South Colony Basin is located in the Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. The terrain features rugged landscapes with elevations that can affect temperature, ranging from 30°F to 80°F depending on the season. Nearby attractions include the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, offering opportunities for hiking and exploration.

South Colony Basin and the surrounding 14,000-foot peaks offer a broad range of recreational opportunities, including camping, hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, fishing and hunting. This diversity of activities, combined with the natural beauty of the basin and the rough but passable access provided by the road, has made South Colony Basin the most popular destination in the Sangre de Cristo Range. Trailhead register data indicate 3,500 to 4,500 persons (7,000 to 9,000 visitor days) visit the small (1500 acre) upper basin at the head of the South Colony drainage during the summer season. Since 1996, the Forest Service has worked in partnership with Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, Colorado Outward Bound, and other educational and environmental service organizations to reconstruct trails and climbing routes within the basin, stabilize eroding alpine slopes (caused by user-created trails), inventory and restore undesirable campsites and social trails. To date, nearly $1,000,000 (of mostly non-federal funds) and 40,000 volunteer hours have been spent restoring long-term recreational impacts, rebuilding the lower road, constructing trailhead facilities and creating sustainable summit trails in South Colony Basin.

South Colony Basin

Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Crestone, CO has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Crestone and user-submitted reviews.

Crestone

The Best Camping Near Crestone, Colorado

What an amazing spot! To get to the campground you must first brave the road to the trailhead. If you have a 4x4 truck/SUV the road is achievable but very rough. From the upper trail head, it was about a 4 mile hike to the campground near the lower lake. If you cant make the drive, add 2.5 miles each way to that total. 

  

Once to the campgrounds, you will find spots scattered all around the lakes and in the trees. Some areas before the lake have metal fire rings set up but for the most part you will find rock rings. We found a nice little spot in the trees a couple minute walk from the lake and a stream. This was perfect for getting water and doing some afternoon fishing. 

  

Keep in mind these are backcountry camp spots. There are no facilities like water and bathroom and everything must be packed in and out. Each spot is fc/fs and this area can get very busy on weekends. We saw many groups up there.

  

Activities are plentiful in the basin. The lakes are stocked so the fishing is great. There are also 3 14ers and plenty of rock climbing to be had. This is one of my new favorite spots.

Backcountry Bliss

I will start with the fact that we did not end up being able to camp here. We were naive in thinking that the extremely rough, rocky roads would be short-lived on the private property section of the road, but no, the roads are nearly impossible all along S Colony Rd. We did not have a 4wd all-terrain vehicle, though, just a rugged 2wd meant for mostly city driving. While we did make it to the parking lot, we decided not to camp due to the anxiety that would have built up over the course of our weekend stay about the road out. So, we left immediately and decided to camp elsewhere that the car could handle. I give two stars due to the awful road, but I gave it more than one star for the beauty. It was a fairly isolated with stunning scenery. Probably an excellent choice if you have a car worth its salt.

Photos of South Colony Basin

Real photos from real campers