La Vista Campground
La Vista Campground is situated in a meadow overlooking the west side of the 40-acre Lake Isabel. It is set along the Frontier Pathways and Historic Byway in the Wet Mountains along one of the Colorado Birding Trails. Lake Isabel is one of the few lakes in Colorado developed purely for recreation purposes. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the lake attracts many campers who come to hike, canoe, fish and spend time bird watching. St. Charles Creek flows near the campground and offers additional fishing opportunities.
More like this: electric hookups in Colorado · reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 13 |
| Tent-only | 10 |
| RV with electric | 2 |
| Host/management | 6 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
25 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 011 | LAKE | RV electric | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 15 amp | No / No | 8 / 2 | ||
| 012 | LAKE | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 15 amp | No / No | 8 / 2 | ||
| 013 | LAKE | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 15 amp | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 014 | LAKE | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 15 amp | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 015 | LAKE | RV electric | Pull-through | 45 | Gravel | 15 amp | No / No | 8 / 2 | ||
| 016 | LAKE | Electric | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | 15 amp | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 018 | LAKE | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 15 amp | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | |
| 020 | LAKE | Electric | Back-in | 25 | Paved | 15 amp | No / No | 8 / 2 | ||
| 021 | LAKE | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Paved | 15 amp | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 022 | LAKE | Electric | Back-in | 40 | Paved | 15 amp | 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 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Accessibility | Sites 013, 014, 016, 017 and 14 more are listed accessible |
Walk-in tent sites are 15 to 50 yards from the parking spurs. RV sites come with electric hookups and all sites include a picnic table, campfire ring and access to vault toilets and drinking water.
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 | Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance to make a reservation. Friday and Saturday night minimum required stay on weekends. 3 nights minimum on holiday weekends. |
| Fees | $30 or $35 for premium sites. Two vehicles included in the camping fee. $10 for additional vehicles. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order if not reserved online. Self-servicing fee tube is available. First-come, first-served sites must be occupied the first night. |
| 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. Camping is not allowed behind a locked gate. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Pueblo, go 25 miles south on Interstate 25 to exit 74. Drive west 18 miles on State Highway 165. Turn into the main entrance at Lake Isabel Recreation Area, then turn right into the first campground on the right (about 1.25 miles).
| Nearest town | Canon City, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37.9844° N, 105.0594° 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
- WildfireAspen Acres
2 mi from the campground · 102,007 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 28.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Great Divide Ski Bike & Hike ↗ | 31.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Windish RV Center ↗ | 53.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
La Vista Campground - Lake Isabel Recreation Area
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miCampground Lake Access0.07 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miLake Shore Ada ↗0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miPicnic Area Spurunder 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miLakeshore0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miSnowslide Access From Fsr 3710.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 0.8 miWachob1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
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
Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness begins about 5.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 5.5 miGreenhorn Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 23,116 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
Natural features
Shady pine and aspen trees are scattered throughout the campground. At 8,600 feet, the area enjoys cool summer days, a welcome relief from the heat in the plains far below. The Pike and San Isabel National Forest includes over a million acres of wilderness and over half of Colorado's mountain peaks that reach above 14,000 feet.
Recreation
Lake Isabel welcomes non-motorized boating and fishing. Brown and brook trout are stocked in the lake and the St. Charles headwaters reap brook trout. Visitors can enjoy hiking, bicycling or motorcycling on either the Snow Slide Trail and Cisneros Trail. The 15-mile Cisneros Trail, also open to ATV riders, leads to the heart of the Wet Mountains, through forests and open, wildflower speckled valleys. Along the way, the trail connects to St. Charles Trail, which heads to St. Charles Peak.
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 La Vista Campground?
Sites at La Vista Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance to make a reservation. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at La Vista Campground?
$30 or $35 for premium sites. Two vehicles included in the camping fee. $10 for additional vehicles.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at La Vista Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at La Vista Campground?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is La Vista Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does La Vista Campground have?
31 sites, including 13 standard sites with power, 10 tent-only sites, and 2 RV sites with electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at La Vista Campground?
The longest site here provides 45 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
Does La Vista Campground have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at La Vista Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at La Vista Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at La Vista Campground?
Sites 013, 014, 016, and 017 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 18 sites in all. 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 La Vista Campground?
Lake Isabel welcomes non-motorized boating and fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to La Vista Campground?
Canon City, Colorado.
Source: Getting there