Ponderosa Group
Ponderosa Group Campground, located near the sparkling 40-acre Lake Isabel, beckons large groups for picnicking and camping in the Lake Isabel Recreation Area. The campground accommodates 60 guests for overnight camping. Visitors can enjoy entertainment like volleyball and horseshoes, or head to the lake for canoeing and fishing. Lake Isabel is one of the few lakes in Colorado developed solely for recreational 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: reservable in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado · group sites in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | Paved | Full | No / No | 60 / 28 | 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 |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The group campground has a picnic shelter that seats 25 to 30 people, a group-sized charcoal grill and eight single-site campfire rings. A horseshoe pit, volleyball court, vault toilets, drinking water from a hand pump and dumpsters are provided.
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. Three nights minimum on holiday weekends. |
| Fees | $145 by reservation only. |
| Rules | Maximum overnight occupancy is only 60 people. Maximum day use occupancy is 120 people. Maximum number of vehicles allowed is 28. 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 I-25 to exit 74. Go west 18 miles on state Highway 165. Turn into the south entrance at Lake Isabel and drive 1 mile. Look for Ponderosa Group campground signs.
| Nearest town | Canon City, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37.9678° N, 105.0672° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Group Sites Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use 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. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.
Fire nearby
- WildfireAspen Acres
4 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 ↗ | 27.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Great Divide Ski Bike & Hike ↗ | 32.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Windish RV Center ↗ | 54.6 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 1 miCisneros ↗11.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.1 miLake Shore Ada ↗0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miSt. Charles ↗9.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.2 miCampground Lake Access0.07 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miSnowslide Access From Fsr 3710.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.4 miPicnic Area Spurunder 0.1 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
Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness begins about 4.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 4.5 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. The shoreline of Lake Isabel meets the rocky base of sweeping mountains at an elevation of 8,600 feet. 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
Kayaking, canoeing and fishing are popular in Lake Isabel. Brown and brook trout are stocked in the lake and the St. Charles headwaters reap brook trout. Guests can enjoy hiking, bicycling or motorcycling on either the Snow Slide Trail or 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.
Nearby
The Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway is a great route to explore and snap photos.
Guidebooks for Colorado
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Ponderosa Group?
Sites at Ponderosa Group 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 Ponderosa Group?
$145 by reservation only.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Ponderosa Group?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Ponderosa Group?
Group Sites Group Facility (including Cabins and Lookouts): A visitor who cancels a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days before the arrival date will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Ponderosa Group open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Ponderosa Group have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Ponderosa Group?
Ponderosa Group is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Ponderosa Group?
Yes, pets are allowed at Ponderosa Group. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Ponderosa Group?
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 overnight occupancy is only 60 people.
Source: Fire nearby
What is there to do at Ponderosa Group?
Kayaking, canoeing and fishing are popular in Lake Isabel. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Ponderosa Group?
Canon City, Colorado. The Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway is a great route to explore and snap photos.
Source: Getting there
What if Ponderosa Group is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Spruce Group (under 0.1 mi), St Charles Campground (0.9 mi), and Southside Campground (1.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby