Monarch Park
After being closed the past couple of years for renovations, look for Monarch Park to reopen on Friday, August 21, 2026! Monarch Park is nestled at the base of Monarch Ridge, a short drive north of Monarch Pass on Highway 50. Some campsites at the family-friendly destination are located on the banks of the South Fork Arkansas River, while others lie along a creek. Popular activities in the area include hiking the Colorado/Continental DivideTrail and fishing. Beaver ponds near the entrance to the campground make a great fishing spot for families with young children. Monarch Pass is a high mountain pass along the southern part of Colorado's Sawatch Range.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 35 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
35 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Pull-through | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 003 | Back-in | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 004 | Back-in | Gravel | Full | No / No | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | Back-in | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 006 | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | No / No | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 007 | Back-in | Gravel | None | No / No | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 009 | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 011 | Back-in | Gravel | 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 | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Vault toilets are available and one is wheelchair accessible. All sites come with picnic tables and campfire rings. No electrical or sewer hookups are available. The nearest RV dump station is at the Poncha Springs Visitor Center located at 7001 Highway 285 (near the intersection of US Highway 285 and US Highway 50) in Poncha Springs, CO.
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 | First-come, first-served. No reservations are accepted. |
| Fees | $24 per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $10.00 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 (RV). Maximum RV length is 45 ft. 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 Poncha Springs, travel west on Highway 50 for about 15 miles, then turn left on County Road 231 and drive south to the Monarch Park Campground.
| Nearest town | Salida, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 38.5156° N, 106.3242° 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
50 mi from the campground · 7,359 acres · 92% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| RV sales & service | Holiday RV ↗ | 13.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Salida Mountain Sports ↗ | 18 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 24.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Monarch Park Campground - Monarch Mountain - San Isabel National Forest
Worth a stop
The city of Salida is only a short drive away where visitors can enjoy unique restaurants, shops, art galleries, and antique shops. The area boasts more than 100 miles of Arkansas River to raft, fish, float or kayak, as well as fifteen 14,000 ft. mountains. Visitors can choose from recreational activities like hiking, biking, ATV/UTV riding, kayaking, rafting, fishing, horseback riding, zip lining, and swimming.
- 1.3 miMonarch Pass Overlook & Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.8 miQuartz Creek Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 14.4 miChalk Lake Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
Trails nearby
- 1.1 miWaterdog Lakes ↗1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miMonarch Ridge0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.3 miMonarch Ridge0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.4 miBasin View ↗0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_scenic_or_historic
- 2.7 miHunt Lake/CDNST1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.8 miBoss Lake/CDNST1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.3 miMonarch Pass Overlook & Trailhead ↗Pike-San Isabel National Forests
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Maysville SchoolBuilding · Maysville · 7.4 mi
- Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Sargents Water Tank Western LineStructure · Sargents · 9.1 mi
- Morley BridgeStructure · Romley · 11.2 mi
Natural features
The elevation is 10,500 feet, and visitors should plan for cool nighttime temperatures. Some campsites are located near the south fork of the Little Arkansas River.
Recreation
Popular trails near Monarch Park include Waterdog Lakes, the Monarch Crest Trail and the Hunt and Boss Lakes trails. Wildflowers are abundant on these trails in late summer. The river and nearby ponds provide quality fishing for all ages. Brook trout is the most likely reward for fishing efforts.
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 Monarch Park?
Sites at Monarch Park are reservable on Recreation.gov. First-come, first-served. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Monarch Park?
$24 per site for overnight camping. Two vehicles or one RV per site is included in the camping fee. $10.00 for a third vehicle.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Monarch Park?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Monarch Park?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Monarch Park open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Monarch Park have?
38 sites, including 35 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Monarch Park?
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
Are there showers or a dump station at Monarch Park?
The nearest RV dump station is at the Poncha Springs Visitor Center located at 7001 Highway 285 (near the intersection of US Highway 285 and US Highway 50) in Poncha Springs, CO.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Monarch Park?
Yes, pets are allowed at Monarch Park. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Monarch Park?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire 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 (RV).
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Monarch Park?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Monarch Park?
Popular trails near Monarch Park include Waterdog Lakes, the Monarch Crest Trail and the Hunt and Boss Lakes trails. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation