Cascade (Colorado)
Cascade Campground is located in beautiful Chaffee County, Colorado. This popular facility sits near Cascade Falls and is within 5 miles of a private hot springs resort, making it an ideal location for rest and relaxation. This is a popular campground and is normally full starting on Friday, sometimes as early as Thursday, so plan accordingly.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Colorado · reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 21 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 73 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
21 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 002 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 003 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 004 | Back-in | 42 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 005 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 006 | Back-in | 32 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 008 | Back-in | 37 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 009 | Back-in | 43 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | Pull-through | 73 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 73 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Site 015 is listed accessible |
The campground offers 21 single-family sites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided. Firewood is sold on-site. Sites #2- 7 and 11, 12 are "walk-up" first-come, first served. All other sites are reservable. Site #1 is used by the host from mid-May to Labor Day weekend. After that time it is available as a "walk-up", first-come, first-served site.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Pike-San Isabel National Forests |
| Booking | Sites may be reserved by visiting www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777 at least 4 days in advance. (Friday and Saturday 2-night minimum required stay for weekend reservations. |
| Fees | $25 per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $10 for a third vehicle. $10.00 fee for day use if not camping overnight. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. Self-servicing fee tube is available. |
| Rules | 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. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Buena Vista, Colorado, take Highway 285 south to Nathrop. Turn west on County Road 162 and travel 9 miles to the campground.
| Nearest town | Salida, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 38.7106° N, 106.2442° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and 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 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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireWillow
38 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedO'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx
50 mi from the campground · 267 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Colorado Kayak Supply ↗ | 11 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 11.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Holiday RV ↗ | 16.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cascade Campground 360° Campground Tour | Colorado
Worth a stop
Take a day trip to the historic ghost town of St. Elmo, just 15 minutes from the campground. An old saloon, county courthouse and many other historic structures remain from the days of its mining glory. The city of Salida and Town of Buena Vista are only a short drive away where visitors can enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops, incredible art galleries and a large selection of antique shops. The area boasts more than 100 miles of Arkansas River to raft, fish, float or kayak in. as well as fifteen 14,000 ft mountains. Visitors choose from recreational activities like hiking, biking, ATVing, kayaking, rafting, fishing, horseback riding, zipping, swimming
- 0.5 miChalk Lake Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 7.5 mi
- 14.9 miTexas Creek Horse Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miNarrow Gauge ↗2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.7 miCascade Creek Trail0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 miMt. Princeton2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.7 miLittle Browns Creek4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.6 miWagon Loop1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.6 miBrowns Creek ↗6.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Browns Canyon National Monument begins about 8.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 8.9 miBrowns Canyon National Monument ↗National Monument · Bureau of Land Management · 21,709 acres
- 13.5 miCollegiate Peaks Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 165,874 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Morley BridgeStructure · Romley · 6.9 mi
- Maxwell Park SchoolBuilding · Buena Vista · 7.9 mi
- Gas Creek SchoolBuilding · Nathrop · 8.5 mi
Natural features
The campground is situated in a dense forest of Douglas fir and aspen at an elevation of 9,000 feet in Chalk Creek Canyon, which gets its name from the soft, white, chalk-like kaolinite canyon walls. Kaolinite is a clay mineral that was deposited by percolating hot springs. Chalk Creek is just across the road from the campground. It flows 27 miles eastward from the Collegiate Peaks before joining the Arkansas River. Chalk Lake is a mile east of the campground.
Recreation
Stream fishing is best above Cascade Falls, just accross the road from the campground. Nearby Chalk Lake is heralded as a great family fishing lake with rainbow, brook and brown trout. Plenty of off-road vehicle trails are a short distance away. Recommended rides include Mount Antero, Baldwin Lake, Tincup Pass, Hancock Pass, Pomeroy Lakes, Hancock Lakes. Hiking in the area includes the Colorado Trail, The Narrow Gauge trail and the Cascade Loop Trail (Across from Chalk Lake Campground)
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cascade (Colorado)?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Cascade (Colorado)?
$25 per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $10 for a third vehicle.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cascade (Colorado)?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Cascade (Colorado)?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Cascade (Colorado) open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Cascade (Colorado) have?
21 sites, including 21 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cascade (Colorado)?
The longest site here provides 73 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Cascade (Colorado)?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cascade (Colorado). Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Cascade (Colorado)?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there are 2 active fires within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Maximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Cascade (Colorado)?
Site 015 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Cascade (Colorado)?
Stream fishing is best above Cascade Falls, just accross the road from the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Cascade (Colorado)?
Salida, Colorado. Take a day trip to the historic ghost town of St.
Source: Getting there