White Star
Picturesque White Star Campground lies at the foot of Mt. Elbert, Colorado's highest peak, among fragrant ponderosa pines. The campground provides convenient access to Twin Lakes Reservoir for plenty of water recreation opportunities. It also works as a base camp for hikers and mountain bikers who love to explore nearby trails such the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Mount Elbert Trail.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · big rigs in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 46 |
| Tent-only | 3 |
| Host/management | 18 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
49 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | SAGE | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 002 | SAGE | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 003 | SAGE | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 004 | SAGE | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 005 | SAGE | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 006 | SAGE | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | SAGE | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | ||
| 008 | SAGE | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | ||
| 009 | SAGE | Standard | Back-in | 27 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | SAGE | Standard | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | 8 / 2 |
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 | 99 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | Extra Vehicle Fee $10.00 |
| Accessibility | Sites 001, 002, 003, 004 and 17 more are listed accessible |
White Star Campground is comprised of three loops. Sage Loop has limited shade, and Ridge and Valley Loops have a greater density of ponderosa pine and spruce trees. Vault toilets and trash collection are provided. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Firewood is for sale at the Host site. A boat ramp, parking, and angler fishing areas are located just down the road from the campground.
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. Friday and Saturday night minimum required stay on weekends. 3 nights minimum on holiday weekends. |
| Fees | $30 nightly fee per site. This includes parking for two vehicles. A third vehicle is an additional $11 per night. RVs and ATV/boat trailers count as one vehicle. Fees are payable by cash, check, or money order. Self-servicing fee tube is available. |
| Rules | Maximum eight people per site Maximum of three tents per site or one RV and two tents. Dogs, including service 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 Leadville, travel 15 miles south on Highway 24 to Highway 82. Turn right and go west 5.5 miles on Highway 82, turn left into the White Star Campground.
| Nearest town | Leadville, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39.0900° N, 106.3656° 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
11 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
| Outdoor gear | Trailhead ↗ | 21.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 23.7 mi |
| RV sales & service | Holiday RV ↗ | 42.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
White Star Campground Sage Loop, Twin Lakes Colorado.
Worth a stop
Drive on the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway to Independence Pass, one of the highest paved passes in Colorado. Or continue over the pass for a day trip to the town of Aspen, a well-known ski resort town.
- 0.2 miDeception Point Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 0.8 miMoache Fishing Site ↗Fishing site
- 1.2 miMount Elbert Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 4.8 miEmerald Lake Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 7 miWillow Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8.9 miNorth Fork Clear Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 1.3 miTwin Lakes ↗0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.1 miSouth Mt. Elbert ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.1 miWillis Creek1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miWillis Gulch Cutoff1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.1 miBig Willis Gulch3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.5 miBlack Cloud3.8 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
Collegiate Peaks Wilderness begins about 1.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.5 miCollegiate Peaks Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 165,874 acres
- 5 miMount Massive Wilderness ↗Wilderness · FS/FWS · 29,027 acres
- 7.1 miBuffalo Peaks Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 41,281 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
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
The campground, at an elevation of 9,200 feet, sits on the north side of the Twin Lakes Reservoir near the base of Mount Elbert. The Twin Lakes Reservoir spans 2,805 acres and Mount Elbert stands tall at 14,433 feet. Nearby is the Mount Massive Wilderness area, a stretch of 30,540 acres that encompass Mount Massive, Colorado's second highest peak at 14,421 feet. Much of the wilderness is above timberline with many alpine plant communities and permanent snowfields.
Recreation
The Continental Divide Trail, which runs from Canada to Mexico, passes by the White Star Campground. The hiking trail is open to mountain bikes in the section from Halfmoon Road South to Twin Lakes. About 300 miles of the trail is within Colorado's borders. Twin Lakes are Colorado's largest natural glacial lakes, and sailing and water skiing are among the popular activities there. Fishing includes lake, rainbow and Mackinaw trout.
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 White Star?
Sites at White Star are reservable on Recreation.gov. Call 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at White Star?
Extra Vehicle Fee $10.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at White Star?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at White Star?
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is White Star open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does White Star have?
67 sites, including 46 standard sites without power and 3 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at White Star?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at White Star?
Yes, pets are allowed at White Star. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at White Star?
Sites 001, 002, 003, and 004 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 21 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
Is there cell service at White Star?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at White Star?
The Continental Divide Trail, which runs from Canada to Mexico, passes by the White Star Campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to White Star?
Leadville, Colorado. Drive on the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway to Independence Pass, one of the highest paved passes in Colorado.
Source: Getting there