Bear Lake Campground
Bear Lake Campground is located in the beautiful San Isabel National Forest at an elevation of 10,480 ft. Views of the nearby Culebra Range Mountains with aspen and spruce forests offer campers a genuine Colorado experience.
More like this: reservable in Colorado · pets allowed in Colorado
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 13 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 25 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
13 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Back-in | 22 | Gravel | Full | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred |
| 003 | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | None | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred |
| 004 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | None | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 005 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | None | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Preferred |
| 006 | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | None | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 007 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard | |
| 008 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | None | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 009 | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | None | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 010 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | None | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
| 011 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | None | No / No | 8 / 2 | Yes | Standard |
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 | 36 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Extra Vehicle Fee $10.00 |
This rustic campground has 14 campsites, each with a table and fire ring. An on-site camp host offers firewood bundles for sale. Vault toilets and drinking water are available. No electric or septic hook-ups are available.
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 | Limited sites available on a first-come first-served basis. No reservations at this time. |
| Fees | $25.00 per site fee is charged for overnight camping. Two vehicles are included in the camping fee: $10.00 extra fee for additional vehicles. Fees are payable by cash, check or money order. Self-servicing fee tube is available. First-come, first-served sites must be occupied the first night. |
| Rules | The following restrictions apply to this campground: 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 Colorado Highway 12 south of the Town of Cuchara, take FSR 422 5 miles west to the campground.
| Nearest town | Canon City, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37.3254° N, 105.1389° 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
- PrescribedComanche Powderhouse Fall Rx
35 mi from the campground
- WildfireAspen Acres
48 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 ↗ | 26.3 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Kristi's Mountain Sports ↗ | 43.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bear Lake Campground - San Isabel National Forest
Worth a stop
The nearby mountain town of Cuchara offers shopping and visitor information. The town of La Veta offers a grocery store, gas stations, and shops. The Spanish Peaks Wilderness, 15 miles from the campground, is a popular hiking destination.
- 0.2 miBear Lake Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miBlue/Bear Road ↗5 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 0.3 miIndian ↗13.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.3 miBaker Creek3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
- 1.7 miNorth Fork3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2 miWildcat4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.4 miCoal Creek ↗4.9 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
Spanish Peaks Wilderness begins about 6.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 6.5 miSpanish Peaks Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 19,237 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
On the National Register nearby
- Francisco PlazaBuilding · Le Veta · 14.4 mi
- Lamme HospitalBuilding · La Veta · 14.4 mi
- Smith, Edwin L. BuildingBuilding · La Veta · 14.5 mi
Natural features
A tributary of the Cuchara River runs through the campground. Bear Lake is 1/8 mile from the campground, and Blue Lake is one mile away. Both of these small lakes are stocked several times during the summer providing for good fishing.
Recreation
Indian Trail #1300 begins at the north end of the campground providing direct access to a 23 mile multi-user trail system available for all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, foot and horse. A quieter well marked trail system between Bear Lake and Blue Lake is open to foot and horse traffic.
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 Bear Lake Campground?
Sites at Bear Lake Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Limited sites available on a first-come first-served basis. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Bear Lake Campground?
Extra Vehicle Fee $10.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Bear Lake Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Bear Lake 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 Bear Lake Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Bear Lake Campground have?
14 sites, including 13 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Bear Lake Campground?
The longest site here provides 36 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 Bear Lake Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Bear Lake Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Bear Lake Campground?
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. The following restrictions apply to this campground: Maximum 8 persons per site: 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Bear Lake Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 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 Bear Lake Campground?
Indian Trail #1300 begins at the north end of the campground providing direct access to a 23 mile multi-user trail system available for all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, foot and horse. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Bear Lake Campground?
Canon City, Colorado. The nearby mountain town of Cuchara offers shopping and visitor information.
Source: Getting there