	Denny Gulch Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Colorado Trail, Ptarmigan Lake Trail	Yes
	Bird Identification	Denny Gulch Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Colorado Trail, Ptarmigan Lake Trail	Yes
	Mushroom Identification	Denny Gulch Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Colorado Trail, Ptarmigan Lake Trail	Yes
	Pine Cone Gathering	Denny Gulch Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Colorado Trail, Ptarmigan Lake Trail	Yes
	Plant Identification	Denny Gulch Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Colorado Trail, Ptarmigan Lake Trail	Yes
	Wildflower Identification	Denny Gulch Trail, Browns Pass Trail, Hartenstein Trail, Mt. Yale Trail, Colorado Trail, Ptarmigan Lake Trail	Yes
	Lakes & Reservoirs	Middle Cottonwood Creek, Ptarmigan Lake, Kroenke Lake, Hartenstein Lakes	No
	Mountain Biking	Ptarmigan Lake Trail, Colorado Trail (south of 306)	No
	ATV Riding	Ptarmigan Creek Road, South Cottonwood Road	No
	Picnicking	Collegiate Peaks Campground	Yes
	Scenic Driving	Cottonwood Pass	Yes
	Viewing Scenery	Cottonwood Pass	Yes

Related Activities

Cottonwood Lake - Cottonwood Lake lies south of Cottonwood Pass. It provides an opportunity for lake and stream fishing in a beautiful mountain setting. Hiking, biking and four-wheel driving are accessible from this site.

Cottonwood Lake Campground - The immediate area surrounding Cottonwood Lake Campground is wooded by small aspen trees. The site is located in the central Rocky Mountains.

Cottonwood Lake Picnic Ground - The Cottonwood Lake Picnic Ground has 19 sites that include a table and fireplace. Recreation opportunities accessible from this site include fishing, boating, four-wheel driving, hiking and horseback riding.

Denny Creek Trailhead - Denny Creek Trailhead provides access to the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, as well as Hartenstein Lake Trail, Browns Pass Trail and Mt. Yale Trail.

Ptarmigan Lake Trail - Ptarmigan Lake Trail leads 3.3 miles from Cottonwood Pass Road to the lake. Users will find good fishing for native cutthroat trout in the cold waters of Ptarmigan Lake.