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Established Camping

Bear Lake Campground (CO)

Bear Lake Campground, near Canon City, Colorado, is a fantastic spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying some creature comforts. With designated sites that come equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, it’s perfect for gathering around the fire and soaking in the serene surroundings.

This campground is known for its stunning views and proximity to beautiful hiking trails. Visitors rave about the pristine lake, which is great for fishing, and the peaceful atmosphere that makes it easy to unwind. One camper noted, “The views driving up from the main road are absolutely stunning,” highlighting the breathtaking scenery that awaits you.

While the campground doesn’t offer showers or electric hookups, it does provide clean vault toilets and drinking water, ensuring you have what you need for a comfortable stay. Some campers mentioned the friendly hosts and the well-kept facilities, making it a welcoming place to pitch your tent or park your RV.

If you’re up for some adventure, there are plenty of trails nearby for hiking and exploring. Just be prepared for the occasional wildlife encounter, as bears are known to roam the area. Whether you’re fishing, hiking, or simply enjoying the tranquility, Bear Lake Campground is a solid choice for your next outdoor escape.

Description

National Forest

PSICC

Overview

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.

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.

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.

Nearby Attractions

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.

Charges & 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 Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. 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. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.

Fee Info

Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00

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Location

Bear Lake Campground (CO) is located in Colorado

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Colorado Highway 12 south of the Town of Cuchara, take FSR 422 5 miles west to the campground.

Address

3028 EAST MAIN STREET
Canon city, CO 81212

Coordinates

37.3253611 N
105.1388611 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

6 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 22, 2020

Peaceful & quiet!

We drove in about 5:00 pm and they had 2 vacancies! Camp host was great! Friendly neighbors! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a relaxing time!

  • Review photo of Bear Lake Campground (CO) by Teresa T., September 22, 2020
Reviewed Aug. 12, 2020

Totally recommend

We were going to try our luck at a different campsite and got booked out. Luckily, a very kind person recommended this one and I couldn’t be happier with our stay. We stayed at site 10. My favorite part of this site was that there was nothing but beautiful trees on an uphill right behind it. There’s a trail a few yards for the site with a great view! In the very early morning, we did get woken up by a couple hooting owls but it’s expected when camping in a forest. I will definitely be returning.

  • Review photo of Bear Lake Campground (CO) by Marcela R., August 12, 2020
  • Review photo of Bear Lake Campground (CO) by Marcela R., August 12, 2020
  • Review photo of Bear Lake Campground (CO) by Marcela R., August 12, 2020
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Jul. 7, 2020

Little Hidden Gem

Beautiful place in Southern Colorado.     It is a busy (small), very pretty campground Southern CO (not all spots are shaded).     Great Hosts with clean vault toilets.     Lots of hiking trails and the lake (which is very pretty).

No phone reception (YEAH)... and a bit off beaten path.   Close to La Veta and Cuchara.

Definitely a go back Campground.

Site#7
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Oct. 4, 2019

Incredible Views

The views driving up from the main road are absolutely stunning. I was here when the leaves were changing in the fall and I’m not sure there are many places in Colorado more beautiful than up here. The lake is pristine and clear and you can see every trout in the lake. The fishing was fantastic and the campsites were well situated and quiet. Highly recommend.

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2019

High Altitude Lake Site

This campsite run by the National Forest Service is about two hours drive west of Trinidad Colorado and about 45 minutes from the small town of La Veta. The site is accessed off of scenic highway 12. You drive about 5 miles up a step dirt and gravel road with multiple switchback to reach near lake. This is the sister camp to blue lake campground about 1 mile down the mountain road. Bear lake is a beautiful mountain fishing lake at about 11,000 feet altitude. The site is very popular for families in the summer looking for great camping and even better fishing. The lake is full of trout and many campers were hitting their 4 fish limit. The site has better views of the mountain peaks than blue lake. The campsites have some privacy depending on the site. This place is very popular and reservations are a must in the summer months. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and ample parking for two cars or a van. They have great trails for hiking and ATVs here and campers frequently run into bears. So you need to prepare and take the necessary precautions. The site is also popular for ATVs. So would will need to prepare for vehicles running through the camp.

  • Review photo of Bear Lake Campground (CO) by Steve & Ashley  G., July 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Bear Lake Campground (CO) by Steve & Ashley  G., July 31, 2019
  • Review photo of Bear Lake Campground (CO) by Steve & Ashley  G., July 31, 2019
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Jul. 15, 2017

Great spot!

Loves camping here. Fishing was good. Lots of shade. Decent hiking.

Site5
Month of VisitJuly

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Bear Lake Campground (CO)?

    Bear Lake Campground (CO) allows vehicles up to 60 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Bear Lake Campground (CO)?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Bear Lake Campground (CO), although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Bear Lake Campground (CO) have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Bear Lake Campground (CO) does not have wifi.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Bear Lake Campground (CO)?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Bear Lake Campground (CO). If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Bear Lake Campground (CO), try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Bear Lake Campground (CO)?

    There are 14 campsites at Bear Lake Campground (CO) and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts