Established Camping
Painted Rocks
Painted Rocks, near Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a charming campground that offers a rustic escape with a focus on natural beauty and outdoor activities. With spacious sites featuring picnic tables and fire pits, it’s an ideal spot for gathering around the campfire after a day of adventure.
The campground is known for its clean facilities, including well-maintained pit toilets and a centralized water source. Campers appreciate the friendly host who keeps the area tidy and even sells firewood on-site. As one visitor noted, “The campground was pretty nice, especially spot #2 which had a ton of space to itself.”
For those eager to explore, Painted Rocks is conveniently located near stunning attractions like Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods, offering a plethora of hiking and biking trails. The surrounding area is perfect for fishing, scrambling, and enjoying the great outdoors, making it a fantastic base for your adventures.
While some campers mentioned that the sites can be a bit angled and uneven, the overall atmosphere is peaceful, with minimal road noise and a pleasant vibe. Whether you’re tent camping or bringing an RV, Painted Rocks provides a welcoming environment for a memorable outdoor experience.
Description
US Forest Service
Pike National Forest
Overview
Painted Rocks Campground is located a short distance from Manitou Lake Picnic Area and the Centennial Bike Trail in central Colorado. The rustic campground is named for the sandstone outcroppings in the area that resemble colorful streaks from an artist's paintbrush.
Recreation
The paved, accessible Centennial Bike Trail is a half-mile from the campground. It connects to nearby Colorado and South Meadows Campgrounds, and leads to 5-acre Manitou Lake. Visitors enjoy riding bicycles on this trail to Manitou Lake for fishing and bird watching. Waterfowl and songbirds are often seen in the area. The nearby Rainbow Falls OHV Trail System and North Divide OHV Trail System are recommended for off-road vehicle enthusiasts.
Natural Features
The campground is nestled on the edge of a grassy meadow at an elevation of 7,800 feet. Most sites on the west loop are shaded by ponderosa pines, while sites on the east loop are more open and less shady.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Woodland Park is located approximately 7 1/2 miles south of Painted Rocks Campground, where campers can find gas, groceries, dining and shopping. Colorado Springs is about 30 miles southeast of the campground and offers many services. Garden of the Gods is a popular attraction just outside of town. This free City of Colorado Springs park offers hiking trails, rock climbing routes, a visitor center and cafe. Pikes Peak lies west of Manitou Springs, which is about 25 miles from the campground. Visitors can hike, bike, or drive to the summit of this beautiful mountain.
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.
Location
Painted Rocks is located in Colorado
Directions
From the I-25 and Highway 24 intersection in Colorado Springs, Colorado, travel west on Highway 24 for about 18 miles to the junction with Highway 67 in Woodland Park. Turn right (north) on Highway 67 and drive about 7 miles to Painted Rocks Road and turn left (west). Take the gravel road about 1/2 mile to campground entrance on the left.
Address
PIKES PEAK RANGER DISTRICT
601 S. WEBER ST.
Colorado springs, CO 80903
Coordinates
39.0844444 N
105.1052778 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 42 min from Colorado Springs
- 1 hr 3 min from Pueblo
- 1 hr 31 min from Denver
- 1 hr 49 min from Boulder
